When it comes to our favorite grilling options, Grilled Bacon Wrapped Asparagus top the list. Everyone loves these little bundles of lightly charred asparagus wrapped in smoky, juicy bacon. (You'll be amazed at how much flavor the asparagus spears absorb from just a half strip of bacon!)
Serve these as an appetizer, a satisfying side dish, or as the main dish along with a big crunchy salad.
Ingredients you need to make Grilled Bacon Wrapped Asparagus
These are easy to assemble, but you'll want to keep a few things in mind.
- First, mind the thickness of your bacon - you want it to be very thin so it gets those wonderful crispy edges. Otherwise you'll end up with either overcooked asparagus or undercooked bacon.
- Second, you can use toothpicks to secure the bundles. I typically do, but it isn't essential. I look for thin, relatively fatty bacon and wrap it tightly around the bundles of asparagus, tucking or pressing the ends to seal. With a little finesse in flipping, the bacon typically stays in place. But toothpicks definitely help! You should soak them in water for 15 minutes before assembling the bundles so they don't catch on fire. (Though I usually forget to do this and they haven't caught on fire yet. 😂 )
- Third, you should grill these bacon wrapped asparagus bundles with the grill lid closed to cook the bacon evenly without overcooking the asparagus. Important note to those who only like bacon that's shatteringly crisp. You may want to skip this one - though the bacon gets cooked through and crisped at the edges, the center is cooked through, but chewy. Or pre-cook the bacon on the grill as I do with these Grilled Bacon Wrapped Shrimp and Grilled Bacon Wrapped Scallops.
- Fourth, look for bunches of medium width, similarly sized asparagus spears. Ideally, where ½ strip of bacon can make a couple of loops around a bundle of 4 or 5 spears.
- And finally, if it's not grilling season, you can make these Bacon Wrapped Asparagus in the oven instead.
What to do with leftovers.
If you end up with leftovers from this bacon wrapped asparagus recipe, lucky you! (I typically double the recipe to be sure I do.) Refrigerate for up to 2 days.
Chop leftover bundles crosswise into ½ to 1-inch wide pieces and pan fry to crisp bacon and warm asparagus. For scrambled eggs, add thinly sliced green onion, beaten eggs and cheddar, mozzarella, or jack cheese. To make pasta, cook the pasta according to package directions and add directly to the asparagus and bacon mixture. Toss to coat with a glug of olive oil, salt and pepper and a squeeze of fresh lemon juice; top with grated parmesan cheese and serve!
More Grilled Vegetable Favorites
- Grilled Green Beans (If you've never tried these, you must. They're totally addictive.)
- Mexican Corn on the Cob (Everyone loves this street food favorite!)
- Grilled Cauliflower Steaks (The secret is a dab of butter at the end.)
- Grilled Bok Choy (With an irresistible soy ginger garlic sauce!)
How to Make Grilled Bacon Wrapped Asparagus
Step 1: Gently toss asparagus spears with olive oil, salt, and pepper.
Step 2: Divide asparagus into bundles of 4 or 5 spears and wrap each in ½ slice of bacon, securing with a water soaked toothpick if desired.
Step 3: Grill bacon wrapped asparagus bundles over medium-high heat on a hot grill with the lid closed until asparagus is tender and bacon is cooked through and crisp at the edges, 5 to 8 minutes per side. Transfer to platter and serve.
Grilled Bacon Wrapped Asparagus
Equipment
- toothpicks (optional), soaked in cold water for 15 minutes before using
Ingredients
- 1 pound medium asparagus trimmed (recipe note #2), 20-30 spears
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- kosher salt to taste
- freshly ground black pepper to taste
- 3 strips thin bacon cut in half crosswise
Instructions
- Preheat grill to medium-high.
- Place asparagus spears in a large baking dish and drizzle with olive oil. Season lightly with kosher salt and to taste with pepper. With your hands, gently toss to coat evenly.
- Divide asparagus spears into 6 bunches of 4 to 5 spears. Wrap each bundle with ½ slice of bacon, pressing or tucking under ends to secure or securing with soaked toothpicks (optional), taking care to minimize areas where bacon overlaps. (see recipe photos and video)
- Cook bacon wrapped asparagus bundles on hot grill over direct heat with lid closed (recipe note #3). Grill for 5 to 8 minutes per side, until asparagus is tender and lightly charred and bacon is cooked through with crispy edges. Gently turn bundles half way through cooking time to cook evenly. Transfer to platter and serve.
Notes
- If you plan to secure the bacon strips with toothpicks, be sure to soak them in water for 15 minutes. You don't want them to catch on fire!
- To trim asparagus spears, snap off the woody bottom of each spear where it breaks naturally. For tidy spears, slice off the jagged bottoms (optional).
- Having the grill lid closed helps these bundles cook evenly, but keep an eye out and check on them if there seems to be excess smoke. Better to add a couple of minutes to the cooking time then end up with burned asparagus bundles.
How should I cook these in an oven?
Hi Bev! Check out my recipe for Bacon Wrapped Asparagus that's made in the oven.
For the past couple of weeks, I've been getting asparagus every time I shop. Loving it, and will so even more with bacon! Brilliant. 🙂 ~Valentina
Me too, Valentina! I can't get enough asparagus this time of year. 🙂 Thank you for your sweet comment.
Anything with bacon is amazing! I actually have all of these ingredients right now. We were already planning on grilling asparagus, but now I might have to wrap them in bacon, too. Excellent idea, my friend! Hope you have a great grilling weekend ahead. 🙂
Bacon really does add that extra 'something' to just about everything. 😉 Thanks, David! I hope you and your family have a great weekend too!
My Mum makes an asparagus and bacon pasta - so I just know I will love these tasty bites! I could eat so many of these wonderful, flavoursome bundles!
haha...yes, we're with you! I don't want to admit how many... 😉
I LOVE bacon wrapped asparagus, Marissa!! It's one of my favorite appetizers too. Salty, crunchy and just delicious!
Yes! Thank you, Katherine!
I just bought some asparagus without a recipe in mind today Marissa! I'll need to make these this weekend!
Perfect! I hope you and your family love them, Mary Ann!
Leftovers? Lol! Seriously, though, these bacon wrapped asparagus look delicious, Marissa. Such a fabulous side, perfect for entertaining!
Thank you, Dawn!
So few ingredients to pack such a punch of flavor! I need these bundles in my life!!
I agree! 😉 Thank you, Annie!
These look amazingly appetizing and yummy! Well, anything tastes BETTER when involves bacon :-))
haha...true. Thank you, Angie!