This cheesy Baked Asparagus recipe takes the stalky spring vegetable to new heights. Roasted to perfection and smothered in melted cheddar and ham, it’s one of my favorite keto sides.
I have honestly made this baked asparagus recipe about 4 times in the last two weeks. I can’t get enough. And here is the honest truth: I don’t even like asparagus!
Or perhaps I should say that I didn’t like asparagus until now. I seem to have become a huge fan overnight.
Why I even bought that stalky green veggie is kind of a mystery to me. Our grocery stores had a run on fresh vegetables a few weeks ago, and pickings were slim. So I decided to give it another try.
I figured I could at the very least, I could make some more of my cream of asparagus soup. That’s another recipe that surprised me with great flavor. I guess I love asparagus after all!
Why you will love this recipe
Take it from a self-proclaimed asparagus hater, this is the best way to serve it! I have tried any number of ways of cooking asparagus, including grilling it. But this simple oven-baked method is my hands-down favorite.
Simple baked asparagus is easy, fuss-free, and mess-free. And I think it bring out the best flavor, without turning your asparagus into complete mush. All it really needs is a little oil, some garlic, and a sprinkle of salt and pepper.
Topping it with ham and cheese turns it from rather plain to a spectacular keto side dish. And it’s a great way to use up any leftover Easter ham you might have this year.
Reader Reviews
“I made this for dinner tonight! My husband and I loved it. He usually only eats the very tips of the asparagus but with this recipe, he ate it all. Thank you again. Your recipes never disappoint! ♥️♥️♥️” — Linda
“The ONLY way to eat asparagus from now on! ???? Sooo good!” — Jennifer
“I have wanted to love asparagus for a while now but just couldn’t love it. UNTIL NOW! This was absolutely delicious and it’s how I’ll eat it from now on. Thank you!” — Jessica
Ingredients you need
- Asparagus spears: You want to use fresh asparagus, rather than frozen. Thinner spears will cook faster than the thicker varieties so be mindful of that and adjust the timing as needed. Whatever you use, be sure that the spears are of roughly the same size so they will cook evenly.
- Oil: For roasting in the oven, I recommend avocado or extra virgin olive oil.
- Seasoning: Garlic, salt and pepper.
- Cheese: I used both grated cheddar and mozzarella cheeses. You can also use Monterey Jack and/or parmesan, too.
- Cooked ham: This is a great way to use up leftover holiday ham and it adds a salty component (and more protein) to your dish.
Step-by-step directions
- Lay cleaned and trimmed asparagus on a rimmed baking sheet and drizzle with the oil. Sprinkle with the salt and pepper and toss to combine, then spread out into a single layer.
- Sprinkle with the minced garlic and bake at 450ºF for 8 minutes, until the asparagus is tender and bright green.
- Remove from the oven and turn on the broiler. Sprinkle the asparagus with the grated cheeses and diced ham.
- Return to the oven on the second highest rack position and broil 2 to 4 minutes, until the cheese is melted and beginning to brown.
Expert Tips
Prep the asparagus: Each spear of asparagus has a woody end that needs to be removed. This part of the asparagus is tough, dry, and not very palatable. You can use the bend and break method of removing this woody end or just cut it with a knife.
Don’t line the pan: I recommend leaving your baking sheet unlined for this baked asparagus recipe. As long as you toss them with oil, they won’t stick to your pan and they roast faster this way.
And then the cheese becomes all crispy and browned on the edges. You might end up standing there, picking it off and eating it before you serve!
Watch it carefully: While asparagus is easy to cook, it’s also easy to overcook. This means you need to watch it carefully during cooking. When the color becomes bright green and the stalks are just fork tender, it’s cooked perfectly.
Baked asparagus is best served right away, as it tends to wither a bit and become wrinkled as it sits. But while it’s less attractive looking if cooked too far in advance, it’s still just as tasty.
Leftovers: I actually really like the leftovers warmed in the microwave to melt the cheese again. They will keep in the refrigerator for 2 to 3 days. I do not recommend freezing leftovers as the asparagus will turn to mush.
Frequently Asked Questions
Asparagus is an excellent choice for a keto vegetable side dish. 1 cup of chopped asparagus has only 5g of carbs per serving and 2.8g of fiber. It also contains plenty of Vitamin A and C, as well as folic acid and other antioxidants. And it cooks very quickly, becoming tender in less than 10 minutes, no matter how you cook it.
Asparagus has wonderful flavor on its own, but there are a number of different ways to enjoy it. Keep it simple with just simple salt and pepper, maybe drizzle with lemon juice or grated lemon zest. Or you can baked your asparagus with shredded cheese and ham for a decadent keto side dish.
This baked asparagus recipe has 3.8g of carbs and 1.6g of fiber per serving. That comes to 2.2g net carbs per serving.
Baked Asparagus with Ham & Cheese
Ingredients
- 1 lb (453.59 g) asparagus spears
- 1 tbsp avocado oil, or olive oil
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- Salt and pepper
- 4 ounces (113.4 g) cheddar cheese, grated
- 2 ounces (56.7 g) shredded mozzarella
- 1 ounce (28.35 g) cooked ham, diced
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400ºF. Wash and trim the woody ends from the asparagus. Pat dry well.
- Lay the asparagus on a rimmed baking sheet and drizzle with the oil. Sprinkle with the salt and pepper and toss to combine, then spread out into a single layer.
- Sprinkle with the minced garlic and bake 6 to 8 minutes, until the asparagus is tender and bright green.
- Remove from the oven and turn on the broiler. Sprinkle the aspargus with the grated cheeses and diced ham.
- Return to the oven on the second highest rack position and broil 2 to 4 minutes, until the cheese is melted and beginning to brown.
Nutrition
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This was soooo tasty! I did add chicken as well. Was amazing fresh out of the oven and reheated the next day ❤️
The ONLY way to eat asparagus from now on! ???? sooo good!
Perfect brunch food! Need to add this to the menu for Mother’s Day brunch! Super delish! Love the flavor of the cheese & ham with the roasted asparagus. So, SO good!
I have wanted to love asparagus for a while now but just couldn’t love it. UNTIL NOW! This was absolutely delicious and it’s how I’ll eat it from now on. Thank you!
I feel EXACTLY the same way!
My whole family loves this recipe. It is very adaptable to what I have on hand — different cheeses, with or without ham, or even using frozen steam-in-the-bag asparagus (steam first, then bake). Thanks for sharing all your great recipes!
I love how this takes roasted asparagus to a whole new level! So delicious!
mmm..this looks incredibly delicious!! YUM!
What a unique way to prepare asparagus! It looks delicious – giving it a try this weekend, I’m excited!
I made this for dinner tonight! My husband and I loved it. He usually only eats the very tips of the asparagus but with this recipe, he ate it all. Thank you again. Your recipes never disappoint! ♥️♥️♥️
That’s good to hear!