Begin by trimming the ends of each asparagus stem, making sure you remove the tough woody part located just below the root. Cut about ½ to 1 inch, ensuring all stems have a uniform height.
Arrange the asparagus into groups consisting of 3 to 4 stems.
Take a slice of bacon and carefully wrap it around each group of asparagus. Leave both ends of the stems exposed for aesthetics and ease of handling.
Place the wrapped asparagus bundles into the air fryer basket and generously season them with garlic and pepper.
Set the air fryer temperature at 400°F and cook for 15 to 18 minutes. Adjust the cooking time depending on how crispy you want your bacon to be. If you enjoy bacon with a hint of char, you're in for a treat!
Once the cooking is complete, remove the bacon-wrapped asparagus from the air fryer and allow them to rest for a while. The resting period helps the bacon to be cooked thoroughly and ensures that those much-desired fats are locked in.
Enjoy and serve as a “healthy” appetizer.
Notes
Wrap the bacon around the asparagus pieces tightly.
If you want an easier time cleaning up your air fryer after cooking, you may use foil to line the basket.
You can make this dish meatier by using two bacon strips instead of one for each asparagus group. Just note that you may need to adjust the cooking time.