How to Grill Asparagus

Asparagus is one of Ree Drummond's favorite vegetables whether it's sautéed, oven-roasted, or even made in the air fryer. But if you haven't tried grilled asparagus, then get ready to have a new favorite among your vegetable side dishes. Quick, easy, and made with ingredients that are likely already on hand, this versatile vegetable dish is perfect with grilled steak, chicken, and fish.

What's the secret to perfect grilled asparagus?

The good news is that there are no secrets involved, just a dash of good old common sense! Great grilled asparagus starts with choosing the right size of asparagus. While thin spears are great for sautéing, thicker spears are easier to grill, because they are less likely to slip through the grates. They're also easier to grab with the grill tongs.

How do you get asparagus ready for grilling?

Just like with oven-roasting and sautéing, it's a good practice to trim away any "woody" stems. The stem ends are opposite from the tips—they're the end that grows in the ground. They're often tougher and more fibrous and can be a little dry if they aren't stored properly. To remove them, simply use a sharp knife to cut away about 1 inch of the base of the stems. Some folks like to bend asparagus until the spears snap, but this can be a bit wasteful; a knife yields a more precise trim—and more asparagus for your dinner plate!

How do you keep asparagus from falling between the grill grates?

Place the asparagus on the grill grates crosswise or perpendicular to the grill grates. When it's time to turn the asparagus, use grilling tongs, and flip a few spears at a time. Be patient, and you'll end up with more asparagus to enjoy; rush it, and it's easy to lose your grip and scatter the spears. On a side note, if your asparagus spears are nice and straight, use the grill tongs to nudge and "roll" them to grill the other side… it's it a lot easier than grabbing and turning.

Do you need any special tools to grill asparagus?

Some folks swear by throwing their veggies in a grill basket, but the beauty of grilling is not having to do a lot of cleanup right? Skip the grill basket and just preheat the grill for an extra five minutes, then use a wire grill brush to scrape the grill grates clean before you start cooking.

How do you add flavor to grilled asparagus?

This recipe is designed to be versatile, so you can adapt it to any menu. Serve the grilled asparagus with shaved parmesan, chopped pistachios, a spoonful of salsa, a drizzle of Sriracha, or anything your appetite desires.

How do you store asparagus?

If you're not able to grill asparagus the day you buy it, keep it fresh longer by storing in the refrigerator with the base of the bunch submerged in about 1 inch of water, like a bouquet of flowers.