Shop
My
Custom
FREE 5-Ingredient Recipe EBook
GET IT NOWI’ve been making bacon wrapped asparagus for nearly a decade, and it’s still one of my favorite ways to enjoy this spring veggie. With tender roasted asparagus and ultra crispy (yes, actually crispy!) bacon, this is the perfect balance of nutrients and comfort. I make it every year when asparagus season hits — and even sneak it in when it’s out of season, because I just love this recipe so much. Make it with me!
Why You Need My Bacon Wrapped Asparagus Recipe
- Tender asparagus wrapped in bacon that’s actually crispy – With other bacon wrapped asparagus recipes, I’ve noticed that oftentimes the veggies are soft before the bacon has the chance to crisp up. Where I think my version really shines is the crispy bacon without ruining the asparagus — just follow my tips!
- Super easy to make – You need just a few ingredients, and I think wrapping the asparagus in bacon is pretty relaxing.
- So many ways to enjoy it – This recipe works as a healthy side dish, as an appetizer, or even for a fun snack. And it’s great to prep ahead when I’m having people over!
Ingredients & Substitutions
Here I explain the best ingredients for my bacon wrapped asparagus recipe, what each one does, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card.
- Asparagus – Medium to thick spears work best here, as they are less prone to overcooking by the time the bacon is done. I usually make sauteed asparagus if I have thin spears, but have a tip below to make them work with this recipe, too.
- Bacon – I like this clean-ingredient brand. Avoid thick cut bacon, which will take too long to get crispy. You could also swap in prosciutto, like I do for my prosciutto wrapped asparagus.
- Oil – Just a teaspoon to help the seasonings stick. I used this mild olive oil, but extra virgin olive oil or avocado oil also works.
- Seasonings – Garlic salt (or just mix garlic powder and salt separately) and black pepper.
How To Cook Bacon Wrapped Asparagus In The Oven
I have step-by-step photos here to help you visualize the recipe. For full instructions with amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card.
- Prep your asparagus and bacon. Trim the tough ends of asparagus, and cut bacon lengthwise into narrower strips. I usually just line up the spears and chop in a single go, but for the perfect spot to remove, you can bend each stalk and it’ll snap at the natural point where it starts to get woody.
- Season the spears. Drizzle them with olive oil, and season with garlic salt and black pepper. You can do this right on your baking sheet or in a large bowl.
- Wrap asparagus with bacon. Grab a stalk and wrap a narrow bacon piece tightly around it. Place it seam side down on a wire rack over a rimmed baking sheet. Repeat with all the asparagus and bacon. See my tips below for my notes about wrapping multiple spears.
- Bake, then broil. Pop the bacon wrapped asparagus in the oven and bake, flipping halfway though, until bacon is nearly crispy. Place under the broiler to crisp up more at the end.
My Recipe Tips
- Go light on the salt and oil. The bacon is already salty and has plenty of fat, so you only need a tiny bit of oil for the spices to stick — and less salt than you’d normally use.
- Avoid stretching or overlapping the bacon. Stretching can cause it to unravel as it cooks, and overlapping will leave it less crispy. I try to line up the edges side by side — they create the pretty pinstripe pattern (like my pictures here) as they shrink during cooking. This allows for more air flow, which is what you want for extra crispiness!
- Do you have to use a wire rack? No, but I recommend it if you want the crispiest results! It prevents the bacon wrapped asparagus from sitting in the bacon grease or touching the hot pan, so it cooks more evenly and gets more crispy. I use this set and it’s the best! I actually have it in several sizes, and for my pictures above I used 2 pans of the jelly roll size. It’s also awesome for other crispy foods, like oven baked bacon by itself or coconut shrimp.
- Don’t crowd the pan. Make sure there is space between all the pieces. Again, it’s about that air flow!
- Cook time can vary, so double check a little early. It mainly depends on the thickness of your asparagus. You also want to remove a little early to account for the high-heat blast of the broiler at the end.
- If you have a convection oven, this is a great time to use it. It will crisp up your bacon better! You’ll need to turn the asparagus sooner, around 5-7 minutes, and check on it 5-8 minutes later. (It should take 11-15 minutes total with the convection setting, before the broiling step.)
