Traeger Asparagus (Easy Smoked Asparagus Recipe)

This easy and flavorful Traeger Asparagus recipe is a healthy side dish that's perfect for summer grilling season! All you need is one bunch of asparagus, avocado oil, sea salt, pepper, and lemon, and the pellet grill takes care of the rest! The smoky, tender spears pair with just about any main dish, and one that your whole family will enjoy.

I absolutely love our Traeger Freemont Pellet Grill-we've had it for 5 years, and it's one of the best cooking purchases we've ever made. I'm always looking for new ways to cook my favorite veggies, and once I tried smoking asparagus, I couldn't stop.

The smoky flavor takes it to a whole new level, and it's now my go-to method for cooking asparagus. If you don't have a Traeger, no worries-you can use any type of pellet smoker or even a gas grill with a smoker box.

For more smoker recipes, check out my Smoked Beans, Smoked Scalloped Potatoes, Smoked Zucchini, and Traeger Smoked Salmon.

Why You'll Love This Recipe

• Simple and Easy: This simple recipe requires minimal ingredients and requires very little effort, making it a great side dish for almost any meal.
• Packed With Flavor: Say goodbye to boring vegetables! The smoky goodness infuses the tender asparagus, and it also highlights in natural sweetness.
• Customizable: You can experiment with adding garlic, cheese or even adding bacon. Play around with the flavor combo and create your own variation!
• Seasonal & Fresh: Asparagus is in peak season during spring, making this the ideal dish for warm-weather grilling!

Ingredients You'll Need

• Asparagus: The best-tasting asparagus is usually found at your local farmers market during the spring, which is its seasonal peak. You can, however, also find decent asparagus at your local grocery store, though you'll want to make sure it's organic. Fresh asparagus should be vibrant in color, the tips should be tightly closed, and the stalks should be firm and plump. If the asparagus color is dull or the tips are soft, that would indicate the asparagus is likely not at all fresh.
• Avocado Oil: You will want to use good-quality avocado oil. If you don't have avocado oil on hand, you can certainly use a good quality Olive Oil if you like.
• Sea Salt and Black Pepper: Pink Himalayan Sea Salt provides a lot of flavor to this dish. My favorite is Redmond's Sea Salt.
• Flaky Finishing Salt: This step is optional-a pinch of Maldon's Flakey Sea Salt or Truffle Salt, is a wonderful finisher to this vegetable side dish.
• Lemon Juice: Fresh squeezed, please don't use bottled lemon juice. It's just not the same!

See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.

Substitutions And Variations

• Spice It Up: If you enjoy some heat, try sprinkling on some crushed red pepper flakes.
• Add Cheese: When the smoked asparagus comes off the pellet grill, try adding some freshly grated Parmesan cheese on top.
• Garlic: If you enjoy garlic, you can add some crushed or minced garlic when you add the oil, salt, and pepper. 
• Bacon Wrapped: If you are feeling adventurous, you can also take 4-5 spears of asparagus and wrap them in bacon, then smoke!

Tip: You can also use a foil packet or cast cast-iron skillet if you don't have an aluminum pan.

Nadia's Expert Tips And Troubleshooting Tips

• Trimming Asparagus: Once you are ready to use the asparagus, you will want to trim the ends, as that is the woody part of the spear, which is too tough to eat. The best way to determine how much of the asparagus to trim is by holding it from the top of the spear in your left hand and the bottom of the spear in your right hand. Bend the asparagus, and where it naturally breaks, this is an indicator of where you should trim each asparagus spear in the bunch.
• Short On Time: Smoke your asparagus for 25 minutes, then crank up the heat to 375 degrees and cook for an additional 10-15 minutes.
• Too Mushy: Try smoking for 30-45 minutes instead of 1 hour for a firmer bite.
• Too Dry: Drizzle a bit more oil before cooking and cover loosely with foil for part of the cook.
• Bitter Flavor: Make sure to trim the woody ends properly and use fresh asparagus in season.

What To Serve With Traeger Smoked Asparagus

• Toppings: Sprinkle freshly grated parmesan or smoked feta for a creamy finish, or add a drizzle of balsamic glaze for a sweet and tangy touch.
• Beef Mains: Pair with my Dutch oven short rib rigatoni or Traeger grilled burgers for a hearty dinner.
• Chicken Mains: Serve alongside Dutch oven shredded chicken, Mexican chicken salad, smoked boneless chicken thighs, or BBQ chicken kabobs for a protein-packed meal.
• Seafood Mains: Enjoy with Traeger grilled salmon or for a fresh and flavorful combo.
• Potato Sides: Round out the meal with Traeger baked potatoes or smashed potato salad for a complete BBQ spread.
• Other Smoked Sides: Add smoked beans, smoked green beans, or smoked scalloped potatoes for a cozy, smoke-infused feast.