Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Asparagus

Name: Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Asparagus
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 15 min
Ingredients: 12 asparagus spears; 1 tablespoon oil ((vegetable, canola, avocado etc)); ¼ teaspoon garlic powder; pinch salt and black pepper; 12 strips bacon

Simple and easy to cook in the air fryer, bacon wrapped asparagus is a delicious appetizer or side dish. The asparagus spears are tender, and the bacon crispy.

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Bacon wrapped asparagus in a serving dish.

Last Updated on February 2, 2023 by Betty Davies

Perfect to serve as a tasty side dish or appetizer, bacon wrapped asparagus is so quick and easy to cook in the air fryer. Seasoned tender asparagus spears, wrapped in salty crispy bacon, it’s so simple, but so delicious! This classic recipe is always a crowd pleaser!

Bacon wrapped asparagus spears in a red and white serving dish.

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So simple, but so delicious, bacon wrapped asparagus is always a favorite in our house, and cooking it in the air fryer guarantees perfect results every time.

Asparagus spears are seasoned before being wrapped in bacon strips, then air fried til the stems are tender and the bacon is nice and crispy. Ready to serve in just 15 minutes, this recipe is a no brainer.

If you are looking for an effortless way to make the most of your seasonal asparagus, then look no further!

Be sure to check out my Roasted White Asparagus and Shaved Asparagus Salad too!

Why you will love this recipe!

Quick and easy: Quick to prep and cook, this veggie side dish comes together in minutes, it’s a great addition to a family weeknight dinner.
Simple ingredients: Made with just a handful of easy to source ingredients, you’ll likely have the oil and seasonings to hand already.
Healthier: Because the asparagus is cooked in the air fryer, the bacon fat drips away. When cooked in the oven, the asparagus sits in the bacon fat as it cooks, leaving it greasy.
Dietary info: This air fryer bacon wrapped asparagus recipe is dairy-free, gluten-free and low carb and keto friendly.

Bacon wrapped asparagus piled on top of each other in a serving dish.

Ingredients

Asparagus: This recipe works great with thick stemmed asparagus spears.
Oil: Use a high heat neutral oil, like canola, vegetable or avocado.
Seasonings: Garlic powder, salt and black pepper.
Bacon: Use natural thin bacon strips.

How to air fry bacon wrapped asparagus

Be sure to scroll down for the full recipe!

Toss the asparagus in the oil and seasonings (photo 1).
Wrap each asparagus spear in a strip of bacon (photo 2).
Place the bacon wrapped asparagus in the air fryer basket in a single layer (photo 3).
Cook til the asparagus is tender and the bacon is cooked and crispy (photo 4).

Four step by step photos to show how to make the recipe.

Recipe Variations

I like to use thick stemmed asparagus to make this air fryer recipe, but if you can only find thin spears, don’t fret. You can bundle 3 or 4 stems together and wrap them instead.

I like the savory seasoning on this dish, but if you prefer a sweeter taste, you can mix a little brown sugar with melted butter, and brush that over the bacon before cooking.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you have to blanch asparagus before cooking?

I find that cooking the asparagus in the air fryer doesn’t require blanching the asparagus first. If your spears are particularly woody, then they could benefit from being placed in boiling water for 20 – 30 seconds, then place in a bowl of ice water, before making the recipe.

Can you make this recipe without and air fryer?

You can oven roast the bacon wrapped asparagus if you don’t have an air fryer. Preheat the oven to 425F / 220c, place the asparagus on a foil lined baking sheet and cook for around 15 minutes til tender.

Can you use turkey bacon instead?

For a lower fat option, turkey bacon is a great choice. The recipe will remain the same.

Bacon wrapped asparagus in an air fryer basket.

Serving Suggestions

Air fryer bacon wrapped asparagus is great served as a side dish or appetizer. If served as an appetizer, it’s great alongside a hollandaise sauce for dipping. As a side, it works great with all kinds of mains, chicken, seafood and steaks and all great companions. Try it alongside some of these favorites:

Make Ahead, Storage and Reheating

You can wrap the asparagus in the bacon and keep it covered in the fridge for several hours before cooking.

The asparagus is best enjoyed as soon as it is cooked so that it doesn’t soften. However, leftovers will keep well for a day or two in the fridge and can be reheated in the air fryer at 390F / 200c for a couple of minutes to re-serve.

Recipe Notes and Tips

Snap off the woody ends of the asparagus as these can be tough to eat. Hold the asparagus spear at the thick end and in the middle, and bend it. The tough end will easily snap off.
Don’t be tempted to overcrowd the air fryer basket. The spears should be placed in a single layer and not toughing. This allows the hot air to circulate and your bacon will get nice and crispy.
The first batch can be kept warm in an oven while the second batch is cooking.

Asparagus spears wrapped in crispy bacon.

It really doesn’t get more easy than this delicious air fryer bacon wrapped asparagus recipe. Impressive to serve and so tasty, it’s ready in minutes and is sure to please everyone!

More Side Dishes with Bacon

If you’ve tried this recipe, be sure to leave a star rating and a comment below!