Bacon Wrapped Asparagus (Crispy & Easy!)
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Looking for an easy side dish that turns skeptical vegetable eaters into asparagus lovers? This bacon wrapped asparagus recipe delivers crispy bacon and perfectly tender spears every single time.
With just 4 ingredients and 30 minutes, you’ll have a restaurant worthy side dish that works for everything from weeknight dinners to holiday gatherings.
Ingredients You’ll Need
This recipe is intentionally simple. Just 4 ingredients you probably have on hand:
- 1 pound bacon (regular cut, not thick-cut—this is important!)
- 1-2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 pound fresh asparagus spears (medium thickness works best)
- Garlic powder (or garlic salt works too)
Yield: About 20-24 bacon-wrapped spears (depending on asparagus thickness), serving 4-6 people.
Why regular bacon matters: Thick-cut bacon takes too long to crisp up and will burn your asparagus. Regular bacon cooks at the same rate as the asparagus, giving you perfect results. If you’re batch-cooking bacon for the week, check out my guide on how to cook bacon in the oven. You can make a whole pound at once!
How to Make Bacon Wrapped Asparagus
Step 1: Prep Your Asparagus
Preheat your oven to 400°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. This prevents sticking and makes cleanup a breeze.
Trim the woody ends off your asparagus. Just bend each spear gently and it will naturally snap at the right spot. Discard the ends (or save them for stock).
Step 2: Season the Asparagus
Place your trimmed asparagus on the prepared baking sheet. Drizzle with 1-2 tablespoons of olive oil and use your hands to roll the spears around until evenly coated. Spread them out in a single layer and sprinkle with garlic powder.
Step 3: Wrap in Bacon
Here’s the key technique: Cut each slice of bacon in half crosswise. This gives you the perfect amount of bacon per spear without excess, and it cooks more evenly.
Take one half-slice of bacon and wrap it around a single asparagus spear in a spiral, slightly overlapping as you go. Place it seam-side down on the baking sheet. Repeat with remaining asparagus, making sure the bacon-wrapped spears don’t touch each other.
- Pro tip: Keep the bacon in a single layer without overlapping. This allows air circulation for crispy bacon all around. This same wrapping technique works beautifully with bacon wrapped potatoes too. They’re equally addictive!
Step 4: Bake and Flip
Bake for 10 minutes, then use tongs to carefully flip each spear over. This ensures even crisping on both sides. Bake for another 10 minutes.
Check your bacon. If it’s not as crispy as you’d like, give it another 5 minutes. Just watch the asparagus tips to make sure they don’t burn.
Step 5: Drain and Serve
Transfer the bacon wrapped asparagus to a paper towel-lined plate to drain excess grease. Serve warm.
Recipe Variations
Bacon Wrapped Asparagus Bundles
Instead of wrapping individual spears, gather 3-4 spears together and wrap a half-slice of bacon around the bundle. This makes an impressive presentation for dinner parties. The cooking time stays the same.
Balsamic Bacon Wrapped Asparagus
Drizzle with balsamic reduction just before serving. The sweet-tart flavor pairs beautifully with the salty bacon. You can make your own reduction by simmering balsamic vinegar until it thickens, or buy it pre-made.
Brown Sugar Bacon Wrapped Asparagus
Sprinkle a tiny bit of brown sugar over the bacon in the last 5 minutes of cooking for a sweet-savory twist. This turns them into almost a candied bacon appetizer.
Parmesan Bacon Wrapped Asparagus
Sprinkle freshly grated Parmesan cheese over the spears during the last 2-3 minutes of baking for an extra layer of flavor. If you love cheese on your asparagus, you absolutely have to try my cheesy baked asparagus. It’s smothered in cream and mozzarella and just as keto-friendly!
Expert Tips for Perfect Results
Choose medium asparagus: Thin asparagus gets overcooked; thick asparagus doesn’t cook through before the bacon burns. Medium spears (about the thickness of your pinky finger) are ideal.
Don’t skip the flip: This is crucial for even cooking and crispy bacon on all sides.
Watch the last few minutes: Oven temperatures vary. Start checking at 20 minutes total cook time to avoid burning.
Make them ahead: You can wrap the asparagus in bacon up to 4 hours in advance. Keep them covered in the refrigerator, then bake when ready. Add 2-3 minutes to the cooking time if baking from cold.
