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Get It NowTwo perfect foods come together with this bacon wrapped asparagus recipe in the oven! If you love bacon-y main dishes like bacon wrapped dates or bacon wrapped chicken tenders, you’ll enjoy asparagus wrapped in bacon as a healthy appetizer too. I’ll show you how to make wrapped asparagus in bacon that gets perfectly crispy every time, plus the best way to make it ahead of time for entertaining.
With other bacon asparagus recipes, I’ve noticed that often times the asparagus is soft before the bacon has had the chance to crisp up. I was on a mission to avoid this, and discovered that the trick is similar to my foolproof crispy bacon in the oven. Although oven baked asparagus tastes great on its own, properly cooked bacon takes the flavor to the next level.
Why You’ll Love This Bacon Wrapped Asparagus Recipe
Ingredients & Substitutions
This section explains how to choose the best ingredients for asparagus wrapped in bacon, what each one does in the recipe, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card below.
- Asparagus – Look for smooth, firm, and brightly colored fresh asparagus spears. Medium to thick spears work best for bacon wrapped asparagus, as they are less prone to overcooking by the time the bacon is done.
- Bacon – Center cut bacon works the best for appearance, but any bacon will work. Avoid thick cut bacon, which will take too long to get crispy, causing the asparagus to be limp and soggy.
- Olive Oil – I use extra virgin olive oil for flavor, but use your favorite cooking oil. You just need enough for seasonings to stick.
- Seasonings – Garlic salt and black pepper. If you don’t have garlic salt, you can easily substitute garlic powder and salt separately.
VARIATION: Want to add extra flavor?
Try these extra options to enhance this asparagus and bacon appetizer:
- A sprinkle of brown sugar (conventional or a sugar free brown sugar substitute) before baking. (You’ll need to skip or reduce the broiling time, so sugar does not burn.)
- Parmesan cheese (before or after baking)
- A drizzle of balsamic glaze or honey (I use sugar-free honey) for finishing
How To Make Bacon Wrapped Asparagus In The Oven
This section shows how to cook bacon wrapped asparagus in the oven, with step-by-step photos and details about the technique, to help you visualize it. For full instructions, including amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card below.
- Prep. Trim woody ends of asparagus. Cut bacon lengthwise into narrower strips.
- Season. Drizzle the asparagus with olive oil. Season with garlic salt and black pepper.
- Wrap. Wrap the bacon tightly around asparagus stalk. Place seam side down on a cookie sheet with a wire rack.
VARIATION: Make asparagus bundles!
I prefer individually wrapped asparagus because they are easier to eat as an appetizer and you get more bacon in every bite. But if you prefer, you can wrap 4-6 spears at a time in a slice of bacon. (When wrapping each bundle, follow the same tips below.) The cook time will be about the same.
- Bake. Bake asparagus bacon recipe, flipping halfway though, until bacon is nearly crispy.
- Broil. Until bacon is fully crisped.
How Long To Cook Bacon Wrapped Asparagus?
How long to bake bacon wrapped asparagus will depend on several factors, including bacon thickness, color of your pan and rack, and oven temperature. On average, it takes about 15 to 20 minutes at 400 degrees F, plus another couple minutes under the broiler to crisp up the bacon (highly recommended!).
Tips For The Best Bacon Wrapped Asparagus
- Go light on the salt and oil. The bacon is already salty and has plenty of fat, so we only need enough oil for the seasonings to stick and just a bit of garlic salt.
- Avoid overlapping bacon too much. You want the edges of the bacon strip to overlap as little as possible. The bacon will shrink during cooking, creating a pinstripe pattern. This will help create more air flow around it, which is what you want for extra crispiness.
- Use a wire rack. Instead of a regular baking sheet, use a wire rack on top of a cookie sheet. (I like this one – it’s non-stick, so easy to clean.) Again, it helps with that whole air flow thing. As a bonus, this lets some of the extra fat drip down from the bacon during baking, making it more crispy. (I do the same for the crispiest oven baked bacon on its own.)
- Broil, but monitor closely. This step is important for the bacon to get crisp. Just keep an eye on it because the bacon can go from crisp to burned fast!
Alternate Cooking Methods
- Grill – Preheat the grill over medium-high heat, then cook over direct heat (covered) for a total of 10-15 minutes, turning occasionally, until the bacon is crispy.
- Air Fryer – Follow the bacon wrapped asparagus recipe above as written, but instead of the oven, cook in the air fryer. Arrange the pieces in the basket in a single layer and cook for 10-12 minutes at 400 degrees F, flipping halfway through.
