Smothered Asparagus
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Baked Smothered Asparagus with garlic, heavy cream, and cheese is a fantastic side dish not only low carb and keto-friendly, but so good you will forget its healthy!
Keto friendly but also a wonderful side dish for anyone, this guilt free side dish recipe is bite after bite perfection for cheese lovers.
Our loaded cheesy asparagus side dish is just so good – it’s incredibly creamy, wonderfully simple, and can be effortlessly prepared in the oven.
Low-Carb Option: Asparagus with cheesy sauce is a fantastic choice if you’re following a low-carb or keto diet. It’s satisfyingly delicious while keeping your carbohydrate intake in check.
And here’s an added bonus: veggies covered in cheese are also a hit with kids! You might even sneak in a few bites before receiving snide remarks (small victories, right?).
Simple Ingredients
- Heavy cream
- Fresh Asparagus Stalks: Cut the stalks down to fit comfortably in a single row in a baking dish.
- Shredded Fresh Parmesan Cheese: For the love of all things, don’t use the green shaker can with this one. Get the freshly shredded kind that comes in a little airtight container.
- Mozzarella Cheese
- Seasonings: a pinch of cayenne pepper, minced garlic, salt, and black pepper. For some extra heat, try some chili pepper flakes too!
Prefer an asparagus casserole? Try our shrimp and asparagus casserole.
Smothered Asparagus Recipe
- First, prep by washing and trimming asparagus spears. Lay them down so the tip and bottom lay neatly in a single layer in the baking dish.
- Mix minced garlic and cream and pour over asparagus in a casserole dish.
- Smother stalks of asparagus with your Parmesan and mozzarella. I like to put mozzarella first and Parmesan on top because it crisps the best in the oven.
- Bake at 400 degrees for a cooking time of 20–25 minutes, until cheese is bubbling and slightly brown on the edges. Cooking time varies slightly in individual ovens, and monitoring food is essential.
- Cover the tender asparagus mixture and all that cheese sauce in crispy bacon pieces before serving!
What to serve with Asparagus
This side dish pairs perfectly with a complete meal, adding a touch of elegance since asparagus is typically an upgrade at a restaurant.
You can serve it with nearly any protein, but a chicken recipe, a pasta dinner, seafood like this salmon recipe, and steak dishes are most common.
Keto Asparagus with Heavy Cream
Ingredients
- 1 pound asparagus
- 2 tablespoons minced garlic
- 3/4 cup heavy whipping cream
- pinch cayenne pepper
- Salt
- Black Pepper
- 1 cup Shredded Mozzarella
- 1 Cup Shredded Fresh Parmesan
- Cooked Crispy Bacon Pieces optional
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 while you prep.
- Trim Asparagus spears to fit a glass baking casserole dish so the tip and the edge fit perfectly and lay flat without going over one another. *single file1 pound asparagus
- Mix heavy whipping cream and minced garlic in a bowl and dump over the top of the crisp asparagus stalks.3/4 cup heavy whipping cream, 2 tablespoons minced garlic
- Season the top with a pinch of Cayenne pepper (or up to 1 teaspoon if you like heat) and season with sea salt and ground black pepper.pinch cayenne pepper, Black Pepper, Salt
- Top asparagus with shredded mozzarella cheese, coating evenly.1 cup Shredded Mozzarella
- Spread shredded fresh Parmesan over the top of the mozzarella cheese.1 Cup Shredded Fresh Parmesan
- Bake cheesy asparagus in a pre-heated 400 degree oven for approx 25 minutes, removing when tips of asparagus are done and the cheese is slightly golden and bubbly.
- OPTIONAL: Cover in crispy bacon and pepper flakes before serving.Cooked Crispy Bacon Pieces
Nutrition
Nutritional Disclaimer: The nutritional data provided here is auto-calculated and intended for your convenience only. As it’s generated via automation, its accuracy may be compromised. For precise nutritional insight, please compute the values utilizing the actual ingredients in your recipe through your chosen nutrition calculator or application.
Did You Make This Recipe?
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Lovely. Brilliant recipe, all it claims to be I used cheddar instead of mozzarella
I’ve made this recipe twice with different cheeses that I had on hand. It was delicious both times. It’s quick and easy to make and a great way to use my asparagus from my garden when it is in season. Also a great keto dish.