Cheesy Asparagus Casserole

This rich and flavorful asparagus casserole features fresh asparagus spears baked in a creamy sauce made with cream cheese, heavy cream, chicken broth, and two types of cheese, finished with bacon crumbles.

Cheesy Asparagus Casserole

Ingredients:

How To Make Cheesy Asparagus Casserole:

Step 1: Prep Oven and Asparagus: Heat the oven to 400F (200C). Wash and trim the 2 bunches of asparagus, then grease a 9×13 baking tray and place the trimmed asparagus in it.

Step 2: Make Cheese Sauce Base: In a skillet, melt the 1 tbsp butter over a medium heat. Then, add the 1/2 oz soft cream cheese, 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream, 1 tbsp chicken broth, 1/2 tsp garlic powder, 1/4 tsp paprika, 1/4 tsp Italian seasoning, 1/8 tsp salt, and 1/8 tsp pepper. Stir constantly until the ingredients are well blended.

Step 3: Thicken Sauce: Reduce the heat to medium/low and bring the sauce to a simmer until the heavy whipping cream has reduced and the sauce has thickened. Keep whisking until it does not stick to the bottom of the pan. This will take a few minutes for the sauce to reduce and thicken.

Step 4: Add Cheese: Once the sauce is thick, add the 1/3 cup Parmesan cheese and 1/8 cup Pepper Jack cheese. Continue to stir until the cheese melts and the sauce is smooth.

Step 5: Assemble and Bake: Pour the cheese sauce over the asparagus in the middle of the casserole, avoiding the tops of the asparagus spears. Next, sprinkle Mozzarella cheese (although not listed in the ingredients, I will include it as directed in the instruction step) and 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes over the cheese sauce.

Step 6: Finish Baking: Bake for 15 minutes. (If you prefer crunchy asparagus, you can reduce the baking time by 2-3 minutes.) Remove from oven and add 1/3 cup bacon crumbs to the top. Bake for another 3 minutes and Enjoy!