Smokey, tender-crisp, bright-green, juicy grilled asparagus is one of the best ways to enjoy this delicious, flavorful vegetable.
You can make this easy grilled asparagus recipe on the stovetop on a grill pan or an actual grill. All you need is fresh asparagus, oil, salt, black pepper, and lemon wedges.
Check out our Guide to Cook Asparagus
Asparagus is a versatile vegetable as it can be cooked in many different ways. From steamed to sauteed, from boiled to air-fried, we are big fans of this delicious spring vegetable.
And while we love asparagus in all these different ways, grilled asparagus is special. The charred, smoky flavor makes it even more delectable, and you can only get that by grilling it at high temperatures.
To prevent asparagus spears from burning too fast, coat them in olive oil. Add a pinch of salt to bring out their taste even more and a squeeze of fresh lemon juice to make the flavor pop. Get ready to make a double batch cause you won’t be able to stop eating them.
This simple grilled asparagus recipe is the perfect side dish for any of your favorite dinners, and we are sure that everyone at your table will take seconds.
Ingredients
Asparagus: use fresh asparagus for best results. I like to grill thick asparagus spears; they are meatier. Both farmed asparagus and wild asparagus are great for grilling.
Olive oil: we recommend using extra virgin olive oil if you can. EV Olive Oil has more antioxidants than regular olive oil. The antioxidants make it more stable at high temperatures, making extra virgin olive oil suitable for grilling.
Salt and pepper: use to season the asparagus before grilling them. Sea salt and kosher salt are the best for grilling.
Lemon juice: add a squeeze of lemon juice on top of the grilled asparagus just before serving them. The acidity of the lemon is a flavor booster.
Fresh herbs: (optional) mint, chives, dill, basil, and especially flat-leaf Italian parsley go extremely well with grilled asparagus. Pick your favorite, finely chop it, and sprinkle it on top.
Instructions
Preheat the grill pan on medium-high heat for 3 minutes, or if you use a grill, preheat to medium heat (around 370°F or 190°C) and brush the grill grates clean.
In the meantime, rinse and trim the woody ends of the asparagus with a sharp knife or snap ends with your hands.
Transfer to a dish and season with olive oil, salt, and black pepper. Toss with your hands to coat evenly in oil.
When the grill pan is hot, arrange the asparagus on it and cook for 5 to 10 minutes, depending on how thick the asparagus stalks are. The ones in the picture took exactly 10 minutes. Turn the asparagus with tongs a few times.
Note: you can put fresh asparagus directly on the grill. There’s no need to wrap them in foil.
Tip: if you use a grill, arrange the asparagus perpendicular to the grill bars. You can also use a grill basket to keep them together.
The asparagus is cooked when tender on the inside, with still some bite and with char marks on the surface. To check doneness, poke it with a fork. If it slides in easily, the asparagus is ready. It should be fork-tender but not mushy.
Serving Suggestions
Lemon and Herbs
The simplest way to serve grilled asparagus is to add a squeeze of lemon juice. Good quality balsamic vinegar is also a good option.
Fresh herbs such as flat-leaf parsley and basil are also delicious with asparagus. Finely chop them and sprinkle them on top.
Nuts like pine nuts, almonds, walnuts, and pistachios are also delicious. Lightly toast them and sprinkle them on top.
Butter and Lemon
To add a little more oomph (and calories) to this side dish, you could use some butter or vegan butter. Add a teaspoon or two of vegan butter onto the asparagus. Add a pinch of salt and pepper and a squeeze of lemon, and sprinkle with finely chopped flat-leaf parsley. Smokey, crunchy, velvety, and citrusy. Irresistible.
Mustard Vinaigrette
This is our vegan version of honey-mustard vinaigrette. Make it with 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil, 2 tablespoons of lemon juice, 1 tablespoon of maple syrup, 1 teaspoon of mustard, ½ teaspoon of salt, a few twists of black pepper, and some grated garlic (or garlic powder). Whisk well and serve alongside the grilled asparagus for people to drizzle on top.
This vinaigrette adds a lot of flavor to this simple recipe. It’s tangy, zesty, a little sweet, and sour. It’s delicious with grilled asparagus.
