Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Asparagus
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Air-fried Bacon-Wrapped Asparagus is such an easy side dish that even non-asparagus lovers find a way to chow down when crispy bacon asparagus bundles appear.
Nothing says love more than a side dish that takes under 20 minutes to prepare, and the air fryer makes it super easy.
Ingredients
- uncooked bacon
- fresh asparagus
- cooking spray
How to Prepare Bacon and Asparagus for Air Frying
Slice the Bacon Begin by cutting each slice of bacon lengthwise into two thinner strips. This ensures the bacon cooks evenly and crisps up nicely in the air fryer. Remember that thicker bacon slices might take longer, so adjust the cooking time.
Prep the Asparagus. Asparagus typically comes in bundles. To prepare the asparagus, hold each spear by its ends and gently bend it until the woody bottom part snaps off. This natural breaking point removes the tough part of the stalk, leaving you with the edible part.
How to make Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Asparagus
- Temperature: Preheat your air fryer to 390°F (200°C).
- Cooking Time: Air fry the bacon-wrapped asparagus for 8-10 minutes.
- Preparing the Air Fryer: Start by lightly coating the air fryer basket with nonstick cooking spray. This helps prevent the asparagus from sticking and ensures easy removal once cooked.
- Preparing the Asparagus: Gently bend the lower end of each asparagus spear until it naturally breaks off, removing the tough part. This leaves you with the tender portion of the asparagus.
- Slicing the Bacon: Cut each bacon strip lengthwise into two thinner pieces. This is crucial as a whole slice of bacon can be too thick, leading to uneven cooking times between the bacon and asparagus.
- Wrapping the Asparagus: Wrap each asparagus spear with a slice of the halved bacon. Ensure the bacon is snug but not too tight.
- Arranging in the Air Fryer: Place the bacon-wrapped asparagus spears in the air fryer basket in a single layer, ensuring they do not overlap or touch. This is important for even cooking.
- Cooking: Spray the wrapped asparagus lightly with nonstick cooking spray. Set the air fryer to 390°F (or use the Air Crisp setting if available) and cook for 8-10 minutes. Remember to flip the asparagus halfway through to ensure even crispness on all sides.
- Serving: Once all batches are cooked, you can season the asparagus with freshly ground pepper. Be mindful of adding salt, as the bacon adds enough saltiness to the dish.
Oven:
- Temperature: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Cooking Time: Bake the bacon-wrapped asparagus for 20-25 minutes.
- Note: Check for the crispiness of the bacon and tenderness of the asparagus. Adjust the time slightly to achieve your desired texture.
- See a full article on how to make bacon wrapped asparagus in the oven
Grill:
- Temperature: Preheat your grill to a medium-high setting, approximately 375°F (190°C) to 400°F (200°C).
- Cooking Time: Grill the bacon-wrapped asparagus for 10-15 minutes, turning occasionally to ensure even cooking.
- Note: Grilling might cook the asparagus faster due to direct heat, so keep an eye on it to prevent burning.
Remember, these are general guidelines. The bacon’s thickness, the asparagus spears’ size, and individual appliances can affect cooking times and temperatures.
Expert Tips and Recipe Variations
- Bacon strips vary in size from super thick cook to super lean. No matter what cut of bacon you choose, cutting lengthwise (the long way, not in half) helps the bacon crisp in the air fryer super quickly.
- Use individual stalks versus bundles. This allows the tender asparagus to be fully cooked and the bacon to wrap completely.
- Turkey bacon can usually be used versus regular bacon. If there are any issues keeping it wrapped, secure it with a toothpick and remove it before serving.
FAQs
Yes, you can prepare bacon-wrapped asparagus beforehand but do not cook them in advance. Assembled but uncooked bacon-wrapped asparagus can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator the day before you cook it.
While this dish is best enjoyed fresh on the day it is made, leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for 2-3 days. The asparagus may not retain its crisp tenderness, and the bacon might become more wilted over time. The texture and quality may be different.
Yes, you can use thick-cut bacon, but it may require a longer cooking time to become crispy. We recommend cutting bacon longways to ensure the most crisp.
You can use toothpicks to hold the ends in place to secure the bacon. Just remember to remove them before serving.
Pre-cooking the asparagus is optional, especially if you prefer a crunch. However, if you like your asparagus softer, blanch it for 1-2 minutes before wrapping it with bacon.
Absolutely! Feel free to season the asparagus with salt, pepper, garlic powder, or your favorite spices before wrapping it with bacon. Some people also like to brush the wrapped asparagus with a glaze, such as maple syrup, in the last few minutes of cooking for added flavor.
More Bacon Wrapped Veggies
Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Asparagus
Equipment
- air fryer
Ingredients
- 12 slices uncooked bacon – cut lengthwise in half
- 24 stalks asparagus – ends snapped off
- cooking spray
- optional: freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Prepare Air Fryer: Grease the air fryer basket with nonstick cooking spray. Set aside.
- Prep Asparagus: Snap off the dry ends of the asparagus stalks and discard.
- Prep Bacon: Cut each bacon slice in half lengthwise.
- Wrap Asparagus: Take one half-slice of bacon and wrap it around one asparagus stalk.
- Arrange in Basket: Place the wrapped asparagus in the air fryer basket. Ensure they are not touching for even cooking.
- Spray: Lightly coat the asparagus with nonstick cooking spray.
- Cook: Set the air fryer to 390°F (Air Crisp setting). Cook for 8-10 minutes, flipping the asparagus halfway through. Work in batches to avoid overcrowding.
- Repeat: Continue cooking in batches until all asparagus is done.
- Season: Optionally, add freshly ground pepper before serving. Avoid adding salt as the bacon adds enough saltiness.
- Serve: Enjoy immediately while hot and crispy.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional Disclaimer: The nutritional data provided here is auto-calculated and intended for your convenience only. As it’s generated via automation, its accuracy may be compromised. For precise nutritional insight, please compute the values utilizing the actual ingredients in your recipe through your chosen nutrition calculator or application.
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How would you make these in the oven?
This is how you make them in the oven https://www.saltysidedish.com/bacon-wrapped-asparagus/