This smoked asparagus recipe is quick, flavorful, and the perfect spring side dish! Ready in about 20 minutes, it pairs perfectly with smoked ham, smoked turkey, or dry-brined smoked salmon - especially for Easter or any spring dinner!
If you love pellet grill vegetables, try my Smoked Cauliflower, Traeger Smoked Corn on the Cob, or Smoked Mashed Potatoes next!
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This simple smoked asparagus has become one of my go-to side dishes whenever I fire up my pellet grill. After testing various recipes, I've found that cooking at 300°F ensures the asparagus gets tender without becoming mushy.
I used my Traeger grill, but you can use any pellet smoker or electric smoker to make this recipe.
If you love using asparagus, make my sheet pan honey garlic shrimp with asparagus, baked salmon with asparagus, or air fryer bacon wrapped asparagus next.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Simple ingredients - only five basic ingredients are needed
- Smokes in 20 minutes - while your main dish finishes
- Perfect texture - tender, but not mushy
- Works with any smoker - Traeger, Pit Boss, electric, or charcoal
- Great spring side - perfect for Easter, Mother's Day, or weeknight dinners
Ingredients and Substitutions
All ingredients for this grilled asparagus recipe are shown in the pic below with notes about each item in this list.
- Fresh Asparagus. Use bright green spears with tight, compact tips. Thickness doesn't matter. Thinner spears will cook faster than thicker ones.
- Olive Oil. Creates a flavorful base for the seasonings to stick to. You can also use avocado oil.
- Garlic Powder. Adds a subtle garlic flavor. You can also use onion powder or smoked paprika.
How to Smoke Asparagus on a Pellet Grill
Quick Overview
- 🔥 Preheat pellet grill to 300°F
- ✂️ Trim and season asparagus
- 🌫️ Smoke for 15-20 minutes
- 🍽️ Serve immediately
Step-by-Step Instructions
- PREHEAT: Set your Traeger or pellet grill to 300°F and let it preheat for about 15 minutes.
- PREP: While the grill heats up, prepare your asparagus. Rinse spears under cold water and pat completely dry. Trim the tough woody ends - either snap them off at their natural breaking point or cut about 1-1.5 inches from the bottom.
- SEASON: In a large bowl, mix 1 tablespoon olive oil, ½ teaspoon garlic powder, ½ teaspoon sea salt, and ¼ teaspoon black pepper. Add the trimmed asparagus and toss gently to coat every spear evenly.
- SMOKE: Place seasoned asparagus spears directly on the grill grates or use a vegetable grilling tray. Close the lid and smoke for 15-20 minutes, depending on thickness. Thinner spears may only need 12-15 minutes.
- CHECK: The asparagus is done when it's tender but still has a slight bite. Smoke it longer if you want it to be softer. You can test by picking up a spear with tongs - it should bend slightly but not be floppy.
- SERVE: Remove from the grill and serve immediately while hot. For extra flavor, add a squeeze of fresh lemon juice or sprinkle with freshly grated Parmesan cheese just before serving. Enjoy!
Quick Tip from Jeri
Arrange your asparagus perpendicular to the grill grates to prevent them from falling through. If your spears are pretty skinny, use a vegetable grilling basket or tray.
Tips for Best Texture
- Choose the right asparagus: Use spears of similar thickness so they cook evenly. Medium-thick spears work best for smoking.
- Don't skip the oil: It helps the seasonings stick and prevents the asparagus from drying out.
- Keep an eye on them: Asparagus can go from perfect to overcooked quickly. Start checking at the 12-minute mark.
- Wood pellet selection: Fruitwoods like apple or cherry add a subtle sweetness that complements the asparagus without overpowering it. I also like pecan wood pellets.
Variations
- Lemon Pepper: Add 1 teaspoon lemon zest to the oil mixture and finish with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice, or just use lemon pepper seasoning.
- Parmesan Herb: Mix 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan and 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning with the oil mixture.
- Balsamic Glaze: Drizzle with reduced balsamic vinegar after smoking.
- Spicy: Add ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes to the seasoning mix.
- Asian-Inspired: Substitute sesame oil for olive oil, add a splash of soy sauce, and garnish with a sprinkle of sesame seeds.
What to Serve With Smoked Asparagus
This versatile side dish pairs beautifully with:
- Smoked Whole Chicken
- Traeger Pork Tenderloin
- Best Smoked Salmon on Pellet Grill
- Smoked Steak
- Smoked Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs
- Crispy Panko Tilapia in the Air Fryer
Round out your meal with Smoked Cheesy Potatoes or Twice Baked Mashed Potatoes for a complete dinner.
Storage and Reheating Instructions
- Refrigerator: Store leftover asparagus in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
- Reheating: For best results, reheat on a grill at 350°F for 3-4 minutes or in a 375°F oven for 5 minutes until warmed through. Microwave reheating works but may make the asparagus softer.
- Make ahead: You can season the asparagus up to 2 hours ahead and keep refrigerated until ready to grill.
Recipe FAQs
Not recommended. Frozen spears tend to steam and turn mushy on the smoker.
Lay spears perpendicular to the grill grates or use a folded foil tray with holes poked in it.
More Smoked Side Dishes
Printable Recipe
Smoked Asparagus on Pellet Grill
Ingredients
- 1 bunch fresh asparagus spears (about 1 pound)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- PREHEAT: Set your pellet grill to 300°F and let it preheat for about 15 minutes.
- PREP: Rinse asparagus under cold water and pat dry. Trim the tough, woody ends by snapping them at their natural breaking point or cutting off about 1 to 1½ inches from the bottom.
- SEASON: In a large bowl, combine olive oil, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Add asparagus and toss gently to coat all the spears evenly.
- SMOKE: Place the seasoned asparagus directly on the grill grates (perpendicular to the bars so they don't fall through) or use a vegetable grilling tray. Close the lid and smoke for 15-20 minutes until tender but still slightly crisp. You don't need to flip them.
- SERVE: Remove asparagus from the grill and serve immediately. Optional: Garnish with a squeeze of fresh lemon or a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese if you like. Enjoy!
Video
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Notes
- Use asparagus spears of similar thickness for even cooking.
- Thinner spears may only need 12-15 minutes, while thicker spears could take up to 20 minutes.
- Apple, cherry, or pecan wood pellets complement asparagus nicely.
- For extra smoky flavor, reduce the temperature to 250°F and increase the cook time to 25-30 minutes.
- If you don't have a vegetable tray, arrange spears perpendicular to the grill grates to prevent them from falling through.
- Leftover asparagus can be stored in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
Nutrition
The provided nutrition information is automatically calculated. Accuracy is not guaranteed.
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