Asparagus wrapped in bacon takes your favorite green stalky vegetable to a whole new level! This side dish can be made ahead of time and is ready in about 30 minutes! It’s salty and sweet, with brown sugar sprinkled on top before baking. This is the ultimate vegetable side for family dinners and holiday meals!.
While it’s in season, from February to June, I love seeing asparagus pop up. In April, there’s a lot of it in stores. It can be hard to figure out how to cook a bunch of bright green, long stalks of asparagus. What to do with it? If you’re not sure, add bacon. It’s true for all green vegetables: broccoli, green beans, brussels sprouts, kale, and zucchini all taste GREAT with bacon.
This bacon wrapped asparagus recipe is easy to throw together. However, one thing you must remember with asparagus is to trim the ends. The ends are really tough, almost woody, and they dont improve when roasted in the oven. Peelers can be used to remove the tough skin from the ends so that you can eat the soft insides, but I just cut off the bottom part.
Other than cutting off the ends, this bacon-wrapped asparagus recipe is very easy. Just season the asparagus with salt, pepper, and olive oil, wrap it in bacon, and sprinkle some brown sugar on top (optional but very tasty!). Then, roast the little bundles until they are soft and crispy.
This simple side dish is great for any event, but it’s especially good when asparagus is in season. You can make it ahead of time too. I like to do everything but bake it ahead of time and then put it in the fridge for up to three days. You can also pre-roast it and then just heat it up when dinner is almost ready.
One of our favorite vegetables is asparagus. It can be used in many ways, isn’t too similar to other green vegetables like broccoli, and roasts beautifully. Our asparagus roasted in the oven with garlic, Parmesan,
Bacon wrapped asparagus is a classic appetizer that seems to make every holiday or dinner party menu. The salty crispy bacon beautifully complements the tender-crisp asparagus spears. But what main dishes and sides truly bring out the best in bacon wrapped asparagus? Here are 12 sensational pairings to try.
Why Bacon Wrapped Asparagus Is So Popular
Before diving into pairing ideas, let’s look at why this recipe deserves its perpetual popularity
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Flavor contrast – The smoky saltiness of bacon balances the bright, grassy tones of asparagus.
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Texture contrast – Crisp bacon and tender-crisp asparagus offer appealing contrasts.
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Visual appeal – The green asparagus popping through the reddish bacon looks appetizing.
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Versatile – Works as an appetizer, side, or addition to a main course.
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Easy to make – Simply wrap, bake, and serve this easy crowd-pleaser.
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Nutritious – Asparagus offers vitamin K, folate, and antioxidant benefits.
With its simplicity, nutrition, and crowd-pleasing taste, it’s no wonder bacon wrapped asparagus earns a permanent place at dinner parties and holidays. Now let’s find worthy pairings!
1. Steaks
A perfectly grilled steak makes the ultimate main alongside bacon wrapped asparagus appetizers. The asparagus’ crisp freshness contrasts the charred, juicy steak beautifully. Lean beef cuts like filet mignon, strip steak, or ribeye all make excellent choices.
2. Pork Tenderloin
The salty bacon wrapped asparagus provides a nice counterpoint to mildly flavored, lean pork tenderloin. The pork takes on flavor from any rub or marinade and stays juicy when quickly roasted or grilled.
3. Lamb Chops
Bold, savory lamb chops also stand up well to the bacon and asparagus. Opt for frenched lamb chops with the bone exposed for a dramatic presentation. The flavors marry classically.
4. Chicken Breast
For a lower fat option, choose boneless, skinless chicken breasts. Cook them simply with olive oil, salt, and pepper or give them more flavor with citrus, herbs, or spices. The bacon asparagus appetizer will add a flavor boost.
5. Salmon
Fresh salmon fillets offer heart-healthy omega-3s. Bake, grill, or pan sear seasoned salmon to medium doneness and serve with the crunchy, salty bacon wrapped asparagus spears for balance.
6. Scallops
Buttery, quick-cooking scallops wrapped in bacon would overload this appetizer. But simple seared or grilled scallops complement the bacon asparagus beautifully, especially with a lemony pan sauce.
7. Creamy Potatoes
What better pairing for salty, crunchy bacon than smooth, creamy potatoes? Whipped potatoes, cheesy scalloped potatoes, or loaded baked potatoes make perfect matches for this appetizer.
8. Risotto
The richness of bacon wrapped asparagus finds an ideal counterpoint in creamy risotto, like the classic mushroom risotto. The textures and flavors marry perfectly.
