Ham and Cheese Baked Asparagus – Keto Side Dish

This cheesy baked asparagus is hands down my new favorite keto side dish. It’s easy, delicious, and takes less than 20 minutes to make.

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, 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 dairy-free keto asparagus soup, which again, to my surprise, I liked a lot.

Baked asparagus is easy and delicious

I have tried any number of ways of cooking asparagus, including grilling it. But this simple oven-roasted method is easily my favorite.

It’s so easy, fuss-free, and mess-free. And I think it seems to bring out the best flavor.

And topping it with ham and cheese turns it from a little bit boring to a spectacular keto side dish. A perfect use for any leftover Easter ham you might have this year.

Is asparagus keto-friendly?

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.

Tips for cheesy baked asparagus

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.

Cooked 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.

I actually really liked the leftovers of this easy baked asparagus, simply warmed in the microwave to melt the cheese again.

I recommend leaving your baking sheet unlined for this baked asparagus recipe. As long as you toss the veggies with sufficient 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!

Ready to try this delicious keto baked asparagus?

More keto asparagus recipes

• Asparagus Goat Cheese Frittata
• Asparagus Shrimp Alfredo
• Bacon Wrapped Asparagus Bundles
• Crispy Asparagus Fries
• Asparagus Stuffed Chicken

Ham and Cheese Baked Asparagus

This cheesy baked asparagus is hands down my new favorite keto side dish. It's easy, delicious, and takes less than 20 minutes to make.

5 from 4 votes

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Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Keyword: baked asparagus, cheesy asparagus

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 12 minutes

Total Time: 20 minutes

Servings: 6 servings

Calories: 140kcal

Ingredients

• 1 lb asparagus spears
• 1 tablespoon avocado oil
• 1 clove garlic minced
• Salt and pepper
• 4 ounces cheddar cheese, grated
• 2 ounces shredded mozzarella
• 1 ounce cooked ham diced

Instructions

• Preheat the oven to 400F. 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 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 Facts

Ham and Cheese Baked Asparagus

Amount Per Serving (1 serving = ⅙th of recipe)

Calories 140 Calories from Fat 93

% Daily Value*

Fat 10.3g16%

Carbohydrates 3.8g1%

Fiber 1.6g6%

Protein 9.1g18%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.