- Stovetop – I don’t like this method because it’s more fuss, but asparagus wrapped in bacon can be cooked on the stove. Heat a tablespoon of olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the asparagus in a single layer and cook, turning occasionally, until the bacon is crispy.
Storage Instructions
- Store: Although this recipe tastes best fresh (and you probably won’t have leftovers!), you can store this dish in the fridge for 4-5 days.
- Meal prep: Assemble asparagus, cover, and refrigerate for up to 1-2 days, until ready to bake. Avoid baking them ahead of time, as they can get soggy.
- Reheat: Broil until crisp and heated through.
- Freeze: Avoid freezing this recipe, as it will get mushy.
More Easy Asparagus Recipes
So many delicious ways to prep this veggie! Try it in these easy recipes next time.
Recommended Tools
- Baking Sheet With Wire Rack – My go-to pan set for this recipe.
- Extra Large Baking Sheet Set – Making a big batch of wrapped asparagus? This set is the perfect size and has a larger rack to go with it.
Easy Bacon Wrapped Asparagus Recipe in the Oven
Bacon Wrapped Asparagus (Super Crispy!)
This bacon wrapped asparagus recipe in the oven includes tips to make it extra CRISPY. Asparagus wrapped in bacon takes less than 30 minutes!
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Ingredients
Tap underlined ingredients to see where to get them. Please turn Safari reader mode OFF to view ingredients.
Instructions
Tap on the times in the instructions below to start a kitchen timer while you cook.
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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) onto a cookie sheet.
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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, only slightly overlapping 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 5-10 minutes more, until the bacon is almost crispy. Set the oven to broil, then place under the broiler for 1-2 minutes to crisp up more.
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Recipe Notes
Serving size: 4 pieces
Nutrition facts are provided as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see our nutrition policy.
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215 Comments
Dee Jellison
0Wow looks awesome. I love bacon and asparagus. Never thought to put them together
MichelleAgliano
0This is amazing! I love this as a great side dish or snack!
Debbie
0This is a quick recipe for a delicious vegetable…. And what doesn’t taste better with bacon?? I fix this at least once every week. My brother ate this vegetable for Thanksgiving dinner and he previously stated he didn’t like asparagus. Lol…. What a shock to his wife when he asked for 2nds.
Dawn T
0Have to make this! We like roasted asparagus and love bacon. Will be making it my air fryer.
Ken Kwan
0Another recipe we made on Thanksgiving! Another great recipe that we all enjoyed! Thanks for sharing!
Mike
0We tried this with double smoked, thin sliced, bacon wrapping 3 medium small spears per bundle. Delicious!
Lucinda
0This sounds interesting, unfortunately I can’t eat asparagus. I’m thinking of trying this with whole green beans instead. Thank you for your creative ideas and recipes, they definitely make this new (required) lifestyle more fun.
Susan
0Bacon wrapped asparagus recipe was to die for. Can’t wait to make another batch.
Love it and so did my family.
Lori Barrett
0How do you know where to trim the asparagus? I’ve always taken off the ends by bending until they break….
Wholesome Yum D
0Hi Lori, You just want to make sure to trim the woody ends of the asparagus.
Amanda
0I have made this for years, only I put 1 slice of bacon around 3 stalks of asparagus. Could even get my kids to eat asparagus this way.
Veronica Deevers
0The struggle to keep Keto a happy place can be challenging. I’m so thankful for this recipe plus the options of grill, stovetop or air fryer. I use my air fryer a great deal and these tips make it so simple to complete the recipe!
Thank you!!
Yolandi
0Asparagus is not something I usually buy due to the affordability of it. But I got some and just had to try your recipe! Loved it! Guess what’s making an appearance on my Christmas Table this year ;-).
Rheta
0Now I can look forward to asparagus season with much more anticipation. I will be able to have asparagus more than once or twice a year when my bacon-loving husband learns to love asparagus, too. Yay, bacon!
Thank you, Maya.
Smith Gail
0Love love love this recipe.
Susan Upson
0Love Love, LOVE thus recipe. More bacon flavor than the way I usually prepare!
kilby thomas
0Yum! bacon wrap the asparagus with olive oil, garlic salt and add some basil or Italian seasonings, maybe roast some cherry tomatoes along with them next time..Topped with drizzle of balsamic vinegar.
Nell
0I have bacon in the fridge. Now to get some asparagus. This sounds so good!!
Barbara Shaffer
0Fabulous!
Jennifer Hart
0Can’t wait to try this!
Carolyn Reilly
0Loved this using the oven/rack option–delicious and crispy!
