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GET IT NOWWhen the weather warms up, I swap my go-to roasted asparagus for grilled asparagus! There’s just something about that smoky, lightly charred flavor that gives it a totally different feel. This year (finally living somewhere warm!), I’m really enjoying that I have the chance to throw asparagus on the grill earlier in the season, instead of waiting until summer. But even if you’re not quite there yet, you have plenty of time to whip up this quick, savory side dish in the coming months. Once it’s warm enough, grab a bunch and make this grilled asparagus recipe with me!
Why You Need My Grilled Asparagus Recipe
- Fresh, flavorful, and perfectly crisp tender – Grilling asparagus brings out its natural sweetness, but I especially love the smoky flavor that other cooking methods don’t get you. And I have the timing dialed down to get those char marks and crispy tips without that limp, overcooked texture.
- Ready in less than 10 minutes – With just a handful of simple ingredients, this recipe has the fastest cook time of all my grilled vegetable recipes. Perfect with grilled salmon or grilled chicken legs for busy nights or last-minute BBQs!
- Choose from different ways to grill – I’ve tested directly on the grill as well as wrapped in foil, plus more alternatives in my tips below. Pick your favorite!
Ingredients & Substitutions
Here I explain the best ingredients for my grilled asparagus recipe, what each one does, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card.
- Asparagus – I recommend selecting thicker asparagus spears for grilling, because they are less prone to overcooking and you can get a nice char while keeping the crisp tender texture. If you’ve got thin ones, grilling in foil works best. And if you have too many to cook up before they go bad, use the extras to make my pickled asparagus.
- Oil – I usually use regular olive oil, but extra virgin or even avocado oil works, too.
- Spices – Garlic powder, sea salt, and black pepper. If you want a stronger flavor, try paprika, Italian seasoning, or lemon pepper.
- Lemon Wedges – Totally optional, but they add a nice zip at the end. You can also mix 1-2 tablespoons of lemon juice with the oil before grilling if you like.
How To Grill Asparagus
I have step-by-step photos here to help you visualize the recipe. For full instructions with amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card.
- Prep your grill and asparagus. Preheat the grill to medium-high (or heat a grill pan for 5 minutes). Meanwhile, trim the woody ends of the asparagus—just snap or cut them!
- Sprinkle with seasonings. Toss the spears with the oil, garlic powder, salt and pepper. I like to use a baking dish rather than a bowl, so the stalks can lay flat.
- Wrap in foil if you want. If using foil (see my tips below on when you might want to), place the asparagus on a large sheet of aluminum foil and fold to seal the edges like a packet. Otherwise, skip to the next step.
- Grill asparagus. Cook the asparagus on the grill, turning occasionally, until bright green, tender, and a little charred. Serve your vegetables with a squeeze of lemon juice if you like!
My Recipe Tips
- I repeat: Thick asparagus spears work best! They’re easier to handle, less likely to overcook, and get a better char.
- How to decide which method to use: Cooking asparagus on the grill grates is the fastest — just a few minutes — and gets you char marks with crispy tips. On the other hand, grilling asparagus in foil is less work flipping, no risk of falling through the grates, and works best for thinner spears (which tend to overcook directly on the grates) — even though it does take longer. Choose based on your needs, or try one of my other methods in the next 2 tips.
- Skewers can also make flipping easier. I usually skip the extra upfront work of skewering, but it did help when I tried it! Soak bamboo skewers in water for 30-60 minutes first, so they don’t catch fire. Then, line up 4-6 spears and skewer crosswise through the bottom half, then skewer again through the top half (2 rows total). When it’s time to flip, just rotate the skewers.
- Try a grill basket. A great balance of convenience and char marks! I got this one last year and love it.
- If there’s leftover oil or liquid at the bottom of the baking dish after mixing, shake it off before placing on the grill. Hot oil dripping down can cause flareups.
- Place the asparagus perpendicular to the grates. This reduces the chances of falling through.
- Use tongs to flip. A turner isn’t very effective because it pushes the spears around (sometimes through the grates). Tongs work much better.
- Watch for doneness indicators. Your stalks should turn bright green with char marks. They should also soften a bit (you can poke with a long fork to check), but not so much that they are floppy.
- Want to make this grilled asparagus recipe on a rainy day? I use a cast iron grill pan on the stovetop for those days! You don’t get the same flavor, but you do get the nice browning and perfect texture.
