I served these asparagus wrapped in bacon up to my friends the other weekend and they went CRAZY! And I can see why - bacon is delicious and it surprisingly goes really well with asparagus. It's salty, juicy, crispy and tender. Everyone will be asking you for the recipe!
You definitely want to set one, two (or maybe just all of them) aside for yourself before serving them out to your family. They will be gone super quickly!
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How to make bacon wrapped asparagus
- Prepare Asparagus
There are a couple of ways to prepare asparagus to make sure the woody ends are removed.
Cut with a knife. Group your asparagus side-by-side and cut about 1 inch away from the base (the pale green/white part that is harder than the rest). This way is fast, but can be inaccurate as each asparagus has different amounts of the woody end bit.
Snap. This is my go-to method. When I'm washing my asparagus, I'll take each end of the asparagus stalk and bend gently until it snaps. The asparagus automatically snaps where the fresh asparagus begins and the woody ends stops. You'll get a perfect snap every time with no wasted asparagus. Plus, it's fun! - Mix asparagus with seasoning
Do. not. Omit.
Black pepper and good quality olive oil is a must in this recipe. It amplifies the flavour and will have your guests coming back for their fifth and sixth servings. - Bunch and wrap
Bunch asparagus together in groups of 3-5 (depending on the size and how many asparagus you have).
Place one side of bacon just below the tops and wrap around the stalk so that it slightly overlaps with the first end (securing it in place). Work your way down until you finish the bacon.
If you're a bit impatient (like me) and get frustrated with the fiddly tasks, you can use toothpicks to slightly cheat where you don't have to have a perfect bacon wrap. If you're cooking these bacon wrapped asparagus on the BBQ, this step is a must.
You can also put a glaze on these at this stage like my Sweet BBQ Sauce. - Cook
Bacon wrapped asparagus in the oven. This is the easiest way as it is hands free and decreases the likelihood that the bacon will come apart and off the asparagus, but it's not my favourite (see below). Bake at 200C for 25 minutes or until your bacon is the desired crispiness.
Bacon wrapped asparagus on the BBQ. THIS IS MY FAVOURITE. Yes, it makes the asparagus bundles hard to handle because you constantly have to turn them, but the flavour is worth it! The char and crisp from the BBQ on the saltiness on the bacon is my absolute favourite! Grill over medium heat until the bacon is crisp and cooked through, turning every couple of minutes for approximately 10-15 minutes.
Bacon wrapped asparagus in the air fryer. You can do this very similar to how you cook in the oven, you just won't be able to have as many. Bake at 180C for 15-20 minutes or until the bacon is the desired crispiness.
Bacon wrapped asparagus on the stove. This way can get a bit messy. We all know what happens when bacon hits a hot pan, right? But, if you don't want to turn on your oven, you can heat a large, nonstick pan over medium heat with some olive oil. Place asparagus bundles on the pan (don't overlap). Turn the bundles so the bacon cooks on every side. They should be done within 10-15 minutes. - Serve!
Transfer (carefully) to a platter. Maybe put one or two aside so you can have a sneaky taste before your guests eat them all up.
What to serve with bacon wrapped asparagus
These are a fantastic side dish to any dinner table. Why not serve bacon wrapped asparagus with:
- Sweet BBQ Sauce (I like to glaze the bacon asparagus with this while grilling)
- Whole Barramundi
- Grilled Butterfly Chicken
- Potato Salad
- Pineapple Baked Ham
Meal prep bacon wrapped asparagus
You absolutely can meal prep bacon wrapped asparagus. You should probably have something else with it though to balance out the salt from the bacon.
Pair it with your favourite protein, some extra veggies and a carb source and you will have a fantastic meal prep recipe.
These would also be fantastic for an appetiser for Christmas! Check this recipe and 35 others out in my Entertainer's Christmas E-Book.
Frequently Asked Questions
You can make bacon wrapped asparagus without an oven. To make this in the oven, bake at 180C for 15-20 minutes or until the bacon is the desired crispiness. Try not to overlap the asparagus as you might have bits less cooked than the rest.
YES! And this is my favourite way to have it. I love crispy bacon (I actually can't stand it when it's not crispy) so I am a big fan of grilling it. Grill over medium heat, turning every couple of minutes for approximately 10-15 minutes. This method is a bit more tedious than the oven, but if you pop some toothpicks to hold the bacon on the asparagus, it helps keep it all together.
Yes you can. You can prepare the bundles by wrapping them in bacon the day before. Once cooked, store in an airtight container for up to four days in the refrigerator. To re-heat, I would suggest doing this on the stove or oven to help crisp the bacon back up.
I wouldn't recommend it. Asparagus has quite a high water content and with crispiness of the bacon won't hold up well in the freezer.
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Recipe
Bacon Wrapped Asparagus Recipe
Ingredients
- 18 asparagus spears
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 6 strips bacon
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 200C and line a large baking sheet with aluminium foil, parchment paper or silicone cover.
- Prepare asparagus by removing the woody stalk. You can do this by making a cut about 1 inch from the bottom, or by snapping it between your fingers.
- Place all asparagus spears in a large bowl, drizzle olive oil, pepper, onion powder and dried oregano. Toss to coat.
- Take 3 spears in your hand, holding them together. Starting below the head of the asparagus, take one side of the bacon and wrap until you reach the end. Repeat with the remaining spears.
- Bake until the bacon is to your desired crispiness and the asparagus is tender and golden. This should take approximately 20-25 minutes.
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