Asparagus is a staple in our house, and grilling is our favorite way to enjoy it. With an irresistibly smoky flavor, this healthy grilled asparagus in foil makes a nutritious side dish that pairs well with all meats and seafood!
This recipe is one that I’ve been making for years and in my opinion, is the best way to make asparagus. With only a handful of ingredients, grilled asparagus in foil is easy to prep and cooks on the grill in just a few minutes. The foil keeps the stalks nice and crispy and prevents them from slipping through the grill.
I love to serve asparagus when it's in season. Toss it on the grill along side grilled salmon tacos, chicken or just about anything!
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Ingredients
- Asparagus: thicker stalks are best for cooking directly on the grill to avoid falling through the cracks, but any size works for these foil packs!
- Olive oil: use a generous amount of olive oil or butter
- Salt and pepper
- Lemon juice: optional
- Parmesan cheese: optional
How To Prepare Asparagus
Before you start cooking it is important to take a few minutes and trim your asparagus. The thick bottom of asparagus stalks are too tough and woody to eat and hard to digest, so we want to remove them by snapping or cutting.
To snap: take a stalk and gently bend it. Wherever the stalk snaps is the spot where the tender part starts and the tough part ends.
To cut: line up all your stalks and trim the bottom off in the same spot as where your original piece snapped in half. Or simply cut about 1 inch off the bottoms.
How To Grill Asparagus in Foil
Since we're grilling asparagus in foil and it's already trimmed, it's super simple. You'll need foil, oil, salt and pepper. Throw the foil packs on the grill or bake in the oven for an easy side dish!
Season the asparagus. Drizzle with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Use your hands to toss.
Wrap in foil. Fold the foil over the asparagus to seal on all sides. Grill asparagus at 400ºF for 10-12 minutes, flipping halfway through.
I prefer to grill asparagus at a higher temperature for a shorter amount of time. This times perfectly with most meats and gives your asparagus a nice crunchy, char flavor. Preheat the grill to 400ºF, place your foil pack on top of the flames, and cook for 4-6 min each side. Thinner stalks will take about 3-4 minutes.
You'll know it's done when you can easily pierce it with a fork. It should be tender but still have a slight crunch - not soggy or mushy!
How To Season
Purists enjoy asparagus with nothing more than a drizzle of good-quality olive oil because it goes with almost any dish, but you can season and serve asparagus with just about anything!
- Stick with classics: seasoning with lemon pepper, Italian seasoning, or garlic butter.
- Other than Parmesan, grated Gruyere, Pecorino, or Pepper Jack adds a nice kick!
- Think sesame stir-fry: toss with soy sauce, ginger, garlic and lime juice.
- Get spicy: toss with garlic, chili powder, cumin, lime juice, and scallions.
- Chop any leftovers into bite sized pieces and toss into pasta, rice dishes, or breakfast scrambles throughout the week!
Top Tips
- Use Fresh Asparagus: Look for asparagus that is firm, bright green, and has tightly closed tips. Avoid asparagus that is wilted, discolored, has open tips or a funky smell (you'll know it if you smell it).
- Choose the Right Foil: Heavy-duty aluminum foil is best for grilling asparagus to keep from burning and for even cooking.
- Avoid steaming: fold the foil over and leave the top and bottom open. You can also grill on an open sheet of foil.
- Check for Doneness: Cooking time depends on the thickness of the asparagus, so keep a close eye on it. Overcooked asparagus will be mushy and stringy. Pierce the foil packet with a fork to check the tenderness. It should be fork-tender but still have a slight crunch.
FAQs
Yes, you can cook asparagus on the grill. For a crunchy, char flavor, grill asparagus directly on the grates. Look for thick asparagus and place the stalks perpendicular to the grates so they don't fall through while cooking. Use tongs to gently roll them over every few minutes instead of flipping each asparagus. Alternatively, you can grill any size stalk in a foil packet with no risk of them falling in the fire!
Depending on the size, grilled asparagus in foil takes 10-12 minutes to cook. Thinner stalks will cook in less time (3-4 minutes), while larger, thicker stalks may take 5- 6 minutes per side. If you’re adding the asparagus directly to the grill without foil, it takes about 2-3 minutes per side.
Serve it with
These are my favorite dishes to serve with grilled asparagus in foil:
Grilled Asparagus In Foil
Ingredients
- 1 lb asparagus
- 2 tablespoon olive oil
- Kosher salt and pepper `
- Lemon optional
- Parmesan optional
Instructions
- Preheat and prepare: preheat grill to 400ºF and trim asparagus.
- Season: Place asparagus on a large sheet of tin foil. Drizzle on a generous amount of olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Toss with your hands.
- Wrap in foil: Pull up the sides of the aluminum foil, then fold tightly to create and seal the asparagus into a wrapped packet.
- Grill the asparagus. Place the packet on the grill, cook for 4-6 minutes per side.
- Remove from grill and open carefully (watch out for steam!). Add additional seasoning and serve!
Did you try this? Let us know!