There is something about cooking over a campfire that makes even the simplest food taste better. These campfire prosciutto-wrapped asparagus spears are smoky, salty, crisp around the edges, and surprisingly easy to make with just a few ingredients.
They are the kind of camping appetizer that feels a little special without adding extra work to your trip. Just wrap fresh asparagus in thin slices of prosciutto, place them in a foil pan, and let the fire do the rest.
Table of Contents
Serve them before dinner, alongside grilled meats, or as a fresh side for your favorite campfire meal. They cook quickly, travel well, and bring a little extra flavor to outdoor cooking.
Why Cook Prosciutto?
Prosciutto is a type of cured ham from Italy with a rich flavor and firm texture. I know prosciutto is often served uncooked, but I always considered it just similar enough to bacon that I prefer it cooked! Cooking prosciutto over the fire seems to add something to the meat that leaving it raw just lacks.
When preparing meats like prosciutto at a campsite, you may also need to take some possible food safety issues into consideration. The FDA recommends storing most meats at below 40 degrees Fahrenheit to avoid the spread of bacteria, which can be difficult if you are keeping it in a cooler that may frequently be opened and closed. Cooking it kills this bacteria.
(The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service may also get involved if it has reason to suspect a problem. It’s issued at least one recall for imported prosciutto that somehow skipped a required inspection before.)
Seriously? When cooked properly, prosciutto is like bacon, but thinner. If you like bacon-wrapped anything but wish the bacon slices were thinner, you’ll probably like using prosciutto instead!
What You’ll Need for Campfire Prosciutto-Wrapped Asparagus
Before we start, let’s make sure we have everything we need to make this prosciutto-wrapped asparagus.
Equipment
- Disposable Aluminum Foil Plates or Pans (These can be disposable pie pans or disposable 9X13 aluminum baking pans. They just have to be big enough for the asparagus to lay flat in a single layer in.)
- Aluminum Foil
- Oven Mitts (Aluminum tends to cool off fast, but can still be hot when you’re just taking it off the campfire!)
- Portable Campfire Grill
Ingredients
- Asparagus Spears
- Thin Prosciutto Slices
- Pepper and Garlic Powder, to taste (optional)
About These Ingredients
Sounds really simple, doesn’t it? I mean, just a few ingredients! Let’s take a quick look at each ingredient.
Asparagus Spears
1 bunch asparagus spears
I know “1 bunch” is a little vague, but I typically aim for 15-20 spears in a bunch. With these spears, I’m aiming for a crisp-tender texture that lends a nice crunch to this appetizer.
Prosciutto
Enough prosciutto for one slice per asparagus spear
Prosciutto adds a meaty, almost bacon-like taste and texture to this appetizer.
Pepper and Garlic Powder (optional)
Pepper and Garlic Powder, to taste
This is very much optional and I typically aim for a light sprinkling of pepper and garlic powder on these prosciutto-wrapped asparagus spears for extra flavor.
Why not salt? Well, the prosciutto is usually already salty, so you probably won’t have to add much salt!
Printable Campfire Prosciutto-Wrapped Asparagus Recipe Card
Ingredients
- 1 bunch asparagus 15-20 spears
- proscuitto slices enough for one for each asparagus spear
- Pepper and Garlic Powder to taste (optional)
Instructions
- Wrap each asparagus spear in a slice of proscuitto.
- Place the wrapped asparagus in a foil tray.
- Sprinkle pepper and garlic powder over the asparagus, if using.
- Cover the trays with tin foil.
- Place the trays on a grill over the campfire until the proscuitto is crispy and the asparagus is somewhat tender.
Method for Making Campfire Prosciutto-Wrapped Asparagus
Step One: Wrap Asparagus Spears with Prosciutto
Wrap each asparagus spear in a slice of prosciutto.
Step Two: Place Wrapped Asparagus in Foil Plates or Pans
Arrange the wrapped asparagus in a single layer in foil plates or pans. Sprinkle salt and pepper over it, if using. Cover the trays with tin foil.
