How to Grill Asparagus

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!

grilled asparagus on a gas grill.

Roasted asparagus is delicious. But grilled asparagus? Grilling takes it over the top good. Read on for an easy guide on how to grill asparagus!

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.

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three rows of asparagus on a gas 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.

a knife and asparagus on a wooden cutting board.

Seasoning tips

The only thing that asparagus needs is olive oil and salt!

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

asparagus with oil on it on a sheet pan.

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.

raw asparagus lined up on a 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.

grilled asparagus on a white platter.

That’s how to grill asparagus!

Toppings for grilled 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!

More dishes for the grill

Here are a few of my go-to dishes for grilling that would pair well with asparagus:

Have you tried this recipe? Please leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating and/or comment below!

📖 Recipe

spears of asparagus cooking on a grill

Grilled Asparagus

Published by Kate
A simple guide for how to cook asparagus. No equipment needed!
5 from 1 vote
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Course Side Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 6 servings
Calories 71 kcal

Equipment

  • Grill (gas or charcoal)
  • Tongs (long handled if possible)

Ingredients
  

  • 2 bunches asparagus medium thickness
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • ½ teaspoon 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: 71kcalCarbohydrates: 6gProtein: 3gFat: 5gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gSodium: 197mgPotassium: 303mgFiber: 3gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 1134IUVitamin C: 8mgCalcium: 36mgIron: 3mg
Keyword grilled asparagus
Did You Make This Recipe?Please leave a star rating and comment below!

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5 Comments

  1. 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!!!!

  2. 5 stars
    I usually cook my asparagus inside. Definitely going to try it on the grill this weekend

  3. 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.

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