Smoked Asparagus

White plate containing asparagus wrapped in bacon topped with Parmesan.

5 from 10 votes

This smoked asparagus is wrapped in bacon, drizzled in olive oil, and then topped with Parmesan cheese. Not only is it the perfect side dish, it's also an amazing appetizer!

Prep Time10

Cook Time30

Total Time40

Course: Side Dish, Sides

Cuisine: American

Diet: Gluten Free

Servings: people

Calories: 67kcal

Author: Amanda Mason

Equipment

Smoker

Ingredients

30 asparagus spears
1 package of pork bacon
2 Tablespoon olive oil
¼ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon pepper
¼ cup Parmesan cheese, freshly grated

Instructions

Preheat your smoker until it reaches an internal temperature of 250°F.
Cut 2 inches off the end of all 30 asparagus spears. Discard the stems.
Add 3 cups of water to a large skillet and bring to a rolling boil on medium-high heat. Add all the fresh asparagus to the boiling water. Blanch for a total of 2-3 minutes and then remove them from the water.
In a sealable plastic bag, add the 2 Tablespoons of olive oil, ¼ teaspoon of salt, and ¼ teaspoon of pepper. Next, add all the blanched asparagus spears and mix well until the asparagus is coated.
Take 4-5 asparagus spears out of the plastic bag and wrap a piece of bacon around the stalks.
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 until all the asparagus is wrapped in a piece of bacon. Add additional salt, pepper and ¼ cup of fresh Parmesan cheese on top of each bunch.
Add the asparagus wrapped in bacon to an aluminum pan. Place the pan in the smoker uncovered.
Expert Tip: You can also place the bacon 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 taste and texture.
Smoke at 250°F for 30-45 minutes until the bacon is done. Serve immediately.

Notes

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.
This recipe is not only a great side dish, but also makes for an amazing appetizer!
When blanching, use just enough water to just slightly cover the spears. If you use too much water, it can start to turn mushy.
I don't recommend wrapping the asparagus in foil. You want as much smoke on the asparagus and bacon as possible.
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. Grill for 10-15 minutes until the asparagus is tender and the bacon is cooked.

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