Asparagus Casserole in a creamy Alfredo sauce topped with crisp cheesy bread crumbs. This asparagus bake is an easy and impressive side dish.
We love roasted asparagus and asparagus recipes in general like our popular baked asparagus with parmesan or this Shrimp Scampi Pasta.
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Asparagus Casserole Recipe:
Spring is in the air which means asparagus is plentiful in grocery stores! Read on to learn how to select the best quality fresh asparagus for this casserole.
This is a holiday worthy asparagus casserole (think Easter!) and comes together quickly. Watch everyone’s eyes light up when they see you pull this beauty out of the oven. This asparagus bake is irresistibly good served with creamy mashed potatoes and beef tenderloin or prime rib.
Is Asparagus Better Thick or Thin?
Thin Asparagus generally come from a younger asparagus crown (root bed). Skinny asparagus cooks faster so it’s a great option for stir frying.
Thick asparagus comes from an older asparagus crown. Since it takes longer to cook, it tends to be better for high heat cooking (broiling and roasting).
Ultimately, size is not important. Both thin and thick asparagus will work in this recipe. They taste the same and are equally sweet and tender. Be sure to adjust the timing as skinny asparagus will bake faster and big asparagus spears will take longer to reach desired tenderness.
How to Select Asparagus:
Size doesn’t matter when it comes to selecting asparagus, but freshness is importance. The signs of freshly pickled asparagus are:
- Tops that are tightly closed (not open or fraying)
- Bottoms that look moist and plump (not too dry or shriveled)
How to Trim Asparagus:
There are several methods for trimming asparagus. You can either peel the ends with a potato peeler or snap off the ends. For two pounds of asparagus, the easiest way (our preferred method), is to snap off the ends. Hold the bottom third of the spear with both hands and bend. It will naturally snap where the fibrous portion ends and the tender part begins.
Is Asparagus Healthy to Eat?
Asparagus is impressively good for you! It is known for its high folic acid, potassium, fiber, thiamine, B Vitamins, Vitamin A, Vitamin C and Vitamin K content. Adding to the list of asparagus health benefits, it also has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.*
How to Make Asparagus Casserole:
- Butter a 9×13 casserole and arrange trimmed asparagus, packing it so the surface is level.
- Make the Sauce: melt 3 Tbsp butter in a saucepan and add 2 1/2 Tbsp flour, whisking until golden. Add 2 cups half and half, 2 tsp garlic salt and 1/4 tsp pepper and whisk until starting to thicken. Remove from heat and stir in 1/2 cup parmesan.
- Pour sauce over casserole and bake at 400˚F for 15-18 min.
- Meanwhile, make the topping: stir together 1 Tbsp melted butter with 1/2 cup bread crumbs then stir in 1/2 cup parmesan. Halfway through baking, sprinkle on the topping.
- Broil 2-3 minutes at the end until topping is crisp and golden.
Our Best Asparagus Recipes:
- One Pan Salmon and Asparagus – easy, excellent dinner!
- Chicken Pesto Pasta – made perfect with asparagus
- Chicken Madeira with Asparagus – Cheesecake Factory copycat
- Sausage Asparagus Quiche – great for breakfast or brunch
Watch Natasha Make this Asparagus Casserole:
This really is such an easy recipe! I hope this asparagus casserole becomes a new favorite for you.
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Asparagus Casserole
Ingredients
- 2 lbs asparagus, trimmed
- 4 Tbsp unsalted butter, divided, plus more to grease casserole
- 2 1/2 Tbsp all-purpose flour
- 2 cups half and half, (or equal parts milk and heavy cream)
- 2 tsp garlic salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 1 cup parmesan cheese, divided
- 1/2 cup Panko bread crumbs
Instructions
- Preheat Oven to 400˚F with the rack in the center. Butter a 9x13 casserole dish. Arrange trimmed asparagus in prepared casserole dish, packing it down for a fairly flat and even surface.
- Place a saucepan over medium heat. Melt in 3 Tbsp butter then add 2 1/2 Tbsp flour and whisk constantly for 3 minutes or until butter just starts to turn golden in color. Whisk in 2 cups half and half, 2 tsp garlic salt and 1/4 tsp black pepper. Whisk until sauce just starts to thicken then remove from heat. Sprinkle in 1/2 cup parmesan and whisk until cheese is melted and incorporated.
- Pour sauce evenly over the asparagus, leaving about 1" space on the long sides of the casserole dish. Bake uncovered at 400˚F for 15-18 minutes (depending on thickness of asparagus), or until asparagus reaches desired tenderness.
- While the casserole is baking, make the topping: in a small mixing bowl, melt 1 Tbsp butter. Mix in 1/2 cup bread crumbs, stirring until evenly moistened, then stir in 1/2 cup remaining parmesan cheese. Halfway through baking, sprinkle the bread crumb topping evenly over the casserole then return it to the oven to finish baking.
- When asparagus has reached desired doneness, set oven to broil for 2-3 minutes or until bread crumbs are golden brown. Remove from oven and serve.
Nutrition Per Serving
Filed Under
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*Asparagus Nutrition and health benefits sourced from draxe.com
These asparagus were so good and paired so nicely with our salmon and roasted potatoes. Perfect dinner. I love the fact that you give ideas of what to pair things with. Awesome!
So glad to know it was helpful! Thanks for sharing.