Asparagus is an ideal side dish for any meal. Follow these tips for how to cook asparagus four different ways, whether you’re in the mood for grilled, roasted, sautéed, or blanched.
Learn how to cook asparagus four different ways. The method I use depends on what I’m serving it with. You can grill picanha steak and asparagus together or prepare a sheet-pan meal and throw everything (including asparagus) on a rimmed baking sheet for a quick dinner idea.
Key Ingredients
- Asparagus: When choosing asparagus, look for firm, crisp stalks with tightly closed tips. Whether you go for green, white, or purple varieties, vibrant color is key.
- Butter or Oil: Coat or cook the asparagus in oil or butter.
- Seasoning:
Prepare the Asparagus
Asparagus comes in a range of sizes—thin spears are perfect for quick-cooking methods like stir-frying or blanching, while thicker ones hold up well to grilling, roasting, or baking. Keep this in mind when deciding which cooking method to use.
Begin by rinsing the asparagus in a colander. Gently bend the end of each spear until it breaks, naturally removing the tough, inedible ends. If you’re short on time or want a more uniform cut, use a sharp knife to trim the ends. Hold the bundle of asparagus securely in the middle and cut 2-3 inches from the bottom.
- Hold a stalk at both ends.
- Bend it gently until it naturally snaps.
- Use that snapped piece as a guide to cut the rest in a bundle.
How to Cook Asparagus
Grilled Asparagus
Grilled asparagus gets smoky and a little crispy, and it couldn’t be easier to make, especially when you’re already firing up the grill to make grilled bison steaks, grilled chicken drumsticks, or whatever else is on the menu.
Step 1: Preheat the grill by setting all the burners to high heat for about 10 minutes. Then, drizzle the asparagus with oil and season with salt and black pepper.
Step 2: Transfer the asparagus to a grill basket and set it on the grates. Cook for 10 minutes, moving the asparagus on the basket to ensure even cooking.
Roasted Asparagus
Roasting asparagus brings out its natural sweetness, deepens the flavor, and creates crispy, caramelized tips that everyone ends up fighting over, at least in my house. It’s a hands-off side dish you can pop in the oven while you finish the rest of dinner.
Step 1: Preheat the oven to 400°F (204°C). Arrange the asparagus onto a rimmed baking sheet in a single layer. Spray with cooking oil and season with salt and black pepper.
Step 2: Bake for 8-10 minutes, moving the asparagus on the baking sheet halfway through.
Sautéed Asparagus
Cooking asparagus in a skillet is quick, easy, and great for nights when you need something fast.
Step 1: Trim the ends off the asparagus, then cut the spears into 2-inch pieces.
Step 2: Warm the oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the asparagus and butter, and saute for 3-5 minutes. Then, season with salt and black pepper.
Blanched Asparagus
Step 1: Add enough water to fill a saute pan about 1-2 inches. Then, add salt and arrange the asparagus spears into the pan. Cover and cook for 3-5 minutes, until the asparagus is bright green and tender.
Step 2: While the asparagus cooks, fill a mixing bowl with water and ice. Remove the asparagus from heat and transfer the spears to the ice water to halt the cooking process. Return the asparagus to the saute pan and toss with butter over medium heat for 1 minute.
Pair the cooked asparagus with one of these dinner recipes!
Additions and Substitutions
There’s no denying that asparagus is delicious on its own, but if you’re looking to switch things up, try adding flavorful mix-ins or toppings.
- Skip the butter. You can use ghee or your favorite oil instead of butter to cook and flavor the asparagus.
- Serve it with a sauce. Pour your favorite sauce over the top. Try the veggies with a drizzle of lemon dill aioli, hollandaise sauce, or lemon cream sauce. And you can’t go wrong with olive oil and a squeeze of fresh lemon juice.
- Try some toppings. Cook the asparagus with toasted nuts or a savory cheese, such as Parmesan. You can even wrap the spears in bacon or Prosciutto before roasting or grilling the asparagus.
Storage
Trim the ends of the fresh asparagus spears and store them upright in a water glass. Cover the tips with a silicon or plastic bag to prevent them from wilting.
More Kitchen Tips
How to Cook Asparagus
- 1 pound asparagus, thick spears
- 1 tablespoon oil
- 1-2 tablespoons butter
- kosher salt, to taste
- coarse black pepper, to taste
- Preheat the grill by setting all the burners to high heat for about 10 minutes. Then, drizzle the asparagus with oil and season with salt and black pepper.
- Transfer the asparagus to a grill basket and set it on the grates. Cook for 10 minutes, moving the asparagus on the basket to ensure even cooking.
- Preheat the oven to 400°F (204°C). Arrange the asparagus onto a rimmed baking sheet in a single layer. Spray with cooking oil and season with salt and black pepper.
- Bake for 8-10 minutes, moving the asparagus on the baking sheet halfway through.
- Trim the ends off the asparagus, then cut the spears into 2-inch pieces.
- Warm the oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the asparagus and butter, and saute for 3-5 minutes. Then, season with salt and black pepper.
- Add enough water to fill a saute pan about 1-2 inches. Then, add salt and arrange the asparagus spears into the pan. Cover and cook for 3-5 minutes, until the asparagus is bright green and tender.
- While the asparagus cooks, fill a mixing bowl with water and ice. Remove the asparagus from heat and transfer the spears to the ice water to halt the cooking process.
- Return the asparagus to the saute pan and toss with butter over medium heat for 1 minute.
RJ
Monday 6th of June 2022
This is a surefire way to get the same fresh asparagus every time. I end up making these every time I grill.
Tressa Jamil
Tuesday 7th of June 2022
I am glad you liked the information for how to grill asparagus. Let us know when you try one of the other methods.