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With crispy bacon and a sweet glaze, this oven baked asparagus is heavenly!

Bacon wrapped asparagus is the perfect side dish for special occasions. Brush with a sweet brown sugar glaze before baking for caramelized deliciousness!

This elegant asparagus certainly pairs well with an Easter ham, Thanksgiving turkey, or even a nice grilled steak. But please, don’t think you have to wait until a special occasion.

Bacon wrapped asparagus bundles make a delicious appetizer or side dish any time of year!

Looking for more ways to enjoy asparagus this spring? You may enjoy snacking on my air fryer asparagus fries dipped in a lemony garlic aioli. Or, try this perfectly roasted asparagus with browned butter. YUM!

Key ingredients & substitutions for Bacon Wrapped Asparagus

  • Asparagus — I like to use medium size asparagus stalks and wrap them in bundles of five, however larger stalks also work if you wrap them in bundles of three.
  • Bacon — As a general rule, thinner bacon works best for this recipe. If using thicker cut bacon, cook the bacon until it begins to become transparent before wrapping the bundles.
  • Brown sugar and soy sauce — Bring to a boil with a pat of butter to make a delicious sticky glaze. To make this recipe keto-friendly substituting Truvia brown sugar blend will result in less carbs.

How to make oven bacon wrapped asparagus?

STEP 1 : Prep the asparagus

Rinse asparagus spears under cool water to remove any grit and remove the tough ends.

Dry the asparagus by rolling the stalks between paper towels or kitchen towels. Divide the asparagus into bundles of 3 to 5, depending on the thickness of the stalks.

asparagus wrapped in raw bacon in a baking dish

STEP 2 | Wrap in bacon

Wrap a piece of thin-sliced bacon around each bundle of asparagus. Secure bacon slices by threading a toothpick through the bacon. This will make it easier to remove once the bacon has cooked.

Remember, if you use thick-cut bacon it will need to be partially cooked first. Otherwise, the asparagus will get overdone before the bacon gets crisp.

tip

  • Cook bacon without splatter! Preheat the oven to 400 degrees and line a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil. Place the bacon strips on the baking sheet an inch apart and cook until crispy, about 18 – 20 minutes. To partially cook thick cut bacon for these bundles, check at 7 – 8 minutes.

pouring brown sugar soy sauce over bacon wrapped asparagus in a baking dish

STEP 3 | Make the glaze

In a small saucepan over medium high heat, bring the brown sugar, butter, soy sauce, and garlic powder to a boil. Pour the mixture mostly over the bacon pieces in the casserole dish.

STEP 4 | Bake

After the asparagus bundles bake for 20 minutes, turn on the broiler and watch carefully until the bacon is nice and crispy. Before serving, remember to remove the toothpicks.

bacon wrapped asparagus bundles in a white baking dish

Serving suggestions

Serve bacon wrapped asparagus with a few other fancy appetizers (like pan seared scallops with lemon butter and roasted red pepper and artichoke tapenade) for a fun and tasty tapas meal!

Frequently asked questions

How do you trim asparagus?

Hold the asparagus by the tip in one hand and the end in the other hand. Bend gently and the spear will naturally snap off the tougher end leaving the tenderest part of the stalk.

Can you bacon wrapped asparagus be made ahead of time?

This dish is best served immediately after cooking, however you can prep and wrap the asparagus bundles ahead of time and store in the refrigerator. Then, just before serving cover with the glaze and bake.

Can you freeze bacon wrapped asparagus?

I think you could certainly freeze the uncooked bundles without the sauce provided you blanch the asparagus first.

Bacon Wrapped Asparagus

Behind the recipe: Bacon Wrapped Asparagus Bundles

This Bacon Wrapped Asparagus Recipe was adapted from one featured by Trisha Yearwood on her Food Network show where she does her own cooking for family and friends.

