Traeger Grilled Asparagus

The best way to grill asparagus? On a Traeger pellet grill, of course! Traeger Asparagus is ready in 15 minutes and is infused with smoky flavor from the wood pellets. And if you don’t have a pellet grill, you can still make the asparagus on a traditional grill! 

Cooking Asparagus on a Traeger 

Traeger asparagus is essentially grilled asparagus, taken up a few notches. The asparagus is grilled over wood pellets, which infuse the spears with a smoky flavor that you can’t achieve on a traditional grill. 

The asparagus is seasoned simply with garlic, salt, and pepper and then topped with a crispy panko Parmesan topping and a squeeze of lemon juice. Enjoy the asparagus without the topping for an everyday side dish, or add the topping to make this a holiday-appropriate side dish! 

This is one of my family’s go-to recipes when asparagus is in season and on sale. If you have vegetable haters in your family, cooking asparagus on a pellet grill is a surefire way to convert them! 

Grilled asparagus is an easy side dish for weeknight dinners, but it would also be a welcome addition to any Easter dinner table or summer barbecue. It pairs nicely with special occasion entrees like glazed ham and prime rib, as well as simpler pasta dishes and casseroles. 

(And yes, this recipe can be made without a Traeger pellet grill. I don’t expect you to purchase a Traeger just to grill some asparagus!)

Tools You’ll Need to Make Traeger Asparagus

Besides a Traeger pellet grill, you’ll need a few other special grilling tools to make this smoky asparagus recipe.  

• Knife and Cutting Board — For trimming the asparagus spears. 
• Measuring Cups and Spoons — For measuring out all the ingredients. 
• Traeger or Other Pellet Grill – We cooked the asparagus on our Traeger, but any pellet grill will work. If you don’t own a pellet grill, a traditional grill may be used. 
• Wood Pellets — Our favorite pellets to use are Traeger Blend Flavor or the Hickory Wood Pellets. Use your favorite!  
• Wire Grill Pan — Makes it so much easier to grill asparagus without any spears slipping through the slots in the grill. 
• Tongs — For serving the asparagus. 

Traeger Asparagus Recipe Ingredients 

Don’t underestimate the power of wood pellets when grilling asparagus! The smoke from the pellets infuses the asparagus with tons of flavor, so I kept the herbs and spices to a minimum.  

For the Asparagus:

• Asparagus
• Olive oil 
• Kosher salt 
• Garlic powder
• Freshly ground black pepper

For the Garlic Parmesan Topping:

• Panko breadcrumbs
• Grated parmesan cheese 
• Garlic cloves
• Lemon juice and zest
• Olive oil

How to Grill Asparagus on a Traeger 

Cooking asparagus on a Traeger grill is a straightforward process that anyone can prepare, no matter their grilling expereience. 

1. Preheat the Traeger grill to 425ºF. I’ve given detailed instructions on how to do so in the recipe card below. 
2. Prepare the asparagus. Run it under cold tap water, pat dry, then trim off the woody ends. 
3. Grill the asparagus. Working on a baking sheet, toss the asparagus spears with olive oil. Transfer to a wire grill pan and season with salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Grill for 7 to 15 minutes, depending on how crisp you like your Traeger asparagus. 
4. Make the panko topping (optional). To a food processor, add the panko breadcrumbs, Parmesan, garlic, lemon zest and juice. Process to combine. 
5. Transfer the breadcrumb mixture to an oiled skillet and toast until golden. 
6. Assemble and serve. Transfer the pellet grilled asparagus to a serving platter. Top with the panko topping and serve with lemon wedges. 

Tip: Another easy way to serve the basic grilled asparagus is to drizzle it with a balsamic reduction after cooking. Store-bought or homemade may both be used.

How Long Does it Take to Grill Asparagus on a Traeger? 

I recommend buying thick asparagus spears (½ to ¾ inch thick) for grilling. They’ll need to cook at 425ºF for 7 to 15 minutes on a pellet grill. 

Asparagus is done when you say it is! Some people prefer their grilled asparagus to have some bite to it, while other people like it super soft.

Pierce an asparagus spear with a fork to test its doneness and pull it off when desired. 

