Bacon Wrapped Asparagus (Air Fryer)

Roasty and toasty Bacon Wrapped Asparagus in the air fryer is the perfect snack, side dish, or heck, main meal! The smoky and salty bacon pairs so nicely with the asparagus, and with oodles of flavor, this is a keto asparagus recipe you can feel good about eating!

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Fun to make, delicious to eat, and with plenty of wow factor, making bacon wrapped asparagus in the air fryer is easier than you might think, and I’ll give you all my chef tips and tricks to make this turn out perfectly every time!

What You Need To Make Bacon Wrapped Asparagus in the Air Fryer

• An air fryer – I personally like the multi-function Cuisinart oven-style model that does more than just air fry. Whatever you use, make sure the cooking basket or pan is large enough to hold the asparagus in a single layer.
• Asparagus – fresh is what you need for this recipe. Frozen and thawed just won’t work as well
• Bacon – now is the time to use the good stuff! I prefer low-sodium bacon, but any regular cut (not thick cut) will work well. Use nitrate-free bacon if you’re doing Paleo.
• Avocado oil
• Salt and pepper

How To Clean Asparagus

Asparagus grows from up under sandy soil, so you can imaging how much sand can get trapped in the brush-like tops. Cleaning your asparagus properly is essential so that you don’t get any grit – nobody will want to eat it if your asparagus is gritty! Here are two different ways to clean your asparagus.

Before you get started, trim the asparagus. Hold the top of the asparagus in one hand (under the brushy part) and with the other hand, snap off the bottom. This will remove the tough, woody ends. Compost these!

1. Clean the asparagus spears under fast running water. I like to run each spear under cold running water for 20 seconds or so to dislodge any sand.
2. Fill a large bowl with water and pop your trimmed asparagus into the water. Swish the asparagus around fairly quickly to dislodge the grit. Dump out the water and repeat.

The first method is my favorite. It may take a little longer, but I find it much more effective especially if the asparagus is extra gritty.

How To Make Bacon Wrapped Asparagus in the Air Fryer

1. Lay the asparagus on a plate or in a shallow dish and toss with the oil, salt and pepper.
2. Take 2-3 asparagus spears (or perhaps 4 if they’re really thin) and hold them together in a bundle.
3. Wrap the bundle in bacon starting at the bottom and working your way to the top.
4. Pop them into the air fryer in a single layer and air fry at 400-F for about 10-14 minutes until the bacon is crispy.

Chef Jenn’s Tips

• Asparagus comes in a variety of thicknesses. Some is thin like a pencil while others are thicker. Thinner doesn’t mean younger asparagus, so don’t worry if you’ve just got thick asparagus. In fact, I prefer it thicker.
• Change up the flavor by using peppered bacon instead of regular bacon.
• Cook the asparagus in one layer or you risk the bacon not getting crispy.
• Use regular cut bacon – thick cut just won’t get crispy – and when it is crispy, this is one of the best asparagus air fryer recipes!

Is Bacon Wrapped Asparagus Keto?

Heck ya! Asparagus is a terrific veg on keto. It’s loaded with fiber and is low in natural carbs. Coming in at about 2.5 net carbs per cup of asparagus, it’s a great pick! Plus, it’s loaded with all sorts of nutritional benefits.

What Goes Well with Air fryer Bacon Wrapped Asparagus

Anything!

Seriously though, this side dish pairs so nicely with roast pork tenderloin, or with something meaty like Garlic Steak with Mushrooms. I also love it with Butter & Herb Turkey Breast which I also make in the air fryer (ahead of time.)

How to Store The Leftovers

My advice is to eat these fresh, and they’re so good, you may not have any leftovers! But if you do, wrap them tightly in plastic wrap or in an air-tight container and pop them into the fridge.

Can you freeze asparagus wrapped with bacon? I don’t recommend it – these just won’t freeze well. Asparagus goes all limp and watery when it is frozen and thawed, and the bacon won’t stay crispy.

Frequently Asked Questions

Like This? Also Try:

Step By Step Process

• 

• 

• 

Want Even More Keto Deliciousness?

I’m always trying new recipes, but the following are some of my all-time favorites:

• Grilled veggies
• This Southern chicken casserole
• Meaty and cheesy Parmigiana
• Beefy minestrone soup

And if you need help counting carbs, this net carb calculator will help!