How To Make Cheesy Asparagus Casserole (With Bacon)
Looking for a delicious and easy side dish? Try this cheesy asparagus casserole recipe with bacon! Learn how to make this tasty dish in just a few simple steps.
Servings: 8 servings
Calories: 160kcal
Ingredients
- 8 - 10 slices bacon
- 2 pounds fresh asparagus
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 3/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/2 cup diced onion
- 1 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 Tablespoons flour
- 1 cup milk
- salt and black pepper
- 1/2 cup French fried onions
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Spray a 9 x 13 baking dish or 2 1/2 quart baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
- In a skillet, fry up bacon until crispy. Remove with a slotted spoon to a paper-towel lined plate, leaving 2 Tablespoons of the bacon grease in the skillet. Discard the excess grease, if needed.
- Prepare asparagus by removing woody ends, and cutting into 2-inch pieces.
- In a large bowl, mix asparagus, mayo and shredded cheddar cheese.
- Add diced onions, and garlic to the bacon grease, and sauté until onions are soft.
- Add the flour to the onions, and stir to make a roux.
- Over medium low heat, slowly add the milk, whisking constantly until the white sauce is thickened. Season with salt and black pepper to taste.
- Add the white sauce to the asparagus mixture.
- Pour into the prepared dish.
- Top with reserved bacon bits and French Fried Onions.
- Bake for 35 - 40 minutes until bubbly and golden brown. Do not overcook to prevent mushy asparagus.
- Let set for 5 - 10 minutes before serving to let the casserole set up.
Notes
-
- Use fresh asparagus stems, not canned.
- To easily figure out what part of the asparagus is woody and tough, break the asparagus towards the thicker end, and it will naturally snap where the woody part begins. Discard the thick, tough end.
- There's no need to blanch or steam the asparagus before assembling this asparagus casserole. Doing so will result in a mushy asparagus which nobody wants.
- I often make a half-recipe using an 8 x 8 inch baking dish or 2 quart baking dish instead. I bake it for approximately 30 minutes.
- I don't get caught up in using only thick asparagus or only thin asparagus. I use a combination depending on what's growing in my garden.
- Love asparagus but are short on time? Try this super quick and simple microwave asparagus recipe.
- The nutritional information is auto-calculated and can vary depending on the products used.
Nutrition
Calories: 160kcal | Carbohydrates: 11g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Cholesterol: 17mg | Sodium: 230mg | Potassium: 305mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 1023IU | Vitamin C: 7mg | Calcium: 144mg | Iron: 3mg