Plate of cooked asparagus on a white tile with red stripe. A bowl of pork chops is in the background.

Grilled Asparagus with Balsamic Vinegar

Tasty vegetables don’t have to take a long time to prepare. This tender grilled asparagus has the perfect blend of flavors brought together by basic ingredients and a few minutes on the grill.

Plate of cooked asparagus on a white tile with red stripe. A bowl of pork chops is in the background.
Grilled Asparagus with Balsamic Vinegar

Good food doesn’t have to be complicated. Just five simple ingredients and a few minutes gives you a simple and effortless plate of tender grilled asparagus.

A pound of fresh asparagus lies on a wooden cutting board.

As much as I love to cook and experiment with flavors, sometimes, there’s nothing better than returning to the simplest forms of cooking. When ingredients are kept to a minimum, you can really appreciate the flavors of your vegetables and meats to their fullest. There is no masking — it is pure. Best of all, it is easy.

This recipe for grilled asparagus takes me back to my mother’s garden when I was a little girl. I loved to tuck asparagus foliage into my flowers bouquets, and now I get those same happy feelings when I’m able to get fresh asparagus from someone’s garden, or I find some fresh stems at the store.

A white rectangular plate filled with raw asparagus that has been tossed with oil, salt, pepper, and vinegar. A bottle of oil and a cork sit beside the plate.
A bowl with three pork chops sprinkled with oil, vinegar, salt, and pepper sits on a wooden cutting board.

Salt. Pepper. Olive Oil. Then a splash of balsamic vinegar. When I am in a rush to make grilled asparagus, that’s all I need. My asparagus gets a nice toss in this simple treatment. You can do the same for some hefty pork chops and have a fantastic meal ready with no stress.

Asparagus laid out on a grill to cook.

In a matter of minutes, the grill works its magic.

A plate of grilled asparagus sits on a white towel with a red stripe. A bowl of pork chops sits in the background.
A dinner plate at a table with a pork chop, asparagus, and potato wedges. The serving plate sits in the background.

When I cook like this, it reminds me: good food does not have to be complicated. How else would I be able to taste the sweetness of this season’s tender asparagus, brought out by a sprinkling of salt and a drizzle of inky balsamic? How else could an effortless plate of grilled asparagus still be so alluring?

What are your favorite ways to enjoy summer meals simply?

While the grill is out…

Grilled Vegetable Pizza
Grilled Fish Tacos with Avocado-Cilantro Sauce
Grilled Halloumi Blueberry Salad

Other simple vegetable recipes…

How to Cook Artichokes in the Microwave
Honey-Spice Glazed Carrots
Asian Cucumber Carrot Slaw

Grilled Asparagus with Balsamic Vinegar

This hardly seems a recipe, but perhaps that’s what I love best about it. Just the basics, no frills. And it leaves you more time to enjoy the summer evenings.
Course Dinner, Side Dish
Cuisine American, Italian
Prep Time 2 minutes
Cook Time 6 minutes
Total Time 8 minutes
Servings 4
Calories 93kcal

Ingredients

Grilled Balsamic Asparagus

  • 1 pound asparagus
  • 2-3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • kosher salt
  • freshly ground black pepper
  • 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar divided

Instructions

  • Prepare the grill, preheating to high heat.
  • Trim the tough ends of the asparagus and discard.
  • Toss the asparagus in the olive oil, and season generously with salt and pepper, tossing to evenly coat the vegetables. Drizzle with 1 tablespoon of balsamic vinegar.
  • Grill the asparagus on high heat for about 6 minutes, until the asparagus are just fork tender, rotating periodically. Transfer to a serving dish and drizzle with a little additional balsamic vinegar.

Nutrition

Calories: 93kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Sodium: 586mg | Potassium: 245mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 860IU | Vitamin C: 6mg | Calcium: 32mg | Iron: 3mg
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Comments

Recipe Rating




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  1. Patty

    Such a good way to enjoy fresh asparagus complete with beautiful photos!
    Happy Birthday Liren, hope you’re enjoying your special day;-)

    Reply
  2. Jennifer (Delicieux)

    Your right, good food doesn’t need to be complicated! When you have wonderfully fresh ingredients they really don’t need much done to them, and I love nothing better than grilled asparagus with a poached egg. Happy days!

    Gorgeous photos as always Liren!

    Reply
  3. Krista

    You are SO right! Good food doesn’t need to be complicated. I love making a simple dinner like this on the weekends. It is so beautiful and yet so easy!

    Reply
  4. Jen Laceda @ Tartine and Apron Strings

    I agree, simple cooking is the best cooking! The less we tamper our foods, the more the flavours are enhanced, and the better they taste! Simple grilling always brings out the best in food, so I am all for that! I love grilling and wish we could do it all year long here in Canada! If only winters were milder…Sigh.

    Reply
  5. Jamie

    You are so right: great ingredients are what matters and need nothing fancy to hide or enhance their true excellent flavors. This asparagus is gorgeous and beautifully prepared. This week, asparagus on the menu… just like this.

    Reply
  6. Lisa { AuthenticSuburbanGourmet }

    This is the PERFECT way to eat asparagus! I adore any veggie that is grilled – the smoky-ness that is added is the best. It just screams summer. This is a great simple Sunday. Sending Happy Father’s Day wishes to your family!!!

    Reply
  7. Laura (Tutti Dolci)

    I love balsamic – I will eat it by the spoonful if given the opportunity. It’s absolutely perfect with asparagus! During the summer, I love to grill vegetables in much the same way – you can’t beat oil, balsamic, and some fresh herbs!

    Reply
  8. Rikki

    Asparagus and pork chops are one of my favorites (especially on the grill)! I love that there’s balsamic vinegar in this recipe, we use that quite often with our veggies. Delicious and simple- that’s the way to go!

    Reply
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