Perfect Smoked Bacon Wrapped Asparagus: Your Ultimate BBQ Side Dish
Smoked bacon wrapped asparagus is an absolutely irresistible side dish that effortlessly combines the savory crunch of perfectly cooked bacon with the tender, earthy notes of fresh asparagus. This delectable recipe transforms simple ingredients into a gourmet experience, making it an ideal addition to any BBQ, family dinner, or special gathering. Imagine the smoky aroma mingling with the sizzling bacon, creating a culinary masterpiece that’s surprisingly easy to prepare. Whether you’re a seasoned pitmaster or a weekend grilling enthusiast, these smoky, salty, and utterly satisfying bundles are guaranteed to be a crowd-pleaser and become a staple in your repertoire.
Preparing bacon-wrapped asparagus on a smoker or grill not only infuses it with incredible depth of flavor but also yields perfectly crisp bacon and tender-crisp asparagus. This dish is far more than just a side; it’s an experience that elevates any meal. Forget bland vegetables; this recipe turns asparagus into a highly anticipated item on your plate, proving that vegetables can be just as exciting as the main course, especially when kissed by smoke and wrapped in bacon.
[feast_advanced_jump_to]Essential Ingredients for Smoked Bacon Wrapped Asparagus
Despite its impressive flavor profile, this grilled bacon wrapped asparagus recipe calls for a remarkably simple set of ingredients. The magic truly lies in the quality of these few components and the smoking process that brings them together. Opting for fresh, high-quality ingredients will always yield the best results, ensuring your smoked bacon wrapped asparagus stands out.
- Asparagus (2 bundles): Choose vibrant green, firm spears with tight, closed tips. Thicker spears tend to hold up better on the grill and provide a more substantial bite, though thinner ones cook faster. Look for asparagus that snaps easily when bent, indicating freshness.
- Bacon (thin cut): Thin-cut bacon is crucial for this recipe. It crisps up faster, preventing the asparagus from becoming overcooked and mushy. Thick-cut bacon, while delicious, would require a longer cooking time, which might compromise the texture of the asparagus. The smoky flavor of bacon is a key component, so pick your favorite brand.
- Olive oil: A light drizzle of olive oil helps the seasonings adhere to the asparagus and promotes a beautiful char without drying out the vegetable. It also aids in heat transfer, contributing to even cooking.
- Salt & Black Pepper: Simple yet essential. These seasonings enhance the natural flavors of both the asparagus and the bacon. Adjust to your personal preference, remembering that bacon itself is quite salty. Freshly ground black pepper offers a more potent aroma and flavor.
That’s it! With just these five ingredients, you’re on your way to crafting a memorable side dish that’s bursting with flavor. The beauty of this recipe is its simplicity, allowing the inherent deliciousness of the ingredients to shine through.
Video – How to Make Bacon Wrapped Asparagus
Step-by-Step Guide: How to Make Smoked Bacon Wrapped Asparagus
Embark on a culinary journey to create these delicious smoky treats that will undoubtedly be the star of your next meal. Combining the vibrant freshness of asparagus with the irresistible allure of smoky, crispy bacon, this recipe is a testament to how simple ingredients can create extraordinary flavors. Get ready to impress everyone at the kitchen table with these salty, savory, and perfectly cooked delights. Any time you bring together the wholesome goodness of vegetables with the indulgent taste of bacon, you’re guaranteed a big hit!
Prepping the Asparagus for Perfection
Proper preparation is key to achieving that ideal balance of tender asparagus and crispy bacon. Start by giving your asparagus bundles a thorough rinse under cool, fresh water. This step is essential to remove any lingering dirt, sand, or debris that might be clinging to the spears. After rinsing, gently pat the asparagus dry with paper towels. Excess moisture can hinder the bacon from crisping properly, so ensure they are as dry as possible.
Next, it’s time to trim the woody ends of the asparagus. These lower portions are typically tough and fibrous, detracting from the overall eating experience. To find the natural breaking point, simply hold an asparagus spear near the end and bend it gently; it will naturally snap where the tender part begins. Alternatively, you can visually estimate and cut off about 1-2 inches from the bottom of each spear. Discard these woody ends, keeping only the tender, flavorful portions for cooking.
