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This bacon wrapped asparagus turns out crispy and delicious and works as a perfect dinner side dish or appetizer. Low carb but full of flavor!
Looking for more impressive appetizers and side dishes? Try tuna tartare, armadillo eggs, and cream cheese stuffed peppers.
With all my main meals, I always need sides to keep me full. While I have a ton of delicious sides to choose from, I have a few standbys I make almost weekly.
This asparagus wrapped in bacon is a firm family favorite because, hello, bacon!
Table of Contents
Why I love this recipe
- 3 ingredients. You can make it with only three key ingredients!
- Low in carbs. Each serving has less than 2 grams of net carbs.
- Multiple cooking methods. I consider myself a kitchen jack of all trades and tested this recipe in the oven, air fryer, stovetop, AND grill.
Ingredients needed
- Asparagus spears- Fresh and equally sized asparagus are preferred. Remember to trim or snap the woody ends off the stalk.
- Bacon strips- While any bacon works, I like to choose thinner slices of bacon, so it holds the asparagus better and has maximum crispness.
- Butter- Unsalted and measured when melted.
- Balsamic vinegar- Adds a punch of flavor and adds crispiness to the asparagus.
- Salt and black pepper- To taste.
How to make bacon wrapped asparagus
I’ve included step-by-step photos below to make this recipe easy to follow at home. For the full printable recipe instructions and ingredient quantities, scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
Step 1- Prep: Preheat the oven to 200C/400F.
Step 2- Prepare bacon asparagus bundles: Separate and trim asparagus. Wrap one or two bacon pieces and wrap them around the asparagus stalks, then place them in a baking dish or wire rimmed baking sheet. Drizzle with the melted butter, salt, and pepper.
Step 3- Bake and serve: Bake for 18-20 minutes. Once removed from the oven, brush with balsamic then serve immediately.
Alternative cooking methods
As mentioned above, I prefer oven-baking the bacon-wrapped asparagus, but the grill, stovetop, and air fryer will also work.
Grilled method: Heat the grill to 200C/400F and cover with foil. Prep the asparagus and bacon as instructed and place on top of the foil. Grill for 18-20 minutes, flipping halfway through.
Stovetop method: Take a large non-stick skillet and place it over medium-high heat. Add some olive oil. Add bacon asparagus bundles without overcrowding the pan when the oil becomes hot. Cook for several minutes and then flip to cook the other side. Keep cooking until asparagus becomes tender and the bacon is crispy.
Air fryer method: Similar to air fryer asparagus, place the asparagus bundles in a lightly greased air fryer basket and air fry at 200C/400F for 7-8 minutes or until the bacon crisps up.
Recipe variations
- Add cheese. Sprinkle your favorite cheese before serving. The options that work the best bacon wrapped asparagus are parmesan cheese, goat cheese, or mozzarella cheese.
- Add some sweetness. Melt butter in a small pan and add some brown sugar. Drizzle the mixture over bacon-wrapped asparagus before baking. You can also add honey.
- Use different meat. While bacon is preferred, turkey bacon or prosciutto will also work.
Storage instructions
To store: Place leftovers in an airtight container and store them in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
To freeze: Cool them, then place them in a ziplock bag. Store it in the freezer for up to 6 months.
Reheating: Either reheat in the microwave, air fryer, or preheated oven.
What does asparagus pair well with?
- Poultry– Blackened chicken, air fryer chicken breast, air fryer chicken thighs, or air fryer chicken drumsticks.
- Seafood– Air fryer salmon, keto salmon, salmon patties, or air fryer shrimp.
- Meat– Air fryer pork chops, stuffed meatloaf, healthy meatloaf, and keto meatballs.
- Vegetable main courses– Eggplant lasagna, zucchini lasagna, or a cauliflower pizza crust.
Frequently Asked Questions
You can soak the asparagus before cooking to remove the sand and soil. If it’s already clean, soaking isn’t necessary, and it does not affect the dish’s outcome.
If your asparagus is at an uneven size or the bacon is too thick, you risk the asparagus being soft and soggy.
Asparagus is a fantastic vegetable to include on a keto diet. A half-cup serving has just 1.5 grams of net carbs. It works in tons of dishes, especially when paired with bacon!
More bacon-wrapped recipes to try
Bacon Wrapped Asparagus
Video
Ingredients
- 18 spears asparagus trimmed
- 6 slices bacon thinly sliced
- 2 tablespoons butter melted
- 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 200C/400F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Divide the asparagus into bundles of three. Wrap a slice of bacon around each bindle then place them on the baking sheet. Brush with the melted butter then sprinkle with salt and pepper.
- Bake the bacon wrapped asparagus for 20-25 minutes, or until the bacon is crispy.
- Remove the asparagus from the oven and brush with balsamic vinegar.
Notes
Nutrition
Originally published April 2022, updated and republished March 2024
Have a lot of asparagus n was thinking of how to cook it for a snack for my trip. Just found this. A good idea.
Absolutely delicious!! I don’t like veggies much but this is a fantastic way to spice up the recipe!
Love that!!!
Excellent
Fabulous &tasty thank you for your sharing nice &quick 😁😋🤩👋👋
So welcome!
Brushed mine with a garlic and herb butter mixture— divine. Thanks for sharing this recipe with us; absolutely delicious!
What a fabulous idea!!
Thanks for sharing. Can’t wait to try this.
Going to get a cook book today.!
Trying to loss weight, are any of these calorie friendly?🙃
Can’t wait to try this and to get your book, thanks
Check out the low calorie section on my website 🙂
I make this very often. Wrap up and bbq. No bbq sauce, just them in some heat till the bacon crisps, and enjoy! One of my favorite side dishes.