Cheesy Baked Asparagus With Mozzarella

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Cheesy Baked Asparagus with mozzarella and parmesan is an amazing dish that can be enjoyed as an appetizer or a side dish. Quick, easy and full of freshness and flavor.

This recipe is for asparagus fans everywhere. I love asparagus year round, and while it’s in season in the Spring and Summer, sometimes I can get really great tasting asparagus in the fall and winter too!

Most often I roast asparagus on aluminum foil with a bit of olive oil, garlic, salt and pepper. But sometimes I’m looking for a recipe that’s just a bit more special and decadent.

This Cheesy Baked Asparagus recipe is the perfect side dish if you’re looking for something hearty and flavorful. According to my whole family, it’s the best side dish to serve no matter the season! If you love asparagus and cheese as much as I do, you will absolutely devour this recipe. For more asparagus recipes, try this pan fried asparagus!

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This dish is so pretty to serve if you have guests over for a spring or summer celebration. It does not have a long prep time which will allows you to have more time with your guests. It’s perfect as an informal nibble or as part of a bigger spread!

👩‍🍳 Why This Recipe Works

• Easy Side Dish
• Simple Recipe
• Healthy Comfort Food
• Fresh Flavors
• Super Cheesy
• Easy Recipe
• Vegetarian Friendly
• Low Carb Asparagus Recipe
• Gluten-Free

🥘 Ingredients

This easy cheesy garlic asparagus requires just a handful of ingredients easily found at your local grocery store! For the full ingredient list and nutritional information, see the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Fresh Asparagus: You’ll need 2 pounds of asparagus spears. Use fresh and trimmed asparagus. The woody ends of the asparagus can be tough. Be sure to remove the tough ends by bending at the bottom of the spear. The easiest way to know where the asparagus becomes tough is to snap the spear in two. Where the end snaps off is where the asparagus becomes tough.

Olive Oil: Just a little bit of olive oil is needed to coat the spears. Another option is to use melted butter.

Fresh Garlic Cloves: Mince your garlic and combine with the asparagus.

Whole Milk: To give this recipe an ultra creamy and decadent feel, the asparagus is cooked in whole milk. You can opt for heavy cream, however this will increase the calories and fat. I went with a whole milk because you still get the decadent creaminess, but a reduced amount of fat and calories.

Kosher Salt & Black Pepper: Season to your taste preference. For additional seasoning, try adding some Italian seasoning to taste.

Mozzarella Cheese: Keeping this cheesy vegetable bake on the healthy side, I opted for 1/2 a cup of low-fat shredded mozzarella cheese. Feel free to add more if you desire. Mozzarella is a naturally reduced fat cheese.

Parmesan Cheese: Use fresh shredded parmesan cheese for best results, rather than the kind you find in the canister. This will melt and combine to create a nice and creamy finish. You can also use asiago or gruyere cheese.

Red Pepper Flakes or Chopped Tomato (optional): For some added color and flavor, add a dash of red pepper flakes, and a chopped fresh tomatoes for serving.

🔪 Instructions

Preheat Oven & Trim Asparagus: Preheat oven to 400 degreed F. Wash and chop 2 pounds of asparagus. The ends of asparagus can be tough. Bend the asparagus until it snaps in two. The lower portion is the tough part you’ll want to discard.

Add Asparagus to 9×13 Baking Dish: Place asparagus in a 9×13 baking dish. It is okay if they are not in a single layer. Drizzle with olive oil, add minced garlic, and top with salt and pepper. Toss to combine and evenly coat.

Add Milk & Cheese: Pour the milk evenly over the asparagus. Sprinkle the shredded mozzarella cheese and parmesan over the top.

Bake: Bake in preheated oven for 20-25 minutes at 400 degrees F, or until the cheese is golden brown and begins to bubble. Garnish this cheesy asparagus bake with red pepper flakes and fresh parsley if desired. Enjoy!

❓Recipe FAQs

👪 How To Serve

This is a beautiful cheesy side dish or appetizer. Serve alongside some of these other suggested side dishes or appetizers.

• Crusty whole wheat bread with goat cheese (or any soft cheese spread on top)
• Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts
• Sauteed or Boiled Green Beans. Learn how to cook fresh green beans.
• Spinach Arugula Salad
• Air Fryer Carrots
• Vegan Roasted Potatoes

Looking for a main dish that pairs well with steamed asparagus? Give some of these a try for a complete meal!

• Instant Pot Risotto with Artichokes
• Healthy Veggie Lasagna

💭 Expert Tips

• Use the freshest asparagus you can find.
• Double the ingredients if you are serving a group!
• If you are making this for little kids, you can cook the asparagus slightly longer and cut it up into small bite-sized pieces to make them easy for little ones to eat.
• Feel free to broil this dish for 1 minute after it has finished baking to get the cheese even more golden brown and crispy.
• Add more or less cheese to your liking. And feel free to add some bread crumbs on top for additional texture!

🥧 More Healthy Side Dishes!

• Stuffed Zucchini Flowers
• Vegetarian Baked Beans
• Corn, Zucchini, and Onion Flatbread
• Vegan Quinoa Patties
• Indian Asparagus Stir Fry

📋 Recipe Card