How To Cook The Best One-Pan Honey Glazed Asparagus

One-Pan Honey Glazed Asparagus – Honey glazed asparagus is a perfect one-pot side dish. 

I thought, while we were counting down the days until the new year, I would stop for a quick recipe.

Despite the terrible name (how does one make the word ‘asparagus’ sound appetizing?) asparagus can taste mighty delicious. In my experience, you’ve got to throw in some key ingredients for asparagus success. First of all, bacon grease . . . and more recently, a simple honey glaze.

Asparagus is a wonderfully healthy veggie. It’s full of fat-soluble Vitamin K, as well as free-radical-busting antioxidants. If you’re interested in more benefits, click here to read all about asparagus.

Asparagus is a healthy and wholesome veggie side dish that often gets overlooked for more popular vegetables. Pan fried to crispy yumness, it has a smoky crisp on the outside and is soft on the inside. The light drizzle of honey and a touch of sea salt along with bacon grease makes it melt in the mouth perfection. 

We serve this dish alongside paleo meatballs. Honey glazed asparagus would also pair beautiful with a roast chicken or meat dish, I’ve popped some links down below for some ideas on what to serve it with. 

I will link down below a few of my favorite sides that would pair perfectly with one-pan honey glazed asparagus.

This recipe makes about 1lb of cooked asparagus, which would serve 4-6 people as a side dish. You can easily increase or decrease the portions by doubling the ingredients. It will keep in the fridge to 2-3 days in a sealed contained. I do not recommend freezing this dish after cooking.

Is Asparagus Healthy?

Asparagus is a bit of a wonderkind of vegetables.  It’s incredibly healthy and very low in calories.  It’s not the most popular but it boasts a range of health benefits. Lets have a quick look at the health benefits of asparagus.

• Asparagus is high in vitamin A, which is important for eyesight and immunity, while vitamin K is important for blood clotting and bone metabolism.
• Asparagus is a strong source of antioxidants, which help to protect your body from the harmful effects of free radicals and oxidative stress.
• Asparagus is chock full of dietary fiber, which is great for your digestive health. It is also high in insoluble fiber which supports regular bowel movements. 
• Asparagus is also a source of soluble fiber, which feeds your good gut bacteria, such as  Bifidobacteria and Lactobacillus  
• Asparagus is a good source of folate. Folate helps form red blood cells, and is particularly important in pregnancy to ensure healthy development.

What Is The Healthiest Way To Eat Asparagus?

The healthiest way to eat asparagus is to trim off the cut ends and eat raw, as cooking reduces the nutrients in the plant. 

You can cook asparagus in just about any way you want. In this recipe, we have roasted it in the oven, but you can also sautee with a little butter and garlic, lightly steam or even serve raw.

Is Asparagus Supposed To Be Crunchy?

Depending on how asparagus is cooked it can range from fresh crunchy to a bit mushy. It really depends on how you like it. You can’t undercook it, but if you overcook asparagus, it will lose its texture. It’s not supposed to be chewy though, so make sure you cut off about a half inch of the stem before cooking.

What Happens If You Overcook Asparagus?

When asparagus is overcooked it can become mushy and lose it’s delicious flavor and texture.

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Can You Eat Asparagus Al Dente?

Yes! Asparagus can be eaten al dente or completely raw. In this recipe, it is served al dente,  which means it is tender and maintains a bit of texture but isn’t raw.

Ingredients You Need to Make Honey Glazed Asparagus

Ingredients

Fresh Asparagus –  I used 2 large bunches, around 24 spears.

Bacon Grease –  learn how to make your own bacon grease here. If you don’t have bacon grease you can substitute by sauteeing bacon strips, or using butter or ghee.

Fresh Garlic – Garlic adds amazing flavor to this dish and I prefer to use fresh garlic. You could substitute with crushed garlic or a pinch of garlic powder.

Sea Salt – Just a sprinkle of good quality sea salt will lift the flavor

Raw Honey – a good quality raw honey is best for you, but you can use whichever type you have on hand.

*Full recipe ingredients and instructions are listed below.

Tools you need to make honey glazed asparagus

Sharp knife – to cut your asparagus

cast iron frying pan – Cast iron frying pans have so many health benefits over non-stick. But any frying pan will work.

wooden spoon – for stirring your delicious asparagus spears.

Serving platter – for a beautiful finishing touch

How To Make Honey Glazed Asparagus Spears

Heat your frying pan over medium to low heat.

Add bacon grease and allow it to melt.

Wash your asparagus in running water. Chop off the woody ends.

Once your bacon grease is melted and hot, add asparagus along with crushed garlic, sea salt and pepper. Stir to distribute evently.

Cook covered on medium heat until the asparagus is cooked through. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking. 

Asparagus will be crisp-tender when cooked through.

Arrange your cooked asparagus on a plate and drizzle with honey. Enjoy!

More Vegetable Side Dishes To Serve With Honey Glazed Asparagus

Healthy Root Vegetable Bake – This easy and tasty root vegetable bake takes just moments to put together. Seasoned with olive oil, salt and pepper, it makes the perfect side dish for grilled meats.

Pan Fried Balsalmic Potatoes – Fresh new potatoes pan fried with rosemary and garlic. Crisp on the outside and soft on the side.

Paleo Mashed Carrots – PALEO and GAPS friendly mashed carrots made with cinnamon or ginger and ghee.

Green Beens – Tossed with bacon fat and garlic, these green beans are so easy and delicious. Perfect as a healthy side dish anytime of year!

Notes

If you don’t have bacon grease on hand, you can also brown some diced bacon before you add the asparagus and seasonings. Bacon adds a delicious flavor to this dish, but if you don’t have any bacon or grease, you can substitute with butter or ghee.

We put our raw honey in one of these, making the whole honey process *much* easier and cleaner. (Hubby’s genius idea.)

Notes

If you don’t have bacon grease on hand, you can also brown some diced bacon before you add the asparagus and seasonings. Because bacon.

We put our raw honey in one of these, making the whole honey process *much* easier and cleaner. (Hubby’s genius idea.)

Here it is in recipe card format for easier printing:

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Enjoy your sweet & savory asparagus!