Once trimmed and dried, arrange the fresh asparagus spears on a clean baking sheet. Drizzle them generously with olive oil, ensuring each spear is lightly coated. The olive oil acts as a binder for your seasonings and helps promote even cooking and a slight char. Follow this with a light seasoning of salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. Remember, the bacon will add its own saltiness, so be mindful not to over-season at this stage.
Now for the wrapping! The goal is to wrap bundles of 3-4 asparagus spears with a single slice of thin-cut bacon. Take a small bundle of asparagus and, starting at the thicker, trimmed bottom of the spears, begin wrapping a bacon slice tightly around the stalks. Spiral the bacon upwards, ensuring it covers the majority of the asparagus stem, but leave the delicate, leafy tips exposed. This allows the tips to char slightly and prevents them from becoming overcooked.
If you wrap the bacon tightly and neatly, there should be no need for toothpicks to hold it in place. The natural adherence of the bacon as it cooks will keep everything secure. Place your beautifully wrapped bundles back on the baking sheet, ready for the smoker.
Smoking Your Asparagus Bundles to Perfection
With your bacon-wrapped asparagus bundles prepped, it’s time to bring on the smoke! Preheat your smoker or grill to a steady 250°F (121°C). Maintaining a consistent low temperature is key to infusing that wonderful smoky flavor and allowing the bacon to crisp up slowly without burning the asparagus. For an exceptional flavor profile, I highly recommend using pecan wood or hickory wood when smoking these appetizers. Pecan offers a sweet, nutty flavor that complements the bacon beautifully, while hickory provides a stronger, classic smokehouse taste that many adore.
Carefully place the bacon-wrapped asparagus directly onto the grill grates of your preheated smoker or grill. Arrange them in a single layer, ensuring there’s enough space between each bundle for the smoke and heat to circulate evenly. This prevents steaming and encourages proper crisping of the bacon. Close the lid and let the magic happen.
Smoke for approximately 1.5 hours, or until the bacon is wonderfully crisp and golden brown. Cooking times can vary based on your smoker, the thickness of your bacon, and the asparagus spears, so keep an eye on them. You’ll know they’re ready when the bacon achieves your desired level of crispness, and the asparagus is tender-crisp with a slightly charred appearance. The asparagus should still have a slight bite to it, not be limp or mushy. The low and slow smoking process ensures the bacon fat renders beautifully, basting the asparagus and infusing it with incredible richness.
Serving and Flavor Profile: A Harmony of Tastes
Once your bacon-wrapped asparagus reaches its peak of perfection, simply pull them off the grill grates and transfer them to a serving platter. These flavorful bundles are incredibly versatile and pair wonderfully with a variety of main dishes. They are an absolute dream alongside a juicy smoked beer can chicken, a hearty smoked meatloaf, or any grilled steak or fish. For an extra touch of decadence, consider a sprinkle of fresh Parmesan cheese or a drizzle of balsamic glaze just before serving.
The flavor profile of this grilled bacon wrapped asparagus recipe is truly something special. The intense saltiness and umami from the bacon create a perfect counterpoint to the fresh, slightly sweet earthiness of the asparagus. This dynamic combination makes it one of my absolute favorite side dishes for complementing everything from roasted chicken and holiday turkey to grilled pork chops and even a simple summer salad. The rich, savory fat from the bacon renders down and coats the asparagus as it cooks, essentially slow-frying the vegetable in pure deliciousness. As we all know, anything slathered in flavorful bacon fat is bound to be a culinary triumph!
This dish offers a delightful textural contrast too – the crispy exterior of the bacon gives way to the tender-yet-firm bite of the asparagus, creating a truly satisfying experience. It’s a testament to how simple, high-quality ingredients can come together to create a profoundly flavorful and elegant side dish that impresses without requiring complex techniques.
Choosing Your Weapon: Smokers & Grills for Bacon Wrapped Asparagus
One of the great things about bacon wrapped asparagus is its adaptability. While smoking imparts a unique depth of flavor, these delightful bundles can be cooked to perfection using various methods, catering to whatever equipment you have on hand. Whether you prefer the convenience of a propane grill, the traditional char of a charcoal grill, or the rich flavor of a dedicated smoker, you can achieve excellent results.
