This website may contain affiliate links and advertising so that we can provide you with recipes. Read my privacy policy.
Bacon-wrapped asparagus is a smoky and savory side dish that will be a mealtime staple. Each packet is glazed with maple syrup for a caramelized flavor you won’t be able to live without!
Let’s be honest…everything tastes better with bacon. For tastier side dishes, try bacon-wrapped carrots, dates or chestnuts!
Bacon Wrapped Asparagus
I’m thrilled to share this popular dish of bacon-wrapped asparagus, made with just six ingredients. This is one of my favorites when it comes to roasted vegetables. Asparagus is one of my favorite vegetables on its own, but it’s even better wrapped in a juicy piece of bacon. This is an appetizer or side dish that will please everyone and 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 inside doesn’t have the same crispy texture. Second, the asparagus spears cook too quickly in the high heat oven before the bacon is done, creating shrunken bunches. I found the right solution to improve both of these problems, and the results are delicious! Stay tuned for the perfect bacon-wrapped asparagus made even better with a tasty maple glaze! This is a dish that everyone will love.
Ingredients needed
You only need a few simple ingredients to make a jaw-dropping side dish. Bacon-wrapped asparagus is so hearty and delicious, you’ll want to serve it with all your favorite dishes! Note: the exact measurements of each ingredient can be found in the recipe card below.
- Olive oil: Olive oil adds a rich, creamy flavor to the dish and also helps prevent the bacon-wrapped asparagus from sticking to the pan.
- Pure maple syrup: Maple syrup adds a touch of sweetness to the frosting, complementing the savory flavors of bacon and asparagus.
- Garlic salt: Adds a delicious salty and garlicky flavor to the dish.
- Black pepper: For an extra touch of flavor. Feel free to adjust the amount of black pepper depending on your preference for spiciness.
- Thick Bacon: Because let’s be honest here, bacon is the star of the show. It adds a salty, smoky and crispy element to the dish.
- Fresh asparagus spears: Asparagus goes wonderfully with bacon. Be sure to cut off the woody ends of the asparagus before use.
- Kosher salt: Kosher salt is used to season asparagus and enhance its natural flavors. You can adjust the amount of salt according to your taste preferences.
Tips for picking asparagus
Asparagus can usually be found all year round, however, be on the lookout for its peak season from March to June. When selecting asparagus, make sure they are light green, firm, and the tips should be tight with a slight purple tint.
How to make the best bacon-wrapped asparagus
This is one of my favorite side dishes because it tastes like a fancy steakhouse. Plus, it assembles in just 30 minutes! You’ll want to serve this bacon-wrapped goodness with every meal.
Precook the bacon
- To preheat the oven: Set the oven rack in the middle position and preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Prepare the baking sheet: Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and place a wire rack on it.
- Add bacon: Spray the grill with nonstick cooking spray. Place 5 slices of bacon spaced evenly on the skillet.
- Roast: Roast until bacon just begins to shrink and turn a slightly red color but still soft, about 5 minutes, depending on thickness. The bacon shouldn’t be completely crispy or it will break as it wraps around the asparagus.
- Maple frosting: In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, maple syrup, garlic salt and black pepper.
- Brush with the maple mixture: Remove the bacon from the oven and brush both sides with the maple syrup mixture. Roast the bacon for 3 more minutes.
- Cool: Let the bacon cool until it is easy to handle with your fingers. Divide the asparagus into five bunches of equal size.
Prepare the Bacon Wrapped Asparagus
- Wrap: On a cutting board, roll up a slice of half-cooked bacon, overlapping it along the length of the asparagus tips.
- Prepare the bacon-wrapped asparagus: Secure the bacon with a toothpick. Gently place the bundles on the cooking grate. Generously brush the maple syrup mixture over the bacon-wrapped asparagus tips on both sides. Lightly season each package with salt and pepper.
- Roast, add more glaze: Roast the asparagus bundles with the bacon for 10 minutes, remove from the oven and brush the maple mixture on the bacon only.
- Roast again: Roast for 5 minutes or until bacon is browned and crispy and asparagus is tender.
- Serve: Remove the toothpicks and serve the bacon-wrapped asparagus warm.
cooking tips
To make sure your bacon-wrapped asparagus is perfect, here are a few things to keep in mind.
- Precook the bacon: The critical step is to pre-cook the bacon before it is packaged. Thick cut slices of bacon are used so that they are easy to handle after pre-cooking as they are not too thin and brittle. It doesn’t crisp up too quickly and is flexible when wrapping bunches of asparagus.
- Adjust cooking time: Bacon pieces are roasted for a few minutes until just cooked through and soft. Cooking time can vary depending on the thickness of the bacon, so be sure to use your intuition, time is only a guideline.
- Don’t skip the icing: The maple glaze is one of the best parts of this recipe. It adds a delicious caramelized flavor. If you don’t have maple syrup, honey or brown sugar works too! The trick to caramelizing asparagus and bacon is to add more maple mixture to the boots at the beginning of the cooking process, and again at the end.
Storing leftovers
Bacon-wrapped asparagus is best served chilled 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 the oven to keep the bacon crispy. 10 minutes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit should do the trick!
Set oven rack to center position and preheat oven to 400°F (204°C).
Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and place a wire rack on it.
Spray the grill with nonstick cooking spray.
Place 5 slices of bacon spaced evenly on the skillet.
Roast until bacon just begins to shrink and turn a slightly red color but still soft, about 5 minutes, depending on thickness. The bacon shouldn’t be completely crispy or it will break as it wraps around the asparagus.
In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, maple syrup, garlic slice and black pepper.
Remove the bacon from the oven and brush both sides with the maple syrup mixture. Roast the bacon for 3 more minutes.
Let the bacon cool until it is easy to handle with your fingers. Divide the asparagus into five bunches of equal size.
On a cutting board, roll up a slice of half-cooked bacon, overlapping it along the length of the asparagus tips.
Secure the bacon with a toothpick. Gently place the bundles on the cooking grate. Generously brush the maple syrup mixture over the bacon-wrapped asparagus tips on both sides.
Lightly season each package with salt and pepper.
Roast the asparagus bunches for 10 minutes, remove from the oven and brush the maple mixture on the bacon only.
Roast for 5 minutes or until bacon is browned and crispy and asparagus is tender.
Remove the toothpicks and serve the bacon-wrapped asparagus warm.
Updated on June 12, 2023
Serves: 6
calories239calories (12%)Carbohydrates12g (4%)Protein5g (ten%)Fat19g (29%)Saturated fat5g (25%)Cholesterol20mg (7%)Sodium201mg (8%)Potassium242mg (7%)Fiber2g (8%)Sugar9g (ten%)Vitamin A583UI (12%)Vitamin C4mg (5%)Calcium33mg (3%)Iron2mg (11%)
All nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and is an estimate only. Each recipe and nutritional value will vary depending on the brands you use, measuring methods and serving sizes per household.
