Cheesy Baked Asparagus is an easy side dish made with Gruyere cheese, garlic, and bacon! You can also use Parmesan, Asiago Cheese, Pecorino Romano, or shredded Mozzarella (part-skim, low-moisture). It’s low-carb and keto-friendly.
Cheesy Baked Asparagus – Simple and Rustic Side Dish
Sometimes, the best side dish is the one that uses just a handful of ingredients and takes only 30 minutes to make! This is that recipe!
This easy rustic dish requires just 5 ingredients (not counting salt and pepper): asparagus, cheese, bacon, olive oil, garlic. All these ingredients are low-carb and keto-friendly – a great choice for those who aim to cut carbs. Towards the bottom of the recipe, I also provide a list of low-carb, keto-friendly main dishes that will pair well with this cheesy baked asparagus, such as cream cheese chicken or trout recipe with garlic, lemon, and butter.
The beauty of this recipe is in its simplicity. The asparagus is drizzled with olive oil, sprinkled with freshly minced garlic, and seasoned with salt and pepper. It’s briefly baked to soften the asparagus. Tip: pay attention to how thick (or thin) your asparagus stalks are and adjust roasting time accordingly! Then it’s smothered with freshly shredded cheese and chopped cooked bacon, and baked some more to melt the cheese.
What you have in the end is melty cheesy baked asparagus with a ton of flavor. And, the best thing is that you can make it as cheesy as you want by adjusting the amount of cheese to your liking.
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You’ll Need These Ingredients
- Asparagus is a star ingredient in many side dishes. This wonderful and healthy vegetable is high in fiber and is a good source of calcium, magnesium, and zinc. It’s also rich in vitamin C, vitamin E, and vitamin K. Use this vegetable! It’s so good for you.
- Cheese adds flavor and texture to this dish. I recommend using either Parmesan or Gruyere cheese, freshly shredded. I grate my own cheese right before using it in the recipe.
- Olive Oil adds flavor and helps asparagus acquire a nice texture when baked. Drizzle small amounts of it over asparagus before baking this dish in the oven.
- Garlic provides a lot of flavor and seasoning to the asparagus. Don’t skip it and use a generous amount for a more bold flavor.
- Bacon adds salt and smokiness to the baked asparagus. This is not the recipe to use raw bacon. Use COOKED bacon. Pre-cook your bacon in advance. I prefer to cook the bacon in the preheated oven at 350 F for about 20 minutes. Drain the fat off, and chop it.
What Kind of Cheese to Use
Use the type of cheese that melts nicely in the oven and adds great flavor. The two top choices here are Parmesan cheese and Gruyere cheese. Both kinds of cheese melt beautifully into a smooth, silky texture. You can also use Asiago, Pecorino Romano, or shredded Mozzarella (part-skim, low-moisture).
Parmesan is a popular and obvious choice but I do urge you to try Gruyere. I made this recipe with Gruyere cheese and the flavor was exquisite. Gruyere cheese is a Swiss cheese with a distinctive flavor and it’s great for melting. This cheese is often used for fondues as well as in a traditional French onion soup. You can’t go wrong with Gruyere cheese in this baked asparagus.
How Much Cheese To Use
This recipe uses 1 cup of freshly shredded Gruyere cheese over 1 pound of asparagus. I find that this amount is more than plenty. However, if you prefer your asparagus more cheesy, feel free to increase the amount of cheese by an additional ½ cup or double the amount of cheese.
How to Bake Asparagus in the Oven
First, preheat the oven to 400 F. Trim the dry ends of the asparagus. Place asparagus in a medium-sized casserole dish.
Drizzle the asparagus with 2 tablespoons olive oil, season with salt and pepper, top with minced garlic.
Bake the asparagus, uncovered, for 10 minutes in the preheated oven at 400 F. Remove from the oven. The asparagus is almost done. Now is the time to add freshly shredded cheese (use Parmesan or Gruyere cheese) and chopped cooked bacon.
Bake for 10 more minutes, uncovered at 400 F, to melt the cheese and heat up the bacon. Serve immediately to enjoy this cheesy asparagus with freshly melted cheese!
Serving Ideas
Cheesy baked asparagus is a low-carb, keto-friendly side dish that will go well with any main course. Below, I provide a few recommendations – all of which are low-carb, high-protein, and keto-friendly.
- Hasselback Chicken is made with Spinach, Parmesan, Mozzarella, Cream Cheese, and Bacon.
- Cajun Chicken Bake with Bell Peppers is made with homemade Cajun seasoning and topped with cream cheese.
- Chicken Thighs with Creamy Mushroom Thyme Sauce is a great recipe to have for bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs.
- Trout with Garlic Butter Lemon Caper Sauce is a keto-friendly dinner rich in lean protein and omega-3 fatty acids.
- Basil Pesto Shrimp with Mushrooms is an excellent low-carb, high-protein, and keto-friendly main dish.
