Grilled Asparagus Salad in 20 Minutes: The Perfect BBQ Side
Jun 10, 2026
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This grilled asparagus salad recipe is the perfect blend of hearty asparagus, sweet red onions with a hint of smoke, and fresh tomatoes and cucumbers. It’s all tossed in a 4-ingredient balsamic vinaigrette and finished with a sprinkle of pine nuts. Ready in just 20 minutes for the perfect BBQ pairing.
When we here at The Produce Moms think of summer, we naturally think of grilling. But not just steak or burgers. Did you know that fruits and veggies develop even more flavor when cooked for a few minutes over the flame of a grill?
We grilled asparagus and red onion before cutting them into bite-size pieces and tossing them with fresh grape tomatoes and cucumbers. Then drizzle with a sweet-and-tangy homemade balsamic vinaigrette, toss, and sprinkle with pine nuts.
Grilled asparagus salad is sponsored by North Bay Produce.
This salad comes together in 20 minutes and is the perfect blend of smoky and fresh in a bowl. We love bringing this to BBQs and outdoor events with a grilled main course. You can never have too much grilled anything, right?
Be sure to check out more recipes at the end for more asparagus recipe ideas.
Ingredients
Since we’re making a salad, you’ll need a variety of produce for your grilled asparagus salad. There are a few main ingredients that you’ll need, but be sure to check out the full ingredient list in the recipe card.
Asparagus
Tender, flavorful, and freshly harvested in Michigan, North Bay produce is committed to premium-quality asparagus that looks and tastes as fresh on your plate as the day it was harvested. They even grow a purple variety if you want some extra fun pops of color. Look for firm, vibrant green stalks with tight tips. The thicker stalks are easier for grilling if you don’t have a grill basket.
Related:How to Select, Store, and Serve Asparagus
Produce
Seasonal ingredients are the key to a vibrant, beautiful salad that’s full of color and flavor. We added grilled red onion along with grape tomatoes and cucumbers for a smoky, fresh balance that’s so unique to this grilled asparagus salad recipe. Don’t forget to add salty parmesan and fresh basil too.
Vinaigrette
With a simple blend of olive oil, balsamic vinegar, honey, and Dijon mustard, you’ve got yourself a homemade balsamic vinaigrette in minutes… super easy!
How to Grill Asparagus
Asparagus cooks quickly on the grill for a tender and hearty addition that’s sure to be the star of your salad. Preheat your grill pan or grill basket to medium-high heat before adding your asparagus.
Step 1: Prep
Toss the asparagus with avocado oil and salt and pepper (no chopping yet).
Step 2: Grill
When the grill is heated, spray the pan or the basket with cooking spray to prevent sticking. Place the seasoned asparagus on the grill until slightly charred and tender, about 5-6 minutes. Remove it from the grill and let it cool.
Remember! Keep your grill on; we still need to grill those onions.
How to Make Grilled Asparagus Into A Salad
Once the asparagus is done, let’s grill the onions and toss them all together to make our salad.
Step 1: Grill the onions.
After you remove the asparagus from the grill, cook the onion for 1-2 minutes on each side, until slightly charred. Set aside until cooled.
Step 2: Prep the produce and vinaigrette.
Rinse the tomatoes and cucumbers under cold water. Then, use a knife to halve the tomatoes, and slice the cucumber.
Add the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, honey, and Dijon to a jar (or container) with a lid. Shake to mix the ingredients together and set aside.
Step 3: Assemble the grilled asparagus salad.
Chop the cooled asparagus and onion and add to a large mixing bowl with the tomatoes, cucumbers, parmesan, and basil. Drizzle your vinaigrette over the salad, toss until coated, and sprinkle with pine nuts.
Why We Love North Bay Produce
We are proud to partner with North Bay because of our shared passion for food safety and education. Each year, they celebrate World Food Safety Day with a fun activity. They even host an annual food safety meeting to help spread sustainable growing practices with other growers. Be sure to look for asparagus with the blue farmer for vibrant taste and crisp texture in your grilled asparagus salad.
Learn more about North Bay Produce and their recent rebrand. They create a true farm-to-table experience!
More North Bay Recipes You’ll Love
- Shaved Asparagus Salad – budget-friendly and great for feeding a crowd
- Balsamic Roasted Asparagus – bake it or grill it
- Asparagus with Parmesan – savory, salty, and creamy
- Warm Blueberry and Snow Pea Salad – the perfect side ready in under 10 minutes
- Green Beans with Crispy Chickpeas – serve hot or cold
- French Bean Refrigerator Salad – high in protein and fiber, low in fat
Grilled Asparagus Salad
Ingredients
Grilled Asparagus Salad
- 2 lbs North Bay asparagus ends trimmed
- 1 large red onion sliced thick
- 2 tablespoons avocado oil or olive oil
- sea salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
- 2 medly grape tomatoes cut into halves
- 1 large cucumber cut into ¼ inch slices and then sliced in half
- ⅓ cup freshly grated parmesan
- large handful fresh basil
- ⅓ cup pine nuts
Balsamic Vinaigrette
- ½ cup olive oil
- ¼ cup balsamic vinegar
- 1½ teaspoons honey
- 1½ teaspoons Dijon mustard
Instructions
Balsamic Vinaigrette
- In a medium bowl or jar, whisk together all of your vinaigrette ingredients. Refrigerate utnil ready to serve.
Grill Asparagus
- Toss the North Bay asparagus with olive oil, salt, and pepper.
- Spray avocado oil over your grilling surface and heat your grill pan over medium-high heat. Cook the asparagus until charred, about 5-6 minutes on each side. Remove from the grill and let it cool.
- On the same preheated grill, add the sliced onion and grill until charred, about 1-2 minutes on each side.
- Once your grilled asparagus and onions are cooled, chop them into large bite-sized pieces.
Assemble Your Asparagus Salad
- In a large serving bowl, combine grilled asparagus, onions, tomatoes, cucumber, parmesan, and fresh basil.
- Drizzle your salad with balsamic vinaigrette, toss until coated, sprinkle with pine nuts, and enjoy!
Video
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
