Grilled Asparagus in Foil has just a few ingredients and big delicious flavors. It’s so easy to prepare and throw on the grill alongside your main course for outdoor spring and summer meals.
It’s amazing how even wrapped in foil, this asparagus takes on a subtle smoky flavor from the grill.
That, combined with lemon, makes for an absolutely fantastic side dish.
The fresh bright flavor is perfect for spring and summer.
About the Ingredients
- asparagus - This recipe calls for skinny asparagus (also called thin or Pencil asparagus), which makes the grilling time very quick. You can use any thickness of asparagus for the recipe, just be aware that the thicker it is, the longer the grilling time will be. Asparagus season is approximately February through June, peaking in April. Choose bright green, firm spears.
- lemon - Use Meyer lemons over regular lemons when given the option. Meyer lemons are a touch less tart and a touch sweeter. And with a thinner skin and fewer seeds, they are incredibly juicy. Substitutions: You can use limes or oranges as substitutions.
- olive oil - I use olive oil in this recipe to keep it light, but you can switch it out for melted butter if you'd like.
Grilling Asparagus in Foil
The preparation for this recipe is quite simple, which makes it ideal to throw on the grill with other things like Mediterranean Grilled Steak, Marinated Portobello Mushrooms, or whatever you fancy.
- Wash and dry the asparagus, and then snap or cut off the bottom few inches. Then toss it in olive oil with salt, pepper and lemon slices.
- Wrap it in foil and place it on a hot grill. Grill for about 7 minutes, flipping it over about halfway through. (How long to grill asparagus in foil will vary, depending on the thickness of the spears.)
Recipe Tip: I love adding slices of lemon to the asparagus because in the foil packet they become very soft and the flavor mellows. You can actually eat them without the overpowering sour flavor. That said, if you prefer, you can mix about 1½ tablespoons of lemon juice into the asparagus when you add the oil.
(More detailed instructions are below.)
More Must-Try Spring and Summer Asparagus Recipes
I hope you love this method of grilling asparagus in foil as much as I do.
Grilled Asparagus in Foil with Lemon
Ingredients
- 1¼ pounds skinny asparagus (also called thin or pencil), washed and dried
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 small to medium-sized lemon, washed and dried, thinly sliced
- 1 teaspoon salt
- freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Prepare the asparagus. Cut the bottom few inches (the tough portion), off of the asparagus spears and discard. You can actually "snap" the ends off with your hands -- it almost always breaks right where it should.
- Combine ingredients. Add the asparagus to a sheet pan and toss the spears with the olive oil, salt, pepper and lemon slices.
- Wrap in foil and grill. Divide the asparagus into four portions. Lay out four large pieces of foil (at least a couple of inches larger than the pile of asparagus, which will not be a single layer. ) Place each portion on a sheet of foil and top each one with another piece. Crimp the edges of the foil together to seal them. Do not wrap it tightly -- there should be some air in the packet. Each pile will ultimately be a few layers of the asparagus.
- Grill and serve. Preheat an outdoor barbecue or stove-top grill. The flame should be high-medium to heat it. Once it's hot, add the foil packets and grill for about 7 minutes. After about 4 minutes, flip them over and turn the heat dow low-medium. Open the packets carefully as there will be steam inside. Serve!
NOTES
NUTRITION
Cooking On The Weekends is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.
angiesrecipes
Best of the season...Those asparagus are so tender!
angiesrecipes
valentina
Thanks, Angie! Springtime vegetables are the best! 🙂 ~Valentina
Chef Mimi
I don’t ever remember to cook in foil or parchment packets, inside or out. Not sure why! But these asparagus look perfect. I love the lemons in there!
valentina
Thank you, Mimi. I don't think about cooking this way too often. It's easy and can be so delicious. (I especially love Fish en Papillote with fresh herbs & lemon!) 🙂 ~Valentina
Christina C
These are my mother's favorite type of asparagus. What a super easy way to make them! Love it, especially with the added lemon!
valentina
Thanks, my friend! Yes, the lemon is sooo good! 🙂 ~Valentina
Ron
We love asparagus and love them grilled, but I've not tried wrapping them in foil for cooking on the BBQ. I will soon though. That is as soon as our asparagus season starts next month. Take care over your way...
valentina
Hi Ron. Thanks so much. The foil is perfect for these thin asparagus spears. Hope your season comes soon, and that you're feeling well! 🙂 ~Valentina
David @ Spiced
What a great idea! I've baked asparagus with lemon, and I've grilled asparagus...but I've never combined the two on the grill. We're finally hitting grilling season here, and I couldn't be more excited! This would be a great side dish next to a good backyard burger!
valentina
ooooh, so good with burgers. Thanks for checking this out, David. Enjoy! 🙂 ~Valentina
Jeff the Chef @ Make It Like a Man!
I've been on a big asparagus kick lately, but I haven't tried it on the grill. Truth be told, I'm not all that much a grill guy. But, that could change!
valentina
Hope you enjoy, Jeff. I'm not a big grill girl. 😉 I do love my stove-top grill, though and use it often. 🙂 ~Valentina
Kathy @ Beyond the Chicken Coop
This is perfect for springtime grilling. I love how fast and easy this is and no dishes to clean up since it's cooked in foil! Delicious!!!
valentina
Thank you, Kathy! I didn't even think of the benefit of no clean-up -- yay for that! 🙂 ~Valentina
John / Kitchen Riffs
This is such a terrific way to prepare asparagus! Lotta flavor. SO glad local asparagus season is here!
valentina
I am too. Thanks so much, John! 🙂 ~Valentina
Ben | Havocinthekitchen
What could be better than grilled asparagus with a touch of olive oil and lemon - that's a perfect spring/summer dish! Sprinkle it with some feta or parmesan and serve with some toasted bread, and that would be a wonderful main course for me 🙂
valentina
Hey Ben. Thank you so much. Would be delicious with cheese or bread -- love those ideas! 🙂 ~Valentina
2pots2cook
Perfect way to prepare this vitamin loaded vegetable ! Thank you so much and enjoy your weekend!
David Scott Allen
Looks like a wonderful recipe - and that asparagus is gorgeous! Definitely need to try grilling it in the foil packets - the lemon is the perfect touch to make it special!
valentina
Thanks, David. I can't get enough asparagus during the spring. 🙂 ~Valentina