Bacon Wrapped Asparagus

Easy to prepare and perfect for entertaining.  I love asparagus but bacon adds another delicious, salty, and rich flavor to the asparagus. That is why I personally love this side dish. If you want more crispy instead of wrapping a whole piece of bacon around the asparagus, slice it down the center so you have two thin strips, and only use half for each piece of asparagus. This helps the bacon cook faster and more crispy. Also, you want to look for “Center Cut” bacon, which has less fat.

Good luck and enjoy 😉

Ingredients: 

• 12 slices center-cut bacon
• 12 asparagus washed and pat dry
• 1-2 tbsp olive oil
• pinch of garlic or onion powder
• 1/2 tsp Italian seasoning, optional 
• 1/2 tsp freshly ground peppercorn
• pinch of paprika
• 1/2 tsp lemon juice

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350F (180C)
2. Wash asparagus and pat dry. Trim off the woody stem – usually the bottom 2 inches.
3. Wrap the bacon around the asparagus and place it on the sheet with sides.
4. In a small cup whisk together olive oil and all the seasonings. Stir well and pour over the wrapped asparagus.
5. Place the baking sheet in the oven on the lower rack for 10 minutes then on the upper rack for 8-10 minutes.
6. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Enjoy 😉