Add other grilled veggies.
Other veggies that cook at about the same time as asparagus are sliced zucchini, corn, sliced eggplant, chopped bell peppers, and mushrooms. Even grilled tofu is delicious with it. In this case, our advice is to coat it in our tofu marinade before grilling it.
More Asparagus Recipes
If you like asparagus, check out our other recipes:
- air fryer asparagus – one of our favorite ways to eat asparagus
- tofu soup with asparagus – incredibly simple and satisfying
- steamed asparagus – healthy, tender-crisp, and incredibly juicy
Questions
No. There is no need to soak asparagus before grilling. All you have to do is rinse them and season them with olive oil, salt, and pepper.
Grill asparagus for 5 to 10 minutes, depending on how thick the asparagus stalks are.
Cooking asparagus on the grill in foil takes between 10 to 15 minutes. Season the asparagus with olive oil, salt, and black pepper, and wrap them in aluminum. Each packet with 5 to 8 asparagus. Place foil packets on the hot grill, turning once halfway through.
There’s no need to marinate asparagus before grilling. Simply season them with olive oil, salt, and black pepper, and grill.
The secret to crispy grilled asparagus is 1) Coat them in olive oil before grilling. 2) Preheat the grill to medium-high at about 370°F or 190°C. 3) Do not overcook them.
Storage
Store grilled asparagus in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat in microwave. They won’t be as crunchy on the second day. We do not recommend freezing them.
For many more side dish ideas, check out our sides category page.
Grilled Asparagus
Ingredients
- 16 ounces (1 lb) asparagus
- ½ tablespoon olive oil
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 twists black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat the grill pan on medium-high heat for 3 minutes or if you use a grill, preheat to medium heat (that's around 370°F or 190°C) and brush the grill grates clean.In the meantime, rinse and trim the woody ends of the asparagus with a sharp knife, or snap ends with your hands.
- Transfer to a dish and season with olive oil, salt, and black pepper. Toss with your hands to coat evenly in oil.
- When the grill pan is hot, arrange the asparagus on it and cook for 5 to 10 minutes, depending on how thick the asparagus stalks are. The ones in the picture took exactly 10 minutes. Turn the asparagus with tongs a few times.Tip: if you use a grill, arrange the asparagus perpendicular to the grill bars. You can also use a grill basket to keep them together.
- The asparagus are cooked when tender on the inside, with still some bite and with char marks on the surface. To check doneness, poke them with fork. If it slides in easily, the asparagus are ready. They should be fork tender, but not mushy. See notes below for serving suggestions.
Notes
SERVING SUGGESTIONS
LEMON AND HERBS The simplest way to serve grilled asparagus is to add a squeeze of lemon juice. Good quality balsamic vinegar is also a good option. Fresh herbs such as flat-leaf parsley and basil are also delicious with asparagus. Finely chop them and sprinkle them on top. Nuts like pine nuts, almonds, walnuts, and pistachios are delicious with it too. Lightly toast them and sprinkle them on top. BUTTER AND LEMON To add a little more oomph (and calories) to this side dish, you could use some butter or vegan butter. Add a teaspoon or two of vegan butter onto the asparagus. Add a pinch of salt and pepper and a squeeze of lemon, and sprinkle with finely chopped flat-leaf parsley. Smokey, crunchy, velvety, and citrusy. Irresistible. MUSTARD VINAIGRETTE This is our vegan version of honey-mustard vinaigrette. Make it with 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil, 2 tablespoons of lemon juice, 1 tablespoon of maple syrup, 1 teaspoon of mustard, ½ teaspoon of salt, a few twists of black pepper, and some grated garlic (or garlic powder). Whisk well and serve alongside the grilled asparagus for people to drizzle on top. This vinaigrette adds a lot of flavor to this simple recipe. It’s tangy, zesty, a little sweet, and sour. It’s delicious with grilled asparagus. ADD OTHER VEGGIES Other veggies that cook at about the same time as asparagus are sliced zucchini, corn, sliced eggplant, chopped bell peppers, and mushrooms. Even grilled tofu is delicious with it. In this case, our advice is to coat it in our tofu marinade before grilling it.Nutrition
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