Easy Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Asparagus

Bacon wrapped asparagus on a black air fryer tray.

Easy Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Asparagus

Air fryer Bacon Wrapped Asparagus makes for the best side dish or appetizer. This quick and easy recipe can be ready in just 20 minutes! Bite sized bacon wrapped asparagus bundles are brushed with a brown sugar glaze and then roasted in the air fryer until crispy. A delicious and unique way to enjoy asparagus!

Course Brunch, Dinner, Lunch

Cuisine American

Keyword Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Asparagus, Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Asparagus Bites

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 10

Total Time 20

Servings

Author Ivory

Equipment

Air Fryer

Ingredients

12 Asparagus Spears (cleaned and dried)
6 slices bacon (cut in half to make 12 pieces)
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 tablespoon butter

Instructions

Air Fryer Instructions:

Prepare the asparagus: Clean and cut the woody stems from the bottom of the asparagus.
Cut each asparagus spear into 3 equal sized pieces. Bundle the 3 pieces together.
Assemble: Lay a strip of bacon flat on a cutting board horizontally. Place an asparagus bundle on the left side of the bacon and tightly roll the bacon around the asparagus. Repeat for the remaining 11 asparagus bundles and bacon.
Make the glaze: In a small microwavable bowl, add the butter, brown sugar, and soy sauce. Microwave for 15-20 seconds until the butter has melted. Give the glaze a good stir.
Brush each asparagus bacon bundle with the glaze.
Preheat the air fryer to 380 Fahrenheit and set the timer for 10 minutes.
Once the air fryer is preheated, carefully add the asparagus bundles to the air fryer, bacon seam side down, and cook for 10 minutes until the bacon is crispy. Be sure to check halfway through.
Remove the asparagus bundles from the air fryer, let cool, then enjoy!

Oven Instructions:

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
While the oven is heating up, prepare the asparagus according to the recipe above.
Add asparagus bundles to a parchment paper lined baking sheet, bacon seam side down, and bake for 20 to 25 minutes until the bacon is crispy.
Remove from oven, let cool, then enjoy!

Make Ahead Method:

These bacon wrapped asparagus bundles can be prepared and stored in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours in advance. Just prepare the asparagus bundles as directed in the recipe above and store them in the refrigerator covered in an air tight container.

Notes

Recipe Variations:

Bacon - Prosciutto can be used instead of bacon, but you’ll need to reduce the cook time.
Parmesan cheese - Sprinkle the bacon wrapped asparagus with some Parmesan cheese for extra flavor.
Balsamic glaze - Balsamic glaze can be used as a substitute for the brown sugar glaze.
Maple syrup - Maple syrup can also be used as a substitute for the brown sugar glaze (must be pure maple syrup)
Lemon - Try adding a squeeze of fresh lemon juice. It pairs perfectly with the asparagus.

Storage and Reheating Instructions:

Store leftovers in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
Leftovers can be reheated in the air fryer at 380 degrees F for 1 to 2 minutes.

Pro Tips:

Don’t overcrowd the air fryer. Each asparagus bundle needs room to get nice and crispy. Cook in batches if needed.
Thin or regular cut bacon works best for this recipe. Thick bacon takes a longer time to cook and the asparagus would get done before the bacon.
Place the bacon into the air fryer seam side down so that it doesn’t unravel.
I used the Instant Vortex Plus 6 quart for this recipe. Since every air fryer cooks differently, you will need to adjust the cook time by a minute or two. Check for doneness halfway through the cooking process.

Nutrition