Bacon-Wrapped Asparagus

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Bacon-wrapped asparagus is exactly what it sounds like: small bundles of asparagus wrapped in bacon and baked until the bacon is crisp and the spears are tender. It works as a party appetizer or as a side next to chicken or steak.

It takes three main ingredients and 10 minutes of prep. Bundling a few spears in each slice makes the bacon go further, so one package wraps a whole bunch.

Everything bakes on one pan. A rimmed sheet pan lined with parchment paper makes cleanup easy.

Ingredients and Swaps

• Asparagus: One bunch, about 1 pound. Medium-thick spears are best. Pencil-thin spears overcook before the bacon crisps.
• Bacon: Regular-cut bacon. Thick-cut bacon takes too long to crisp and leaves the asparagus mushy.
• Seasoning: A little olive oil, garlic salt and black pepper. Go light on the salt, since bacon is salty.
• Prosciutto: A good swap for bacon. It crisps in about half the time.

Tips for Crispy Bacon and Tender Asparagus

• Trim the woody ends. Bend one spear until it snaps, then cut the rest to match.
• Dry the asparagus. Moisture keeps the bacon from crisping.
• Wrap snugly, in a spiral. Start near the bottom and wind the bacon up the bundle, leaving the tips showing.
• Seam side down. Tucking the ends underneath keeps the bundles from unwrapping.
• Use a rack if you have one. A wire rack set in the pan lets hot air crisp the bacon on all sides.

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Bacon-Wrapped Asparagus

Bundles of asparagus wrapped in bacon and baked until the bacon is crisp and the spears are tender.

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Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 20 minutes mins

Total Time 30 minutes mins

Servings: 8 bundles

Course: Appetizer

Cuisine: American

Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients

  

• 1 pound asparagus 1 bunch, woody ends trimmed
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• ¼ teaspoon garlic salt
• ¼ teaspoon black pepper
• 8 slices bacon regular cut

Method

 

1. Preheat the oven to 400°F. Line a rimmed sheet pan with parchment paper, and set a wire rack on top if you have one.
2. Pat the asparagus dry. Toss with the olive oil, garlic salt and pepper.
3. Divide the asparagus into 8 bundles of 3–4 spears. Wrap a slice of bacon in a spiral around each bundle and place seam side down on the pan.
4. Bake for 10 minutes. Turn the bundles with tongs and bake for 8–10 minutes more, until the bacon is browned and nearly crisp.
5. For crisper bacon, broil for 1–2 minutes, watching closely. Serve hot.

Notes

• Drizzle with balsamic glaze before serving.
• Prosciutto can replace the bacon. Reduce the baking time to 10–12 minutes total.
• Sprinkle with a little brown sugar before baking for a sweet and salty version.

Ways to Serve It

As an appetizer, serve the bundles hot with a drizzle of balsamic glaze. As a side, they go well with Juicy Baked Chicken Breasts, Top Round Roast Beef or Creamy Spinach Salmon. For a lighter asparagus side, see Lemon Parmesan Roasted Asparagus.

Make-Ahead, Storage and Reheating

• Make ahead: Wrap the bundles up to a day ahead, cover and refrigerate. Bake just before serving.
• Refrigerate: Leftovers keep for up to 3 days.
• Reheat: Warm at 400°F for 5–8 minutes or in an air fryer for 3–4 minutes so the bacon crisps again.

Bacon-Wrapped Asparagus Questions

Can I make it in an air fryer?

Yes. Cook at 400°F for 8–10 minutes, turning once, in a single layer.

My bacon isn’t crisp but the asparagus is done. What now?

Broil for 1–2 minutes, watching closely. Next time, use thicker asparagus or thinner bacon.

Can I wrap single spears?

Yes, with thick spears and half slices of bacon. It makes more pieces for a party and uses more bacon.