Seasonal side dishes add flavor and nutrition to any meal. Honey Mustard Asparagus Bundles are a tasty side dish for an Easter meal or any spring dinner with family. The tangy dressing gets brushed over each bundle before baking.
Asparagus is fresh and readily available each spring. You know it’s fresh when spears snap in half when you bend them. Look for asparagus stalks that are crisp and bright green with tender squibs, which is the part at the tip of each spear.
Why you’re going to love this recipe for Asparagus Bundles
Asparagus is a healthy addition to a side dish, salad or casserole. With its bright green color, asparagus is low in calories but high in vitamins A, C and K. It is easy to find in the grocery store or at a local farmer’s market in spring to incorporate in your cooking.
You can use asparagus in a variety of spring recipes for side dishes, salads, soups, and main dishes. Spears can be chopped and simmered in soups, cooked on the grill or baked in the oven to make some amazing dishes.
More Asparagus Recipes
- Creamy Chicken and Asparagus Casserole
- Asparagus Spirals
- Creamy Asparagus Chowder
- Barbecue Chicken and Grilled Asparagus
Fresh-picked spears of asparagus work best for making Honey Mustard Asparagus Bundles. Using tender asparagus allows for quicker cooking in the oven. Crisp up these bundles under the broiler for a minute or two before serving, if desired.
How to clean asparagus?
Rinse the asparagus in cool water, making sure to rub the stalks gently to remove any excess dirt. Lay them on a towel to dry. Remove the root ends by cutting off the bottom 2-3 inches of each stalk. These ends are typically tough and can be discarded.
You can also use a peeler to remove the outer skin on the bottom of each stalk if it is thick or tough. I usually do this when adding asparagus to soups or casseroles.
But for this recipe, I do not peel it because the bacon takes about 18-20 minutes to cook. The asparagus has hold up for that amount of time in the oven without getting overcooked.
Honey Mustard Asparagus Bundles Recipe
Key Ingredients:
FRESH ASPARAGUS– Bundle three or 4 thin spears of asparagus together, enough to make one serving. Using fresh, tender asparagus that has been rinsed and trimmed will give you the best results.
REGULAR-CUT BACON– Use thin-cut smoked bacon for this recipe. It is easy to wrap around each bundle and will cook quicker and more evenly than thick-cut bacon.
HONEY MUSTARD DRESSING– Make your own (see recipe below) or use your favorite bottled dressing to brush over each bundle before baking. This gives the asparagus a bright, tangy flavor. Brush on Dijon mustard alone if you want to make this recipe even quicker.
THE BASICS– Olive oil, salt and black pepper are used to season the asparagus before wrapping it with bacon in bundles. A pinch of Italian seasoning is sprinkled over all before baking.
How to make Honey Mustard Asparagus Bundles
Step-by-Step Instructions:
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Rinse, dry and trim the asparagus by cutting off 2 to 3 inches at the bottom of each stalk.
- Lay the asparagus spears on a sheet pan and sprinkle with olive oil, salt and pepper, roll the spears to coat each piece.
- Carefully wrap one piece of bacon around 3-4 spears of asparagus, overlapping the bacon as you wrap it. It should form a band around the middle of each bundle. Place the bundles on the same sheet pan two inches apart for baking.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the ingredients for honey mustard dressing until combined and thickened. Brush it over each asparagus bundle. Add a pinch of Italian seasoning to each bundle.
- Bake asparagus bundles until the spears are tender and bacon is crisp and cooked through, about 18-22 minutes. Remove bundles from the oven and brush with remaining dressing, if desired.
- Squeeze a drizzle of fresh lemon juice over the asparagus for a bright, fresh flavor. Recipe makes 4 servings/bundles of asparagus.
Tips for making the Best Asparagus Bundles
- Rinse the asparagus thoroughly to remove any excess dirt or debris. Using young, tender asparagus will make your bundles flavorful and bright.
- If bacon strips are too long or you want to cut back on calories and fat, cut each piece of bacon in half before wrapping it around the asparagus spears. It is recommended to wrap the bacon at least twice around each bundle.
- Adjust baking time for the asparagus bundles based on the thickness of the spears. Thin spears will cook more quickly, while thicker stalks of asparagus may take 20 minutes or more to cook through.
- Use a pair of tongs to rotate the asparagus bundles halfway through cooking to help them to cook evenly. Crisp the bundles by placing them under the broiler for a minute or two, if desired.
- Brush the remaining honey mustard dressing over the spears when they come out of the oven for extra tangy flavor. Drizzle fresh-squeezed lemon juice over all to give this side dish a bright pop of flavor.
Paired with Sliced Ham and Cheesy Potatoes, these asparagus bundles make the perfect spring meal for your next family gathering.
More Spring Side Dish Recipes
- Pea Salad
- Classic Potato Salad
- Creamy Coleslaw
- Strawberry Feta Salad
- Sheet Pan Sweet Potatoes and Green Beans
- Grandma’s Amish Pasta Salad
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Honey Mustard Asparagus Bundles
Ingredients
- 16 spears asparagus
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 4 slices smoked bacon, thin cut
- 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/4 cup lemon juice, fresh squeezed
Honey Mustard Dressing
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic, minced
- pinch salt and pepper
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Rinse, dry and trim the asparagus by cutting off 2 to 3 inches at the bottom of each stalk.
- Lay the asparagus spears on a sheet pan and sprinkle with olive oil, salt and pepper, roll the spears to coat each piece.
- Carefully wrap one piece of bacon around 3-4 spears of asparagus, overlapping the bacon as you wrap it. It should form a band around the middle of each bundle. Place the bundles two inches apart on the same sheet pan for baking.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the ingredients for honey mustard dressing until combined and thickened. Brush it over each asparagus bundle. Add a pinch of Italian seasoning to each bundle.
- Bake asparagus bundles in a 350 degree F oven for 18-22 minutes, until asparagus is tender and bacon is cooked through. Remove bundles from the oven and brush with remaining dressing, if desired. Squeeze a drizzle of fresh lemon juice over the asparagus for a bright, fresh flavor. Recipe makes 4 servings/bundles of asparagus.
Equipment
- 1 sheet pan, or a large shallow baking dish
- 1 pastry brush, or spoon
Notes
- Be sure to rinse the asparagus thoroughly to remove any excess dirt or debris. Using young, tender asparagus will make your bundles flavorful and bright.
- If bacon strips are long or you want to cut back on calories and fat, cut each piece of bacon in half before wrapping it around the asparagus spears. It is recommended to wrap the bacon at least twice around each bundle.
- Adjust baking time for the asparagus bundles based on the thickness of the spears. Thin spears will cook more quickly, while thicker stalks of asparagus may take 20 minutes or more to cook through.
- Brush the remaining honey mustard dressing over the spears when they come out of the oven for extra tangy flavor. And a drizzle of fresh-squeezed lemon juice give this side dish a bright pop of flavor.
