Air Fryer Bacon-Wrapped Asparagus: Quick, Crispy, And Delicious!

Bacon-wrapped asparagus is a versatile dish that can be served as an appetizer, snack, or side dish. It is easy to make and only requires a few simple ingredients. The cooking time will depend on the thickness of the asparagus and bacon, as well as the model of the air fryer, but it typically takes around 10-15 minutes to cook in an air fryer at 360-400 degrees Fahrenheit. The bacon-wrapped asparagus is done when the asparagus is tender and the bacon is crispy and golden.

How to prepare the asparagus

Preparing asparagus for bacon-wrapped asparagus in an air fryer is a simple process. Here is a step-by-step guide:

Wash and Trim the Asparagus:

Start by rinsing the asparagus spears under running water to remove any dirt or impurities. The woody ends of the asparagus are tough and not edible, so they need to be trimmed. You can either snap off the ends by holding the spear between two fingers and bending it, or use a sharp knife to cut them off. Trimming the asparagus helps ensure even cooking and improves the overall texture and taste of the dish.

Season the Asparagus:

After trimming, dry the asparagus with paper towels. Place the spears in a medium bowl and drizzle them with olive oil. Add your preferred seasonings to the bowl. Some popular seasoning options include garlic powder, paprika, salt, pepper, and a pinch of red pepper flakes. You can also add a splash of lemon juice to the bowl and toss the spears to ensure they are evenly coated with the seasoning mixture.

Create Asparagus Bundles:

Separate the seasoned asparagus spears into individual bundles. The number of spears in each bundle can vary, but typically 5-7 spears per bundle is common. You can also cut the spears in half and then bundle them together if you prefer smaller portions. Once the bundles are created, wrap each bundle with a piece of bacon. Start by placing the bacon at the center of the bundle and wrapping it around, ensuring the edge of the bacon overlaps with each wrap. You can secure the bacon in place by using a toothpick or simply by ensuring the bundle is tight.

Storage and Refrigeration (Optional):

If you are not cooking the bacon-wrapped asparagus right away, you can store them in the refrigerator until ready to cook. Place the uncooked bundles in an airtight container and store for up to a day ahead of time. This step is especially useful if you are preparing them as part of a meal-prep or if you want to assemble them in advance before serving.

These steps will help you prepare the asparagus for bacon-wrapped asparagus in an air fryer. Once you have completed these steps, you can move on to cooking the asparagus in the air fryer, following the appropriate temperature and timing guidelines for your desired level of doneness.

How to wrap the asparagus in bacon

Preparing asparagus wrapped in bacon is a simple process. To start, you will need to wash and trim your asparagus spears. You can do this by either snapping the spears at their natural breaking point or using a sharp knife to cut off the thick ends. The ideal asparagus spears are neither too thick nor too thin; very thick spears won't cook enough by the time the bacon is crispy, and very thin spears will char in the air fryer before the bacon is done.

Once you have prepared your asparagus, separate them into bundles of 3-7 spears. The number of spears per bundle will depend on how many you are serving and how you are wrapping the bacon. If you are wrapping the bacon around the centre of the bundle, 5-7 spears is ideal. If you are wrapping the bacon around each spear, 2-3 spears per bundle is better.

Now it's time to wrap the bacon around the asparagus. You can use any type of bacon you like, but thinner slices will hold the asparagus better and result in maximum crispness. If you are wrapping the bacon around the centre of the bundle, grab 5-7 spears and wrap a piece of bacon around the middle. If you are wrapping the bacon around each spear, wrap a piece of bacon around each spear from top to bottom. Avoid stretching or overlapping the bacon, as this can cause it to unravel or become less crispy.

Finally, place the asparagus bundles in your air fryer basket with the ends of the bacon strips facing down to prevent curling. Leave enough space between each bundle to allow proper air circulation. Now your asparagus wrapped in bacon is ready to be cooked!

Cooking time and temperature

The cooking time and temperature for bacon-wrapped asparagus in an air fryer will depend on the thickness of the asparagus spears and the bacon used, as well as the model of the air fryer. It is important to ensure that the air fryer basket is not overcrowded, as this will prevent proper air circulation and affect the cooking time.

For thicker asparagus spears, it is recommended to cook them for 12 minutes at 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Thinner asparagus spears will cook faster, taking about 10 minutes at the same temperature. It is also suggested to par-fry thicker bacon slices before wrapping them around the asparagus to prevent overcooking the asparagus.

Some recipes suggest air frying at 360 degrees Fahrenheit for 10-15 minutes, or until the bacon is cooked to your desired level of crispiness. It is recommended to flip the bacon-wrapped asparagus halfway through the cooking process to ensure even cooking.

The cooking time may vary depending on the model of the air fryer, so it is advisable to keep an eye on the asparagus and bacon as they cook. The asparagus should be tender, and the bacon crispy and golden.

Bacon-wrapped asparagus can also be cooked in the oven, on the stovetop, or grilled, with suggested cooking times of 18-20 minutes for grilling and 20-25 minutes for oven-baking.

How to serve

Bacon-wrapped asparagus is a versatile dish that can be served as an appetizer, snack, or side dish. It pairs well with a variety of mains, including chicken, pork, steak, fish, and other seafood.

When serving as an appetizer, you can wrap individual asparagus spears with bacon, rather than bundling them together. This presentation looks elegant and is easy to eat. Serve with a creamy herb dipping sauce on the side.

For a snack, you could try cutting the asparagus spears in half and spreading cream cheese and a sprinkle of cheddar cheese on the bacon before wrapping and cooking.

As a side dish, bacon-wrapped asparagus is a great addition to a main course, providing an elevated element to the meal. It can be served alongside a variety of proteins, as mentioned above, or other sides such as coconut rice.

Bacon-wrapped asparagus is best served hot and fresh out of the air fryer, as storing it can cause the asparagus to lose its crispness. However, if you do have leftovers, they can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days. To reheat, simply pop them back into the air fryer for a minute or two to re-crisp the bacon.

How to store and reheat

Bacon-wrapped asparagus is best enjoyed fresh out of the air fryer. However, if you have leftovers, you can store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week.

It is not recommended to store cooked bacon-wrapped asparagus as the asparagus will lose its crispness. If you do choose to store leftovers, be aware that reheating may not yield the best results in terms of texture and taste.

To reheat, place the leftovers in the air fryer for one to two minutes to recrisp the bacon. Reheating can also be done in an oven or toaster oven.

Frequently asked questions