Smokers: Unleashing Unparalleled Flavor
For the ultimate smoky flavor that truly transforms this dish, a dedicated smoker is your best bet. I’ve had incredible success smoking everything from tender steaks to these asparagus bundles on my pellet smoker, much like the versatile Camp Chef 36 smoker. Pellet smokers are fantastic because they offer an easy and consistent way to infuse fantastic smoke flavor into your meats and vegetables without the constant tending required by traditional methods. Their “set it and forget it” nature makes them perfect for busy cooks, allowing you to achieve rich, smoky results with minimal effort.
A traditional offset smoker, such as an Oklahoma Joe’s Smoker, will also produce exceptional results, offering a more hands-on, authentic smoking experience. While they require a bit more attention to maintain temperature, the deep, nuanced smoke flavor they impart is unparalleled. Just grab your favorite wood, like hickory or pecan, and get your smoker fired up for an unforgettable batch of bacon-wrapped asparagus.
Gas & Charcoal Grills: Versatility and Classic Grilling
While often used for high-heat searing, gas and charcoal grills are perfectly capable of cooking bacon-wrapped asparagus. The key is to manage the temperature effectively to prevent burning the bacon while ensuring the asparagus cooks through. For charcoal enthusiasts, the iconic Weber kettle remains a favorite. I love how inexpensive, reliable, and easy they are to use, providing that signature charcoal flavor that’s hard to beat. You can set it up for indirect heat to mimic a smoker or use a lower direct heat if carefully monitored.
If you’re using a gas grill, like the impressive new Weber Genesis smart grills, you’ll find temperature control incredibly easy to maintain. These grills can take your outdoor cooking to the next level with their precision. For bacon-wrapped asparagus, simply set your gas grill to a low to medium-low heat (around 250-300°F) and use indirect heat if possible. Close the lid to allow the heat to circulate, cooking the asparagus evenly and crisping the bacon. Adding a smoke box with wood chips can even impart a subtle smoky flavor on a gas grill.
Ultimately, when it comes to cooking this delightful side dish, the best grill to use is the one you already have and are most comfortable with. Each method offers its own advantages, and with a bit of temperature management, you can achieve perfectly cooked bacon-wrapped asparagus on almost any outdoor cooking device. Don’t feel the need to buy a new grill; master the one you own!
Old Pro Tips for Flawless Bacon Wrapped Asparagus
Achieving restaurant-quality smoked bacon wrapped asparagus is easy with a few insider tricks. These pro tips will help you navigate common pitfalls and ensure your dish is nothing short of perfect every time:
- Always use thin-cut bacon: This is perhaps the most critical tip. Thin-cut bacon crisps up significantly faster than its thick-cut counterpart, ensuring that the asparagus cooks to a tender-crisp texture without becoming overdone and mushy. If you use thick-cut bacon, the asparagus will be rubbery or limp by the time the bacon is properly rendered and crispy.
- Keep it simple: no sugary glazes needed: The natural flavors of the asparagus, bacon, salt, and pepper are a symphony on their own. Adding sugary glazes or marinades can cause the bacon to burn before it crisps, leaving you with a sticky, potentially unpleasant crust rather than a savory, smoky one. Let the inherent deliciousness shine through, enhanced by the rendered bacon fat.
- Never blanch the asparagus beforehand: Some recipes suggest blanching asparagus to ensure tenderness. However, for this smoked or grilled version, blanching will lead to rubbery, overcooked asparagus. The smoking process itself, especially at lower temperatures, is gentle enough to cook the asparagus perfectly while the bacon crisps.
- Maintain a grill temperature of 250°F to 350°F: While 250°F is ideal for maximum smoke penetration, a range up to 350°F (175°C) can also work effectively, especially if you’re looking for slightly faster cooking times or using a grill instead of a dedicated smoker. Staying within this range allows the bacon fat to render slowly and evenly, crisping the bacon without charring it too quickly, and allows the asparagus to soften beautifully.
- Don’t crowd the grates: Ensure there’s adequate space between each bacon-wrapped bundle on the grill. Overcrowding can inhibit proper air circulation and smoke penetration, leading to uneven cooking and less crispy bacon. Give each bundle its breathing room!
