Air Fryer Bacon-Wrapped Asparagus combines fresh, tender asparagus with crispy bacon and a hint of sweet brown sugar for a dish that is truly unforgettable! Serve bacon-wrapped asparagus as an easy side dish or appetizer, or even as a part of brunch. It's ready in just 20 minutes and 5 simple steps using readily available ingredients!
Jump to:
Bacon Wrapped Asparagus in the Air Fryer
What could be better than crispy bacon wrapped around asparagus? Our bacon-wrapped asparagus air fryer recipe combines savory bacon and juicy asparagus with a sprinkle of light brown sugar, for bacon that becomes crispy and caramelized on the outside, while the asparagus remains tender and succulent on the inside.
Asparagus wrapped in bacon is a savory, sweet, and salty combination everyone loves, and the air fryer makes it incredibly simple, with a short prep time and under 20 minutes total time!
Ingredients
- Asparagus spears: Frozen asparagus spears will not work for this recipe. If using frozen asparagus, thaw it first! Opt for asparagus that's not overly thick for the best results.
- Avocado oil: Light olive oil may also be used. We prefer avocado oil for this recipe, as it has a higher smoke point and it is loaded with 'healthy fat'. Learn more: Air Fryer Oils
- Kosher salt: Kosher salt is always preferable in cooking. It adds better flavor than table salt. We recommend it when possible!
- Freshly ground black pepper: You can use pre-ground black pepper, but freshly ground adds better flavor to the asparagus.
- Bacon: We're using regular-cut bacon. If using thick asparagus spears, also use thick cut bacon.
- Light brown sugar: Brown sugar adds a touch of sweetness that complements asparagus and bacon very well. Use light brown sugar for less of a molasses taste than dark brown sugar.
Watch the Video
How to Air Fry Bacon Wrapped Asparagus
Step 1 - Prep Spears: Begin by preparing the asparagus spears. Rinse them, pat them dry, and trim off any tough ends.
Step 2 - Season: In a bowl, toss the trimmed asparagus spears with your choice of oil, kosher salt, and freshly ground black pepper. Ensure they are evenly coated.
Step 3 - Bundle: Next, separate the asparagus stalks into individual bundles. Take a strip of bacon and wrap it around each bundle. Sprinkle a touch of light brown sugar over each slice of bacon.
Step 4 - Arrange in Air Fryer: Place the asparagus bunches in a single layer within your air fryer basket. Make sure none of the bundles overlap, and leave a bit of space between each one so the air can circulate properly.
Step 5 - Air Fry: Cook bacon wrapped asparagus at 350°F for 10-12 minutes, or until the bacon reaches your desired level of crispiness. If needed, air fry bacon wrapped asparagus in batches to ensure even cooking. Never overcrowd your air fryer.
Using a Toaster Oven Style Air Fryer Oven
If you have an air fryer model with a tray, follow these instructions:
- Rinse, dry, and trim your asparagus spears.
- Toss the trimmed asparagus with oil, salt, and pepper, so all spears are well-coated.
- Separate the asparagus into individual bundles. Take a strip of bacon and wrap it around each bundle. Sprinkle the bacon with brown sugar.
- Preheat your air fryer oven to 350°F on the air fryer setting.
- Once preheated, place the asparagus bundles in a single layer on the air fryer tray. Set the tray on the middle oven rack.
- Air fry bacon wrapped asparagus at 350°F for 12-15 minutes or until the bacon is crisp to your liking. Cook in batches as needed; do not overcrowd your air fryer.
Tips
- Make sure there is space in the air fryer basket to ensure proper air circulation. Leave space between each bundle and do not overlap any bundles.
- How to trim asparagus: Snap off the woody ends by gently bending the stalks a few inches from the stem end. The asparagus will naturally snap at the proper place. Discard the woody stems.
- Ensure that most of the asparagus is wrapped in bacon, leaving only the ends exposed for balanced flavor and even cooking.
- If you use thinner bacon, keep in mind it will cook faster, so you’ll want to use thinner asparagus spears and reduce the cook time.
- Cooking times may vary by air fryer brand, so use the provided time and temperature as a reference and adjust as needed.
- If cooking in multiple batches, be sure to check on the remaining batches early, as they may cook more quickly.
FAQ
While traditional bacon works well for this asparagus recipe, you can experiment with turkey bacon or even vegan bacon for different flavor profiles.
Hosting a party or gathering? You can assemble the bacon-wrapped asparagus bundles ahead of time and air fry them just before serving to ensure maximum freshness and crispiness.
