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    Recipes » Side Dishes » How to Grill Asparagus

    How to Grill Asparagus

    Published: May 28, 2019 · Modified: Sep 29, 2020 by Kate Shungu · This post may contain affiliate links

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    Grilling is an easy way to add smoky flavor to asparagus. You don’t need any special equipment—just a grill, olive oil, sea salt, and of course asparagus!

    Asparagus spears on the grill

    Roasted asparagus is delicious. But grilled asparagus? Grilling takes it over the top good!

    I’ve been tempted by those vegetable pans for the grill. But honestly, you don’t need one for asparagus. It’s one less thing to clean up when you’re done.

    Grilling asparagus is as simple as placing it on the grill in the opposite direction of the grill grates. Nothing groundbreaking—but it’s really delicious.

    Asparagus spears on the grill

    How to trim asparagus

    Trim one inch off the bottom of each asparagus spear. That’s the woody/tough part that needs to go. The rest of the spear is perfect for eating.

    The whole notion of bending asparagus until it snaps results in a lot of waste.

    Start by trimming one inch off of a few spears and then use them to guide your knife as you trim the rest.

    Chopping asparagus on a cutting board

    Seasoning the asparagus

    Toss with olive oil and sea salt. I had two bunches of asparagus, and I used 2 tablespoons of olive oil and a scant ½ teaspoon of sea salt.

    Raw asparagus tossed with olive oil and salt

    How to grill asparagus

    Preheat a grill to medium-high heat (about 375°F–400°F).

    Place the trimmed and seasoned spears on the grill in the opposite direction of the grill grates. You want a single layer, but some can overlap.

    Asparagus spears on the grill

    For medium spears, grill the spears for 2–3 minutes until grill marks appear. Then use long-handled tongs to gently rotate the spears (it doesn’t have to be perfect). Cook them for 2 minutes longer, and then pull them off the grill.

    If you have very thin spears, 1–2 minutes per side is enough.

    Thicker spears will take 3–4 minutes per side. You may need to place thicker spears on a cooler part of the grill to finish cooking inside once grill marks have formed.

    Asparagus on the grill

    That’s how to grill asparagus!

    Toppings for asparagus

    Here are some great toppings for grilled asparagus:
    Lemon Zest
    Lemon Juice
    Garlic butter
    Toasted slivered almonds
    Toasted panko breadcrumbs with garlic
    Parsley & lemon zest

    I serve this simple preparation for grilled asparagus all summer long, along with anything else I’m grilling—steaks, burgers, chicken, pork chops, etc. And I love that I don’t have to clean up a sheet pan like I do with roasted asparagus!

    Here are a few of my go-to dishes for grilling that would pair well with asparagus:
    Grilled Skirt Steak with Chimichurri
    Grilled Pork Chops with Honey Soy Glaze
    Grilled Pork Chops with Fresh Peach Salsa

    How to Grill Asparagus
    spears of asparagus cooking on a grill
    Print
    5 from 5 votes

    How to Grill Asparagus

    A simple guide for how to cook asparagus. No special equipment needed!
    Prep Time10 mins
    Active Time6 mins
    Total Time16 mins
    Course: Side Dish
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: grilled asparagus, side dish
    Yield: 6 servings
    Calories: 71kcal
    Author: Kate

    Equipment

    • Grill (gas or charcoal)
    • Tongs (long-handled tongs are best)

    Materials

    • 2 bunches asparagus medium thickness
    • 2 tablespoons olive oil
    • Scant ½ teaspoon sea salt

    Instructions

    • Preheat the grill to medium-high heat (about 375°F–400°F).
    • Rinse the asparagus and trim 1 inch off the bottom of each asparagus spear.
    • Toss the asparagus with the olive oil and sea salt.
    • Place the spears in a single layer on the grill in the opposite direction of the grill grates. Grill for 2–3 minutes, then use a pair of long-handled tongs to gently rotate the spears. Grill for 2 minutes more.

    Notes

    Thin or thick asparagus spears will require a shorter/longer cooking time. Aim for 1–2 minutes per side for very thin spears and 3–4 minutes per side for thick spears. Thick spears may require cooking on a cooler part of the grill after grill marks have formed, in order to cook them all the way through.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 71kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 197mg | Potassium: 303mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 1134IU | Vitamin C: 8mg | Calcium: 36mg | Iron: 3mg
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    kate

    About Kate

    I’m a believer, wife, mom, and big fan of old cookbooks. I live in Chicago with my husband and two young sons. I love discovering old fashioned recipes that will transport you back in time! Read more...

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Babatunde Ogundipe says

      July 30, 2020 at 11:20 pm

      5 stars
      This is simple and easy

      Reply
    2. pete says

      July 25, 2020 at 9:53 am

      5 stars
      growing up, I hated asparagus…maybe if my mom made it like this I would have loved asparagus,…I’m sharing with my mom!!!!

      Reply
    3. Sandra Federici says

      July 04, 2020 at 11:07 am

      5 stars
      I usually cook my asparagus inside. Definitely going to try it on the grill this weekend

      Reply
    4. Chris says

      June 24, 2020 at 1:16 pm

      5 stars
      Cant wait to use this tonight with some steaks!

      Reply
    5. Stefan says

      June 20, 2020 at 5:23 pm

      5 stars
      Love this recipe! Spend so much time focusing on grilling meats, I forget about the simplicity of grilling vegetables too. Look forward to reading more of these grilling recipes. With the COVID-19 circumstances, I find myself grilling a lot more and these recipes are so helpful.

      Reply

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    Kate from Gift of HospitalityI’m Kate. I love discovering old fashioned recipes that will transport you back in time. Learn more here
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