Grilled Prosciutto Wrapped Asparagus
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Easy, simple, and elegant grilled prosciutto wrapped asparagus is a delicious side dish or appetizer perfect for spring and early summer. Crisp caramelized prosciutto, tender asparagus, and an optional honey glaze finish make this an irresistible addition to any meal, and it only takes 20 minutes from fridge to table.
The arrival of tender, fresh asparagus is always my signal that spring produce is on it’s way and winter has ended. It’s a veggies we only eat seasonally (because it really does taste better!), which means we eat a WHOLE lot of it.
I love making things like warm kale salads with it, but this prosciutto wrapped asparagus recipe is an easy go-to all spring and summer.
It’s just 4 must-have ingredients, an optional but tasty glaze, 10 minutes of prep, and 10 minutes on the grill. The crispy, salty prosciutto is a natural match for tender asparagus and it makes the most delicious appetizer, snack, or side dish.
Ingredients & Substitutions
There are only 4 ingredients that you should absolutely have to make grilled asparagus with prosciutto. But I’ve included my personal favorite finishing touch – just a brush of honey to balance the salty cured meat, smoky grill, and grassy, vegetal asparagus flavor.
- Asparagus – You can use either thick or thin asparagus. I like them to be thinner, between 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick, because they cook quickly. Thicker ones can absolutely be used. If they’re very thin, like chopsticks, then bundle 3-4 stalks together.
- Prosciutto – Prosciutto is salty, thin, and easy to work with. Bacon does not work as a substitute because it is raw and often thicker. A very thin ham can be a good replacement if needed.
- Oil – Choose a high heat oil like grapeseed or canola to withstand direct heat on the grill.
- Black Pepper
- Honey & Water – Water thins the honey just enough to brush on easily. Maple syrup or an aged balsamic can work instead.
If you need help picking asparagus I highly recommend checking out my guide on Types of Asparagus. It will walk you through varieties, how to pick it, how to prep it, and more!
Step by Step Instructions
The entire process for making these little grilled spears is as simple as the ingredient list. You can prep them ahead of time and store them in the fridge for 24 hours so they’re ready for the grill when you are.
Step 1 – Prep Asparagus
Trim off any tough or woody ends if needed. I don’t recommend bending and snapping which can end up wasting a lot of perfectly good asparagus.
Instead examine the spears and simply trim where the green fades to white, if there is any at all. Your asparagus may not need trimming! I usually remove the bottom edge which dries out during storage anyway.
Step 2 – Wrap with Prosciutto
Either tear or cut the prosciutto into long strips, no more than 1 inch wide. Start at the bottom edge of the asparagus and begin winding it around each spear, or a bundle of 3-4 if you have very, very thin spears.
The heat of your hand should be enough to smooth the end of the prosciutto down so it doesn’t unwind. Repeat until all are wrapped.
Step 3 – Oil and Cook
Brush the spears with oil and sprinkle with fresh black pepper. Mix the honey and water together and set aside. Then, place them on a preheated grill in one layer over direct heat.
Cook for 6-8 minutes for thin to medium spears, rotating every 1-2 minutes, until the prosciutto is crisp. For thick asparagus start them over direct heat until the prosciutto crisps, then move them to indirect heat for another 5-6 minutes, or until the asparagus is tender.
Brush with the honey in the last minute of cooking, then again as soon as they come off the grill. Serve them alongside some lemon soy chicken, BLT hot dogs, grilled pork steaks, or grilled steak with chimichurri for a truly tasty meal.
Alternate Cooking Methods
If you’d like to make prosciutto wrapped asparagus but can’t grill, you can also use the oven or stove.
- Oven – Bake at 400°F for 6-8 minutes, rotating once halfway through. Brush with the honey as soon as they come from the oven. If the prosciutto is not crisp, set the broiler to high and place under it for 1-2 minutes.
- Stovetop – Use a large skillet (I recommend cast iron if possible) and heat it over medium heat. When hot add the oiled and seasoned asparagus to the pan with 1-2 additional teaspoons of oil. Cook, flipping the asparagus every 2-3 minutes, for about 8 minutes. The prosciutto should be crispy.
Expert Tips
This really is such an easy appetizer or side dish, but I have a few key tips to make this simple recipe look and taste gourmet every time you make it.
- Skip the salt – Prosciutto is a cured, salty meat. There is no need to season the asparagus with additional salt before or after cooking.
- Switch up the drizzle – If honey isn’t your thing, feel free to use maple syrup or an aged balsamic to lightly brush over the spears after cooking.
