Bacon Wrapped Asparagus: The perfect easy side dish for weeknight dinners or an elegant side dish for a special occasion!
This easy recipe for asparagus and bacon is right up there on our list of salty bacon and maple syrup favorites (it might even be tied with our baked brie with maple syrup and bacon recipe)!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
I’m a big fan of asparagus (those deep green stalks are packed full of vitamins A, C and K), but it’s not exactly a family favorite.
That’s where this savory side dish comes in- I think my family would eat just about anything if you wrapped it in a piece of bacon (and I don’t blame them)!
Wrapping tender asparagus stalks in pieces of bacon is a delicious way to add some variety to the vegetables hitting the dinner table!
Who knows, this tasty side dish might even end up becoming a family favorite and show up in one of your repeat spring dinner meals!
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Ingredients
Asparagus season runs from February to June, with the peak season hitting around April. That means that spring is the perfect time to be making ALL the asparagus appetizers because you’ll have access to the best asparagus out there.
[Not to worry though- even during the “off” season you should still be able to find asparagus bundles in your local grocery stores.]
This easy appetizer only requires 5 ingredients and is sure to be a hit all year round!
- 1 pound fresh asparagus spears
- 6 strips bacon
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup
- 2 teaspoons soy sauce
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
How to Make Baked Bacon Wrapped Asparagus
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. and line your baking sheet with parchment paper (optional: if you don’t have parchment paper you can brush your baking sheet with olive oil to keep bacon from sticking).
- Wash your asparagus stalks & lightly dry them. Break off the ends, or cut 1” off the bottom (you do this to remove the woody ends of the asparagus). Divide asparagus into groups of 4-6. The number of spears you have will just depend on how big the individual spears of asparagus are.
- Wrap one slice of bacon around 4-6 asparagus stalks, folding the end of the bacon wrap under the asparagus. Place bundles on the prepared baking sheet and repeat with the remaining asparagus and bacon slices.
- Mix the maple syrup, soy sauce, & black pepper in a small bowl, and warm up for 15-20 seconds in the microwave. This will make it easier to stir together.
- Remove your sauce mixture from the microwave and stir together. Drizzle the sauce mixture over your bacon-wrapped bundle of asparagus.
- Place your baking sheet of bacon asparagus into the preheated oven and bake for 25 minutes.
- Lastly, set your oven to broil and broil your bacon and asparagus for 3 minutes (be sure to watch closely so your food doesn’t burn). This will help to create a nice, crispy bacon strip.
- Remove from the oven, being careful not to burn yourself on the bacon grease, serve and enjoy!
Substitutions
We hope you can find an easy way to make this delicious side dish work for your lifestyle and dietary needs. Here are a few suggestions for how to adapt this baked asparagus recipe…
- Bacon – if you don’t eat pork, try using turkey or chicken bacon as an easy bacon replacement! Simply replace the 6 slices bacon called for in the recipe with turkey or chicken bacon and prepare the recipe as directed (you may need to add a minute or two to the broiling step to ensure your turkey or chicken bacon crisps up).
- Gluten-free – regular soy sauce is not gluten-free, but don’t worry! If you follow a strictly gluten free lifestyle, look for a gluten-free soy sauce that uses rice instead of wheat (you should be able to find it in most grocery stores).
Note: this is a great side dish for those looking to follow a low carb diet!
Variations for Bacon Wrapped Asparagus
This asparagus dish would be super easy to experiment with; try these simple variations to create an entirely new flavor profile!
- Sweet – coat your bacon wrapped asparagus with brown sugar before baking to create a sweet, caramelized sugar coating
- Savoury – replace the sauce mixture in this recipe with a balsamic glaze
- Kid friendly – coat your bacon wrapped asparagus with parmesan cheese before baking to add a cheesy flavor your kids are sure to enjoy
- Spicy – try adding a few red pepper flakes to your sauce mixture before drizzling it on your bacon wrapped asparagus to take it to the next level!
I think my favorite way to eat these would be with a few red pepper flakes added into the maple syrup sauce- sweet and spicy!
Storage
Store your bacon wrapped asparagus in an airtight container in the fridge once cooled and they will stay fresh for 4-5 days. To reheat them, place them back on a parchment lined baking sheet and cook in a 400 F oven until warmed through.
Psst…bacon wrapped asparagus is a great option for a snack the next day!
These ingredients don’t stand up well to freezing.
Expert Tips and FAQs
Asparagus cooks in about 10 minutes in the oven when the stalks are laid out in a single layer. In this recipe, we are bundling 4-6 asparagus stalks together and wrapping them in bacon (bacon cooks a bit more slowly than asparagus) which is why the cook time called for is 25 minutes with additional broil time at the end!
We haven’t tried it, but yes I think you could! Brush your grill/bbq with oil to keep them from sticking, place your asparagus bundles right on the grill and close the lid. Grill them for 5-8 minutes per side until the bacon slices look crispy and the asparagus is tender.
Related Recipes
If you liked this bacon-wrapped asparagus recipe, you’ll also like this air fryer bacon, these bacon-wrapped blue cheese dates, and this air fryer asparagus!
Also, asparagus pairs nicely with a red meat main course like an oven-baked ribeye steak or grilled venison steak!
Recipe
Bacon Wrapped Asparagus
Ingredients
- 1 pound fresh asparagus spears
- 6 strips bacon
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup
- 2 teaspoons soy sauce
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees f. and line your baking sheet with parchment paper (optional: if you don't have parchment paper you can brush your baking sheet with olive oil to keep bacon from sticking.
- Wash your asparagus stalks & lightly dry them. Break off the ends, or cut 1” off the bottom (you do this to remove the woody ends of the asparagus). Divide asparagus into groups of 4-6. The number of spears you have will just depend on how big the individual spears of asparagus are.
- Wrap one slice of bacon around 4-6 asparagus stalks, folding the end of the bacon wrap under the asparagus. Place bundles on the prepared baking sheet and repeat with the remaining asparagus and bacon slices.
- Mix the maple syrup, soy sauce, & black pepper in a small bowl, and warm up for 15-20 seconds in the microwave. This will make it easier to stir together.
- Remove your sauce mixture from the microwave and stir together. Drizzle the sauce mixture over your bacon wrapped bundle of asparagus.
- Place your baking sheet of bacon asparagus into the preheated oven and bake for 25 minutes.
- Lastly, set your oven to broil and broil your bacon and asparagus for 3 minutes (be sure to watch closely so your food doesn't burn). This will help to create a nice, crispy bacon strip.
- Remove from the oven, being careful not to burn yourself on the bacon grease, serve and enjoy!
Notes
- Bacon – if you don’t eat pork, try using turkey or chicken bacon as an easy bacon replacement! Simply replace the 6 slices bacon called for in the recipe with turkey or chicken bacon and prepare the recipe as directed (you may need to add a minute or two to the broiling step to ensure your turkey or chicken bacon crisps up).
- Gluten-free – regular soy sauce is not gluten-free, but don’t worry! If you follow a strictly gluten free lifestyle, look for a gluten-free soy sauce that uses rice instead of wheat (you should be able to find it in most grocery stores).
Nutrition
Nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered estimates. Actual nutritional content will vary with brands used, measuring methods, portion sizes and more.
Katie says
Such a great side to so many mains! Love flavors in this one!
Sharina says
One of my go-to side dish recipes! Bacon wrapped asparagus si so easy to make that makes every meal so satisfying. Must-try!
Journa Liz Ramirez says
Wow! This recipe is amazing! I enjoyed making it! It was so easy and my family loves it so much! Highly recommended!