Step Three: Cook Prosciutto-Wrapped Asparagus
Place the trays on a grill over the campfire until the prosciutto is crispy and the asparagus is somewhat tender. This will typically take 12-15 minutes.
Tips & Tricks for Making Prosciutto-Wrapped Asparagus
If this is your first time making anything over a campfire, you picked a good recipe to try out first! Here’s a few tips to get you started.
Place your grill before you let the fire get too high. This will give you an idea of how much you can get away with when adjusting your campfire to suit.
Keep control over the campfire. The trick is to get it hot, but not too hot. Let the flames get close to the bottom of the grill without getting above the grate too much. Yes, it is acceptable to make your partner go away if he tries to “helpfully” build up the fire too much. You can do a bonfire later if the campground permits it; for now, you’re cooking food.
Check the doneness level at about 10 minutes. How fast these prosciutto-wrapped asparagus spears get done depends on how hot the fire is. They can get done in as little as 10 minutes if it’s hotter than expected.
Serve promptly. These prosciutto-wrapped asparagus spears are best while still hot and you can count on them cooling off quickly!
FAQ About These Prosciutto-Wrapped Asparagus Spears
I think these prosciutto-wrapped asparagus spears are easy to make. We do sometimes get questions, though! Here, I tried to answer a few of the most commonly asked questions. If you think of one I haven’t answered yet, feel free to ask in the comments section, and we’ll do our best to answer as soon as possible.
Can I use bacon slices instead of prosciutto?
That’s literally the only substitute I’d make for this recipe! I recommend using thinly sliced bacon because they’re easier to work with and don’t take as long to cook as thickly sliced bacon. Just keep in mind that bacon might be a little greasier, and may have to be transferred to paper towels to crisp up.
(Bacon is weird that way. I tested cooking bacon in the oven once, and it didn’t crisp up until after I’d transferred it to the paper towels. Cooking it over a campfire is somewhat similar.)
Can I make prosciutto-wrapped asparagus ahead of time?
It’s possible to wrap the asparagus spears with prosciutto a few hours ahead, and then keep it in a cooler filled with ice until you are ready to cook it. Make sure you remember to cook it the same day that you make it, and then serve promptly after cooking, for best results.
How do I keep prosciutto from burning over the campfire?
Keep the campfire as close to your at-home grill’s medium heat setting as you can while cooking the prosciutto-wrapped asparagus. That means no super-tall flames that get above the grill’s grate. (Hide the fire-starting fluid after you use it if there is any risk of a family member squirting some into the fire as a “prank.” This is for safety reasons as much as it is to avoid burning your food.)
How do I know when the asparagus is done?
The asparagus is done when it turns bright green and can be pierced with a fork, but still has a little crispness in the center. The prosciutto should look slightly crisp and browned around the edges. Avoid cooking too long, or the asparagus may become mushy.
I want to try this, but I’m not camping right now! Can I do it in the oven?
Sure, it’s easy to do in the oven! Place the wrapped asparagus on a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake at 400°F (204°C) for 10 to 15 minutes. For crispier prosciutto, broil for the last 1 to 2 minutes, watching closely so it does not burn.
Is it okay to use thick asparagus spears?
You can, but they may take a little longer to cook! These are the ones you may want to wrap with bacon slices if you prefer bacon.
More Campfire Recipes
I’m kind of a fan of cooking over the campfire when I camp. Here’s a few more campfire recipes that go well with this prosciutto-wrapped asparagus.
- Campfire Bacon Wrapped Water Chestnuts (Also works with bite-sized hotdog slices, pineapple chunks, and tater tots!
- Easy Cheesy Campfire Nachos
- Easy Campfire Dip
Did you try this recipe? Did the prosciutto-wrapped asparagus get gobbled up fast? Be sure to let us know what you think in the comments section, and don’t forget to rate this recipe!
