Smoked Bacon Wrapped Asparagus

This smoked asparagus is wrapped in bacon, drizzled in olive oil, and then topped with Parmesan cheese. Both simple and delicious, smoked vegetable recipes pair perfectly with many main dishes. This bacon wrapped asparagus also make for an amazing appetizer!

Jump to:

• ℹ️ Why This Recipe Works
• 🛒Ingredients You'll Need
• 🗒️ Prepping the Smoker
• 📋 Step-By-Step Recipe Instructions
• 💭 Expert Tips and FAQs
• 🍽️ Other Smoker Recipes
• Smoked Bacon Wrapped Asparagus

Smoked asparagus is just the best. I love anything wrapped in bacon. I also love anything smoked on the smoker and let me tell you, this smoker asparagus recipe just won my heart. This easy asparagus recipe is quick to make and you're going to love the smoked bacon taste. I make a lot of smoker recipes and the ones that contain smoked bacon, like my Smoker Beans with Bacon, get the best reviews.

🛒Ingredients You'll Need

Preparing asparagus for smoking is easy. This recipe calls for the simplest ingredients that you probably already have in your kitchen. You'll need 1-2 bunches of fresh asparagus. Never use canned or frozen when making this smoked bacon wrapped asparagus.

You have the choice of using pork or turkey bacon. When making bacon asparagus you just can't go wrong with either. Basting olive oil onto the spears is essential for making this recipe and if you have a flavor infused oil, definately use it here.

The bacon brings out a lot of flavor and it has a lot of salt but I still add a bit of salt, pepper, and freshly grated parmesan cheese after I baste on the olive oil.

🗒️ Prepping the Smoker

For this recipe, you'll want to preheat the smoker until it reaches 250°F. Preparing the smoker is super important when it comes to smoking food. Depending on what type of smoker you have depends on how your prepare itt for smoking food.

You've got to prepare the water pan, get the chips/chunks ready, and get the smoker pre-heated. I go into detail on how to prepare a propane gas smoker in my Applewood Smoked Chicken recipe. If you have a propane smoker, check the details out here on Step 4 - Preparing the Smoker.

📋 Step-By-Step Recipe Instructions

The first thing you'll do is cut the ends off. I love the taste of asparagus but if the ends are too long, the taste is bitter and a bit overbearing. Cut off about 2 inches at the end of each stalk.

Next, you'll blanch the asparagus. Blanching asparagus is a crucial step when making this recipe. It keeps the asparagus moist and allows the smoke to seep in.

You'll want to add water to a large skillet and bring to a rolling boil over medium-high heat. Add the fresh asparagus to the boiling water. While it's blanching, you'll notice it will turn bright green in color. This means the asparagus is starting to tenderize. Blanch for a total of 2-3 minutes and then remove the stalks from the water.

Now it's time to season the asparagus. I grab a gallon-size plastic bag and add the olive oil, salt, and pepper. Expert Tip: To reduce the use of plastic, you can use a large shallow dish. From there, add the blanched spears and mix well until the asparagus is well coated.

Next you'll take 4-5 spears and wrap them in a piece of bacon. Expert Tip: While you don't have to sear the bacon strips before wrapping them, it will add a nice crisp to the outside edges before smoking. I've made it using seared bacon and raw bacon and both taste great.

Repeat this process until all the asparagus spears are wrapped in a piece of bacon. Add a little bit of salt and pepper and then sprinkle on fresh Parmesan cheese.

Add the prepared spears wrapped in bacon to an aluminum pan. You want to make sure the pan you use is smoker safe. Expert Tip: You can also place the wrapped asparagus directly on the smoker racks, just turn the smoker temperature down to 225°F. This method will product more of a grilled asparagus texture.

Place the pan in the smoker uncovered. Smoke for 30-45 minutes until the bacon is done.

Smoked vegetables are amazingly delicious and pair really well with smoker recipes such as smoked brisket burnt ends and smoked prime rib!

💭 Expert Tips and FAQs

• This recipe is not only a great side dish, but also makes for an amazing appetizer!
• When blanching asparagus, use just enough water to just slightly cover the spears. If you use too much water, the spears can start to turn mushy.
• I don't recommend wrapping the asparagus in foil. This is a recipe for smoked asparagus and since it is smoking for such a short amount of time, you want as much smoke on the vegetable and bacon as possible.
• You can either use turkey bacon or pork bacon. And, you can choose to sear the bacon beforehand or not. It's a matter of preference.
• If you don't have a smoker, you can grill this asparagus wrapped in bacon. Grilled asparagus is amazing. Just follow the same preparation steps above but instead of placing these in the smoker, place them in a grilling basket that's safe for your grill.

🍽️ Other Smoker Recipes

If you love making and eating smoked food, you have to check out these other smoked veggies. My Hickory Smoked Green Beans are full of flavor and also has bacon. We're talking a bacon explosion!!

You can't go wrong with potatoes as a side and these Garlic and Herb Smoked Potatoes are top notch delicious! Velvety in texture and full of a garlic flavor, these taste amazing with any smoked meat!

And even though it's not a vegetable, if you like mac n cheese then you have to try my Smoked Macaroni and Cheese. Full of cheesy flavor, this one tastes phenomenal smoked! Smoked cheese is one of my favorite things in the entire world!

Update Notes: This post was originally published in May of 2019, but was re-published with updated step-by-step instructions, pictures, and tips in May 2021.