- Watch closely when broiling. The bacon can go from crisp to burned super fast!
- Have very thin asparagus spears? I generally recommend medium or thick ones here, because thin ones will overcook, but I found a trick if you’ve got thin ones! Just fry the bacon for a few minutes first, so it renders some of its fat but is still pliable. Then proceed with my bacon wrapped asparagus recipe using the partially cooked bacon, and you can get away with a shorter bake time to avoid limp stalks.
- Prefer bacon wrapped asparagus bundles? I like to wrap asparagus in bacon individually, it’s easier to eat as an appetizer and you get more bacon in every bite — and the bundles just fall apart when you try to eat them. But if you want a faster method, you can wrap 4-6 spears at a time instead.
- Want extra flavor? Sometimes I brush maple syrup over the bacon or sprinkle on parmesan cheese before baking. A drizzle of balsamic glaze or honey (I use sugar-free honey) at the end is nice, too.
- Eat it right away. The asparagus and bacon will both soften when they cool.
Alternate Cooking Methods
I prefer to cook bacon wrapped asparagus in the oven, because it’s hands-off and can make a big batch, but have also cooked it in other ways:
- Grill – Grilled asparagus usually takes only a few minutes (I do 2-4 minutes at medium-high heat), but I find it takes longer for the bacon to crisp up. You can just watch until it gets crispy. If you want to ensure your asparagus stays crisp-tender, you may want to grill the bacon on its own for a couple minutes to render some fat before wrapping.
- Air Fryer – My favorite method for a smaller batch, because it’s a pro at crisping up food! Just season and roll asparagus in bacon, then follow the timing in my air fryer asparagus recipe.
- Stovetop – I don’t like this method because it’s more fuss, but you can cook bacon wrapped asparagus on the stove. Just cook over medium heat, turning occasionally, until the bacon crisps up.
More Bacon Wrapped Recipes
So many foods are better wrapped in bacon, and I’ve got lots of recipes like this! Try one of my others next:
Bacon Wrapped Asparagus (Super Crispy)
My bacon wrapped asparagus recipe in the oven includes tips to make it extra crispy without overcooking the veggies. It's quick and easy!
Remove Ads
Instructions
Tap on the times in the instructions to start a kitchen timer.
-
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (204 degrees C). Place an oven-safe wire rack (either greased or non-stick) over a baking sheet. (I use a set like this.)
-
Trim the woody ends of the asparagus. Drizzle with olive oil. Sprinkle with garlic salt and black pepper to taste. (You don't need a lot of oil, just enough for the salt and pepper to stick.)
-
Cut the bacon slices lengthwise to make narrower strips. Wrap each bacon strip tightly around an asparagus stalk, trying not to overlap the bacon on each stalk (it will shrink during cooking, creating a "striped" pattern). Place seam side down onto the wire rack.
-
Bake for 10 minutes. Use tongs to turn over. Bake for another 5-10 minutes, until the bacon is almost crispy. Set the oven to broil, then place under the broiler for 1-2 minutes to crisp up more.
LAST STEP: Leave a rating to help other readers, or tag me @wholesomeyum on Instagram. I’d love to hear from you!
Maya’s Recipe Notes
Serving size: 4 pieces
- Tips: Check out my recipe tips above to help you get crispy bacon and perfectly tender asparagus, notes on asparagus thicknesses, the right way to wrap the bacon, variations for extra flavor, and more.
- Other ways to cook it: The oven method is my fave, but see my alternate cooking methods above if you want to use your grill, air fryer, or stovetop instead.
- Store: Asparagus tastes best fresh, but you can keep leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. I don’t recommend freezing this dish, because the asparagus gets mushy.
- Meal prep: I often prep this ahead to cook later! You can wrap asparagus in bacon and refrigerate for a day or two before baking.
- Reheat: My favorite way to reheat is the air fryer, but a quick broil in the oven works, too.
📖 Want more recipes like this? Find this one and many more in my Low Carb Holiday Cookbook and Keto Ebook Bundle!
