At a glance
Snap off the woody ends, toss the spears with olive oil, garlic, salt and pepper and smoke them at 250°F to 275°F for 30 to 45 minutes, until tender crisp. Finish with lemon and shaved parmesan. For bacon wrapped bundles, allow up to an hour so the bacon cooks through.
Smoked asparagus is one of the quickest and easiest sides you can make on a smoker. In half an hour the spears turn tender with a light smoky flavor, while staying bright green and fresh. A squeeze of lemon and some shaved parmesan are all it needs, or wrap bundles in bacon for a crowd pleaser.
Choosing asparagus
Medium to thick spears are best on the smoker, as thin ones can turn limp. Look for firm, straight spears with tight tips. Snap off the woody base where it naturally breaks, and peel the lower half of very thick spears so they cook evenly.
Bacon wrapped asparagus
Wrap bundles of three or four spears with a slice of thin bacon, starting at the base and spiraling up. The bacon takes longer to cook than the asparagus, so use thin cut bacon and let them go for up to an hour. Thick spears hold up best to the longer cook.
Recipe
Smoked Asparagus
- Prep
- 10 min
- Cook
- 45 min
- Total
- 55 min
- Makes
- 4 servings as a side
- Smoker 250°F (121°C) to 275°F (135°C)
- About 30 to 45 minutes
- Done when tender crisp
Ingredients
- 1 lb (450 g) asparagus, medium to thick spears
- 2 tbsp olive oil or melted butter
- 1/2 tsp kosher salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 1 garlic clove, grated
- Zest and juice of 1/2 lemon
- 1/4 cup (25 g) shaved parmesan
- 8 slices thin bacon (optional, for bacon wrapped bundles)
Equipment
- Smoker
- Grill basket, sheet pan or skewers
Method
- Snap off the woody ends of the asparagus. Peel the bottom half of very thick spears.
- Toss with the oil, salt, pepper and garlic.
- For bacon wrapped bundles, wrap 3 or 4 spears tightly with a slice of bacon.
- Heat the smoker to 250°F to 275°F (121°C to 135°C) with apple, cherry or pecan.
- Lay the spears across the grates, in a grill basket or on a sheet pan, and smoke for 30 to 45 minutes, until tender crisp and bright green. Bacon bundles may need up to an hour for the bacon to cook.
- Finish with lemon zest and juice and shaved parmesan, and serve warm.
Notes
- Thin spears cook in as little as 20 minutes. Check them early.
- For a little char, finish them over high heat for 1 to 2 minutes.
Serving ideas
- Alongside steaks like bavette or flat iron.
- With smoked fish such as halibut.
- Topped with a fried egg and hollandaise for brunch.
For more smoked vegetables, try our smoked carrots and smoked zucchini.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to smoke asparagus?
About 30 to 45 minutes at 250°F to 275°F for medium spears.
Why did my asparagus turn mushy?
It was smoked too long, or the spears were very thin. Pull them while they still have a little bite.
Can I smoke asparagus at 225°F?
Yes, it just takes a little longer, about 45 minutes to 1 hour.