Learn how to make perfect grilled asparagus, a classic summer side dish that’s incredibly flavorful and easy to make. You can perfectly grill asparagus along with lemon and garlic on a hot grill.
Asparagus is one of my favorite vegetables and we love it cooked in a variety of ways.
There are many ways to cook asparagus, but my favorite is to grill it. There is just something magical about how the texture reacts to the heat, making asparagus tender-crisp without the stringiness it can get with other cooking methods.
As a bonus, it cooks in only a few minutes, so you are ready to enjoy the deliciousness even faster than you can preheat your oven. But when it is not summer, we do love asparagus cooked in the air fryer .
Grilling asparagus with fresh lemon, garlic, and herbs is the easiest way to enjoy this veggie side all season. This recipe is perfect for any night of the week, from simple dinners to fancy enough for guests. It’s the perfect vegan and gluten-free side dish!
Looking for more asparagus recipes? Check my popular Lemon Asparagus Pasta and Asparagus Risotto.
Table of Contents
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Quick and easy: Ready in minutes.
- Versatile: Perfect for weeknight dinners or special occasions.
- Healthy: Packed with vitamins and minerals.
- Delicious: The combination of lemon, garlic, and herbs is irresistible.
Ingredients
To make lemon garlic asparagus, you only need a few simple ingredients.
- Asparagus: The star of the show! Look for fresh, vibrant spears with tightly closed tips.
- Lemon juice + Lemon Zest: Gives a bright, citrusy flavor. We’ll use both the juice and zest.
- Avocado Oil: Adds richness and helps with browning.
- Onion Powder: Adds a subtle depth of flavor.
- Garlic Powder: It gives a savory and aromatic punch.
- Seasoning: You’ll need salt and pepper.
How to Make Sure You Get the Best-Cooked Asparagus on the Grill.
Watch the asparagus – Asparagus cooks fast on the grill, so ensure your temperature isn’t too high. If it cooks too high, you could have slightly charred asparagus. I like it with it, but if you don’t, pull it before it gets to that point.
You can also grill this asparagus in foil instead of just on the grill. This will not only act as a barrier to let it cook slower, but it can also be easier to keep the asparagus from possibly falling between the grill grates.
Don’t want to Cook Asparagus on the grill?
If you don’t have a grill or don’t want to grill, you can use this recipe inside. I suggest cooking the asparagus in a skillet over medium-high heat until it’s cooked to your liking.
I have found that asparagus turns out well when cooked in an air fryer. If you want to cook it that way, cook it at about 380 Fahrenheit for 7-8 minutes.
How to Grill Asparagus?
This recipe is super simple to make with only a few ingredients. The good news is that you can even prep it beforehand, so it’s ready to pop on the grill when you cook everything else.
- Wash the asparagus and snap off the tough woody bottom to 1/2 inch to 1 inch. This part can be tricky, so it’s best to remove it.
- Mix the olive oil, lemon juice, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper in a bowl or a zip-lock bag. Give it a good stir or shake to combine everything.
- Toss the asparagus spears in the marinade, making sure they get a nice coating all over. You can leave them marinating for a few minutes for extra flavor.
- Preheat your grill to medium heat. Once it’s nice and hot, add the asparagus spears in an even layer.
- Cook the asparagus for a few minutes per side, turning it occasionally, until it’s tender-crisp and has some nice grill marks.
- Once you take the asparagus off the grill, sprinkle some fresh lemon zest for an extra burst of citrusy flavor.
- Enjoy delicious grilled asparagus! It’s a perfect dish for grilled meat, fish, or pasta.
What goes well with Grilled Lemon Asparagus?
You can add grilled asparagus as a side to any of your favorite dishes, but a few of mine are salmon or shrimp and pasta. You can make it a vegetarian-friendly bowl by adding grilled asparagus and other veggies to my sweet potato quinoa bowl.
Tips for Perfect Grilled Asparagus
- Choose fresh asparagus: Look for bright green spears with tightly closed tips.
- Don’t overcrowd the grill: This can cause uneven cooking.
- Experiment with flavors: Try different herbs, spices, or even a drizzle of balsamic glaze.
- Serve warm or at room temperature: Grilled asparagus is delicious either way.
Frequently Asked Questions
Pick asparagus that is not too thin and not too thick. The thinner the asparagus, the easier it will burn. The thicker the asparagus, the more it can become tough because it is overripe.
Look for bright green, with some purple on the spears. It usually will yield a sweeter flavor. Spears should be firm and not limp. The tips of the spears should be closed and dry, not soft or wet.
Bad asparagus is not hard to tell. Bad asparagus will usually look wilted with wrinkles in the stems. The tops will be soft and usually wet. Asparagus can also get a slimy feeling as it goes bad.
Asparagus can be finicky and is best used shortly after you bring it home. However, you can store it for a few days:
1. Do NOT wash the asparagus before storing it.
2. Remove the rubber bands that are often on asparagus.
3. I like to store the asparagus upright in a mason jar with about an inch of water and put it in the fridge. I find it will stay fresh for about a week this way.
Trim the tough bottom 1/2-1 inch of the asparagus. This part of the stalk is often very tough so removing it is best. A lot of people peel their asparagus, but it is really not necessary. As long as you remove the tough lower ends of the asparagus, the rest of it is completely edible.
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How to Grill Asparagus?
Ingredients
- 1 bunch Asparagus, about 2 pounds
- 2-3 tablespoon Avocado Oil
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- 1/2 teaspoon Black Pepper, freshly ground preferred
- 1 teaspoon Garlic Powder, or 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon Onion Powder
- 1 Lemon, juiced and zested
Instructions
- Trim the bottom ½-1 inch of the asparagus. This part of the stalk is often very tough so removing it is best.
- Combine the oil, salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and lemon juice and zest into a Ziploc bag or shallow dish and mix together.
- Add the asparagus to the bag with the spices and move the asparagus around until it's evenly coated. At this point, you can set it back in the fridge or aside until you are ready to grill.
- Heat your grill to medium heat. Once your grill is hot you can add your asparagus spears to the grill in an even layer. Move the asparagus around so all sides are cooked.
- Remove the asparagus from the grill and top with some fresh lemon zest and another drizzle of lemon juice. This is optional, but it really brightens the flavor, especially coming off the grill.
We have been looking for vegetable grilling recipes. This was perfect!
Hi Nancy – So happy to hear that 🙂