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I’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.
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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)
By
My bacon wrapped asparagus recipe in the oven includes tips to make it extra crispy without overcooking the veggies. It's quick and easy!
Instructions
[ See step photos See my tips ]Tap on the times in the instructions to start a kitchen timer.
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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.)
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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.)
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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.
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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.
Did you make it? Leave a review or tag me @wholesomeyum on Instagram!
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.
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Bacon Wrapped Asparagus
246 Comments
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!