Grilling asparagus with fresh lemon, garlic, and herbs is the easiest way to enjoy this veggie side all season long.
Asparagus is one of my favorite vegetables; it also happens to be one of my youngest favorites too. Lol, in fact, any time I make asparagus, it's usually taking up her plate more than anything else I've made that night, haha.
There are so many ways to cook asparagus, but my favorite has to be on the grill. There is just something magical about the way the texture reacts to the heat that makes asparagus tender-crisp without the stringiness that it can get with other cooking methods. Bonus it cooks in only a few minutes, so you are ready to enjoy the deliciousness even faster than you can preheat your oven.
This recipe is perfect for any night of the week, from simple dinners and even fancy enough if you're having guests over. It's the perfect gluten and dairy-free side dish!
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Ingredients.
To make lemon garlic asparagus, you really only need a few simple ingredients.
- Asparagus
- Lemon juice + Lemon Zest
- Avocado Oil
- Onion Powder
- Garlic Powder
- Salt
- Pepper
Asparagus FAQ.
Pick asparagus that is not too thin and not super thick. The thinner the asparagus, the easier it will burn. The thicker the asparagus, it can become tough because the asparagus 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 as well.
Asparagus can be finicky, and it's best used shortly after you bring it home. However, if you want to store your asparagus for a few days, you can.
Do NOT wash the asparagus before storing it.
Remove the rubber bands that are often on asparagus.
I like to store place the asparagus upright into a mason jar with about an inch of water and place them in the fridge.
I find it will stay fresh for about a week this way.
Trim the bottom ½-1 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.
How to make sure you get the best cooked asparagus on the grill.
Watch the asparagus - Asparagus cooks fast on the grill, so make sure that your temperature isn't too high. If it cooks too high, you could end up with slightly charred asparagus. Personally, I like it with it, but if you don't, make sure to pull it before it gets to that point.
You can also make this grilled 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 be easier to keep the asparagus from possibly falling between the grill grates.
Don't want to cook this lemon garlic asparagus on the grill?
You can use this recipe inside if you don't have a grill or just don't want to grill. I suggest cooking the asparagus in a skillet over medium-high heat until it's cooked to your liking. I am not a fan of roasting asparagus as I find it's often cooked too long, and it because soft and often stringy.
I have found that cooking asparagus in the toaster oven or even cooking asparagus in the air fryer turns out really well. If you want to cook it that way, cook it at about 400 degrees for 5-7 minutes, then give the asparagus a shake before cooking for an additional 5-7 minutes.
Let's Make Grilled Asparagus
This recipe is super simple to make with only a few ingredients. The good news is you can even prep this ahead of time then it's ready to pop on the grill when you are cooking everything else.
- Prep the asparagus
- Mix the lemon garlic marinade
- Marinate the asparagus.
- Cook the asparagus.
- Serve and enjoy!
What goes well with lemon garlic asparagus?
Really you can add grilled asparagus as a side to any of your favorite dishes, but a few of mine are my grilled balsamic bruschetta chicken and my garlic herb steak marinade since I'm already on the grill.
📖 Recipe
Grilled Lemon Garlic and Herb Asparagus
Ingredients
- 1 Bunch Asparagus
- 3 TBS Avocado Oil
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- ½ teaspoon Pepper
- 1 teaspoon Garlic Powder
- 1 teaspoon Onion Powder
- 1 teaspoon Italian Seasoning
- 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 all the spices, avocado oil, and lemon juice 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 completely coated.At this point, you can set it back in the fridge or aside until you are ready to grill.
- Heat your grills 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. This is optional, but it really brightens the flavor, especially coming off the grill.
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