Crisp, tender asparagus meets smoky, savory bacon for a side dish that steals the spotlight.
Want to know how you can possibly improve an already delectable dish? You wrap it in bacon! (I would also accept for an answer, “stuff it with bacon” or “top it with bacon.” In other words, get bacon involved.)
Bacon is touted by so many meat eaters as the perfect food. You can have it for breakfast, lunch, and dinner—even dessert, as maple-bacon cupcakes can attest. You can add it to baked goods, fried goods, popped goods (bacon-caramel popcorn, anyone?), sandwiches, burgers, salads. If a dish exists, there’s a version of it with bacon.
So it should come as no surprise that wrapping asparagus in bacon makes it just that much tastier. Don’t get me wrong, grilled asparagus is awesome! I think so. Perhaps more importantly, my kids think so. But none of us can argue with the inscrutable fact that bacon improves anything it touches.
When in doubt, add bacon. Don’t question it; just eat it and enjoy.
Any tips when shopping for asparagus?
First of all, the asparagus spears should be firm and straight. If they don’t stand at attention, they’re not at their best. They should be vibrant green, and while the tips can be slightly lighter, they shouldn’t be brown or yellow. You can also give them a sniff. If you detect anything other than a mild, grassy scent, that’s not the asparagus for you. You should also be able to break off the woody stem bit easily and cleanly when dealing with fresh asparagus (this, however, may be a test you execute at home with already-purchased asparagus, not at the store). As for thickness, this is a matter of preference. Thin asparagus cooks more quickly but bears a less prominent taste than thicker spears.
How do I store leftovers?
Let the bacon-wrapped asparagus cool completely, then store them in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days. It’s up to you whether you serve them cold or reheat them in the oven or air fryer. I don’t recommend freezing them. Asparagus contains lots of water; the thawing process will turn your dish into bacon-wrapped mush.
Serving suggestions
I’ve mentioned bacon-wrapped asparagus as a side dish. If you intend on using it as such, you can pair it with other sides, such as Make-Ahead Freezer Mashed Potatoes, The Perfect Beet Salad, and other grilled vegetables. You can also set it beside meat entrees, like steak, chicken, and fish (Seared Ahi Tuna Steak, anyone?). You can also serve it as an appetizer or hors d’oeuvre alongside Easy Cauliflower Wings, The Best Fried Green Tomatoes, and Pull-Apart Pigs In A Blanket. If any guest sees a tray of these coming towards them, there’s no way they will be able to resist.
Bacon-Wrapped Asparagus
Ingredients
- 1 pound asparagus spears trimmed
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 8 strips thick-cut bacon
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400°F and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper for easy cleanup.
- In a large bowl, toss the trimmed asparagus with olive oil and black pepper until evenly coated.
- Divide the asparagus into 8 equal bundles. Wrap each bundle with a strip of bacon, starting from the middle and making sure to slightly overlap the bacon to secure it.
- Place the bacon-wrapped asparagus bundles seam-side down on the prepared baking sheet.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 22-28 minutes, or until the bacon is crispy and the asparagus is tender. The exact cooking time will depend on the thickness of the bacon and the asparagus and your desired level of crispiness.
- Serve the bacon-wrapped asparagus warm or at room temperature and enjoy!
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