You can use dark brown sugar, but keep in mind that it has a higher molasses content, so the taste will differ slightly from light brown sugar. For substitutions, if you don't have any brown sugar on hand, you can lightly brush the bacon with maple syrup for similar results.
For variations on this recipe, try adding a sprinkle of parmesan cheese, or change up the seasonings as you prefer. A mix of garlic powder or onion powder, paprika, salt, and red pepper flakes makes a sweet and spicy bacon wrapped asparagus you may love.
Storing Leftovers
- Storage: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator. They can be refrigerated for up to two days.
- Reheating: When you're ready to enjoy the leftovers, pop them back into the air fryer for a few minutes to restore their crispiness and flavor.
What to Serve With Bacon Wrapped Asparagus
- Eggs Benedict: For a brunch everyone will go wild for, serve your bacon-wrapped asparagus alongside Eggs Benedict. The creamy hollandaise sauce complements the savory bacon and asparagus wonderfully. Or, serve it with Air Fryer Scrambled Eggs.
- Crispy Shrimp Tacos: Air Fryer Shrimp Tacos are easy to make, and are incredibly delicious combined with asparagus and bacon. Give it a try!
- Chicken Breasts: Try serving this dish with our Air Fryer Thin Chicken Breasts recipe! Crispy chicken makes a delectable pairing with bacon and asparagus.
- Roasted Fish: The flavors of this dish pair beautifully with fish. For the best combo, try our Air Fryer Mahi Mahi!
Try our Air Fryer Bacon and Air Fryer Asparagus recipes next, if you want to serve them separately!
If you enjoyed this easy air fryer recipe, please leave a comment and a rating below to let us know! And if you have any questions, ask away. We love to help!
Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Asparagus
Ingredients
- 1 pound asparagus spears about 16 spears
- 1 Tablespoon oil such as avocado oil or olive oil
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 8 strips bacon
- 1 Tablespoon light brown sugar
Instructions
How to Air Fry Bacon Wrapped Asparagus
- Begin by preparing the asparagus spears. Rinse them, pat them dry, and trim off any tough ends.1 pound asparagus spears
- In a bowl, toss the trimmed asparagus spears with your choice of oil, kosher salt, and freshly ground black pepper. Ensure they are evenly coated.1 Tablespoon oil, ½ teaspoon kosher salt, ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- Next, separate the asparagus stalks into individual bundles. Take a strip of bacon and wrap it around each bundle. Sprinkle a touch of light brown sugar over each slice of bacon.8 strips bacon, 1 Tablespoon light brown sugar
- Place the asparagus bunches in a single layer within your air fryer basket. Make sure none of the bundles overlap, and leave a bit of space between each one so the air can circulate properly.
- Cook bacon wrapped asparagus at 350°F for 10-12 minutes, or until the bacon reaches your desired level of crispiness. If needed, air fry bacon wrapped asparagus in batches to ensure even cooking. Never overcrowd your air fryer.
Using a Countertop Air Fryer Oven
- If you have an air fryer model with a tray, follow these instructions:
- Rinse, dry, and trim your asparagus spears.
- Toss the trimmed asparagus with oil, salt, and pepper, so all spears are well-coated.
- Separate the asparagus into individual bundles. Take a strip of bacon and wrap it around each bundle. Sprinkle the bacon with brown sugar.
- Preheat your air fryer oven to 350°F on the air fryer setting.
- Once preheated, place the asparagus bundles in a single layer on the air fryer tray. Set the tray on the middle oven rack.
- Air fry bacon wrapped asparagus at 350°F for 12-15 minutes or until the bacon is crisp to your liking. Cook in batches as needed; do not overcrowd your air fryer.
Notes
- Leave space in the air fryer for proper circulation. Avoid overlapping bundles.
- Choose moderately thick asparagus for best results.
- Use thick-cut bacon with thick asparagus spears.
- Thaw frozen asparagus before using; frozen spears won't work.
- Trim asparagus by snapping off woody ends a few inches from the stem. Discard woody parts.
- Wrap most of the asparagus in bacon, leaving ends exposed for even cooking and flavor.
- Thinner bacon cooks faster, so if you use it, also use thinner asparagus and reduce cook time.
- Cooking times may vary by air fryer brand, so use the provided time and temp as a reference; adjust as needed.
- If cooking in batches, check remaining batches early; they may cook faster.
Comments
No Comments