Grilled Asparagus With Garlic and Parmesan.

Grilled Asparagus with Garlic and Parmesan is an easy side dish for steak. This is the side dish built to go with a reverse-seared ribeye: it needs almost no attention, it takes about the same amount of time as the steak’s rest, and it finishes on the same grill without adding a second setup. While the ribeye rests under foil after searing, the asparagus goes on the hot side of the grill and is ready by the time the steak is sliced.

Grilled Asparagus:Why This Pairs Well with a Reverse-Seared Steak

Grilled Asparagus works especially well with reverse sear leaves the grill’s direct-heat zone free and already hot right after the steak comes off, which is exactly what asparagus needs a quick, hot char rather than a long cook. It also keeps the whole meal to one fire instead of firing up a second burner or a stovetop pan, which matters most on a deck or patio setup with a single grill.

Recipe Overview

Course: Side dish
Cuisine: American
Difficulty: Easy
Prep time: 5 minutes
Cook time: 6 minutes
Total time: 11 minutes
Servings: 2 to 3

Grilled Asparagus Ingredients.

1 bunch asparagus (about 1 pound), woody ends trimmed
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 clove garlic, finely grated or minced
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper
1/4 cup shaved or finely grated parmesan
1/2 lemon

Instructions

Trim the asparagus. Bend each spear near the base; it will snap naturally where the tough, woody part ends. Discard the ends.
Season. In a wide bowl or on a sheet pan, toss the asparagus with olive oil, garlic, salt, and pepper until evenly coated.
Grill over direct heat. Lay the spears crosswise on the hottest part of the grill grate so they don’t fall through. Grill for 5 to 7 minutes total, turning every couple of minutes, until lightly charred in spots and just tender â€” thinner spears will finish faster, thicker ones a bit slower.
Finish and serve. Transfer to a platter, shave the parmesan over the top while the asparagus is still hot so it softens slightly, and finish with a squeeze of lemon.

Notes

Spear thickness matters more than time on the grill â€” thin spears can go from perfectly charred to limp in under a minute, so it’s worth checking early and often rather than walking away. A grill basket or a sheet of foil with holes poked through works if the grate spacing is wide enough for spears to slip through. Parmesan is easiest to shave with a vegetable peeler run along the flat side of a wedge; pre-shredded parmesan works too, it just melts a little less evenly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can this be made ahead of time?
Asparagus is best served within a few minutes of coming off the grill, while it’s still hot enough to soften the parmesan. It can be trimmed and tossed with oil and seasoning up to a day ahead and refrigerated, then grilled just before serving. For the best grilled asparagus, serve it straight from the grill while the spears are still hot and crisp.

What can stand in for parmesan?
Pecorino romano is a close substitute with a sharper, saltier edge. For a milder finish, crumbled feta or goat cheese both work, added after grilling rather than melted in.

Does this work on a gas grill as well as charcoal?
Yes. Either works as long as the direct-heat zone is hot high to high heat on a gas grill gets the same quick char as charcoal.

Between the steak resting and the asparagus finishing, there’s just enough time to get plates and everyone to the table one more small argument for keeping the grill within easy reach of wherever people are sitting.

If you are grilling a Reverse Sear Ribeye, Wisconsin summers can bring stretches of hot, dry weather, and that naturally raises questions about grilling on a deck. If you have concerns about where to safely place a grill, or want to know more about fire-resistant steel deck framing, feel free to reach out to us. We’re glad to share what we know.

When grilled asparagus is on the menu, Madison-area farmers’ markets are a great place to look for fresh, locally grown asparagus. The City of Madison keeps a helpful list of farmers’ markets around the city.

What Homeowners Are Saying

    
 
 
         
   Ryan Devine 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Tim did an amazing job!
  
 
        
   Mary Ellen Schneider 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Quigley Decks was great to work with! I sent an email to request a quote. I believe Tim was there the next day. He worked around my schedule. He was professional and answered all my questions. Tim was easy to work with and patient with what I wanted to have done. I would call him again to have work done at my house!
  
 
        
   jamie fahrendholz 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I cannot say enough positive things about working with Tim on my project. He has been incredibly patient and flexible, even through many unforeseen challenges. Tim is an excellent communicator, honest, and his responsiveness is unmatched. if you are considering a new deck, you should definitely choose Quigley Decks.
  
 
        
   Joe Averill 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Tim is an excellent craftsman and is great to work with. Not to mentioned how beautiful the cable rail looks!
  
 
        
   Mary Kay Warner 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Quigley repaired our severely storm damaged front deck and railing. Quigley is great to work with, timely, and their quality is impeccable. We highly recommend them.
  
 
        
   Andy Christensen 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Quigley Decks removed my 20 year old rotten deck and replaced it with a new composite one.  It is beautiful.  Tim Quigley showed his expertise and craftmanship on this job.  So many of my neighbors have stopped in and positively commented on it's looks and the good construction. The only issue was we missed one day - due to constant rain! I can only recommend with the highest confidence, Tim and his helper on your deck repair or replacement needs. Andy C
  
 
        
   Jason D Kent 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I put in an estimate to get a quote, and was contacted in a timely fashion. Tim was knowledgeable and extremely helpful. We did not move forward with building the deck, at this time, but Tim even offered to give him a call if I decided to build it on my own and had any questions. In speaking with Tim, you can tell that he stands behind his work and his product.
  
 
        
   Dane Wilcox 
 
 
 
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