I provide nutrition facts as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see my nutrition policy.
Add Your Notes Your Notes
Try More Of My Recipes
© Copyright Maya Krampf for Wholesome Yum. Please DO NOT SCREENSHOT OR COPY/PASTE recipes to social media or websites. We’d LOVE for you to share a link with photo instead.
Bacon Wrapped Asparagus
244 Comments
Jenn
0Beautiful and perfect appetizer- I made it today for the Super Bowl and it came out great on the first try. I did use a tray and did not flip them over because they were unwrapping when I tried that. Thank you!
Pattie B
0Hi! Can I use organic frozen asparagus?! Thoughts? Precook bacon halfway? Thank you!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Pattie, I haven’t tried it with frozen asparagus. If anything the cook time might be longer so I don’t think you’d want to precook the bacon.
Chandler Nason
0Made this last night – very good. Doubled the broiler time for crispier bacon.
Neisa Janner
0These were really easy and tasty – but, the asparagus get too soft. Is there any way to get the bacon done without the asparagus getting so soft? Any feedback would be appreciated. Thank you!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Neisa, I have tips above to avoid this issue, did you review those? It’s particularly common if your asparagus spears are thin, so in that case I recommend partially pre-cooking the bacon (to render some of the fat, but leave it pliable) before wrapping. Hope this helps.
Carolyn
0Soooooo Good and easy!
Christine Williams
0Hi there! Very interested in your recipe books! How do I order some?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Christine, Thank you so much!! You can order The Wholesome Yum Easy Keto Cookbook (hardcover) here and the 30 Dinners in 30 Minutes ebook here. Hope you love both of them!
Rosemary Wieliczko
0I love your recipes. They are so creative. My issue is with your website site. The feed is too slow as I find myself waiting continally. I have a fairly fast computer and internet speed so I took it to the geeks and they said it was due to the ad feeds. Please monitor as it’s too frustrating.
But ending on a positive note your stories are interting and love you tips.
Sheila Dekker
0I just found this Bacon Wrap Asparagus Recipe…. easy to make and delicious!
Jen
0This was so delicious! Who thought asparagus could actually be so good and so easy to make! I made them as a side with egg muffins for breakfast and loved them. Will be making this more often in the future! Thank you 🙂
Chaya
0Can I make this a day in advance and eat cold the next day?
Wholesome Yum
0Hi Chaya, it may not be as crispy but it will still taste great!
Nancy
0looks yummy could you do in air fryer? I tried reading all the comments to see if the question had been asked but gave up when I realized that I had gone all the way back to Dec 2017! time and temp if possible to do in air fryer
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Nancy, Yes, you definitely can but I haven’t done official testing to give an exact time for the air fryer.
Alysha
0Sooooooooooo I made it, I love it, but I smoke up my house every time. How do I not do that? Lol
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0I’m so glad to hear that, Alysha! If the oven is smoking, it’s likely that there are food bits burning on the heating element or somewhere else in the oven (not the pan itself), so a thorough cleaning should take care of it.
Alicia
0Can you use frozen asparagus?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Alicia, Yes, you can, but the texture is better fresh. The baking time would be a bit longer for frozen asparagus.
Teri Rice
0THANKS SO MUCH FOR YHUS DELICIOUS QUICK RECIPE!!! My grandkids asked me to make it EVERYDAY… it was that GOOD!!!! btw it’s EASY PEASY!!!! Can’t wait to try more of your recipes & the video & hints EXTRA HELPFUL! Again thanks!!!
Yang
0Love bacon wrapped asparagus! I usually make them in the frying pan, will try the oven next.
Katie
0I’ve had this before and it’s SO good!!! Can’t wait to make it again.
Anne Lawton
0I love bacon and asparagus and I loved it when I tried it so I am definitely going to add these to my recipe list!
Megan Stevens
0I’m super glad for all your experience and tips so I don’t have to flub it up the first time I make these. So yummy and fun!
Zuzana
0Just perfect for us, want to make it again! Hungry already
Kathryn
0My favorite foods together! Excited to have this recipe again!
