Jump into asparagus season with the easiest and yummiest way to eat it. Make Grilled Asparagus in foil for a 20-minute side perfect for all types of eaters!
All About Asparagus
Goooood morning asparagus season! If you love this green vegetable, say I. I! Today’s recipe is one that I’ve been making for YEARS and in my opinion, is the best way to make asparagus in all the land. I do have to say that our bacon wrapped asparagus is a close second followed by our asparagus shrimp scampi.
First, a little brief intro on Asparagus 😀 Asparagus is harvested from late February to June, but still widely available during the summer months…hence, grilled asparagus! You’ll notice that from top to bottom, asparagus looks very different. The head/tip of the asparagus (the part that looks like a mini tree) is the best part to eat. It’s tender and juicy and very different from the bottom part of the spear, which you inevitably cut off and do not eat because of its woodiness.
Asparagus Benefits
Asparagus is a great vegetable option if you’re looking to pack in fiber, folate, and vitamins A, C, and K, while not packing in the calories.
- vitamin C
- vitamin A
- vitamin K
- Folate
- Potassium
- vitamin E
Asparagus Nutrition
Asparagus is not only packed with tons of vitamins and minerals but calorically is extremely good for you. Per one lb. of asparagus….
- 85 calories
- .5g fat
- 17g carbs
- 8g fiber
- 8g sugar
- 12g protein
How to Prepare Asparagus
There are many different ways to cook asparagus — grill, oven, pan-fried, steamed, etc. Before you do any of these things it is important to take a few minutes to clean and prepare your asparagus. To do this it is very simple.
- Hold the bunch of asparagus, tip-side down, and run it under cold water. Use your hands to remove any dirt or sand (or worms!) from the tips. Asparagus comes from the ground, so it’s normal for it to have a little dirt on it!
- Next, use a towel to dry your asparagus spears.
- Finally, cut about an inch off the end of each asparagus spear. We do this because this part of the asparagus is too woody to eat and it’s hard to digest.
How to Grill Asparagus in Foil
Now that you’ve prepared your asparagus, it’s time to grill it! Since we’re using a foil-pack, this part is actually super simple! You’ll need: asparagus, olive oil, salt, pepper, and tin foil.
Foil Pack + Seasonings
- Place about a pound of asparagus spears on a large piece of tin foil.
- Then, drizzle on a generous amount of olive oil, making sure everything is nicely coated. Season with salt and pepper and any other seasonings your heart desires.
- Use your hands to toss the asparagus so that everything is coated.
- Place another piece of tin foil on top of the asparagus and fold the sides in tightly creating a foil pack. This prevents air from coming in and out and will essentially grill and steam your asparagus at the same time!
More seasoning recommendations
- Italian seasoning
- Fajita seasoning
- Lemon Pepper
- Minced Garlic
How long to Grill Asparagus
Now it’s time to put your foil pack on the grill. Preheat your grill to 400ºF. Place foil pack asparagus right on top of the flames and cook for around 20 minutes.
We prefer to grill out asparagus at a higher heat for a shorter amount of time. This is not only timely with most meats but also gives your asparagus a nice crunchy/char flavor. You can alternatively grill your asparagus on a top rack of your grill, not directly on the flame for a longer amount of time (around 30 minutes).
You know your asparagus is done cooking when you can easily pierce it with a fork. Be careful not to overcook as it may become mushy!
More Asparagus Recipes
- Bacon Wrapped Asparagus
- Sheet Pan Dinner with Chicken and Asparagus
- Asparagus and Mushroom Egg Cups
- Pesto Chicken Meal Prep with Asparagus
PS: our favorite way to eat grilled asparagus on next to our famous grilled chicken legs! Try them out now!
Grilled Asparagus in Foil
Ingredients
- 1 lb. asparagus
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- First, preheat grill to 400ºF.
- Prepare asparagus by rinsing under water and patting dry. Then, cut about an inch off of ends.
- 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.
- Cover the asparagus with another piece of tin foil and fold the sides in to create your foil pack.
- Place foil pack right on the flames of your grill and let cook, covered, for around 20 minutes or until asparagus reaches desired texture.
Any reason to cut off the woody ends rather than break them off?
Either work!