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!
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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
For the full recipe, list of ingredients and instructions, please scroll to the recipe card below.
- 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.
Step-By Step Instructions
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 too.
- Season with salt and pepper and cook for about 2 hours. Done!
Tips and Possible Variations
This slow cooker asparagus turns out tender but not overcooked and super delicious!
- Check for done-ness 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.
Serving Ideas
- Add chopped herbs of any kind (fresh parsley, dill) and a sprinkling of Parmesan cheese too if you’d like.
- Make a few other side dishes if you’re having a gathering. Try these cheesy potatoes, or take a look at this round-up of healthy vegetable sides. Here’s a great recipe for homemade applesauce too, which is a wonderful side dish.
- You can easily double this recipe if needed.
- Make a nice dinner and great dessert, and while you’re waiting for all that, make yourself a fantastic BLT to hold you over! 🙂
Frequently Asked Questions
An airtight container works best, kept refrigerated. This recipe tastes best the day it was made though.
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.
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.
More Recipes to Try
- Simple Celery Salad: A fresh and delicious side dish
- Slow Cooker Yankee Pot Roast: A fantastic, complete meal made in the slow cooker.
- Creamy Chicken Pasta Bake Recipe: A comfort food classic.
- Chicken Sausage and Vegetable Skillet: A great dinner to have with asparagus!
- Strawberry Goat Cheese Salad: Fresh and pretty, this is a favorite!
- Marinated Grilled Asparagus Recipe: Another great version of this versatile side.
- Orzo Asparagus Salad Recipe: A delicious pasta salad recipe.
If you’ve tried Slow Cooker Asparagus, or any other recipe on Studio Delicious, please rate the recipe 5 stars and tell me how you liked it in comments below!
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Slow Cooker Asparagus
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).
Nutrition
- Super important to read the whole recipe before you begin
- Pay attention to the ingredient list and photos for the recipe
- If possible, prep your ingredients a little before you start
- Always use a sharp knife for safety
- Use the size of pan called for in the recipe
- For savory recipes, taste and season as you go
- Buy fresh, organic ingredients, locally sourced whenever possible
Please rate this recipe and thanks for leaving a comment!