Easy Bacon Wrapped Asparagus
Bacon wrapped asparagus bundles, which are simply asparagus wrapped in a slice of bacon and drizzled with olive oil, are the perfect delicious side dish! Most people would agree that everything is better with bacon!
Peak asparagus season is in the spring, however, you can find this vegetable in the stores any time of year! A nutritious vegetable served with bacon complements any meal!
Bacon Wrapped Asparagus is a more unique vegetable side dish that everyone will love. It will go well with BBQ, meat and potatoes, pasta, or even your turkey dinner at Thanksgiving!
Bacon Wrapped Asparagus would be a perfect side dish to serve with my Perfect Grilled Baked Potato recipe. It would also be delicious with my Best Philly Cheesesteak Sandwich.
What is Bacon Wrapped Asparagus?
We all want to serve our families healthy and nutritious meals.
It is recommended that we all eat a variety of vegetables every day because they are loaded with the vitamins, fiber, minerals, and even the antioxidants that we need.
However, vegetables are not always the favorite part of a meal, especially for kids. Sometimes people get bored with salads and carrot sticks.
So why not dress up the vegetable dish with bacon once in a while!
Bacon Wrapped Asparagus will most likely become one of your family’s favorite vegetable dishes!
Conveniently, there are options regarding cooking methods!
Not only can this side dish be baked, it can be cooked in your air fryer and grilled on the barbecue!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- You can prepare this side dish the day before, which is helpful for busy schedules!
- This recipe can be served at room temperature or hot out of the oven!
- Not everyone is a fan of asparagus, but this recipe will win them over! Slices of bacon and the tang of asparagus go together beautifully.
- Bacon-wrapped Asparagus only requires 3 ingredients, plus salt and pepper, to prepare!
- Make this as a tasty side dish for a main course or serve it as an easy appetizer the next time you have company.
Tell Me About Bacon Wrapped Asparagus
- Taste- This vegetable side dish provides mouthwatering and complementary savory and salty flavors, which are pleasing to the palate!
- Texture- Each bite is filled with tender, yet crispy textures!
- Ease- There are very few steps involved in the preparation of this dish, therefore, it is very simple to make.
- Time- The asparagus bundles only take about 20 minutes to prepare, and they bake for 25 minutes.
Ingredients for Bacon Wrapped Asparagus
- Asparagus- Asparagus is low in calories and fat. It is high in fiber, folate, and other vitamins such as A, C, and K. Long story short, it’s a delicious way to get in some nutrients. I recommend using fresh asparagus spears for this easy recipe. If you don’t have asparagus, you may also use fresh green beans in place of the spears of asparagus!
- Thin Bacon- Thin bacon cooks more thoroughly and quickly than thick bacon strips and adds wonderful texture and a salty taste to the recipe. Mix up the flavors by using a different flavored bacon slice each time you make these. Use a smoky bacon for suppertime and a sweet bacon for a great side dish for your breakfast.
- Olive Oil- The olive oil keeps the asparagus tender and prevents it from drying out.
- Salt and Pepper- Of course the salt and pepper add delicious flavor. Make sure you do not use too much salt because the bacon is usually pretty salty.
Make Bacon Wrapped Asparagus in 3 Easy Steps
- Preheat the oven- After preheating the oven to 425°, place parchment paper on the baking sheet. Put a wire rack on top of the parchment paper if you have one. This allows the ingredients to cook more thoroughly and allows the grease to drip underneath.
- Wrap the bacon with asparagus- After cutting each piece of bacon in half, wind each piece around 3 stalks of asparagus. Drizzle each bunch of asparagus stalks with olive oil, coating them well. Flavor each bundle of asparagus with sprinkles of salt and pepper.
- Bake- Place the bundles of asparagus on the wire rack and bake until the bacon is caramelized and the asparagus is crispy on the ends. It should take about 25 minutes.
Substitutions for Bacon Wrapped Asparagus
- Turkey bacon- Turkey bacon may be substituted for regular bacon and most people won’t know the difference, although the taste and texture is a little bit different. It is lower in calories and fat.
- Avocado oil- Avocado oil can tolerate higher cooking temperatures, although olive oil is slightly better nutritionally. Both are considered to be heart healthy.
Add-Ins for Bacon Wrapped Asparagus
- Cheese– Asparagus tastes delicious with cheese, especially parmesan cheese.
- Brown sugar and melted butter- The combination of asparagus and bacon tastes wonderful with the added sweetness of sugar and richness of butter.
- Honey– Honey can be drizzled over the top and baked with the recipe.
Tips for Making the Best Bacon Wrapped Asparagus
- When it is done baking, be sure that your end result is crispy bacon and tender asparagus. Then you will know that it is ready to eat!
- All of the asparagus is edible except for the pale end of the asparagus stalk, which is known as the woody end. It will be tough and taste bitter. You can literally snap that part of the stalk off, or cut it with a knife.
- You may choose to cut the bacon lengthwise if your asparagus spears are bigger in width and you need a longer piece of bacon to wrap around them. Otherwise, you can cut the bacon in half.
- For this easy side dish, use thin bacon so you get that crispy texture you want and not soggy bacon.
Air Fryer Method of Making Bacon Wrapped Asparagus
Can this side dish be cooked in the air fryer, rather than the oven?
Absolutely! Prepare the bundles of asparagus with the bacon slices as if you were going to bake them in the oven.
Make sure you spray the air fryer basket with non-stick cooking spray to avoid sticking.
Also, place the asparagus bundles in the basket so that they have space between them.
Air fry at about 390° for 10-15 minutes. Watch the asparagus and bacon carefully. If they start getting too dark, turn them over to complete the air frying process.
Grilling Bacon Wrapped Asparagus
You can also grill the Bacon Wrapped Asparagus.
Again, prepare the side dish as if you were going to bake it. Instead, heat your grill to around 400°.
Cook the asparagus bundles for 25-30 minutes and be sure to turn them halfway through the grilling process for the best results!
How Do You Store Bacon Wrapped Asparagus?
Bacon Wrapped Asparagus can be stored for 3-5 days in an airtight container after baking. It can be reheated as well.
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it cannot be frozen after baking because it tends to lose its texture.
Bacon Wrapped Asparagus Recipe
Bacon Wrapped Asparagus Bundles
Equipment
- 1 baking sheet
Ingredients
- 21 stalks asparagus, trimmed
- 10 slices thin bacon
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- ½ teaspoon salt and pepper, or to taste
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425 ̊. Place parchment paper on a baking sheet. If you have a wire cooling rack, place that on top of your baking sheet so your asparagus doesn’t touch the baking sheet.
- Cut each strip of bacon in half lengthwise so it’s not as long.
- Wind half a bacon strip around 3 stalks of asparagus bunched up together. Drizzle the asparagus bundles with the olive oil making sure you coat the ends well.
- Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
- Place the bundles on the baking sheet.
- Bake for 25 minutes, or until the bacon is caramelized and the asparagus is crispy on the ends.
Notes
- When it is done baking, be sure that your end result is crispy bacon and tender asparagus. Then you will know that it is ready to eat!
- All of the asparagus is edible except for the pale end of the asparagus stalk, which is known as the woody end. It will be tough and taste bitter. You can literally snap that part of the stalk off, or cut it with a knife.
