How to Grill Asparagus
on Apr 19, 2023, Updated Apr 15, 2025
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
Grilling asparagus is a spring and summertime joy that creates a great side dish to all kinds of meals.
While you can cook asparagus in all sorts of ways, asparagus is a shining example of how almost every vegetable is at its best when cooked on the grill. Smoky with a deep flavor, just a touch of charring, they are usually in season just as grilling season hits, so they are a great first grilled spring vegetable. Plus, asparagus cooks very quickly and needs very little preparation, just oil and salt.
Both thick and thin asparagus (and anything in between) can be successfully grilled; it’s just a matter of adding an extra minute or two for fatter spears. If your asparagus is of varying thicknesses, try to group them by thickness so you can take the thinner spears off the grill more quickly than the thicker stalks.
Grilled asparagus is a delightful spring and early summer side for any cookout. Pair it with New York Strip Steak with Jalapeño Butter, Grilled Shrimp Salad with Citrus Dressing, Grilled Rib Lamb Chops, or any of your favorite BBQ recipes. For a vegetarian meal, go with Grilled Cauliflower Steaks and a Grilled Vegetable Pasta Salad.
Table of Contents
How to Grill Asparagus
Steven Raichlen, grilling and barbecue maven and author of many books on the subject, including How to Grill, recommends skewering groups of asparagus crosswise with thin bamboo skewers, brushing the asparagus with oil, then grilling them in these kind of asparagus “rafts,” which are easy to turn.
I usually cook the asparagus right on the grill, but I make sure the stalks are perpendicular to the grill grates so they don’t fall in. You have to be careful when turning the spears, or rolling them (use tongs), so they stay at a 90-degree angle to the lines of the grill grate.
Using a Grill Basket to Grill Asparagus
If you have a grill basket or vegetable grate, this is a great place to use that accessory. Place the trimmed spears into a grill basket on the grate, making sure they are not layered too deep. You want them to cook quickly and evenly, so while you don’t need a perfect single layer of vegetables in the basket or tray, you want to make sure everything has a chance to be at the bottom against the fire, so don’t stack them too thickly.
Toss them every few minutes as they grill over medium-high heat, until they have some nice browned spots and are tender. This will take anywhere from 3 to 8 minutes total, depending on how many asparagus are in the basket, whether the basket was heated on the grill to start with, how high the heat of the fire is, and — again — the thickness of the stalks.
- Prep the grill and asparagus: Heat the grill to medium-high. Trim the asparagus. Toss the asparagus spears with the oil in a shallow platter or rimmed baking sheet. Sprinkle with salt.
Kitchen Smarts
If I am grilling thick asparagus, I cut off an inch or so from the woody ends, and then if the skin is thick, I peel the bottoms of the stalks. Use a vegetable peeler for this task.
If your asparagus is thin, however, the skin at the bottom of the stalks won’t be too tough. You can just snap or trim the bottom inch or two from the bottom and skip the peeling part, which saves time. Dig into more on peeling, preparing, storing, and cooking asparagus here.
- Grill the asparagus: Grill the asparagus spears perpendicular to the grate, or in a grill basket, for 4 to 8 minutes, depending on thickness and how tender you like them to be (see additional tips below). Turn them every minute or two. Don’t forget they will get a bit softer once they are removed from the heat, so take them off just before they are done to your liking. Keep checking, turning, and moving them around as needed.
- Serve: Remove from the grill and serve warm or at room temperature.
How Long to Grill Asparagus
The answer depends on the thickness of the asparagus, the heat of the grill, and, if you are using a grill pan, how crowded the pan is. A good guideline is to grill the asparagus for 2 to 4 minutes, then turn them. Again, plan for a shorter cooking time for thin asparagus and longer for thick.
Keep in mind that the asparagus will continue to “cook” after they are removed from the heat. Take the spears off the fire just before they are as tender as you would ultimately like them to be after they sit for a bit. It’s very much a matter of preference as to how tender you like your asparagus to be, ranging from fairly crisp to meltingly soft.
What to Serve With Grilled Asparagus
You can serve this simply prepared vegetable just as is or with lemon wedges. Some crumbled feta or shaved Parmesan cheese is also lovely.
You can also consider sauces for dipping or drizzling over the top of the asparagus. Or, simply drizzle the asparagus with good balsamic vinegar or a generous squeeze of fresh lemon juice.
- This Arugula Basil Dipping Sauce is creamy and easy, featuring scallions, arugula, and basil with a hint of lemon.
- With just a few ingredients, you can make a zesty Cilantro Sauce that’s perfect for asparagus.
- Fresh herbs mixed with sour cream and mayo make a flavorful and oh-so-simple Herb Sauce.
- For a smoky heat, try this Harissa Dipping Sauce recipe.
- Right in time for asparagus season, turn those spring ramps into a Chimichurri-like Ramp Sauce.
Grilled asparagus, cut into bite-sized pieces, is a great way to rev up pasta, grain, and vegetable salads. Also, try using grilled asparagus in this Asparagus Remoulade with Egg recipe.
More Grilled Asparagus Recipes
Leftovers and Storage
Leftover grilled asparagus can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
More Asparagus Recipes
- Roasted Asparagus is a great alternative to the grill.
- For even more flavor, try the Garlicky Roasted Asparagus with Parmesan recipe.
- Arugula, basil, and scallions create the perfect asparagus partner in the Asparagus with Herb Dipping Sauce recipe.
- Sesame Asparagus and Shiitake Mushrooms is a very easy side and a great way to give asparagus an Asian-inspired twist.
Pin this now to find it later
Pin It
Grilled Asparagus
Instructions
- Heat the grill to medium-high.
- Trim the asparagus (see Note). Toss the asparagus spears with the oil in a shallow platter of rimmed baking sheet. Sprinkle with salt.
- Grill the asparagus with the spears perpendicular to the grate, or in a grill basket, 4 to 8 minutes, depending on thickness, and how tender you like them to be (see additional tips above). Turn them every minute or two. Don’t forget they will get a bit softer once they are removed from the heat, so take them off just before they are done to your liking. Keep checking, turning, and moving them around as needed. Remove from the grill and serve warm or at room temperature.
