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Garlic Asparagus

Garlic Asparagus with crispy bacon is a tasty side dish for any meal. Fresh asparagus is quickly cooked until tender and tossed with crispy garlic butter and bacon.

Side dishes beyond rice pilaf or mashed potatoes have always been a challenge for me but this Garlic Asparagus was a huge hit and will be on the menu often.

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Skillet with cooked asparagus spears and crisp bacon.

We have grilled asparagus, roasted it in the oven but most often I par-boil it and then finish it off with butter or olive oil so that is tender but not mushy. This easy stove-top method is my favorite.

Ingredients Needed

  • Bacon
  • Fresh Asparagus Spears
  • Water
  • Salted Butter
  • Minced Garlic
  • Kosher Salt
  • Fresh Ground Pepper

Step By Step Directions

Bacon crumbles on a paper towel.

Cut bacon into small slices and cook bacon until crispy. Drain on a paper towel and set aside.

Asparagus stalks on wood counter top.

Snap off the tough ends of the asparagus by bending each stalk between the green and white ends. Give the asparagus a quick rinse in cold water. Discard any stalks that are limp or discolored.

Cooking asparagus in boiling water.

Fill a skillet or pan with about 2 inches of water and bring to a boil.

Add the asparagus and cook 4- 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, just until asparagus yields to a fork easily.

Parboiled asparagus in a pan, water drained.

Drain the water and set aside.

Garlic butter in a small skillet.

Meanwhile, in a small pan add the butter and garlic, cooking over low heat.

Toasted garlic butter in a skillet.

Stir often until garlic just starts to toast.

Closeup of asparagus in a pan with bacon crumbles.

Remove from heat and pour over the par-boiled asparagus. Return asparagus to medium heat. Toss with garlic butter, season with salt and pepper.

Crumble crispy bacon over the top and serve immediately.

Recipe Notes

Storage: Store leftover asparagus in an airtight container in the refrigerator up to 3 days.

Reheat: Place asparagus in a skillet and cook over low heat, stirring occasionally until heated through.

Other Toppings: Crispy bacon adds great texture and flavor to the asparagus but if you aren’t a fan of bacon, try finely grated parmesan cheese or lemon zest for a lighter side dish.

Tips for Choosing Asparagus: Look for bright green stalks with tightly closed ends. If ends are mushy or soft, discard. Thinner stalks will be more tender than the thicker stalks and generally more flavorful. Thicker stalks may require additional cooking time.

Skillet of asparagus spears topped with garlic butter and bacon crumbles.

Garlic Asparagus is a great side dish for any night of the week but delicious enough to serve for holiday dinners like Easter, Thanksgiving or Christmas.

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Asparagus in a skillet with garlic and crispy bacon.
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5 from 2 votes

Garlic Asparagus

Garlic Asparagus with crispy bacon is a tasty side dish for any meal. Fresh asparagus is quickly cooked until tender and tossed with crispy garlic butter and bacon.
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time15 minutes
Total Time20 minutes
Course: Side Dishes
Cuisine: American
Keyword: asparagus for holiday meal, asparagus with bacon, garlic butter asparagus, quick asparagus
Servings: 4 Servings
Calories: 131kcal
Author: Milisa

Ingredients

  • 2 slices bacon
  • 1 pound fresh asparagus stalks
  • 3- 4 cups water
  • 3 tablespoons salted butter
  • 2 garlic cloves minced
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon fresh ground pepper

Instructions

  • Cut bacon into small slices and cook bacon in a pan until crispy. Drain on a paper towel and set aside.
  • Snap off the tough ends of the asparagus by bending each stalk between the green and white ends. Give the asparagus a quick rinse in cold water. Discard any stalks that are limp, soft or discolored.
  • Fill a skillet or pan with about 2 inches of water and bring to a boil.
  • Add the asparagus and cook 4- 5 minutes just until asparagus yields to a fork easily.
  • Drain the water and set aside.
  • Meanwhile, in a small pan add the butter and garlic, cooking over low heat, stirring often until garlic just starts to toast.
  • Remove from heat and pour over the par-boiled asparagus. Return asparagus to medium heat. Toss with garlic butter, season with salt and pepper, cooking 3- 4 minutes until desired tenderness is reached.
  • Crumble crispy bacon over the top and serve immediately.

Notes

Double recipe as needed to feed a crowd.
Storage: Store leftover asparagus in an airtight container in the refrigerator up to 3 days.
Reheat: Place asparagus in a skillet and cook over low heat, stirring occasionally until heated through.
Other Toppings: Crispy bacon adds great texture and flavor to the asparagus but if you aren't a fan of bacon, try finely grated parmesan cheese or lemon zest for a lighter side dish.
Tips for Choosing Asparagus: Look for bright green stalks with tightly closed ends. If ends are mushy or soft, discard. Thinner stalks will be more tender than the thicker stalks and generally more flavorful. Thicker stalks may require additional cooking time.

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 131kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 29mg | Sodium: 367mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 2g
5 from 2 votes (2 ratings without comment)

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