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For the best grilled asparagus, marinate them in a simple balsamic dressing, then grill until charred. An easy, healthy side dish!
Grilled Asparagus
This simple asparagus recipe will show you how to cook the best grilled asparagus. They’re so good you’ll have a hard time not eating the whole batch before they get to the table! Grill them with your favorite protein, such as burgers, grilled salmon, grilled lobster tails, or grilled shrimp. For a fun twist try thse proscuitto wrapped asparagus, or check out more of my favorite asparagus recipes here.
Why You’ll Want to Make This Grilled Asparagus All Summer
- Flavor: The garlic balsamic marinade is so good. You can even use it as a salad dressing.
- Char: Making asparagus on the grill gives you a smoky flavor you just can’t get otherwise.
- Fast: Prep time is short and they only take a few minutes to cook, you can grill them alongside burgers, steaks, tuna, scallops, and more.
- Healthy: Asparagus is nutritious, loaded with vitamin A, Vitamin C, K and iron. They’re also low in calories and carbs and a good source of fiber.
- Easy: Even a beginner cook can whip up these veggies with ease. And if you don’t have a grill, you can cook them on a grill pan or hot skillet.
Ingredients
- Asparagus: Wash asparagus and snap off the woody ends of the asparagus stalks.
- Asparagus Marinade enhances the flavor of the asparagus. All you need is olive oil, balsamic vinegar, minced garlic, salt, and pepper.
How to Grill Asparagus
- Marinate the Asparagus: Season the asparagus with the marinade ingredients in a large dish. Toss with your hands so the spears are fully coated, and let them sit for at least an hour or longer.
- Prep the Grill: Preheat your grill (or grill pan) to medium-high heat. Then arrange the asparagus so that they won’t fall through the grill grates. You can also use a grill basket if you have one, there’s no need for aluminum foil.
- How Long to Grill Asparagus: Grilling asparagus doesn’t take long, but the total time depends on the size of the spears. Estimate time for thin spears are closer to 3 to 5 minutes, and thick asparagus spears may take up to 8 minutes. Turn them occasionally until they are fork tender and lightly charred.
- Serve: Place the grilled asparagus back in the dish with the marinade and toss to coat. Then transfer them to a platter to serve.
What to Serve with Grilled Asparagus
Grilled asparagus are a simple side to go along with any meat or seafood you’re grilling. Below are some protein options, plus some recipes for other sides to pair with them.
- Grilled Meat: Grilled Flank Steak with Chimichurri, Grilled Cumin-Spiced Pork Tenderloin
- Poultry: Grilled Chicken, Yogurt-Marinated Chicken, Grilled Pesto Chicken
- Fish: Grilled Fish Foil Packets, Grilled Garlic Dijon Herb Salmon
- Seafood: Grilled Shrimp Scampi Skewers, Grilled Crab Legsil
- More Vegetables To Serve Along with Asparagus: Grilled Zucchini, Potato Foil Packets, Corn Tomato Avocado Salad, Grilled Corn on the Cob
How to Store Asparagus
Leftover asparagus will last up to four days in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Reheat in the microwave or eat them cold on a salad.
Variations
- Vinegar: Swap balsamic for red wine vinegar.
- Seasoning: Feel free to add dried herbs, onion powder, garlic powder, or other spices to the marinade to switch up the flavors. You can also finish with fresh herbs.
- Cheese: Sprinkle the grilled asparagus with parmesan cheese.
More Asparagus Recipes You’ll Love
- Pesto Pasta with Arugula, Asparagus, Peas, and Pistachios
- Creamy Orzo with Asparagus and Peas
- Parmesan Asparagus Fries
- Roasted Asparagus
- Asparagus and Feta Tartlet with Phyllo Crust
Grilled Asparagus Recipe
For the best grilled asparagus, marinate them in a simple balsamic dressing, then grill until charred. An easy, healthy side dish!
Yield: 4 servings
Serving Size: 8 spears
Ingredients
- 1 pound asparagus spears, (about 32 thin spears)
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 1 1/2 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
- 1 clove minced garlic
- 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more to finish
- black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Rinse the asparagus and trim off the woody ends. To do this, you can simply snap off the end of the spears.
- In a large dish, season the asparagus with the olive oil, vinegar, garlic, salt, and black pepper. Toss with your hands so the spears are well-coated.
- Let them marinate at least an hour if you have the time, or longer. If not, you can cook right away.
- When ready to cook, preheat your grill to medium-high heat.
- Arrange the asparagus spears on the grill in a manner that they won’t fall through the grates. You can also use a grill basket if you have one.
- Grill the asparagus for 3-8 minutes (depending on the thickness of your asparagus and the heat of your grill), turning occasionally, until they are tender and lightly charred.
- Toss it back into the dish with the vinegar getting all the flavor over it, then transfer it to a platter.
Last Step:
Please leave a rating and comment letting us know how you liked this recipe! This helps our business to thrive and continue providing free, high-quality recipes for you.Notes
See notes above for storage and variations.
Nutrition
Serving: 8 spears, Calories: 57 kcal, Carbohydrates: 5.5 g, Protein: 2.5 g, Fat: 3.5 g, Saturated Fat: 0.5 g, Sodium: 73.5 mg, Fiber: 2.5 g, Sugar: 2.5 g
