The Easiest Asparagus and Bacon Bake

I know you. You're looking for an easy, foolproof side dish for the holidays. Something simple to make but has great flavor. Oh and it would be nice if you could prep it ahead. Yeah, I know the feeling. I love cooking and baking for the holidays. There's nothing quite like it! But there comes a time in the menu planning when you just need a culinary home run that only requires one eye on the ball.

Well, here it is.

A big ham sandwich pitch right over the middle of the plate.

This dish is a total crowd pleaser. You can't go wrong with bacon, garlic and asparagus all baked together. It's savory. It's full of flavor. It's delicious. This is a great prep ahead dish and it reheats nicely. And if you prefer green beans to asparagus, just substitute one for one. So take a swing. Add this dish to your holiday menu and enjoy that victorious stroll around the bases. Enjoy!

The Easiest Asparagus and Bacon Bake

gluten free ~ dairy free

The combination of salty bacon and savory garlic makes the roasted asparagus shine (you can also substitute trimmed green beans). It’s a no-fuss recipe that’s sure to impress your holiday guests.

Serves 4-6

Ingredients

2 pounds asparagus, ends trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces

4 slices bacon, chopped into 1-inch pieces

4 cloves garlic, sliced

1/3 cup frozen peas, thawed

3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon black pepper

5 sprigs fresh thyme

Directions

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.

In an 8 by 8-inch glass baking dish, stir together the asparagus, bacon, garlic, peas, olive oil, salt, and pepper. Add the thyme sprigs on top and place in the oven.

Bake for 40-45 minutes until the asparagus is fork tender and the bacon is fully cooked. Remove thyme stems and stir before serving. Serve warm.

*Make-Ahead Tip: Trim the asparagus and cut the bacon the day before. Store separately in the fridge until ready to assemble the dish.

recipe courtesy: LaurenMarieGlutenFree.com