Air fryer option: Have an air fryer? Make air fryer bacon wrapped asparagus instead They cook at 400°F for 8-10 minutes, flipping halfway, and turn out even crispier!
Prefer simpler asparagus? Try simple roasted asparagus with just garlic and olive oil—it’s delicious on its own and takes even less time.
Serving Suggestions
This bacon wrapped asparagus pairs perfectly with:
- Grilled steak or BBQ chicken
- Honey glazed salmon
- Roast turkey or prime rib for holidays
- As an elegant appetizer at parties (serve with toothpicks)
Complete your meal: Serve alongside roasted potatoes and asparagus for a double-veggie side that satisfies both potato and asparagus lovers, plus a fresh salad and your favorite protein for a restaurant-worthy dinner at home.
Storage and Reheating
Refrigerator: Store leftover bacon wrapped asparagus in an airtight container for up to 3 days. The bacon won’t be quite as crispy, but they’re still delicious.
Reheating: The oven is best for recrisping the bacon. Reheat at 375°F for 5-7 minutes. You can also use an air fryer at 350°F for 3-4 minutes.
Freezing: While you can freeze the raw, wrapped spears for up to 1 month, I don’t recommend freezing cooked bacon wrapped asparagus—the texture suffers when reheated.
Can You Prep Asparagus Ahead?
Yes! Here’s how to prep fresh asparagus in advance:
For this recipe: Wrap the asparagus in bacon up to 4 hours ahead and refrigerate on the baking sheet, covered. Bake directly from the fridge when ready.
For freezing raw asparagus: Blanch trimmed asparagus for 1 minute in boiling water, then plunge into ice water for 1 minute. Drain completely, pat dry, and freeze on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Once frozen solid, transfer to freezer bags for up to 3 months.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is bacon wrapped asparagus keto-friendly? Yes! Each spear has only 1.6g net carbs, making this an excellent keto side dish. Looking for more low-carb options? Check out my favorite keto side dishes for Thanksgiving—bacon-wrapped asparagus is featured along with 17 other delicious recipes.
Can I grill bacon wrapped asparagus instead? Absolutely! Grill over medium-high heat (about 400 degrees as well) for 10-12 minutes, turning every 3-4 minutes. The bacon gets a nice char and smoky flavor.
Why is my bacon not getting crispy? Make sure you’re using regular bacon (not thick-cut), the bacon isn’t overlapping on the pan, and you’re flipping the spears halfway through. If needed, broil for 1-2 minutes at the end for extra crispiness.
Do I need to boil the asparagus first? No! That’s the beauty of this recipe. The asparagus roasts perfectly in the oven while the bacon crisps up.
What Else Can You Wrap in Bacon?
Once you see how easy this technique is, you’ll want to wrap everything in bacon! My bacon wrapped potatoes use the exact same method—just swap asparagus for baby potatoes and you’ve got another show-stopping side dish. They’re always the first thing to disappear at parties.
And if you’re making appetizers, bacon wrapped jalapeño poppers are a must. The cream cheese filling gets all melty while the bacon crisps up—absolutely addictive. Fair warning: people will ask you to bring these to every gathering.
- Pin this bacon wrapped asparagus recipe for later and follow Salty Side Dish on Pinterest for more easy side dish recipes!
Bacon Wrapped Asparagus
Equipment
- Baking Sheet
- Parchment Paper
Ingredients
- 1 pound bacon regular cut (not thick-cut)
- 1-2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 pound fresh asparagus spears
- Garlic powder to taste
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Trim the woody ends from asparagus (bend each spear until it naturally snaps). Place trimmed asparagus on the prepared baking sheet.
- Drizzle asparagus with olive oil and use your hands to coat evenly. Arrange in a single layer and sprinkle with garlic powder.
- Cut each bacon slice in half crosswise. Wrap one half-slice around each asparagus spear in a spiral pattern. Place seam-side down on the baking sheet, making sure wrapped spears don’t touch.
- Bake for 10 minutes. Using tongs, flip each spear over.
- Bake for another 10 minutes. Check the bacon. If it's not crispy enough, bake for an additional 5 minutes, watching carefully to prevent burning the asparagus tips.
- Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate to drain excess grease. Serve warm.
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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