Slow Cooker Asparagus
Here's a recipe to hang onto whenever you need a fresh vegetable side dish but don't have oven or burner space available. Slow Cooker Asparagus is perfectly cooked and the tomatoes are optional.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
What to do if you need a fresh vegetable side dish, but no room in the oven and none on the stove?
Make this easy recipe! It's a tasty way to prepare it, super convenient, and if that's not enough, here are a few other good reasons to try it:
It's low stress. Just wash and trim the asparagus, add a few simple ingredients, and let the slow cooker do the work. Perfect for special occasions.
Amazingly crispy and fresh tasting, considering it'll slow cook for almost two hours.
It's versatile -the tomatoes are optional - but they taste great in this recipe.
Healthy recipes are always welcome - any time, anywhere. As crock pot recipes go, this is a winner.
Ingredients You’ll Need:
Asparagus: Find thicker stalks if you can, they'll work better in this recipe than pencil-thin asparagus. Cut asparagus at the woody tip (or break it with your hands)
Cherry Tomatoes: Totally optional, but a great addition that everyone loves.
Shallot: Minced for even more good flavor.
Lemon Juice: For freshness and it also helps retain the bright green color.
Salt and Pepper: Seasoning is essential!
Butter: Just a little at the end of the cooking time.
This is an easy recipe, here's the basics of what you do:
Wash and dry the asparagus spears, and break off the woody bottom end, add it to the slow cooker.
Cut the cherry tomatoes and add them in too.
Same with the shallot.
Add a little water or broth to the bottom of the pot.
Squeeze a lemon over it too.
Season with salt and pepper and cook for about 2 hours. Done!
This slow cooker asparagus turns out tender but not overcooked and super delicious!
Check for doneness at the hour and a half mark. If the stalks are on the thick side, it may need the full two hours. Thinner stalks may need thirty minutes less time.
Pull everything out of the slow cooker with tongs or a strainer (such as a spider) and do a final drizzle of butter over the top (or olive oil) on a serving platter.
Try vegetable or chicken broth instead of water for the bottom of the slow cooker for a little more flavor.
How do I store leftovers?
An airtight container works best, kept refrigerated. This recipe tastes best the day it was made though.
Can I make more than the recipe calls for?
You can safely double the recipe, but check for doneness at the two hour mark, and note that it may need an additional thirty minutes.
Can I make this on the stove top instead?
Yes! Next time use a large skillet over medium-high heat with vegetable broth or water and the other ingredients in the recipe. It will cook much quicker, about 15 minutes.
Slow Cooker Asparagus
This convenient slow cooker asparagus recipe is great to have for parties, holidays and more!
Course: Side Dish, Vegetable Side Dish
Total Time: 2 hours hours 15 minutes minutes
Servings: 6
Ingredients
▢ 2 pounds Asparagus, ends trimmed
▢ 1 container Cherry Tomatoes, cut in half, about 2 cups
▢ 1 shallot, diced into small pieces
▢ 1 Juice of one lemon, freshly squeezed
▢ ½ teaspoon Kosher Salt
▢ ½ teaspoon Freshly ground pepper
▢ 1-2 tablespoons Olive Oil
▢ ⅓ Water
▢ 2 tablespoons Butter, unsalted, melted
Instructions
Wash and trim the woody ends of the asparagus, and cut the cherry tomatoes in half.
Transfer asparagus to a slow cooker, top with the cherry tomatoes, shallot, juice of lemon, salt and pepper and drizzle olive oil over the top. Add the water to the cooker and slow cook on low heat for 1 ½ – 2 hours. Note that your asparagus may cook in 1½ hours if they are on the thin side. Taste one to test for done-ness, they should be green and still have a bit of crunch to them.
Remove the mixture with tongs to drain off any liquid before transferring to a serving platter.
Drizzle with melted butter and serve.
Notes
Check for done-ness at that hour and a half mark. If the stalks are on the thick side, it may need the full two hours. Thinner stalks may need thirty minutes less time.
Leave the tomatoes off entirely if you’d like, but they are delicious in this recipe.
Pull everything out of the slow cooker with tongs or a strainer (such as a spider) and do a final drizzle of butter over the top (or olive oil).