After watching her show, I started searching for her original recipe when I landed on her Facebook page.  Did you know she does a live video feed Saturday morning called coffee talk in her pjs and without makeup. Go, Trisha!

bacon wrapped asparagus bundles in a white baking dish

Bacon Wrapped Asparagus Bundles

With crispy bacon and a sweet glaze, this oven baked asparagus is heavenly!
4.32 from 147 votes
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Course Vegetables & Sides
Cuisine American
Servings 6 servings
Calories 135 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 1 lb. fresh asparagus ends trimmed
  • 5-6 slices bacon
  • ¼ cup light brown sugar
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 1 ½ teaspoons soy sauce
  • ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
  • freshly ground pepper

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Divide asparagus into five or six bundles, depending on the size of your asparagus, and carefully wrap a piece of bacon around each and secure with a toothpick. Place the bundles in a casserole dish, toothpick side down.
  • Combine the brown sugar, soy sauce, butter, and garlic powder in a small sauce pan. Bring to a boil over medium high heat. Remove from the stove and season with freshly ground black pepper.
  • Pour the glaze over the asparagus bundles, being sure to completely coat the bacon.
  • Bake for 20 minutes, then increase the heat to broil and bake for another 5 to 6 minutes, watching carefully and turning often, until the bacon is crisp.
  • Remove the toothpicks and serve immediately.

Video

Notes

Recipe adapted from Home Cooking with Trisha Yearwood
  • This dish is best served immediately after cooking, however you can prep and wrap the asparagus bundles ahead of time and store in the refrigerator. Then, just before serving cover with the glaze and bake.

Nutrition

Serving: 1gCalories: 135kcalCarbohydrates: 11gProtein: 6gFat: 8gSaturated Fat: 4gPolyunsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 22mgSodium: 310mgFiber: 2gSugar: 8g

Life Love and Good Food does not claim to be a registered dietician or nutritionist. Nutritional information shared on this site is only an estimate. We recommend running the ingredients through an online nutritional calculator if you need to verify any information.

Keyword asparagus, bacon, side dish, vegetabke
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was.
Sheila Thigpen, blogger

About Sheila Thigpen

Recipe Developer, Food Photographer, Food Writer

Sheila Thigpen is the publisher of Life, Love, and Good Food — a Southern food blog — and the author of Easy Chicken Cookbook and The 5-Ingredient Fresh and Easy Cookbook. After 20+ years in the publishing industry, she retired in 2018 to focus on her own creative endeavors full time. She and her husband live near the beautiful Smoky Mountains and have a precious little granddaughter who has stolen their hearts. As an influencer, Sheila has collaborated with brands like Creamette, Kroger, HERSHEY’S, Hamilton Beach, Garafalo Pasta, OXO, Smithfield, Valley Fig Growers, and more.

20 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    Absolutely the BEST way we’ve ever had asparagus……and we make them a lot! I used maple bacon but followed the recipe exact.

  2. 5 stars
    Made this for my coworkers and they loved it! Followed the recipe as written, only difference was that I used maple bacon and it made it umm umm good!

    1. Michelle, I would not try this recipe on the grill because the sauce needs to be contained in a baking dish.

  3. 5 stars
    Love this recipe!! I half cooked the bacon before I wrapped the asparagus to ensure crisp bacon but followed the rest of the recipe as written and it was PERFECT! No veggie leftovers this time!

  4. 5 stars
    Love Love this recipe!! I did half cook the bacon before wrapping it but did everything else as the recipe calls for and it was PERFECT! no left over veggies at all!

  5. This looks great. I could substitute the soy sauce for a gluten free version and the brown sugar for a substitute and make this keto friendly and gluten free. Thanks for sharing!

  6. I seriously think there is no better way to enjoy asparagus than with bacon wrapped around it. Delish!

  7. I pretty much love any asparagus dish, but you definitely had my attention with the “bacon wrapped” here! 😉

  8. I love this recipe for entertaining, but also for weeknight dinners! My family loves asparagus and bacon!

  9. Such a great appetizer. I would eat the entire batch all by myself. Bacon and asparagus? Yes please!

    1. 5 stars
      This is a great recipe! I baked it in the oven at 400 for 20 minutes as the recipe stated with the boiled mixture on top. Then I put them on the grill for about 5 minutes turning to crisp the bacon on all sides. I poured a little of the mixture on top. The asparagus was perfectly done and the bacon was wonderful. We loved this recipe!!!

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