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With just 5 ingredients, tender-crisp asparagus wrapped in bacon is one of my favorite appetizers! It’s perfect for special occasions like Easter and the holidays, but simple enough for weeknight get-togethers.
Want to turn easy ingredients into an irresistible snack? Wrap them in bacon! Try my bacon-wrapped Brussels sprouts, green beans wrapped in bacon, and bacon-wrapped chicken bites next.
Bacon wrapped asparagus is, hands down, one of my all-time favorite recipes for entertaining. It’s similar to my oven-roasted asparagus, only here, I wrap the spears in a blanket of salty bacon and caramelize them with balsamic and brown sugar. Even asparagus naysayers have changed their tune once they’ve tasted these! Sweet, earthy, salty, tender… I just know that this bacon wrapped asparagus will be in your oven come game day or the holidays.
What Makes Bacon Wrapped Asparagus the Perfect Appetizer
- Bacon. Enough said? 😉 We all know that bacon makes everything better, so it’s no surprise that this bacon wrapped asparagus is exceptionally delicious and downright addictive.
- Only 5 ingredients. Besides the bacon, you’ll need ingredients such as asparagus, brown sugar, and balsamic vinegar.
- Elegant but easy. This is one of those super versatile recipes that’s as perfect on a holiday table as it is on a weeknight dinner plate. Serve this asparagus as an appetizer or an easy side dish.
Gather Your Ingredients
Round up the short list of ingredients below. Scroll to the recipe card for the printable recipe with the full amounts and instructions.
- Fresh Asparagus – Asparagus doesn’t hold up for long in the fridge. Be sure to buy it just a day or two before preparing this side.
- Cooking Spray – I prefer the taste of olive oil cooking spray. You could also use regular olive oil and toss the spears to coat.
- Bacon – Cut each bacon slice in half length-wise so it’s easier to wrap around the asparagus. You could also make this recipe with thin-cut pancetta, prosciutto, or coppa ham.
- Brown Sugar – Sugar caramelizes in the heat, for a sticky, sweet-salty contrast with the bacon.
- Balsamic Vinegar – You could substitute apple cider vinegar in a pinch.
Tips for the Best Results
- Avoid thick-cut bacon. Regular bacon is the way to go here. Thick-cut bacon will take longer to crisp up and may result in over-cooked asparagus.
- Bake on a cooling rack over a baking sheet. This is key to achieving crispy bacon, as it allows the bacon fat to drip down onto the baking sheet without the asparagus/bacon sitting in it.
- Go light on the salt. While I do like to add a bit of salt for flavor, you won’t need too much of it – or of the olive oil, thanks to the bacon.
Serving Suggestions
Dip these bacon wrapped asparagus spears in ranch dressing or homemade aioli for a tasty snack, and serve them alongside a Campari spritz and Italian grissini breadsticks at your next party or happy hour. They’re also in good company with grape jelly meatballs and mulled wine at the holidays!
As a Side Dish
Our absolute favorite thing to serve with this bacon wrapped asparagus is Jack Daniel’s grilled steak. Add a baked potato, and you have a meal that will rival any steakhouse. You should also include grilled chicken thighs, pork chops, and salmon, for good measure, of course.
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Bacon Wrapped Asparagus
Ingredients
FOR THE ASPARAGUS AND BACON
- 1 pound asparagus, ends trimmed, don't use thin asparagus spears
- olive oil cooking spray
- kosher salt, to taste
- 8 slices bacon, cut in half
- Fresh ground black peppercorns
FOR THE BALSAMIC GLAZE
- 1 tablespoon light brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
Instructions
- Prep. Preheat the oven to 400˚F. Line a large rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper and top with a cooling rack.
- Prepare the asparagus. Spray the asparagus spears with cooking spray and sprinkle with salt. Wrap a slice of bacon around each spear in a spiral. Transfer the prepared asparagus to the baking sheet and place them on top of the cooling rack. Set aside.
- Make the balsamic glaze. In a mixing bowl, combine brown sugar and balsamic; mix until combined.
- Brush the asparagus. Brush each bacon wrapped asparagus with the prepared glaze and season them with cracked pepper.
- Roast. Pop them in the oven and roast for 22 to 25 minutes, or until the bacon is crispy and the asparagus is tender.
- Finish and serve. Remove from the oven and let them rest for a couple of minutes before serving.
Notes
- You can also grill the asparagus! To grill, place the bacon wrapped asparagus spears on a hot grill and cover. Cook 10 minutes, or until the bacon is crisp and asparagus is tender.
Nutrition
Nutritional info is an estimate and provided as courtesy. Values may vary according to the ingredients and tools used. Please use your preferred nutritional calculator for more detailed info.
How to Make Bacon Wrapped Asparagus
I like to bake my bacon wrapped asparagus in the oven, and I’ve also included grilling instructions. The steps are very simple:
- Prep the asparagus. Snap the woody ends off the asparagus, then wash and pat dry. Spray with cooking spray and sprinkle with salt.
- Wrap with bacon. Wrap each asparagus spear with bacon, wrapping it in a spiral. Transfer to a cooling rack over a foil-lined baking sheet.
- Add the balsamic glaze. Combine the brown sugar and balsamic vinegar in a bowl. Brush over the asparagus.
- Roast in the oven. Top the asparagus with fresh ground pepper. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until the bacon is crispy and the asparagus is tender.
Grilling Method
You can also make bacon wrapped asparagus on the grill. Just prepare as directed above, place directed on a hot grill, and cook for 10 to 12 minutes until the bacon is crispy and the asparagus is tender.
Proper Storage
- Fridge. Asparagus is best enjoyed immediately, but if you have leftovers, keep them in an airtight container in the fridge. They’ll last for about 3 days.
- Reheat. While you can reheat these in the microwave, I recommend popping them back in the oven or even the air fryer so the bacon maintains some crispness.
Our go to recipe for this dish!!! Yummy ๐
That’s great! I’m very glad you enjoyed it! Thank YOU! ๐
Excellent. This is the go to recipe we always use for this dish. So yummy ๐
Would you add garlic?