Roasted Asparagus with Bacon, Garlic, and Parmesan
Ingredients:
1 pound asparagus, trimmed
4 slices bacon, diced
4 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions:
1. Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. In a large bowl, toss the asparagus with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Make sure the asparagus is evenly coated.
3. Spread the asparagus in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet.
4. In a small skillet over medium heat, cook the diced bacon until crispy. Remove the bacon from the skillet and set aside, reserving about 1 tablespoon of the bacon grease in the skillet.
5. Add the minced garlic to the bacon grease in the skillet and cook for about 30 seconds, or until fragrant, being careful not to burn the garlic.
6. Pour the garlic-infused bacon grease over the asparagus on the baking sheet.
7. Roast the asparagus for 12-15 minutes, or until tender-crisp and slightly browned. You may need to flip the asparagus halfway through for even cooking.
8. Remove the asparagus from the oven and sprinkle with the crispy bacon pieces and Parmesan cheese.
9. Serve immediately and enjoy!