9. Pasta Carbonara
Pasta carbonara combines pasta, eggs, Parmesan, and yes – bacon! So serve the carbonara entree with these appetizers for a double bacon delight.
10. Mac and Cheese
For the ultimate in comfort food pairings, make a skillet bacon mac and cheese or baked mac and cheese to serve alongside this appetizer. The cheese pairs well with the asparagus.
11. Quinoa Salad
For a lighter, healthier pairing, try a flavorful quinoa salad loaded with vegetables and herbs like lemon thyme quinoa salad. The fresh flavors complement each other well.
12. Spinach Salad
A fresh spinach salad with berries, nuts, cheese, and a light dressing provides a nice contrast to hot bacon wrapped asparagus. The flavors and textures balance each other out.
With so many diverse pairing possibilities from seafood to salad, you can serve bacon wrapped asparagus with just about any entree. Try out some of these winning combinations for your next special meal.
How to Make Asparagus Wrapped in Bacon
- Prep. First, heat the oven to 400 degrees F. Then, put parchment paper or foil on a baking sheet and set it aside.
- Wash & trim. Second, wash the asparagus and cut off the tough, woody ends by bending one stalk toward the bottom until it breaks. Cut the rest of the asparagus to the same length.
- Season and toss. Afterward, add olive oil to the asparagus and season it with salt and pepper. Toss to coat.
- Divide, wrap and sweeten. Asparagus should be split into 8 groups of three or four spears each. Wrap each group in a bacon piece. Set them seam side down on the baking sheet. Repeat using all of the asparagus and bacon. You can sprinkle brown sugar on the bacon before baking for a salty-sweet taste. Its so good!.
- Put it in the oven and bake for 22 to 28 minutes, or until the bacon is done and the asparagus is soft but crisp. Serve warm.
How do you clean Asparagus before cooking?
- Wash the asparagus thoroughly.
- Bend the tip of the asparagus down towards the stalk. It will break on its own where the soft and tough flesh meet.
- Cut the asparagus neatly where it breaks.
- To cut the rest of the asparagus to the same length, use the first piece as a guide.
Bacon Wrapped Asparagus Recipe
What to serve with bacon wrapped asparagus?
Air fryer bacon wrapped asparagus is great served as a side dish or appetizer. If served as an appetizer, it’s great alongside a hollandaise sauce for dipping. As a side, it works great with all kinds of mains, chicken, seafood and steaks and all great companions.
What are pros of asparagus?
Asparagus is packed with full of vitamins and minerals and are low in calories. They are rich in antioxidants. Antioxidants are components that protect the body from free radical damage and oxidative stress. Another benefit of asparagus is that it helps the development of the fetus in the womb. The folate content of asparagus is believed to support fetal development and prevent neural tube abnormalities. Asparagus is one of the foods that has a low glycemic index. This low glycemic content will not increase blood sugar in the body hence, it is a great option to have for diabetic individuals. Asparagus also has a role in maintaining bladder health. They contain an amino acid called asparagine which is very useful to help the body excrete excess fluid and salt, thereby making the bladder avoid infection.
How to make bacon wrapped asparagus?
Bacon Wrapped Asparagus is an easy and delicious side dish that is ready in 30 minutes. Wrapping this elegant veggie with bacon is pretty much everyone’s favorite way. Place a wire rack inside a rimmed baking sheet. Trim the ends of the asparagus by about 1 inch. Add them to a large bowl and drizzle with salt, pepper and olive oil. Coat well.
Can You Grill bacon wrapped asparagus?
If you want to grill your bacon wrapped asparagus you are essentially going to do the same thing as if you cook it stove top. Heat your grill to 400 degrees, and place the asparagus on it. Then watch for the bacon to crisp up, and turn over to complete cooking.
How do you cook bacon on asparagus?
Drizzle with olive oil. Sprinkle with garlic salt and black pepper to taste. Cut the bacon slices lengthwise to make narrower strips. Wrap each bacon strip tightly around an asparagus stalk, only slightly overlapping the bacon on each stalk. Place seam side down onto the wire rack. Bake for 10 minutes. Use tongs to turn over.
How do you make a bacon sandwich with asparagus?
Divvy your asparagus into the eight bundles. Pick up the first one. Place one end of a slice of bacon just above the midpoint. Channel your inner artist. Wrap the bacon around the stalk so that it slightly overlaps the first end and secures it into place. Continue wrapping, working your way down the stalk until you reach the other end of the bacon.