Hope
0These is so simple but so tasty – perfect for entertaining!
Jelka
0Made these last night. Great flavour, easy to make. What more could I want?
Kelly
0You had me at bacon! Yum, this is fab!
Paleoglutenfreeguy
0So little effort for so much reward! Wrapping veggies in bacon: brilliant.
Raia Todd
0You really can’t go wrong wrapping something in bacon…
Joni Gomes
0I’m so happy it’s finally asparagus season so I can make this!!
Mira
0What’s not to love when it includes bacon AND vegetables. This is the perfect party platter!
Jean
0I love bacon wrapped asparagus and this recipe comes out so perfectly cooked!
Leslie-Anne
0One of the best spring paleo appetizers for sure! Good tips, too!
Cheryl Malik
0These are so good!!
John T Haney III
0I loved this. Made some changes, after the olive oil, I sprinkled some brown sugar on it then wraped it with bacon, then sea salt….. cut in 1/3 rds……..also last 5 min….add a touch of BBQ sauce…..mmmmmm
Kelly
0So simple but looks so divine. Can’t wait to serve it at my next party!
Sheri Munsell
0Love this recipe! First time making very delicious and the bacon was super crispy!
Chris
0Couldn’t wait to make bacon-wrapped asparagus, loved it!
Cathy
0Thank you for all the tips on how to make sure you get extra crispy bacon on the asparagus, these tips are crucially important! Can’t wait to try them because I certainly have had the experience more than once where the asparagus gets cooked before the bacon has the chance to crisp up! So thank you for this!!
Jacque Hastert
0Asparagus is an amazing veggie, but adding bacon to it… WOW! Really takes this amazing side dish to the next level.
Krissy
0You had me at bacon! These are incredible! I will be making these for my appetizer contribution for an upcoming party! Yum yum yum!
Ashley
0Bacon wrapped anything is an instant winner in my family. I know my husband would love this! I can’t wait to make it!
Gloria
0What a great way to enjoy asparagus. My son-in-law will not eat bacon (god know why), but he does love asparagus. Guess I will make it this way and see if he eats it. No worries, we sure will.
Courtney
0Great tips on crisping up the bacon! Thanks!
Christina
0This recipe was a huge hit with my family! they couldn’t get enough!
Linda
0What a great low carb appetizer for the big game! I love bacon and asparagus together and this is a great way to serve it up as an app rather than a side dish.
Wanda Hogue
0Made these and me and my hubby loved them!!!!!
Nancy
0Hi there! What sauce would you recommend for dipping with this?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Nancy, We usually eat these plain without any sauce, but you could try this appetizer dipping sauce.
Juli
0I want to make these for an upcoming potluck. Any tips on how to keep them crispy and warm?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Juli, A warming tray might work. Or if the place you are going has an oven, you can heat them in the oven for a few minutes when you get there.
Zeenia
0Can I make these substituting bacon for turkey bacon? Love all the recipes by the way your blog has helped me on my keto so much.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Zeenia, Sure you can! Just wrap really tightly because turkey bacon unwraps more easily.
Beki Sciacca
0Have you ever made these with more than 1 stalk of asparagus wrapped in 1 bacon slice? (Want to up the veggies for the kiddos.)
Thoughts?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Beki, Yes, you can absolutely do that if you’d like!
Suzanne Cromer
0This is the only way to eat asparagus! I have used prosciutto but will definitely be trying bacon!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0I agree, Suzanne! Thanks for stopping by!
Kelly
0Great recipe! I used it in my latest blog post. Thanks for always sharing great recipes. Love it!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Thank you, Kelly! I appreciate that.
Owl
0Wow. Great recipe. It’s crazy what a recipe can do when you put just a little bit of thought into the process.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Thank you so much! Have a great day!
Liz
0This is awesome! To make it even better, I will put a thin spread of softened cream cheese or whipped cream cheese on the bacon or prosciutto before wrapping the asparagus. It is truly a hit at my house!!!!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0What a fantastic idea, Liz! That sounds delicious. Thanks for sharing with us!