Bacon-wrapped asparagus pleases a crowd without a lot of fuss - you only need two ingredients for this super simple gluten free side dish recipe!
Quick Look: Bacon-Wrapped Asparagus
⏲️Ready In: 28 Minutes
🍽Servings: 6
🥗Nutrition: 249 Calories
🥘Main Ingredients: Asparagus, Bacon
📋Dietary Notes: Gluten free, Grain free, Dairy free, Nut free
⭐Why You'll Love It: The simplest of side dishes but with great umami flavor - it's a perfect gluten free Easter or holiday side dish!
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Bacon-wrapped asparagus makes the easiest of side dishes for weeknight dinners or as a gluten free Easter recipe!
This simple gluten free side pairs well with Balsamic Smoked Pork Tenderloin with Chimichurri or Perfect Crispy Skillet Chicken Thighs.
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Bacon-Wrapped Asparagus Recipe Video
Key Ingredients
Asparagus: Like for Roasted Maple Bacon Asparagus, I recommend making this recipe in the Spring, when asparagus is in season! Opt for crisp, fresh asparagus that isn't too thick or too thin; you should be able to "snap" the asparagus without much resistance.
Bacon: If you like crispy bacon, use thin-cut bacon for this recipe. If you prefer non-crispy bacon, thick-cut is the way to go.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
How to make Bacon-Wrapped Asparagus in the Oven
A seasoned cook knows that simple is often king. Great roasted chicken requires less than 5 ingredients (see Spatchcocked Roast Chicken with Potatoes for proof) - sure, you can add extra steps, herbs, and spices to change things up, but you've got to start with something that's delicious at its base!
Step 1: Bundle 3-4 stalks of asparagus together and wrap with a strip of bacon.
Step 2: Add asparagus bundles to a baking sheet, keeping an inch or two of space in between.
Step 3: Roast at 425 degrees F for 12-15 minutes, until bacon is cooked and the tips of the asparagus have started to brown, but not burn.
Top Tips from Chelsea
Thick-cut or thin-cut bacon: Choose thick-cut or thin-cut bacon based on how crispy you'd like the end result to be! Thin cut bacon will obviously crisp up more, while thick-cut bacon will be more floppy. Up to you.
Trim the asparagus: The ends of asparagus are often woody, so make sure you trim them before starting to bundle them with bacon! Cut off the bottom 1-2 inches to remove any woody or pale parts.
Oven Bacon-Wrapped Asparagus FAQs
First off, I'm always going to opt for uncured bacon.
Secondly, choose thinner bacon. Why? It crisps up faster, so the asparagus won't overcook while you're waiting for thick-cut slices to actually cook. Because you don't want soggy bacon on your asparagus, and you don't soggy asparagus encased in bacon jail.
We want a higher heat to cook the asparagus without it becoming soggy or burnt. I like roasting at 425 degrees F, which works well for average-sized asparagus.
If your asparagus stalks are relatively thin, you may want to reduce the oven temperature to 400 degrees F and keep the cook time of 12 minutes.
If you want to add a little more flair to this gluten free side dish, sprinkle with grated parmesan or bleu cheese right after they come out of the oven.
Otherwise, try tossing the asparagus with a little lemon pepper or cajun spice blend before wrapping in bacon and roasting!
Did you try bacon-wrapped asparagus in the oven? I'd love to hear what you think! Please leave a comment and rating or tag me on Instagram - I appreciate your feedback.
Print📖 Recipe
Bacon-Wrapped Asparagus
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 18 minutes
- Total Time: 28 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Roasting
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Gluten Free
Description
You only need 2 ingredients for this simple side dish! Skip the thick-cut bacon and opt for thinner slices here - that allows it to crisp up without overcooking the asparagus.
Ingredients
- ~1 lb asparagus
- ~12 slices bacon (see NOTES)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees. If necessary, trim the butt ends of the asparagus stalks.
- Wrap bacon around bundles of 3 or 4 asparagus stalks, spiraling up the bundles to cover as much of the asparagus as possible. How many stalks you have per bundle will depend on how thick the stalks are and your personal preference. The asparagus pictured were pretty thin, so I used 4 per bundle; in the summer, they tend to be thicker in my region, so I'll only use 3 per bundle.
- Once wrapped, place on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Put in the oven and cook for 12-15 minutes or until bacon is cooked through and the tips of the asparagus stalks are crisped but not burned.
Notes
- What type of bacon to use: I prefer regular or thin-cut bacon as opposed to the thick-cut bacon I typically buy. Thick-cut bacon won't get as crispy for this recipe without overcooking the asparagus.
- Trim the asparagus: Make sure to trim the bottom 1-2 inches off the asparagus to remove any pale or woody ends that don't taste great!
