Enjoy an easy, flavor-packed side dish with this Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Asparagus recipe. Fresh asparagus is seasoned, wrapped in bacon, and air-fried to crispy perfection in just minutes.
More ways to enjoy asparagus include our creamy asparagus soup and asparagus and tomato cheese melt!
Easy Bacon Wrapped Asparagus Recipe
These Bacon Wrapped Asparagus looks like something you’d find as a side at a nice restaurant but they’re so easy to make at home. All you’ll need is 4 ingredients – asparagus, bacon, garlic seasoning, and brown sugar. Season the bacon, wrap the asparagus, and pop it in the air fryer. That’s literally all it takes!
This recipe was inspired by my other air fryer asparagus recipe, which I love and make frequently. I just wanted to add a little something extra and bacon definitely took it up a notch – the combination of the crunchy but tender asparagus and crispy bacon is perfection.
Ingredients Needed
This bacon asparagus recipe is made with just 4 easy ingredients.
(Scroll below to the printable recipe card for measurements and details.)
- Asparagus – I prefer thicker asparagus spears because they are less likely to overcook while the bacon gets crispy. You do need to use fresh asparagus spears, pickled or frozen spears will not work in this recipe.
- Brown sugar – I used dark brown sugar but light brown sugar works fine too.
- Garlic and herb seasoning – I use Dash brand garlic and herb seasoning. You can use any brand but be sure to use an unsalted seasoning as the bacon is plenty salty and extra salt is unnecessary.
- Bacon – I used regular cut, hickory smoked bacon. Avoid thick sliced bacon since it may not crisp up before the asparagus cooks. If you want to use a maple bacon I recommend omitting the brown sugar in this recipe.
Tips for Trimming Asparagus
How do I know where to trim the asparagus? is a common question and the answer is pretty easy.
Asparagus spears typically have a thicker, woody bottom and the rest is more tender and edible. The woody part of the asparagus has a slightly darker green color and a more fibrous texture. The edible part is thinner, has a lighter green color, and is more tender and juicy.
My preferred method to trim the asparagus is to hold each spear at both ends and gently bend it until it snaps. The tough, woody part will snap off and the tender, edible part can be used in the recipe.
Alternatively, you can use a knife and cutting board to cut off the tough end. Or, if you just want things to look uniform, use a knife to make a clean cut after snapping off the end.
How to Cook Bacon Wrapped Asparagus In The Air Fryer
This easy asparagus recipe requires just a few minutes of prep and less than 10 minutes in the air fryer.
(Don’t miss the detailed printable recipe card and video below.)
- Prepare the asparagus. Wash and dry the asparagus, then remove the tough ends as noted above.
- Season the bacon. Combine the brown sugar and garlic seasoning in a bowl. Lay the bacon flat on a piece of parchment paper, then sprinkle the mixture all over it.
- Wrap the asparagus. Wrap the spiced bacon around the asparagus – two stalks together per piece of bacon. Sprinkle more brown sugar seasoning on top.
- Cook. Cook a few bunches of bacon wrapped asparagus at a time in a single layer in the air fryer at 400F for 6 to 8 minutes, until the bacon is crispy. Flip halfway through.
- Enjoy. Place on a plate with a paper towel to remove excess grease while you cook the remaining stalks. Enjoy hot.
How Do I Know When The Asparagus Is Fully Cooked?
The asparagus is cooked when it is tender but still crisp and not mushy. You can check by gently piercing the thickest part of the asparagus spear with a fork or knife. If it slides in easily, the asparagus is cooked.
You can also look for the color to change from bright green to a more muted green, indicating that it is cooked through. Because the asparagus is wrapped in bacon it can be more difficult to tell visually so I recommend using a fork to check.
Video: Bacon Wrapped Asparagus
What to Serve with Bacon Wrapped Asparagus
One reason I love this bacon wrapped asparagus is that it adds an elevated touch to pretty much any meal. It definitely gives off “fancy restaurant vibes”, even though it’s so easy to make. A few of my favorite things to serve with this bacon asparagus include:
- Garlic Butter Steak & Potatoes
- Chicken Dijon
- Crab Stuffed Salmon
- Chicken Piccata
- Scallops with Pesto Sauce
Proper Storage
- Enjoy fresh. These are best enjoyed fresh. The texture of both the asparagus and the bacon will change once chilled.
- Storing leftovers. While it is best eaten fresh you can store your Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Asparagus in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Freeze. You can also freeze any leftovers in an airtight container or freezer-safe bag for up to 2-3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight before reheating.
- Reheat. Reheat in the air fryer or oven before serving. While you can microwave the leftovers to heat them, it is not recommended as the result will likely be limp and soggy.
More Air Fryer Veggies:
- The best Air Fryer Baked Potato
- Air Fryer Acorn Squash
- Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts
- Easy Air Fryer Zucchini Fries
- Air Fryer Beets
I hope you love this delicious and easy recipe – be sure to give it a review below! Also don’t forget to follow Belly Full on TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and YouTube!
Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Asparagus
Ingredients
- 16 asparagus spears , washed and dried
- 2 & 1/2 teaspoons dark brown sugar (or light)
- 1 & 1/2 teaspoons garlic and herb seasoning
- 8 strips bacon
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Pat the asparagus dry and snap off the end of the spears or trim them with a knife.
- Mix together the dark brown sugar and garlic and herb seasoning until combined in a small mixing bowl.
- Lay the bacon out on a piece of parchment paper and sprinkle the spice mixture all over the bacon. (You won’t need it all, some will be left for the outside.)
- Wrap the asparagus up in the spiced bacon, 2 stalks per piece of bacon.
- Sprinkle more of the seasoning mix on the outside of the asparagus bunches.
- Place only 4-5 bunches of bacon wrapped asparagus in an even layer in the preheated air fryer and cook for 6-8 minutes or until the edges of the bacon are crispy and the asparagus is cooked through, flipping over halfway through.
- Remove from the air fryer and place on a plate covered with a clean paper towel. Serve warm.
This was really good and such an easy side. I added just a pinch of cayenne to the spice mix. Served it with roast chicken. Thanks for the recipe – love my air fryer!