- Pick a good bunch of asparagus – Look for firm spears that have no wrinkles. The tips should be dry and firm, not mushy or wet. Check out my asparagus guide for more tips.
- Prep ahead – These are a fantastic, quick cooking appetizer or side, especially when they’re ready to throw right on the grill. Wrap the asparagus with prosciutto up to 24 hours in advance and refrigerate.
FAQs
Start by trimming off the ends of the stems, like a fresh cut on a Christmas tree. Then either stand them up in a vase with a small amount of water like fresh flowers, or wrap the stems in a damp paper towel and store in a produce bag. Either way, keep it in the fridge!
I average around 5-6 grilled prosciutto wrapped asparagus per person. As written, this recipe makes enough for 5-6 people, depending on how they’re served.
Both pancetta and bacon are a cured, but raw product. I don’t recommend a straight swap because they would likely need a different cooking time, and possibly a different application of heat to cook thoroughly.
You can bundle 3-4 spears together if you have very thin asparagus. If they’re any larger than 1/4″ in diameter I suggest single spears. Bundling will increase cooking time by 3-4 minutes.
Refrigerate leftovers for up to 3 days. They’ll reheat best in a toaster oven or a pan on the stove. I do not recommend freezing, as they’ll get soggy as they thaw.
More Spring Vegetable Inspiration
- Honey Glazed Rainbow Carrots
- Fresh Asparagus Recipe Collection
- Carrot Top Pesto
- Oven Roasted Baby Potatoes
Grilled Prosciutto Wrapped Asparagus
Ingredients
- 6 ounces prosciutto
- 30 stalks asparagus*
- 2 teaspoons oil grapeseed, canola, or other high heat oil
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 1 tablespoon honey optional
- 1 teaspoon water optional
Instructions
- Get your grill ready at about 375° to 400°F.
- Trim any white ends from your asparagus.
- Tear prosciutto into strips and begin wrapping each asparagus stalk, smoothing down the ends with your fingers so the prosciutto lays smoothly.
- Brush lightly with oil and sprinkle with pepper. Combine the honey and water together and set aside.
- Place over direct heat on the grill and cook for 6 to 8 minutes rotating every other minute, or until the prosciutto is crisped and the asparagus is tender.
- In the last minute brush with the honey mixture and flip, the brush again.
- When done, brush once more with honey, and remove to a serving platter. Serve immediately.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information and cooking times are provided as a best estimate. Values may vary based upon ingredients and equipment.
Mmmm these are absolutely amazing and so easy to make! I made these with grilled chicken and a grilled romaine salad. So delicious!
Lori, thanks for sharing, I bet it all tasted wonderful together.
I love the option of adding honey. It gave it a really great glaze and added a bit of sweetness to counter the slight bitterness of asparagus. Great recipe!
Perfect Isabelle, I believe more people would enjoy asparagus if they used this recipe!
This is such a classic asparagus recipe. I made these for my for my last get together with my friends and they loved them.
Sean, Thanks so much. I am thrilled your guests enjoyed them so much!
You had me at prosciutto wrapped. These asparagus were so easy to make, but the flavor made them taste so labor-intensive. They were the perfect side dish for my grilled chicken
Marta isn’t is great everyone enjoys these and they are so easy to make!
I made these grilled prosciutto wrapped asparagus for a dinner party, and they were a hit! The combination of the crispy caramelized prosciutto and tender asparagus was a match made in heaven. The optional honey glaze added a touch of sweetness that balanced the flavors perfectly. Plus, the fact that they were ready in just 20 minutes made it even better. This recipe is definitely a keeper for me.
Wonderful to read Sangeetha. I love your description of the flavors. They are truly a great side, snack or appetizer!
This makes such a delicious side dish! The prosciutto on the asparagus is a game changer and I can’t make asparagus without it now. Thank you so much!
Thank you for letting me know how much you enjoyed this grilled dish. We enjoy it as a side dish, an appetizer or simply a snack.
Great asparagus tips — thank you. I made the asparagus with the prosciutto and now the family insists I only make it with the delicious Italian meat. Your tips helped the asparagus turn out with just the right amount of crisp and the meat gave the veggie a delicious flavor. Will be making this again soon.
Hi Marisa, thanks so much for you kind review, I’m glad my tips were helpful and you enjoyed how everything tasted!
such a great combination of ingredients. My friends loved it and asked me for this recipe. I shared your site with them 🙂
Thanks for sharing it, I’m glad you all enjoyed it 🙂
Asparagus and prosciutto are so good together already but the sweetness of the honey glaze and smokiness from the grill made this amazing!
I’m glad you think it’s a winning combo too! Thanks for sharing how it went!