Bacon-Wrapped Asparagus

Ingredients:
1 bunch (about 1 pound) fresh asparagus, tough ends trimmed
10-12 slices of thin-cut bacon (or regular cut, cut in half lengthwise if too wide)
2 tablespoons olive oil (optional, for tossing asparagus)
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Optional seasonings: garlic powder, onion powder, a pinch of red pepper flakes
Instructions:
Preheat Oven or Grill: If using an oven, preheat to 400°F (200°C). If grilling, preheat your grill to medium heat. (Based on your image, a flat-top grill works great too!)
Prepare Asparagus: Wash the asparagus spears and pat them dry. Snap off the tough, woody ends. You can leave them as whole spears or group 2-4 spears together for each bacon wrap, depending on their thickness and your preference.
Season Asparagus (Optional): In a bowl, you can lightly toss the asparagus with olive oil, salt, pepper, and any other desired seasonings (like garlic powder). This step is optional as the bacon will provide a lot of flavor.
Wrap with Bacon: Take one slice of bacon (or a half-slice if you’ve cut it lengthwise) and wrap it spirally around a bundle of asparagus spears, starting from just below the tips and working your way down. Try to make sure the bacon covers the asparagus evenly. Repeat with the remaining asparagus and bacon.
Cook:
Oven: Place the bacon-wrapped asparagus bundles on a baking sheet. Bake for 15-25 minutes, or until the bacon is crispy and the asparagus is tender-crisp. You might want to flip them halfway through for even browning.
Grill: Place the bundles directly on the grill grates. Grill for 8-15 minutes, turning occasionally, until the bacon is crispy and the asparagus is cooked to your liking.
Flat-top Griddle (like in your image): Heat your griddle to medium-high. Place the bacon-wrapped asparagus on the hot surface. Cook, turning frequently, for about 10-20 minutes until the bacon is crispy and the asparagus is tender. The fat from the bacon will help cook them beautifully.
Serve: Remove from heat and serve immediately.
Tips:
Thin-cut bacon works best as it cooks faster and gets crispier without overcooking the asparagus.
Don’t overcrowd your cooking surface, whether it’s a baking sheet or a grill. This allows for better air circulation and crispier bacon.
For extra flavor, you can brush the bacon with a little maple syrup or brown sugar towards the end of cooking for a sweet and savory glaze.
If your bacon is very thick, you might want to par-cook it slightly before wrapping to ensure it gets crispy.
Enjoy your delicious bacon-wrapped asparagus!