Best Grilled Bacon Wrapped Asparagus

If you ask me, bacon-wrapped anything is a genius move in the kitchen.

This side dish combines two ingredients that were meant to be together – smoky bacon hugging fresh asparagus spears until they’re perfectly grilled. The bacon gets nice and crispy while keeping the asparagus tender inside.

The high heat of the grill brings out the natural sweetness of the asparagus, while the bacon adds that irresistible salty flavor we all know and love. A quick seasoning of black pepper and garlic is all you need to make these taste amazing.

It’s a no-fuss recipe that works great for weeknight dinners or backyard barbecues, and trust me – even veggie skeptics will come back for seconds.

What Kind of Asparagus Should I Use?

For grilling, medium-sized asparagus spears are your best bet – they’re sturdy enough to hold up on the grill without falling through the grates, but not so thick that they’ll take forever to cook. Those pencil-thin spears might look fancy, but they tend to overcook quickly and can get too crispy when wrapped in bacon. When shopping, look for bright green stalks with compact, closed tips and avoid any that look dried out at the ends or have flowering buds. If you can only find thick asparagus, no worries – just peel the bottom third of the stalks with a vegetable peeler to help them cook evenly and consider adding an extra minute or two to your grilling time.

Options for Substitutions

This simple recipe can work with a few smart swaps if needed:

• Asparagus: While asparagus is really the star here, you can use green beans or thick-cut zucchini spears instead. Just keep in mind that cooking times might need to be adjusted – green beans usually need a bit longer, while zucchini cooks faster.
• Bacon: Regular bacon works best, but you can use turkey bacon or prosciutto as alternatives. If using turkey bacon, brush it with a tiny bit of oil since it’s leaner. With prosciutto, reduce the cooking time as it crisps up faster than regular bacon.
• Olive oil: Any neutral cooking oil works here – try avocado oil, vegetable oil, or even melted butter. The main goal is to keep the asparagus from sticking to the grill.
• Grilling method: No grill? No problem! You can make this in an oven at 400°F for about 12-15 minutes, or use a grill pan on your stovetop over medium-high heat.

Watch Out for These Mistakes While Grilling

The biggest challenge when grilling asparagus wrapped in bacon is getting both ingredients cooked perfectly – thick asparagus spears will take too long to cook while thin ones will burn before the bacon crisps up, so stick to medium-sized spears for the best results. A common mistake is placing the wrapped asparagus directly over high heat, which can cause flare-ups from the bacon fat and leave you with charred exterior and raw interior – instead, create a two-zone fire and cook them over indirect heat first, then finish over direct heat to crisp up the bacon. To prevent the bacon from unwrapping during cooking, secure each bundle with a toothpick that’s been soaked in water for 30 minutes, and avoid moving the spears around too much on the grill. For extra flavor and to keep the asparagus from drying out, brush the exposed asparagus tips lightly with olive oil before grilling.

What to Serve With Grilled Bacon Wrapped Asparagus?

This smoky, savory side dish pairs perfectly with grilled meats like chicken breast, steak, or even a nice piece of salmon. Since the asparagus brings such bold flavors with the bacon, I like to keep the main dish simple – just a sprinkle of salt and pepper is all you need. For a complete meal, add a scoop of fluffy rice or roasted potatoes to soak up any extra bacon drippings. If you’re serving this at a barbecue, it also goes great alongside other grilled vegetables like corn on the cob or zucchini, and some crusty bread on the side never hurts!

Storage Instructions

Keep Fresh: Got leftover grilled bacon-wrapped asparagus? Pop them in an airtight container and keep them in the fridge for up to 3 days. The bacon might lose a bit of its crispiness, but the flavors will still be there!

Prep Ahead: You can wrap the asparagus with bacon up to 24 hours before grilling. Just keep them covered in the fridge until you’re ready to cook. This is super handy when you’re planning a barbecue or dinner party.

Warm Up: To enjoy your leftovers, give them a quick zap in the microwave for 30-45 seconds, or better yet, pop them in the air fryer or under the broiler for 2-3 minutes to get that bacon crispy again. Just keep an eye on them so they don’t burn!

Preparation Time	10-15 minutes
Cooking Time	10-16 minutes
Total Time	20-31 minutes
Level of Difficulty	Easy

Estimated Nutrition

Estimated nutrition for the whole recipe (without optional ingredients):

• Calories: 250-300
• Protein: 10-15 g
• Fat: 20-25 g
• Carbohydrates: 10-15 g

Ingredients

• 1 lb medium asparagus (about 20-25 spears)
• 3 thin slices bacon (such as Oscar Mayer, cut in half lengthwise)
• salt to taste
• black pepper to taste
• 1 tbsp olive oil

Step 1: Preheat the Grill

Start by preheating your grill to medium-high heat.

This will ensure that the asparagus bundles cook evenly and the bacon crisps up nicely.

Step 2: Prepare the Asparagus

Place the asparagus spears in a large baking dish.

Drizzle them with olive oil, then season lightly with kosher salt and to taste with pepper.

Use your hands to gently toss the asparagus until each spear is evenly coated with the oil and seasoning.

Step 3: Wrap the Asparagus Bundles

Divide the asparagus spears into six bunches, with each bunch containing 4 to 5 spears.

Wrap each bundle with a half slice of bacon, ensuring to press or tuck the bacon ends under to secure them.

You can also use soaked toothpicks to secure the bacon if needed.

Try to minimize the areas where the bacon overlaps to allow even cooking.

Step 4: Grill the Asparagus Bundles

Place the bacon-wrapped asparagus bundles directly on the hot grill.

Close the grill lid and cook the bundles over direct heat.

Grill each side for 5 to 8 minutes, until the asparagus becomes tender and slightly charred, and the bacon is fully cooked with crispy edges.

Remember to turn the bundles halfway through the cooking time to ensure even grilling.

Step 5: Serve

Once the bacon-wrapped asparagus bundles are cooked to perfection, transfer them to a platter.

Serve them immediately as a delicious and savory side dish at your next gathering.