These Bacon Wrapped Asparagus bundles make for an elegant and tasty side dish or appetizer that comes together easily.
Fresh asparagus is seasoned and paired with flavorful crispy bacon for delicious baked two-bite bundles your guests will love.
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Learn how to make tender roasted asparagus wrapped in crispy, savory bacon with this easy Bacon Wrapped Asparagus recipe. Our step-by-step instructions will teach you how to prep and cook fresh asparagus seasoned with olive oil, pepper, onion, and garlic, then wrap bacon around the spears before baking until perfectly crispy.
Find our method for choosing quality ingredients, cooking times and temperatures, as well as the best way to reheat leftover bacon wrapped asparagus bundles. With just 10 minutes of prep time, this delicious side dish or appetizer is sure to be a hit at any dinner or gathering.
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- SAVE THIS RECIPE
- Here is why this recipe is amazing:
- Ingredients needed:
- How to select the perfect asparagus
- What type of bacon should be used when wrapping asparagus?
- Substitutions
- How to cook bacon wrapped asparagus
- Can this recipe be prepped ahead?
- How to store leftover bacon-wrapped asparagus
- How to reheat leftover asparagus wrapped in bacon.
- Frequently asked questions, answers and tips:
- Drinks
- Bacon Wrapped Asparagus
- 👩🏻🍳 Sarah Mock
Here is why this recipe is amazing:
- Elegant appetizer - The bacon wrapped asparagus bundles make for a fancy yet easy finger food app to serve guests. They have an elegant presentation but come together quickly.
- In-season asparagus - When asparagus is fresh and in-season, this recipe lets the delicate flavor shine while adding contrasting crispness from the bacon. It's a tasty way to feature the spring vegetable.
- Flavorful vegetable side - The topping of olive oil, peppers and herbs complements the vegetal notes of the asparagus, while the bacon adds savory richness. It makes for a more exciting veggie side dish.
Ingredients needed:
Here is a visual overview of the ingredients in the recipe. Scroll down to the recipe at the bottom for quantities.
How to select the perfect asparagus
- Look for thick, evenly-sized spears. Thinner spears will overcook faster while thicker spears will hold up better to the bacon wrapping and oven roasting. Evenly-sized spears will cook at the same rate.
- Seek out firm, bright green spears. The stalks should be firm and not bending or wilting. Avoid any asparagus that looks dried out or has signs of mold/rotting. The tips should be closed and compact.
- Ensure the bottom ends are not too woody. The bottom ends will be woodier and you'll snap these off before cooking. But try to select bunches that don't have too much wooden stalk, to maximize the amount of edible asparagus. About halfway up the stalk should transition from tender to woody.
What type of bacon should be used when wrapping asparagus?
Choose a thicker-cut bacon. A thicker slice of bacon will hold up better during baking without becoming overly crispy or burning. It will cook evenly along with the asparagus spears. A medium or thick-cut bacon works best.
Some good bacon options would be hickory smoked bacon or applewood smoked bacon, which will add a nice flavor to the asparagus as it cooks. Just make sure it's a thickness that will work well for wrapping.
Substitutions
The substitutions would provide a bit of a flavor change but still result in a tasty baked bundle pairing. Adjust seasonings or cook times as needed based on the new ingredients.
Asparagus Substitutions:
- Green Beans - Trimmed green beans would wrap well with the bacon. Just adjust cook time slightly as they may cook faster.
- Brussels Sprouts - Halved Brussels sprouts would also pair nicely. They have a similar roasted flavor.
- Carrots - Sliced carrots would cook well wrapped in bacon. They may need a slightly longer cook time.
Bacon Substitutions:
- Pancetta - Slices of pancetta would provide a nice savory-salty flavor while wrapping the asparagus bundles.
- Prosciutto - Very thin slices of prosciutto can substitute for bacon, adding an intensely savory flavor. The cook time may need to be adjusted slightly.
How to cook bacon wrapped asparagus
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or foil.
- Rinse and trim asparagus spears. Arrange spears in a single layer on prepared baking sheet.
- In a small bowl, combine olive oil, black pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder. Brush asparagus evenly with oil mixture to coat.
- Divide asparagus into 8 equal bundles and wrap each bundle with a slice of bacon, securing bacon with a toothpick if needed.
- Place baking sheet in preheated oven and bake for 15-18 minutes. Gently flip bundles halfway through baking time.
- Remove from oven when bacon is crispy. Allow to cool slightly before serving. Enjoy!
