Bacon-Wrapped Asparagus

Roasted asparagus is a simple and delicious side that goes with almost any main dish. While a pile of roasted asparagus would be a welcome addition to any weeknight dinner or casual meal, sometimes you need something a little more dressed up, so our test kitchen created a company-worthy version that's just as easy and quick to prepare. Bacon not only adds smoky, savory, salty flavor, you can use it to wrap a few asparagus spears together into a cute little bundle. Use your favorite brand of thick-cut bacon (our test kitchen loves Wright brand bacon) and cut each strip in half crosswise to make them the right length for wrapping. We found that three spears of asparagus seem to be just the right amount to make a small bundle, but this can vary depending on the size of your spears. If they are on the very thin side, wrap four to five spears. If they are very thick, you may only want to wrap two. Use your best judgment and make sure the bacon is securely wrapped all the way around the asparagus. Roast the asparagus until it is tender and the bacon is cooked through, then remove from the oven and serve immediately.