Carissa
0I have never liked asparagus, but I think it would be worth a try wrapped in bacon and served with beef or chicken and mashed cauliflower.
Elaine LeVan
0I think this recipe will work for me. Now I just have to convince myself to try it. I usually don’t like asparagus. I think it’s a texture thing, so your recipe might fix that for me. Do you have tips to find the best fresh asparagus? My parents grew their own!
Wholesome Yum D
0Hi Elaine, Look for smooth, firm, and brightly colored asparagus spears.
Jane Inniger
0Made this again for supper last night. Always a big hit. The bacon just adds another flavor boost to the delicious asparagus!
Jennifer
0I lined the pan with foil to cut down on cleanup, and trimmed off some of the bacon fat because we like the meaty part best. Absolutely delicious! Thanks for warning us against using thick-cut bacon, since that’s what we usually buy. The thinner bacon crisped up fast and the asparagus was perfect.
Geri
0My family loves this recipe. I have also put in the air fryer and they taste just as good.
Colleen Dyer
0This recipe is a keeper! My husband said this is his new favorite side dish. And it’s super easy to make too!
Wanda
0I will for sure be making these !!!
Mary
0This is great I Love Asparagus!
Paula
0One of our all-time faves!
Sherri Vanderberg
0EASY, TASTY AND DELICIOUS BACON WRAPPED ASPARAGUS
Jill
0Yummy..bacon and asparagus!
Jennifer Shepley
0I feared it would be drying to the asparagus- but nope! Fully enjoyed it. Going to try more options wrapped in bacon a scallops, chicken, green bean bundles.
Lynda
0I would try this with fresh green beans. I appreciate your detailed instructions and hints. Thanks
Heide Bradley
0Looks yummy
kat
0Do you use thin sliced bacon? I usually find the veg. cooks faster than the bacon.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Kat, Either thin or regular, but don’t use thick. Baking time might be a little faster if you use thin, the way it’s written is for regular but I’ve done both.
Paula Hegg
0Is asparagus good quality all year long? I know when you grow it in your own garden harvest ends in July so that makes me wonder about that which is available in the stores. Also, they seem pencil thin. When growing at home, you don’t harvest pencil thin stalks. Can you shed any light on this?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Paula, Asparagus typical peak season is about March to June, but maybe in some areas it’s a little different. I find it in stores all year long, though. In my area, I’ve found different stores have different thickness and quality stalks at different times of year.
Bev Krol
0Great recipe
Barrie
0I LOVE asparagus and who doesn’t like bacon?! It does look a little time consuming, wrapping each asparagus.
debbie draves
0delicious
Sue Howell
0This is a delicious yummy recipe! I love roasted asparagus and this just takes it to another level. I added a little chili sprinkle to half the recipe to see how that tasted and it was pretty great too. Love this and is the only way I’ll make asparagus from now on.
Shanea
0I’ve never tried asparagus but this looks good, anything with bacon! I would serve this grilled on the grill along with some steak or grilled shrimp
Diane Leck
0I’ve made this, and it’s delicious. I’ll certainly make it again.
Jane Inniger
0Bacon wrapped anything is delicious but on asparagus is a game changer! We make this at least once a month!
Juanita Bittle
0Simple and delicious. My husband loves asparagus, this makes a great side dish.
Windy Holland
0This a good recipe even for people that are not big on asparagus
Florence Savage
0I love the BACON WRAPPED ASPARAGUS. @ of my favorite foods. The Bacon gives a new taste to the Asparagus.
Shiela Proudfoot
0I love this technique! I’ve made this with full slices and they took forever and of course made the asparagus shrivel and burn. This is a perfect recipe and I made an abundance cooking them just enough to keep the bacon wrapped. Then I froze them in layers between foil. Now when we want some, we just take a layer or two and finish cooking them. I’ve even cooked a few in the microwave but idk if I would cook a bunch at a time.
Thanks for the tips!
Janis C
0I haven’t tried this recipe yet. Two of my family members really like asparagus. We typically boil them or sometimes grill them outside if we’re having a cookout. I’m willing to bet more family members will now like asparagus when they are paired with bacon. Yum.
Linda Hildebrand
0This recipe sounds great just as is. Can’t wait to try it!
Sandy
0My husband loved this recipe. We cooked it in our air fryer & it was so tasty! It needed no extra salt, the bacon gave plenty. We’ve made it several times now & will continue til asparagus runs out.
Barbara T
0We love this!! And all of my kids loved it too, which is pretty rare these days 🙂
Julia
0This recipe is a must, going into the holidays! Such a tasty side dish and a huge crowd pleaser. Thanks for posting!