Bacon Wrapped Asparagus

Course Appetizer, Side Dish

Cuisine American, Southern

Keyword bacon-wrapped-asparagus, bacon-wrapped-asparagus-bundles

Prep Time 15

Cook Time 25

Total Time 40

Servings servings

Calories 167kcal

Author Melissa Sperka

Ingredients

2 lb asparagus cleaned, woody ends removed
1 lb classic thin sliced bacon
1 cup finely grated Parmesan-Romano cheese
olive oil or olive oil cooking spray
garlic salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Optional Dipping Sauce:
1/2 cup mayonnaise
2-3 Tbsp Italian dressing
1/4 tsp red pepper flakes

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 425°F. Spritz a roasting pan with cooking spray. Set up all of your ingredients before you begin to wrap the bundles.
Prep the asparagus, removing the woody ends. Brush the asparagus spears lightly with olive oil or spritz with cooking spray. Season with garlic salt [lightly] and black pepper. [Go light with the salt. The Parmesan-Romano cheese will add extra saltiness to the bundles]
Bundle the asparagus in groups of three. Use one slice of bacon per bundle.
Start wrapping the bacon around the stems tightly beginning at the bottom. If you choose to use baby asparagus, a half slice of bacon should be enough.
Roll in the grated Parmesan-Romano cheese and place seam side down on the baking sheet pan. Make sure the bundles aren't touching.
Repeat until all of the asparagus and bacon slices have been used.
Place into the oven and bake for 23-25 minutes depending on the thickness of the asparagus. Turn halfway through cooking.
Increase the oven temperature to broil and cook for an additional 3-5 minutes to fully crisp the bacon.
Sprinkle with additional Parmesan-Romano cheese to garnish.
Serve warm with a dipping sauce if desired.
How to Cook Bacon Wrapped Asparagus in an Air Fryer: Depending on the size of the air fryer, you may need to cook in batches.
Spray basket with cooking spray.
Place assembled asparagus bundles into the air fryer leaving space between for air to circulate.
Cook at 390°F for 6 minutes, then stop and turn. Continue to cook for another 6 minutes or just until the bacon is crispy and asparagus is tender.
Time may vary depending on the thickness of the asparagus.

Notes

Bacon - Classic thin cut bacon works best for this easy recipe. Thick cut bacon won't crisp as well.
Cheese - You can use classic Parmesan cheese for the cheesy coating.
Use Freshly Grated Cheese - I recommend that you go the extra mile and grate the Parmesan-Romano cheese yourself. If you choose to purchase it, make sure you use a really good quality cheese blend for the best results.
Spice - You can sprinkle these with crushed red pepper flakes for a hint of spice.
Maple Syrup - Another option is to skip the Parmesan cheese and brush the bacon with maple syrup for a sweet and smoky flavor.
Make-Ahead Tip - These asparagus bundles can be fully assembled and placed into an airtight container and into the refrigerator up to one day in advance. If stacking, separate with wax paper.
Dipping Sauce - I've included an optional aioli dipping sauce for this recipe but it's optional. These asparagus bundles are delicious on their own, drizzled with balsamic glaze or dipped in ranch dressing.
Pan Options - A broiler pan is helpful for roasting asparagus, but you don't have to use a broiler pan. You can use an oven safe grill pan or any baking pan fitted with an oven safe baking rack. In that instance, use a rimmed baking pan to catch any bacon drippings and line the bottom with aluminum foil for easy clean-up.

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