Grilled Asparagus in Foil: 3 Delicious Recipes and Cooking Advice

We'll show how to choose asparagus and how to cook it - taste the perfect flavor
By
Jeremy Bivens
Jeremy Bivens
Research Writer
Jeremy Bivens is a passionate writer and grilling enthusiast. He's been working as a freelance journalist for over 15 years now and has a particular interest in food writing read more
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Reviewed By
Bruce Williams
Bruce Williams
Expert Consultant
Claims that grilling is the art that he has been learning all his life long and is not planning to stop. Has been grilling for as long as he can remember. Author of numerous read more
Last updated: August 15, 2023
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It’s always great when we can bring you a recipe that is both really easy and really delicious. In this guide we’re exploring how to make grilled asparagus in foil. Grilling can give you the chance to give your asparagus that slightly charred taste, making it a perfect side dish when you’re having a BBQ or for just about any other dish. Asparagus is really versatile, and brings a beautiful freshness and crunch, especially when it’s been grilled.

Whether you’re using your indoor cooker or an outdoor grill, you can prepare a grilled asparagus in foil recipe in a matter of minutes, and cook it just as quickly. If you don’t have loads of time, this can be an ideal option.

How to choose good asparagus

The first step to getting a great end result is getting superb ingredients. Make sure you go to a grocery store and choose your own asparagus, as when you get it from a food delivery service it might leave a lot to be desired. This is the sort of food you want to be able to feel to know it is fresh.

Quality asparagus will be straight rather than limp, with a vibrant green color, topped with a bit of white shining through at the bottom of the spear. White asparagus Trusted Source Whit asparagus - Wikipedia White asparagus is very popular in Europe and western Asia. White asparagus is the result of applying a blanching technique while the asparagus shoots are growing. To cultivate white asparagus, the shoots are covered with soil as they grow, i.e. earthed up; without exposure to sunlight, no photosynthesis starts, and the shoots remain white. Compared to green asparagus, the locally cultivated so-called “white gold” or “edible ivory” asparagus, also referred to as “the royal vegetable”, is believed to be less bitter and much more tender. Freshness is very important, and the lower ends of white asparagus must be peeled before cooking or raw consumption. en.wikipedia.org is slightly different in appearance. If the green color starts to dull or go a bit brown, or you notice wrinkles in the stems then they might have been sitting out for a while. Avoid these.

How to grill asparagus in foil

Time to delve into some of the recipes, and how to grill asparagus in foil. Remember that experimenting is part of the fun. As long as you ensure the asparagus is properly cooked, we’d encourage you to try new things. For instance, the taste on a gas grill will be different from the smokier taste of a charcoal grill. You will have your own preference.

Grilled asparagus in foil recipe

The starting steps for each recipe are the same. You should trim the lower end of the spears. Bend the spear close to the bottom, and where it naturally snaps. This will give you a guide as to where to cut the rest of your asparagus spears. It’s a bit like taking the top off a carrot before you cook it. There’s nothing dangerous about eating a whole asparagus, but it might not taste the best.

Before you start with any asparagus recipes, create a pouch for your spears, made out of foil. Lay the spears in the center, and when it is time to cook, you need to make sure you fold over the rest of the foil and make sure it joins in the middle to make a pouch. This will help the asparagus to cook all the way through and seal in the heat.

Recipe 1. Regular grilled asparagus in foil

  • 1 pound asparagus stalks trimmed
  • 8 teaspoons butter
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon pepper
  • 1 teaspoon Italian herbs
  • Optional chopped parsley
  • Lemon to drizzle

Get your grill to a medium to high heat. Using something like the Kamado Joe KJ15040921 Classic III with a temperature gauge, you can get to around 400-430 degrees F for the best results.

Put a little bit of the butter on the foil and make sure it is coated, before you divide the full pound of stalks, making sure you don’t stack them. A grill with plenty of space like the Cuisinart CGG-7400 is ideal for this as it has four burners.

Sprinkle your seasoning on and drizzle some lemon. Finally, evenly spread the butter.

Seal the foil pouch, and it is time to cook. Set your timer to 15 minutes and wait.

Grilled Asparagus in Foil: 3 Delicious Recipes and Cooking AdviceRecipe 2. Keto grilled asparagus in foil

For keto grilled asparagus in foil, you can follow the exact same recipe as above! None of these ingredients contravene the keto diet so it is fine to eat this. You might want to switch out the butter for a grass-fed butter, but none will be high in carbs.

If you want to turn it into a bigger meal, you can add some cheese or pre-cooked, unprocessed hams to the asparagus to make it a bit more exciting, especially if you won’t be adding any carbs afterward.

Recipe 3. Grilled salmon and asparagus in foil

  • 1 pound asparagus stalks trimmed
  • 4 6oz. skin-on salmon fillets
  • 8 teaspoons butter
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2  teaspoon pepper
  • 1 teaspoon Italian herbs
  • Optional chopped parsley
  • Fresh dill


Get your grill to a medium to high heat. 425 F.
Follow the same process as you did for cooking asparagus alone, but spread ¼ of the asparagus evenly in one layer on top of a small amount of butter. You can then add one of the fillets on top, along with the seasonings. Seal it up to make a foil parcel and repeat for the three other fillets.

Cook each of these fillets together, side-by-side, for a full meal that takes just 15 minutes. These parcels can be pre-prepared so they are perfect for putting on the grill when you are ready.

Grilled Asparagus in Foil: 3 Delicious Recipes and Cooking AdviceFinal thoughts

If you are looking for a quick and easy recipe to cook on your indoor grill or your outdoor grill, this could be the ideal option for you! Grilled asparagus in foil is one of the easiest ways to make a delicious side dish or even turn it into a full meal by adding a fillet of fish, for instance. The steaming and cooking takes place in the foil, and can even be infused with a beautiful smokey taste, depending on your cooking method.

As we’ve already stated, this is a great blank canvas for experimenting. Garlic flavors, as well as citrus, works really well, and you can experiment with how long you cook it for too, you might find that more of a charred taste is ideal for your tastes.

References

1.
Whit asparagus - Wikipedia
White asparagus is very popular in Europe and western Asia. White asparagus is the result of applying a blanching technique while the asparagus shoots are growing. To cultivate white asparagus, the shoots are covered with soil as they grow, i.e. earthed up; without exposure to sunlight, no photosynthesis starts, and the shoots remain white. Compared to green asparagus, the locally cultivated so-called “white gold" or “edible ivory" asparagus, also referred to as “the royal vegetable", is believed to be less bitter and much more tender. Freshness is very important, and the lower ends of white asparagus must be peeled before cooking or raw consumption.

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