Grilled Lemon Parmesan Asparagus is the perfect quick & easy summer side dish! It’s fresh, flavorful, and topped with a mountain of parmesan. What’s not to love?

You can pair grilled asparagus with just about every summer main dish! It comes together in minutes and is a fresh take on preparing asparagus in a way that everyone will love.

Grilled Lemon Parmesan Asparagus

Welcome to another recipe from my So Much Food Grilling Week! I’m sharing all my new favorite grilling recipes throughout the week. The best part? Anyone can grill these recipes. Even if you’re brand new to grilling and a bit intimidated, every single recipe is so doable!

I’m always looking for more veggie sides and grilling vegetables is one of my favorite favorite tricks for adding flavor. Grilling asparagus is the best way to prepare them, IMO!

The asparagus are tossed in a quick lemony marinade and after only a couple minutes on the grill are charred to perfection without being mushy. Then you just grate a ton of fresh parmesan on top and you’ve got a healthy and delicious side dish that everyone will love.

Grilled lemon parmesan asparagus will be on your regular recipe rotation all summer long!

How to Make Grilled Lemon Parmesan Asparagus

You can make this recipe indoors with a quality grill pan, but outdoor grilling is the best in the summer! I just invested in a new grill and it’s the best thing I’ve done to up my outdoor cooking game. I’ve linked the grill I purchased below!

Tools Needed

• Outdoor Grill or Grill Pan
• Mixing Bowl
• Sharp Knife
• Cutting Board
• Tongs

Ingredients and Substitutions

• Asparagus. Look for asparagus that’s bright green and slightly larger than pencil thickness. Make sure your asparagus isn’t wilted or discolored.
• Lemon. You’ll need both lemon zest and lemon juice for the marinade/dressing.
• Garlic. Use fresh garlic here. Grating it releases flavor better than mincing it.
• Olive oil. You don’t have to use anything fancy here, just whatever olive oil you have on hand.
• Rosemary. I love the herby flavor that rosemary adds here, but you could swap in a different herb like thyme or sage.
• Parmesan. Make sure to buy a wedge of parmesan and use a microplane or small grater to finely grate the cheese over the warm asparagus.

The Process

1. Prep the asparagus. Look for asparagus that’s bright green and slightly larger than pencil thickness.Discard any discolored or wilted asparagus and rinse them under cold water. Pat them dry, then discard the woody ends by slicing or snapping them off. You’ll want to cut off 1 1/2-2 inches off the bottom of the asparagus, on average. Place the asparagus in a shallow bowl or baking dish.
2. Make the marinade/dressing. In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lemon zest, lemon juice, garlic, and rosemary together. Season with salt and pepper. Pour 2/3 of the marinade over the asparagus and toss well to coat. Let the asparagus marinate while you prep and preheat the grill.
3. Prep and preheat the grill. Before using your grill, make sure to clean the grates of any food and debris. Lightly grease the grates with nonstick spray. Preheat your grill to medium-low heat. If you’re using charcoal, move all the hot coals to one side. Close the lid and wait at least 15 minutes, until the temperature reaches 450 F.
4. Grill the asparagus. Place the asparagus across the grill grates perpendicular to the bars. Grill with the lid closed for 5-7 minutes or until the spears are tender and crisp. Use tongs to roll the spears for even grill marks.
5. Dress and serve the asparagus. Transfer the asparagus back to the container they marinated in and toss with the remaining lemon dressing. Lay them on a serving tray and top with the parmesan cheese.

Recipe Tips & Tricks

Use the right size asparagus. While I love thin asparagus normally, they are not great for grilling as they cook too quickly before they get grill marks or absorb any of the grilled flavor. Make sure to select asparagus that’s slightly thicker than pencil thickness.

Make sure your grill is hot. We’re only cooking the asparagus briefly, so make sure your grill is adequately preheated so that you get nice grill marks on the asparagus.

Don’t grill the asparagus on foil. You might be tempted to for ease, but all you have to do is lay the asparagus perpendicular to the grates. The thicker asparagus means they won’t fall through and you’ll be able to get nice grill marks and flavor. Use tongs to roll the asparagus around as they cook.

Don’t overcook the asparagus. Nothing is worse than mushy, overcooked asparagus! Grilling the asparagus over high heat means that it will cook quickly, so don’t walk away while it’s cooking. Use visual cues–the asparagus should still be bright green and feel a little snappy and firm once you pull them off the grill.

What to Serve with Grilled Lemon Parmesan Asparagus

This grilled lemon parmesan asparagus is so good and the perfect side for so many dishes! Here are some of my favorites to serve alongside grilled asparagus:

• Steakhouse Burgers
• Grilled Tri-Tip
• Beer Can Chicken
• Grilled Chicken Wings
• Grilled Ribeye with Shishito Salsa
• Grilled Pork Tenderloin with Chimichurri

Storage Instructions

If you have leftover asparagus, store it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.

Leftover asparagus can be used in tons of ways! Stir it into risotto, into scrambled eggs, into a veggie hash, etc. I find that asparagus is best enjoyed chopped up and mixed into something else instead of just reheating them and eating them.

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Grilled Lemon Parmesan Asparagus is the best summer side dish! It’s quick and flavorful and pairs perfectly with so many dishes. If you do give this recipe a try, be sure to let me know! Leave a comment with a star rating below. Be sure to subscribe to my weekly newsletter and never miss a new recipe! You can also snap a photo & tag @JENNYGOYCOCHEA on Instagram. I LOVE hearing about & seeing your SMF creations!

More Grilling Recipes to Try

Japanese-Style Grilled Corn
Grilled Chimichurri Shrimp
Authentic Pollo Asado
Grilled Teriyaki Chicken Bowls
Grilled Lemon Herb Chicken

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