Serving Ideas
There are so many meals I love with grilled asparagus! Try these combos:
- Grilled Meats & Seafood – While I already have the grill on, my favorite proteins with this dish include grilled steak, grilled London broil, grilled cod, pollo asado, or simply the best burgers. For a special occasion, I love grilled lobster tail or grilled lamb chops.
- Savory Brunch – Grilled asparagus tastes amazing paired with my cloud eggs or eggs benedict casserole.
- Toppings – Sometimes I like a sprinkle of shredded parmesan cheese, crumbled feta, or fresh herbs after cooking. You can even drizzle with my homemade hollandaise, lemon butter sauce, or tahini sauce for something new and different.
Grilled Asparagus (Fast & Easy)
Cooking asparagus on the grill leaves it sweet, tender, and smoky — and this is the only grilled asparagus recipe you'll ever need!
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Instructions
Tap on the times in the instructions to start a kitchen timer.
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Preheat the grill over medium-high heat for 5-10 minutes, or a grill pan for 5 minutes.
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Arrange asparagus in a baking dish. Drizzle the asparagus with olive oil. Sprinkle with sea salt, black pepper and garlic powder, if using. Use your hands to toss and turn the pieces, so that they are evenly coated in oil and seasoning.
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To grill asparagus directly on the grill: Place asparagus on the grill, perpendicular to the grates. Grill for 2-4 minutes, turning halfway through to lightly char all sides, until tender. (Add an extra couple of minutes if your asparagus is thick.)
To grill asparagus in foil: Place the asparagus on a large piece of tin foil, fold over the foil and seal to form a foil packet. Place the foil packet onto the grill and cook for 10-15 minutes, turning halfway through, until tender.
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Serve with a squeeze of lemon.
LAST STEP: Leave a rating to help other readers, or tag me @wholesomeyum on Instagram. I’d love to hear from you!
Maya’s Recipe Notes
Serving size: 1/4 lb, or 1/4 of entire recipe
- Tips: Check out my recipe tips above to help you avoid overcooking, decide which method to use, make flipping easier, and keep asparagus from slipping through the grates.
- Store: Keep leftover asparagus in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4-5 days. It gets much softer so I don’t love it plain, but it’s delicious tossed in a frittata, egg bites, salmon salad, mixed with zoodles in Alfredo sauce, or even a green smoothie!
- Reheat: If you still want to reheat separately, your best bet is the oven at 325 degrees F, or the air fryer.
- Freeze: It’s doable, but it’ll get a bit mushy. Freeze up to 3 months, then thaw in the fridge before reheating.
I provide nutrition facts as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see my nutrition policy.
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Grilled Asparagus
11 Comments
Debbie Yoder
0Love how easy and good this recipe is! Always a hit at our BBQs!
Wholesome Yum D
0I’m so happy to hear that, Debbie! Easy and crowd-pleasing is the best combo, thrilled it’s a hit at your BBQs!
Pam
0I had only ever made asparagus in the oven and stove. But grilling it gave it such great flavor! And the seasoning was perfect! Thank you!
April
0THIS WAS SO GOOD!! Next time I’m going to have to buy double the amount of asparagus, because my kids went nuts over this and ate it all, lol.
Shar
0What I love about your grilled asparagus recipe are it’s easy, quick and convenient and the outcome is super delicious and satisfying. It’s a perfect side dish for any steak recipe.
Joan
0This sounds delicious but I would also sprinkle with parmesan cheese.
Amy
0So many great tips on how to grill asparagus! They were cooked to perfection all three ways!
Kristyn
0I could eat this as a snack, I love it so much! We have had this grilled asparagus many times already this summer!
Natalie
0This grilled asparagus is my favorite way to cook it! it gives it a nice flavor!
Sandra
0The nutrition facts state that there is 2.1 g in this recipe. Does asparagus really have natural sugar in it? Or, is the sugar count from something else?
Will have to try this…..as soon as we find a new grill. The old one “bit the dust this spring”. Actually, caught on fire; even melted the temperature knobs. It was very old, so now a new one will have to be found.
Will check in after trying this one. In the meantime, could this possibly work in an oven?
Sandra W.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Sandra, Yes, there are natural sugars in the asparagus. Here is my method for cooking asparagus in the oven.