Air fryer bacon-wrapped asparagus
If you are looking for a quick win in the kitchen, this recipe for air fryer bacon-wrapped asparagus has you covered. The air fryer takes care of both crisping the bacon and keeping the asparagus tender for maximum flavour with minimum effort. Perfect as an easy, tasty starter, side, or even snack straight from the basket.
Ingredients
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24
Green asparagus spears (about 400 g)
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8
Bacon slices
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Tops of spring onions, finely sliced
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Herbs, coarsely chopped, for example, dill, chives, and parsley
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Instructions
Recipe tips
It’s often the small details that make the biggest impact in the kitchen, so we’re sharing the tips we rely on when cooking and creating recipes
When buying asparagus, look for firm spears with tightly closed tips and a bright green colour. The ends should be moist, not dry or woody. If the stalks bend easily instead of snapping, they are past their prime. Use spears of medium thickness. If they are too thin, they may overcook before the bacon crisps; if they are too thick, they can stay tough, meaning you may lose their desired tenderness.
Rinse the spears under cold water and pat them dry. Trim about 1–2 cm from the base, where the stalks turn pale and woody. You can snap the ends off, but cutting or lightly peeling them keeps the spears even in length, reduces waste, and makes sure they cook evenly in the air fryer.
Turkey bacon is a great alternative to bacon made from pork and cooks well with the asparagus. However, since turkey bacon has less fat, it might crisp up differently. Keep an eye on the cooking time to avoid drying it out. Cook at the same temperature of 200 °C and check the asparagus bundles after about 4–5 minutes on each side.
You can prepare bacon-wrapped asparagus up to 24 hours in advance. Trim the spears, wrap them in bacon, and store the uncooked bundles in an airtight container or tightly wrapped in plastic wrap. Keep them in the fridge until needed, then cook them in your preheated air fryer, adding a minute or two if necessary for the bacon to crisp up and the asparagus to cook through.
FAQ: Questions about air fryer bacon-wrapped asparagus
Before you get cooking, let us answer a few common questions about making bacon-wrapped asparagus in the air fryer.
Do I need to preheat the air fryer?
Yes, you need to preheat the air fryer to 200 °C for the bacon-wrapped asparagus. Run it empty for 3–5 minutes before adding the bundles. This helps the bacon and asparagus bundles cook more evenly and become crispier. You can skip this step, but the bacon may turn out less crispy and the asparagus may cook unevenly.
How do I keep the bacon from slipping off the asparagus?
You can keep the bacon from slipping off the asparagus by wrapping each slice of bacon tightly around three asparagus spears. Start at the base and spiral upwards, slightly overlapping for a secure hold as the bacon cooks. Always place the bundles seam-side down in the air fryer to keep them together. Avoid stretching the bacon too much to prevent it from shrinking, and make sure the bundle size allows the bacon to grip well. Alternatively, use toothpicks to hold the bacon in place.
How long does it take to cook bacon-wrapped asparagus in the air fryer?
Cooking bacon-wrapped asparagus in the air fryer takes about 20–25 minutes. Place four bundles in the air fryer and cook each side for about 5 minutes at 200 °C, which adds up to roughly 10 minutes per batch. Repeat this for any remaining bundles. If necessary, reheat the first batch for an extra minute before serving to keep them warm and crispy. Should your asparagus stalks or bacon be thicker, you may need to adjust the cooking time to get the perfect crispiness.
How do I know when the air fryer bacon-wrapped asparagus is done?
You know the air fryer bacon-wrapped asparagus is done when the spears pierce easily with a fork or knife but still have a slight snap. Make sure the bacon is golden brown and crisp. If the bacon is pale or rubbery, continue to cook it briefly until it crisps. The bacon should also cling tightly around the asparagus, showing that it has rendered enough fat to hold the bundle together.
Nutritional values
Nutritional value, per
577 Kcal
| Fibre | - | 12 gram fibers |
| Protein | 20 | 28.4 gram |
| Fat | 73.9 | 48.2 gram |
| Carbohydrates | 6.1 | 8.6 gram |
Recommended information
Serving suggestion
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Try easy bacon-wrapped asparagus in the air fryer
When you need something fast but impressive, this air fryer bacon-wrapped asparagus recipe is the answer. The crunch from fresh asparagus covered in smoky, crispy bacon is a combination that never fails. And because of the air fryer, there is no need to mess around with trays or the oven; the bundles cook up in minutes and come out perfectly crisp every time.
The hot air circulates evenly around the bundles, crisping the bacon while keeping the asparagus tender. With just a few ingredients, you have something that looks fancy but is fail-safe to make. Try them once, and you will want to put these on the table way more often than you think.
Served with white cheese, spring onions, and fresh herbs
These bacon-wrapped bundles taste great on their own, but a few little extras can take them to new heights. Crumbled white cheese adds a creamy, tangy finish, while sliced spring onions and a sprinkle of fresh herbs give them colour and freshness. While not a must, they do make it look and taste like more of a light meal instead of just a side. Plus, it is a really easy way to make your plate look more impressive.
The cheese and herbs also add a nice balance to the smoky bacon. You can switch things up depending on what you have on hand, or swap the herbs for whatever is fresh in your fridge. It will make the bundles feel new each time you serve them.
Enjoy with other delicious sides
Air fryer bacon-wrapped asparagus works well with everyday favourites. Try them alongside air fryer jacket potatoes or air-fried smashed potatoes if you want an all-crispy combo. They are also delicious alongside pan-fried salmon and air fryer chicken drumsticks.
If you are planning something a bit more impressive, bacon-wrapped asparagus can hold its own with richer dishes. They pair beautifully with beef Wellington, creamy mushroom risotto, or roast lamb with garlic and rosemary. Add a side of homemade focaccia or a layered vegetable gratin, and you are ready to welcome your dinner guests.
But these bundles are not just for dinner; they work just as well at brunch or lunch. Serve them with poached eggs on toast, a spinach and cheese quiche, or roasted cherry tomatoes. They are also great next to smoked salmon and cream cheese bagels or a fresh couscous salad.
Experiment with the recipe
Once you have tried our air fryer bacon-wrapped asparagus, you can play around with a few extras. A light sprinkle of garlic powder makes the bundles taste even more savoury, while smoked paprika adds a mild warmth. For those who like spice, a pinch of chilli flakes does the trick.
If you have a sweet palate, rub the bacon with a little brown sugar before cooking. It caramelises in the air fryer and gives the bundles a sticky, smoky finish. You can also tuck a sliver of Parmesan or a drizzle of balsamic glaze over the top just before serving. These small tweaks do not take much effort but let you switch things up.