Traeger Asparagus Recipe Tips 

• Choose thicker asparagus spears. Look for asparagus that is approximately ½- to ¾-inch thick in diameter. Thinner asparagus will cook too quickly using this method. 
• Look for asparagus that is uniform in thickness. This will allow for even cooking.
• Selecting the best asparagus. You want asparagus spears that are brightly colored, straight, round, and don’t have a strong odor. The tips of the asparagus should also be tightly closed.
• Use any color you like. White, purple, and green asparagus may all be cooked on a Traeger grill. 
• Pat the asparagus dry. Any moisture remaining on the asparagus after being washed under tap water will create steam and the asparagus won’t grill as well. 
• The panko topping is optional, but highly recommended. Without the topping, the pellet grilled asparagus is better as an everyday side dish, but adding the topping makes this the perfect veggie side dish for holidays and dinner parties. 

Traeger Asparagus Recipe FAQs

Got questions about how to make this recipe? Here are the answers to a few commonly asked questions. Feel free to leave any other questions in the comments on this post and I’ll respond with answers.

Can I make this without a Traeger? 

Yes. The traeger adds extra flavor from the smoke, but you can use the same cooking method on a traditional grill. 

What pellets are best for grilling asparagus? 

We love the Traeger Blend Flavor and the Hickory Wood Pellets. However, you can use any type of wood pellets you like. If you have a personal favorite, please leave me a comment below so I can try it myself! 

How do you know when Traeger asparagus is done?

The approximate asparagus grill time will be 7 to 15 minutes at 425ºF (the hottest a Traeger grill will go). Asparagus is done when it’s tender to your liking. 

We like ours with some bite to it (i.e. closer to the 7-minute mark) but you might like yours to be more tender. To test doneness, pierce the thickest part of the asparagus with a fork. 

Do I have to make the topping?

Nope! You can omit the panko topping if desired. I usually only make it when guests are coming over for dinner or I’ll be serving the asparagus for a holiday get together. 

Storage Instructions 

Leftover Traeger asparagus should be stored in an airtight container in the fridge. It will last up to 5 days. 

What’s the Best Way to Reheat Asparagus? 

Asparagus doesn’t reheat well, so this is one side dish that’s best prepared just before serving and enjoyed right away. 

If you do end up with leftovers, cool them completely before transferring to an airtight container. Asparagus is best reheated in a toaster oven or air fryer for a couple of minutes.

Do not microwave asparagus as microwaving makes it turn to mush. 

When to Serve Traeger Grilled Asparagus 

With asparagus season lasting from April to June, this Traeger recipe is great to keep in mind during the spring and early summer. Grilled asparagus is a simple side dish to prepare for Easter and Mother’s Day, as well as busy weeknights. 

What to Serve with Traeger Asparagus

• Special Occasion Mains: Slow Cooker Ham, Smoked Traeger Prime Rib, Sous Vide Steak.
• Everyday Mains: Instant Pot Chuck Roast, Rosemary Roasted Chicken, Grilled Honey Mustard Chicken, Grilled Bruschetta Chicken, Smoked Chicken, Greek Chicken Thighs. 
• Pastas: Beef and Gorgonzola Pasta, Penne with Vodka Sauce, Instant Pot Beef Ragu. 
• Sides: Greek Yogurt Mashed Potatoes, Honey Balsamic Roasted Carrots, White Cheddar Mac and Cheese, Classic Potato Salad, Traeger Roasted Potatoes.

Try Grilling Asparagus on Your Traeger! 

Next time you’re looking for an easy grilled side dish, give this Traeger asparagus recipe a try!

Did you think it was easy to make? Leave a comment below and give it a review for others to see what you thought.

On Instagram? Share your photo and tag me with @goodlifeeats and #goodlifeeatsrecipes. I’d love to see a photo of your grilled asparagus! 

More Easy Asparagus Side Dishes: 

Blanched asparagus is perfectly crisp-tender in texture and can be enjoyed as is or stirred into risotto, mac and cheese, salads, and more! This post will explain How to Blanch Asparagus, the benefits of this cooking method, and the many ways to use it. 

Oven Roasted Asparagus is drizzled with a tasty lemon walnut dressing for a simple, delicious and heart-healthy side dish. With spring getting closer, this Roasted Asparagus with Lemon Walnut Dressing is the perfect addition to your dinner table.

This Cold Asparagus Salad is the perfect side dish to enjoy during asparagus season! In this easy asparagus salad recipe, you’ll find small pieces of tender crisp asparagus with quinoa and a tarragon vinaigrette. It is tasty as a side salad or a light main dish.

Asparagus Risotto features leeks, fresh asparagus, fresh peas, and mascarpone cheese with a touch of lemon and parmesan cheese. Serve this as a side dish or a wonderful meatless main dish for your dinner table.

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