This Sautéed Asparagus and Mushrooms is garlicky, buttery, and full of flavor! Made in a cast-iron skillet, it’s a quick and tasty veggie side dish that’s anything but boring.
5 Star Review
Bev writes "Outstanding!" ★★★★★
There’s something truly magical about the combination of garlic and butter—it has a way of making everything taste amazing! This quick sauté takes fresh asparagus and mushrooms and browns them to perfection in a garlicky butter right in the skillet. It’s incredibly easy, comes together in minutes, and is bursting with rich, savory flavor.
This recipe combines sautéed garlic mushrooms and pan-fried asparagus for a quick and tasty side dish - It's essentially a stir fry in garlic butter!
Jump to:
- 5 Star Review
- Ingredients you'll need to make pan-fried asparagus and mushrooms
- Tips for Perfect Sautéed Asparagus
- Sautéed Asparagus and Mushrooms
- Frequently asked questions
- Recipe tips
- How to saute asparagus and mushrooms in a skillet (step-by-step photos)?
- Looking for more tasty ways to cook mushrooms?
- More easy, fresh asparagus recipes
Ingredients you'll need to make pan-fried asparagus and mushrooms
Scroll down to the recipe card below for full information on ingredients and amounts.
- Mushrooms - I prefer using baby bella (cremini) or white button mushrooms because they're widely available year-round. Baby bellas offer a slightly deeper, earthier flavor, while white buttons are milder—both work beautifully in this sauté, absorbing all the garlic-butter flavor.
- Asparagus - When choosing fresh ones, look for firm stalks with a vibrant green color and tightly closed tips, which indicate freshness. Thinner stalks cook faster and tend to be more tender, while thicker ones may need trimming and a slightly longer cook time—but both are delicious when sautéed in the skillet properly.
- Butter - I use butter in three stages for maximum flavor. Salted or unsalted butter does not matter here!
- Garlic - Freshly minced garlic is a must for this saute—skip the pre-minced stuff in a jar!
- Herbs - I keep it simple with Italian seasoning, a convenient pantry staple made from a mix of herbs like basil, oregano, thyme, and rosemary.
Tips for Perfect Sautéed Asparagus
When fresh asparagus is perfectly cooked, the stalks should be bright, vibrant green, and have a firm yet tender texture—not floppy or mushy.
Thickness: Choose medium-thickness spears—they cook evenly and tenderly, avoiding the risk of thin stalks overcooking in a flash or thick ones needing longer cooking times.
Heat: Have you cast iron skillet over medium-high heat. This temperature helps achieve a light sear and glossy finish—too high and they might char before cooking through; too low and they’ll steam, becoming limp instead of crunchy.
Don't overcrowd: The spears should lie in a single layer for even cooking—crowding traps moisture and makes them steam instead of searing.
Sautéed Asparagus and Mushrooms
Ingredients
- ½ pound asparagus
- ½ pound mushrooms white or baby bella
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 3 garlic cloves, finely chopped
- ¼ teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ⅛ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- ⅛ teaspoon ground black pepper
- Salt, to taste
Instructions
- Snap the woody ends off the asparagus base. It will naturally break at the right point. Cut them into 1-inch pieces.
- Slice mushrooms into ½-inch thick slices.
- In a medium skillet over medium-high heat, melt 1 tablespoon of butter. Once hot, add the cut asparagus. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 3 to 4 minutes, or until the asparagus is cooked but still crisp. Transfer to a plate.
- Add another tablespoon of butter and let melt. Add sliced mushrooms and toss with the butter mixture. Cook for about 3 to 4 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Reduce heat to medium, add all remaining ingredients, cook for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring frequently, until mushrooms are cooked and garlic is fragrant.
- Add the cooked asparagus, 2 tablespoons water and the remaining tablespoon of butter. Stir for 10 to 20 seconds and remove from heat.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information, based on third-party calculations, should be seen as estimates, not guarantees, as various factors like product types, brands, processing methods, and more can alter the nutritional content in recipes.
Frequently asked questions
Not necessary! The fresh spears cook fast enough that blanching typically isn't necessary, and it's perfectly fine to skip it. Fresh spears cooks quickly and tastes fantastic when just trimmed and tossed in a hot pan.
Both have their strengths. Oil is great for high-heat cooking—it prevents the asparagus from burning too quickly. On the other hand, butter brings incomparable richness and flavor. The best approach? Cook the fresh veggie in butter over medium heat to enjoy that delicious buttery taste without risking burnt spears.
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Recipe tips
- Don't stir too much - Resist the temptation to stir the vegetables constantly. Let them develop a golden sear on the bottom, before you toss them every 10 to 20 seconds.
- Don't slice the mushrooms thin - Slicing them about ½ an inch thick ensures they cook quickly while retaining their texture, instead of shrinking away.
How to saute asparagus and mushrooms in a skillet (step-by-step photos)?
You can find full printable recipe below, but here is a quick overview of the procedure along with step-by-step photos.
Looking for more tasty ways to cook mushrooms?
More easy, fresh asparagus recipes
Looking to switch up your asparagus game with easy, flavorful recipes? Here are three crowd-pleasing veggie ideas that bring freshness and fun to your plate:
- Air Fryer Asparagus Fries are “fries” with a healthier twist on potato fries and come together in about 8 minutes—a perfect guilt-free snack or appetizer.
- In the Pan Fried Asparagus, smashed garlic sizzles in butter, infusing the spears with rich flavor, while a squeeze of fresh lemon juice and a generous sprinkle of Parmesan elevate it to a simple yet elegant side dish status.
- Sweet Chili Chicken and Asparagus Stir Fry combines succulent chicken and crisp veggie in a vibrant sweet-and-spicy sauce.
I hope you love this delicious and easy recipe – be sure to give it a review below! Also don’t forget to follow Kitchen at Hoskins on TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and YouTube!
Sam
Can we use garlic powder instead?
Bev
Outstanding!
Maria Doss
That’s so great to hear, so glad you loved it - Maria ♡