Kick off grilling season with these smoky spears of tender Grilled Asparagus! It’s an effortless, healthy side dish with unlimited possibilities.

Grilled asparagus with lemon and Parmesan on a plate

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5 Star Review

“What a perfect spring side dish. The grilling process makes the asparagus so beautifully green and full of flavor.”
— Vicki —

Why You’ll Love Cooking Asparagus on the BBQ

Hello, Spring! When asparagus season hits, take advantage while you can! Make Asparagus Soup, Asparagus Tart, and of course, fire up the grill to cook as much grilled asparagus as possible.
Fantastic Char. As much as we love Roasted Asparagus and Air Fryer Asparagus, grilled veggies are special. They are touched by that tantalizing sensation of easy living and kiss of smoke that only the grill can impart Grilled Corn agrees).
The FASTEST Way to Cook Asparagus. Grilled asparagus cook in 10 minutes or less. Season it simply with salt and pepper for a fast and simple side that can go with any of your other favorite grilled recipes.
So Versatile. Take your asparagus game to the next level by jazzing it up with an array of complementary flavors, spices, and/or herbs. Our go-to is Parmesan and lemon, just like Grilled Zucchini.

The BEST grilled asparagus with Parmesan

Ingredients and Substitutions

You’ll find the full list of ingredients in the recipe card below, but here are some notes to keep in mind.

Asparagus. A truly delicious and nutritious veggie to grill and enjoy alongside any grilling recipe! It’s easy to prepare, kid-friendly, and pairs well with a multitude of seasonings and toppings.
Olive Oil. Or another oil you like to use for grilling
Seasonings of Choice. See below for a myriad of ideas!

Step-By-Step Instructions

Trim the Asparagus. The woody end is too hard and fibrous to eat.

Oil and Season. Be sure the asparagus has a nice coating so the tips don’t burn.

Lay on the Grill. Place perpendicular to the grates to get nice char marks.

Grill. Use medium-high heat, about 375°F to 400°F. Grill for 6 to 10 minutes over until fork tender.
Serve. Grilled asparagus tastes great both warm and at room temperature.

Ways to Season Grilled Asparagus

What you put on grilled asparagus is up to you, but these are a few of our favorite ideas:

Garlic. Toss the asparagus with 3 cloves of minced garlic prior to grilling, or sprinkle with garlic powder when adding your salt and pepper.
Parmesan or Feta. Sprinkle 2 to 3 tablespoons of freshly grated Parmesan cheese or crumbled feta cheese over the top of your grilled asparagus.
Lemon. Juice lemon halves over the top.
Balsamic. Drizzle 2 tablespoons of balsamic vinegar over your grilled asparagus. (Be sure to check out my Grilled Portobello Mushrooms, which have a fantastic balsamic marinade.)
Bacon. Sprinkle bacon bits over the top (Air Fryer Bacon and Oven Baked Bacon are two of my favorite cooking methods). Be sure to check out this Bacon Wrapped Asparagus too.
Herbs. Finish your grilled asparagus with a handful of chopped parsley, basil, or dill.
Spicy. Sprinkle the grilled asparagus with a pinch of red pepper flakes.
Fancy. Combine minced shallot, a squeeze of lemon juice, and oil. Spoon over the grilled asparagus.
Nutty. Sprinkle your grilled asparagus with toasted almonds or pine nuts.
Choose Your Own. Try a combination of a few of these to create your own flavor explosion.

Healthy grilled asparagus in a baking dish

Leftover Ideas

Leftover asparagus makes a tasty addition to pasta dishes (like Penne Alla Vodka), risotto (like Mushroom Risotto), a French Omelette, Quinoa Salad, or Naan Pizza. It’s also scrumptious on this Scrambled Egg Toast with Asparagus.

What to Serve with Grilled Asparagus

While I’ve been known to snack on copious amounts of grilled asparagus as a healthy snack, it’s also one of my very favorite side dish recipes to serve alongside countless other mains.

Grilled Meats. Try a side of grilled asparagus with Grilled Chicken Thighs, Grilled Pork Chops, or Grilled Pork Tenderloin.
Seafood. Enjoy with your favorite fresh catch of the day, like Grilled Salmon, Grilled Swordfish, or Grilled Cod.
Salads. Let cool and cut into small pieces and enjoy added to this Steak Salad, Niçoise Salad, or Italian Chopped Salad.
Appetizers. I know it will be a good party when I see grilled asparagus on a platter beside some homemade Roasted Red Peppers, Roasted Tomatoes, Grilled Eggplant, and Feta Dip at an event.

Recipe Tips and Tricks

Use Thick Asparagus Stalks. While the flavor of thick and thin asparagus is the same, thicker asparagus spears are more tender than thinner spears. Thicker spears also don’t fall through the grates as easily, and they can stand up to high-temperature grilling more easily than thinner stalks.
When In Doubt, Use Foil or a Grill Basket. If you only have thin stalks (sometimes my grocery store has only thin, depending upon the point in the season), I suggest cooking them in a grill basket like this or on grill-safe foil. This will prevent your lovely spears from falling to a sad, fiery doom.
Dry Your Spears. Asparagus needs to be trimmed and washed before cooking. Be sure to pat it dry to ensure it crisps and caramelizes. If it is too wet, it may steam.
Bend and Snap. The easiest way to trim asparagus is to snap it with your hands. Hold the stem end in one hand and grip it near the base with the other. Briskly bend and the asparagus will naturally break in the right place. You can also trim off the end with a knife.

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