Bacon Wrapped Asparagus
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Bacon wrapped asparagus is a smoky and savory side dish that will be a staple for mealtime. Each bundle is glazed with maple syrup for caramelized flavor you won’t be able to get enough of!
Let’s be honest… everything is better with bacon. For more tasty side dishes try bacon wrapped carrots, dates, or chestnuts!
Asparagus Wrapped in Bacon
I’m so excited to share this popular bacon wrapped asparagus dish, made with just six ingredients. It’s one of my go-to favorites when it comes to roasted veggies. Asparagus is one of my favorite veggies by itself, but it’s even better wrapped with a piece of juicy bacon. This is a crowd-pleasing appetizer or side dish that often steals the show!
There are two challenges when making vegetables wrapped in bacon. First, the bacon strips are cooked on the outside, but the insides don’t have the same crisp texture. Second, the asparagus spears cook way too quickly in the high-temperature oven before the bacon is done, creating shriveled up bundles. I found just the right solution to improve both of these issues, and the results are delicious! Stay tuned for the perfect bacon-wrapped asparagus made even better with a tasty maple glaze! It’s a dish that everyone will love.
Ingredients Needed
You only need a few simple ingredients to make a knockout side dish. Bacon wrapped asparagus is so hearty and delicious, you’ll want to serve it alongside all of your favorite meals! Note: exact measurements for each ingredient can be found in the recipe card below.
- Olive Oil: Olive oil adds a rich and smooth flavor to the dish, and also helps to prevent the bacon wrapped asparagus from sticking to the pan.
- Pure Maple Syrup: Maple syrup brings a touch of sweetness to the glaze, complementing the savory flavors of the bacon and asparagus.
- Garlic Salt: Adds a delicious savory and garlicky flavor to the dish.
- Black Pepper: For an extra kick of flavor. Feel free to adjust the amount of black pepper based on your preference for spiciness.
- Thick-Cut Bacon: Because let’s be honest here, the bacon is the star of the show. It adds a salty, smoky, and crispy element to the dish.
- Fresh Asparagus Spears: Asparagus pairs wonderfully with bacon. Make sure to trim off the woody ends of the asparagus before use.
- Kosher Salt: Kosher salt is used to season the asparagus and enhance its natural flavors. You can adjust the amount of salt based on your taste preferences.
Tips for Picking Asparagus
Asparagus can typically be found year round, however, be on the lookout for its peak season from March to June. When selecting asparagus, make sure they are bright green, firm, and the tips should be tight with a slight purple hue.
How to Make the Best Bacon Wrapped Asparagus
This is one of my favorite side dishes to make because it tastes like it’s from a fancy steakhouse. Plus, it comes together in just 30 minutes! You’ll want to serve this bacon wrapped goodness with every meal.
Precook the Bacon
- Preheat Oven: Adjust the oven rack to the center position and preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Prepare Baking Sheet: Line a baking sheet with foil and place a wire rack on top.
- Add Bacon: Spray the rack with nonstick cooking spray. Place 5 slices of bacon spaced evenly apart on the pan.
- Roast: Roast until the bacon just begins to shrink and turns a slightly red color, but is still flexible, about 5 minutes, depending on thickness. The bacon should not be completely crispy, otherwise, it will break when wrapping around the asparagus.
- Maple Glaze: In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, maple syrup, garlic salt, and black pepper.
- Brush With Maple Mixture: Remove the bacon from the oven and brush with the maple syrup mixture on both sides. Roast the bacon for 3 more minutes.
- Cool: Allow the bacon to cool until it’s easy to handle with your fingers. Divide the asparagus into five even-size bundles.
Prepare the Bacon Wrapped Asparagus
- Wrap: On a cutting board, wrap one slice of the par-cooked bacon overlapping over the length of the asparagus spears.
- Prepare Bacon Wrapped Asparagus: Secure the bacon with a toothpick. Carefully place the bundles on the baking rack. Generously brush the maple syrup mixture over the bacon-wrapped asparagus spears on both sides. Lightly season each bundle with salt and pepper.
- Roast, Add More Glaze: Roast the bacon asparagus bundles for 10 minutes, remove from the oven and brush the maple mixture over just the bacon.
- Roast Again: Roast for 5 minutes, or until the bacon is browned and crispy, and the asparagus is tender.
- Serve: Remove the toothpicks and serve the bacon wrapped asparagus hot.
Cooking Tips
To make sure your bacon wrapped asparagus turns out perfectly, here are a few things to keep in mind.
- Precook Bacon: The critical step is to par-cook the bacon before it gets wrapped. Thick cut bacon slices are used so that it’s easy to handle after precooking because it’s not too thin and fragile. It also doesn’t crisp too quickly and is pliable when wrapping the asparagus bundles.
- Adjust the Cooking Time: The pieces of bacon are roasted for a few minutes until just cooked and flexible. The cooking time may vary depending on how thick the bacon is, so make sure to use your intuition with time being just a guideline.
- Don’t Skip the Glaze: The maple glaze is one of the best things about this recipe. It adds a delicious caramelized flavor. If you don’t have maple syrup, honey or brown sugar also works! The trick to making the asparagus and bacon caramelized is adding more of the maple mixture over the bundles at the beginning of the cooking process, and once more at the end.
Storing Leftovers
Bacon wrapped asparagus is best served fresh and warm, but you can also store your bundles in the fridge if you have leftovers.
- In the Refrigerator: Store in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
- Reheating: Reheat in an oven to keep the bacon crispy. 10 minutes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit should do the trick!
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Adjust the oven rack to the center position and preheat the oven to 400°F (204°C).
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Line a baking sheet with foil and place a wire rack on top.
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Spray the rack with nonstick cooking spray.
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Place 5 slices of bacon spaced evenly apart on the pan.
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Roast until the bacon just begins to shrink and turns a slightly red color, but is still flexible, about 5 minutes, depending on thickness. The bacon should not be completely crispy, otherwise, it will break when wrapping around the asparagus.
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In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, maple syrup, garlic slat, and black pepper.
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Remove the bacon from the oven and brush with the maple syrup mixture on both sides. Roast the bacon for 3 more minutes.
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Allow the bacon to cool until it’s easy to handle with your fingers. Divide the asparagus into five even-size bundles.
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On a cutting board, wrap one slice of the par-cooked bacon overlapping over the length of the asparagus spears.
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Secure the bacon with a toothpick. Carefully place the bundles on the baking rack. Generously brush the maple syrup mixture over the bacon-wrapped asparagus spears on both sides.
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Lightly season each bundle with salt and pepper.
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Roast the asparagus bundles for 10 minutes, remove from the oven and brush the maple mixture over just the bacon.
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Roast for 5 minutes, or until the bacon is browned and crispy, and the asparagus is tender.
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Remove the toothpicks and serve the bacon wrapped asparagus hot.
Updated on June 12, 2023
Serves: 6
Calories239kcal (12%)Carbohydrates12g (4%)Protein5g (10%)Fat19g (29%)Saturated Fat5g (25%)Cholesterol20mg (7%)Sodium201mg (8%)Potassium242mg (7%)Fiber2g (8%)Sugar9g (10%)Vitamin A583IU (12%)Vitamin C4mg (5%)Calcium33mg (3%)Iron2mg (11%)
All nutritional information is based on third party calculations and is only an estimate. Each recipe and nutritional value will vary depending on the brands you use, measuring methods and portion sizes per household.