Can this recipe be prepped ahead?
The most time-sensitive prep steps like the seasoning and bacon wrapping should be done right before baking, but the trimming and some pre-cooking can be done 2-5 days in advance. This saves time on the actual day while maintaining texture.
- Wash, trim, and cut the asparagus spears up to 2 days in advance. Store trimmed asparagus spears in a paper towel-lined zip-top bag in the refrigerator until ready to use.
- The seasoning oil with olive oil, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder can be mixed together up to 5 days in advance and stored covered in the refrigerator until ready to coat the asparagus before baking.
- The bacon can be pre-cooked about halfway until pliable but not crispy. Allow to cool completely then wrap for storage and refrigerate for up to 5 days before wrapping around asparagus. This helps the bacon be flexible enough to wrap neatly.
- Wrap cooled, precooked bacon around room temperature asparagus spears and seasonings right before baking. Discard any leftover marinade.
- Follow recommended baking instructions, adjusting time if needed based on the doneness of the bacon.
How to store leftover bacon-wrapped asparagus
Properly storing foods is so important to preserve freshness and texture.
Short-Term Storage:
- Let bundles cool 1-2 hours after cooking before refrigerating
- Store cooled bundles in airtight container in fridge
- Bundles stay fresh and refrigerated for 3-4 days
- Best if eaten within 2-3 days for optimum texture
Long Term Storage:
- Freeze baked bundles on baking sheet until hard (1-2 hrs)
- Transfer frozen bundles to freezer bag/container
- Properly frozen, bundles last 2-3 months in freezer
- To reheat from frozen, bake at 375°F for 10 mins until hot
How to reheat leftover asparagus wrapped in bacon.
Here are reheating instructions for Bacon Wrapped Asparagus using the microwave, oven, and air fryer. For all methods, keep an eye on reheating process to prevent overcooking. Adjust times as needed based on quantity. Enjoy the tasty reheated bacon wrapped asparagus!
Microwave:
- Place a single layer of bacon-wrapped asparagus bundles on a microwave-safe plate.
- Microwave on 50% power for 2-3 minutes, checking every minute. Rotate the plate if needed.
- Microwave just until the asparagus is warmed through and the bacon is hot and slightly crispy.
Oven:
- Preheat oven to 375°F.
- Place a single layer of asparagus bundles on a baking sheet.
- Bake for 4-5 minutes if baking straight from the refrigerator.
- Bake for 6-8 minutes if reheating from frozen to heat through.
Air Fryer:
- Preheat air fryer to 400°F
- Place a single layer of bundles in the air fryer basket.
- Air fry for 3-5 minutes, checking frequently, until bacon is crispy and asparagus is heated through.
- For best results, spritz bundles lightly with oil before air frying.
Frequently asked questions, answers and tips:
Thinner spears tend to overcook quickly when roasted, so it's best to use thick, evenly-sized spears that will hold up better when wrapped in bacon.
Yes, you can partially cook the bacon up to 5 days ahead to get it pliable enough to wrap neatly around room temperature asparagus before finishing the cooking process.
Properly stored in an airtight container, the cooked bacon asparagus bundles will last 3-4 days stored in the refrigerator.
Bacon Wrapped Asparagus
Ingredients
- 1 lb asparagus trimmed
- 8 strips Bacon
- 2 tablespoon olive oil
- ⅛ teaspoon black pepper
- ⅛ teaspoon garlic powder
- ⅛ teaspoon onion powder
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or foil.
- Rinse and trim asparagus spears. Arrange spears in a single layer on prepared baking sheet.
- In a small bowl, combine olive oil, black pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder. Brush asparagus evenly with oil mixture to coat.
- Divide asparagus into 8 equal bundles and wrap each bundle with a slice of bacon, securing bacon with a toothpick if needed.
- Place baking sheet in preheated oven and bake for 15-18 minutes. Gently flip bundles halfway through baking time.
- Remove from oven when bacon is crispy. Allow to cool slightly before serving. Enjoy!
Notes
Nutritional facts are estimates and are provided as a courtesy to the reader. Please utilize your own brand nutritional values to double check against our estimates. Nutritional values are calculated via a third party. Changing ingredients, amounts or cooking technique will alter the estimated nutritional calculations.
👩🏻🍳 Sarah Mock
Founder & Culinary Blogger
Sarah Mock is a classically trained Chef and graduate of Johnson & Wales University. A culinary blogger for 13 years Sarah helps the home cook prepare her recipes with professional results.
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