Expand Your Culinary Horizons: More Smoking & Grilling Ideas!
If you loved making and devouring your Smoked Bacon Wrapped Asparagus, you’re likely eager to explore more delicious possibilities on your grill or smoker. The world of smoked and grilled dishes is vast and incredibly rewarding. Here are some other fantastic recipes that will keep your outdoor cooking adventures exciting and your taste buds happy, often pairing perfectly with your new favorite asparagus side!
- Smoked Shrimp
- Grilled Sliced Potatoes
- Grilled Filet Mignon – The Perfect Steak
- Grilled Sausage and Peppers
Frequently Asked Questions About Bacon Wrapped Asparagus
Here are some common questions to help you master this irresistible side dish:
Bacon wrapped asparagus is incredibly versatile and pairs beautifully with a wide array of main dishes. It’s an excellent companion for grilled or smoked meats such as chicken, turkey, steak (like filet mignon or ribeye), pork chops, and even fish. Its savory, smoky flavor also complements heartier dishes like meatloaf and pot roasts, or lighter options like salads for a more substantial meal. Consider it a fantastic appetizer or an unforgettable side dish for almost any occasion.
Rinsing asparagus under fresh, cool water is a crucial step to ensure a clean eating experience. Asparagus, being a spear-like vegetable, can sometimes trap tiny bits of dirt, sand, or grit within its tips or along its stalk. A thorough rinse helps dislodge and wash away these unwanted particles. Nobody wants an unpleasant gritty crunch in their otherwise perfectly cooked food!
The bottom part of an asparagus spear, often referred to as the “woody end,” is typically tough, fibrous, and less flavorful than the tender upper portion. Consuming these woody ends can be unpleasant due to their chewy texture and sometimes slightly bitter taste. Trimming them ensures that every bite of your bacon-wrapped asparagus is succulent and enjoyable. The easiest way to find the natural breaking point is to bend a spear gently; it will snap exactly where the tough part ends and the tender part begins.
Yes, you can definitely do some prep work in advance! You can trim and wrap the asparagus bundles with bacon up to 24 hours before cooking. Store them neatly arranged on a baking sheet, covered with plastic wrap, in the refrigerator. This makes it incredibly convenient for entertaining or busy weeknights – simply pull them out and put them on the smoker or grill when you’re ready.
If your bacon isn’t crisping as desired, a few factors could be at play. Ensure you’re using thin-cut bacon, as thick-cut takes much longer. Also, verify that your smoker or grill temperature is consistent within the 250-350°F range. If the temperature is too low, the bacon might just render fat without crisping. You can try increasing the temperature slightly towards the end of the cooking time, or, if available, move them to a hotter zone on your grill for a few minutes to finish crisping, always keeping a close eye to prevent burning.
Bacon Wrapped Asparagus (Smoked)
Ingredients
- 2 bunches asparagus
- 1 lb bacon (thin cut)
- 2 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon pepper
Equipment
Instructions
- Pre-heat smoker of grill to 250°F. Use a hickory or pecan wood for best flavor.
- Rinse asparagus under fresh water and dry with paper towels. Cut the bottom 1-2″ off the bottom of the asparagus and discard.
- Lay asparagus on baking sheet and coat with olive oil. Then lightly season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Grab 3-4 asparagus and starting at the bottom of the stem, wrap with 1 slice of thin cut bacon. Spiral the bacon up the stem of the asparagus while wrapping. It should cover most of the steam, but not the top of the asparagus.
- Place the bacon wrapped asparagus directly on the grill rack and smoke / grill for about 1 hour and 30 minutes until the bacon is crispy. Cooking time will vary on your grill and cooking temperature.
- Once the bacon is crispy and asparagus lightly charred, remove and pair with your favorite main dish. Enjoy!
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Pro Tips
- Use thin cut bacon for easier wrapping and prevent overcooking of asparagus.
- Don’t add any sugary glaze, these are best flavored with only salt, pepper, and bacon fat.
- Don’t blanch the asparagus before grilling, they will turn out rubbery.
- Grill temperature can range from 250°F to 350°F for cooking.