Garlic Butter Skillet Asparagus

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A quick skillet side dish featuring crisp-tender asparagus tossed in rich garlic butter with fresh thyme and a hint of red pepper.

Prep Time5

Cook Time10

Total Time15

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Servings:

Trim the woody ends from the asparagus and rinse them well. Pat the stalks completely dry with paper towels so they will brown properly when cooked in the skillet.
Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and add the olive oil along with 1 tablespoon of the melted butter. Allow the fat to heat until it shimmers, which ensures the asparagus will sear instead of steam.
Place the asparagus in the pan in a single layer and season with kosher salt and black pepper. Let the asparagus cook undisturbed for a few minutes so the bottoms develop color and slight char.
Turn the asparagus and continue cooking until the stalks become bright green and tender-crisp, about 4–6 minutes total. The goal is to keep the asparagus slightly firm while developing flavor from the skillet.
Reduce the heat to medium and push the asparagus slightly to one side of the pan. Add the minced garlic and red pepper flakes to the hot fat and quickly stir so the garlic becomes fragrant without browning.
Pour the remaining melted butter over the asparagus and sprinkle the fresh thyme leaves over the top. Toss everything together gently so the asparagus becomes evenly coated in the garlic butter.
Remove the skillet from the heat and allow the asparagus to rest for about a minute so the butter settles. Transfer to a serving dish and spoon the garlicky pan juices over the top before serving.

For brighter flavor, finish the asparagus with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice before serving.
Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and reheat gently in a skillet.
If the asparagus stalks are thick, add an extra minute or two of cooking time so they become tender.