Crispy Beef Bacon Asparagus (Printable)
Tender asparagus wrapped in smoky beef bacon, oven-roasted until crisp for a flavorful start or side.
# What You Need:
→ Vegetables
01 - 24 medium asparagus spears, woody ends trimmed
→ Meats
02 - 8 slices uncooked beef bacon
→ Seasonings & Oils
03 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
04 - 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
05 - 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
06 - 1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika, optional
→ Garnish (optional)
07 - 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
08 - Lemon wedges, for serving
# Directions:
01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or foil and place a wire rack atop if available.
02 - Divide asparagus into 8 bundles, each containing 3 spears.
03 - Drizzle asparagus with olive oil and toss to coat. Evenly sprinkle with black pepper, garlic powder, and smoked paprika if using.
04 - Wrap each bundle tightly with one slice of beef bacon, starting just below the tips and spiraling downward to secure. Position bundles seam-side down on the prepared rack or baking sheet.
05 - Roast bundles for 18 to 20 minutes, until beef bacon is crisp and asparagus is tender.
06 - Transfer bundles to a serving platter. Garnish with chopped parsley and serve with lemon wedges if desired.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The bacon gets impossibly crispy while the asparagus stays tender, creating this perfect contrast that somehow feels fancy without any fuss.
- It's naturally gluten-free and low-carb, so you can serve it to friends with dietary restrictions without making them feel like afterthoughts.
- Somehow these bundles work as an elegant appetizer, a brunch side, or even a light dinner that feels more indulgent than it actually is.
02 -
- Don't skip the wire rack or at least elevate your bundles somehow—bacon sitting directly on a sheet will steam instead of crisp, which defeats the whole purpose.
- Underestimating roasting time is the only real way to mess this up; those 18–20 minutes matter, and checking at 15 minutes just tells you it's not ready yet.
03 -
- Buy whole asparagus bunches and trim them yourself instead of pre-trimmed; you get better texture and can save the woody bits for stock if you're feeling resourceful.
- Room temperature asparagus wraps more easily than cold, so pull it from the fridge about 10 minutes before you start assembling if you're dealing with a large batch.