Crispy Bacon Wrapped Asparagus
A sophisticated yet easy side dish featuring tender-crisp asparagus spears wrapped in salty, smoky bacon. This recipe uses a secret umami-maple twist for a perfectly browned, glossy finish.
Equipment
- Baking Sheet
- Aluminum Foil
- Wire cooling rack
- large bowl
Ingredients
- 1 pound fresh asparagus, trimmed
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 6 slices bacon, or more to taste
- ground black pepper to taste
Instructions
Prep the asparagus
- Place the trimmed asparagus in a large bowl and drizzle with olive oil, tossing by hand until the spears are lightly and evenly coated.
- Sort the spears by thickness to ensure that the bundles cook at the same rate during the roasting process.
Wrap the bundles
- Gather 2 to 3 asparagus spears into a bundle and spiral a single slice of bacon around them, keeping the wrap snug without too much overlap.
- Tuck the ends of the bacon underneath the bundle to secure it without the need for toothpicks.
Choose your cooking method
- For oven roasting, preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C) and arrange bundles in a single layer on a foil-lined baking sheet for 18 to 20 minutes.
- Alternatively, grill the bundles over medium heat for 3 to 4 minutes per side, or air fry at 400 degrees F for 7 to 8 minutes until the bacon is crispy.
Finish and serve
- Remove the bundles from the heat and season immediately with ground black pepper to taste.
- Allow the bundles to rest for one minute to let the fat settle before serving while the bacon is at peak crunch.
Notes
Preparation Tip: Use the snap method for the asparagus by bending each spear near the bottom until it breaks naturally to remove the woody ends.
Cooking Tip: For the crispiest results in the oven, place a wire cooling rack over your baking sheet to allow hot air to circulate completely around the bacon.
Make-Ahead Instruction: You can assemble these bundles up to 24 hours in advance and keep them refrigerated; cold bundles often hold their shape better during cooking.
Nutrition information is estimated based on common ingredients and serving sizes and may vary.
Nutrition
Calories: 118kcalCarbohydrates: 4gProtein: 7gFat: 9gSaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 18mgSodium: 265mgPotassium: 230mgFiber: 2gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 12IUVitamin C: 9mgCalcium: 24mgIron: 2mg
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