From-scratch Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Asparagus

Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Asparagus makes a great appetizer or well-balanced side dish. It’s straightforward, ready in under 20 minutes, and great for the whole family.

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Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Asparagus Recipe

When you’re throwing a dinner party or cookout, it’s tempting to want to impress all your guests with your menu. But you also don’t want to overdo it and stress yourself out.

What if you could do both? This bacon wrapped asparagus in the air fryer is a dream. Crispy bacon is folded around soft asparagus for a satisfying side dish.

This air fryer recipe is straightforward, quick and so impressive. You could serve it as an appetizer or side dish.

No one will guess you made it in the air fryer! They feel fancy but are short-list, kind of like these Spinach Puffs. Let us show you how to cook this straightforward bacon asparagus appetizer!

Why you will come back to this air fryer asparagus recipe

This straightforward asparagus bacon appetizer is ready in a snap. You will come back to it, because…

• It’s super quick, with not too much hands-on time. It’s ready in less than 20 minutes!
• These appetizers are so straightforward to cook. No cooking skills are needed!
• You can serve it as an straightforward side dish or an appetizer.
• Everyone loves bacon-wrapped anything!

Ingredients

The full instructions and ingredient measurements are available on the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Here’s what you’ll need to grab at the store to make this recipe:

• Fresh asparagus spears – You’ll need about 21, trimmed of their woody ends and washed. This works with broccolini as well. Here’s a tutorial on How to choose asparagus At the store.
• Avocado or olive oil – Any light, neutral-tasting oil works here, but these are our favorite.
• Coarse kosher or sea salt – Be careful when adding the salt, as the bacon will be salty as well.
• Black pepper – Freshly cracked is so good, but whatever you have will work.
• Garlic powder – Substitute with your favorite seasoning if you like. You can also use garlic salt rather than the garlic powder and salt.
• Uncooked bacon strips – Any uncooked bacon will work, except thick cut bacon will be too thick. It won’t cook in time and the asparagus will burn if you try to cook it longer. Thin cut bacon will be crispy as well. You could even substitute turkey bacon if you prefer.

If you want a sweeter version, you can brush the bundles with maple syrup before cooking.

Sprinkle with parmesan for an extra salty, umami kick.

If you like sweet heat, sprinkle brown sugar and red pepper flakes over top. You could also brush them with hot honey.

How to cook Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Asparagus

Putting together this recipe is so plain! A few straightforward steps to make this tasty side dish for your favorite bacon lover!

1. Start by washing your stalks of asparagus and snapping or cutting off the tough ends.
2. Place the asparagus in a mixing bowl and add the avocado oil.
3. With tongs or your hands, toss the asparagus around to fully coat them on all sides.
4. Sprinkle on the salt, pepper and garlic powder. Toss them again to make sure everything is evenly distributed.
5. Grab 3 asparagus and hold them together in a bundle. Take a piece of bacon and wrap it around the bundle, slightly overlapping. Take a second slice of bacon and repeat the process and set it aside.
6. Repeat this process for the remaining asparagus and bacon.
7. Place bundles in the air fryer in a single layer, seam side down.
8. Cook them at 360°F for 10-12 minutes. The cook time will vary a little based on the thickness of your bacon and asparagus. You are looking for the asparagus to be fork-soft, bright green and with light browning or char on the tips.
9. Remove them from the air fryer basket and serve!

For an appetizer, people can pick them up and eat them as finger food. For a side dish, be sure to serve with a knife and fork.

Tips & Tricks

Here are some tips for success when making this recipe:

• Arrange them in single layer in air fryer. They can stick together.
• Place the seam side down so the bacon doesn’t unravel as it cooks.
• Don’t overcrowd the air fryer. It’s important that the hot air has room to move around all the pieces. It’s better to work in two batches if you need to.
• Be careful which bacon you choose. Thinner bacon will become crispy but thick cut will still be soggy.
• The cooking time may vary slightly depending on the thickness of both your asparagus and your bacon.
• You can add onion powder and cayenne pepper for even more flavor.
• Sprinkle them with a little shredded parmesan cheese while they’re hot for an extra salty kick.

Products to make air fryer bacon wrapped asparagus

Air fryer

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Mixing bowls – stainless steel

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Measuring spoons

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How to store air fryer bacon-wrapped asparagus

We don’t recommend storing these, because they will lose their texture.

However, they can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.

Reheat for a few minutes in a preheated air fryer for a house favorite, crispiest results.

Make ahead instructions

You can assemble the bundles in advance (1 day max). Store them in the refrigerator in an airtight container until you’re ready to make them.

Then pop them in the air fryer for 10-12 minutes and continue the recipe.

Baked Bacon Wrapped Asparagus

Don’t have an air fryer, or is it occupied by something else? (Say, Twice-baked potatoes?) You’re not out of luck!

You can cook them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Preheat the oven to 400°F and cook the bacon-wrapped asparagus bundles for 30 minutes.

FAQ

Prep 10 minutesCook 10 minutesMakes 7

Ingredients

• 21 stalks asparagus trimmed and washed
• 2 tablespoons avocado or olive oil
• 1/2 teaspoon coarse kosher or sea salt, careful with the salt – the bacon will add salt as well
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 14 slices uncooked bacon not thick-cut

Method

1. Place the asparagus in a mixing bowl and add the avocado oil.
2. Toss the asparagus around to fully coat them on all sides.
3. Add the garlic, salt, and pepper powder and give them another toss to make sure it’s evenly distributed.
4. Grab 3 asparagus and hold them together in a bundle. Take a piece of bacon and wrap it around the bundle slightly overlapping. Take a second slice of bacon and repeat the process and set it aside.
5. Repeat this process for the remaining asparagus and bacon.
6. Place the bundles in the air fryer in a single layer, seam side down.
7. Cook them at 360°F for 10-12 minutes.
8. Remove them from the air fryer basket and serve!

Notes

• Don’t overcrowd the air fryer .
• Thinner bacon will become crispy – thick cut will still be soggy single layer in air fryer seam side down the cooking time may vary slightly depending on the thickness of both your asparagus and your bacon.