Cheesy Baked Asparagus

This Cheesy Baked Asparagus is layered with cheese, bacon, and garlic. It’s quick enough to make any night of the week, but it’s impressive enough to serve to dinner guests too! 

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You guys, I have a confession. For the longest time, I was totally that person who claimed not to love asparagus. Like, I’d make it for my boys because they’re obsessed, but I’d be over there picking at my portion and wishing it was literally any other vegetable.

But then this cheesy baked asparagus with bacon happened, and honestly? I think I’ve been making asparagus wrong this whole time.

Picture this: tender asparagus spears buried under layers of nutty Gruyere cheese and crispy bacon, with little pockets of garlic throughout that get all sweet and mellow in the oven. It’s like asparagus decided to put on its fancy clothes and show up to the dinner party.

The best part? This whole thing comes together in about 30 minutes, which means it’s totally doable for a Tuesday night but impressive enough that you could serve it to company without breaking a sweat.

(Another asparagus winner? Our Alfredo baked asparagus. Same vibe, different cheesy situation.)

3 Reasons You’ll Love Cheesy Baked Asparagus with Bacon:

• It’s ridiculously easy. We’re talking about layering stuff in a dish and letting the oven do all the work while you catch up on emails or help with homework.
• The flavor combo is pure magic. Nutty Gruyere meets smoky bacon and sweet roasted garlic in a way that transforms humble asparagus into something you’ll actually crave.
• You’ll look like a kitchen genius. People will think you spent way more effort on this than you actually did. I won’t tell if you don’t.

How This All Comes Together:

Asparagus bakes beautifully at 400 degrees for about 25 minutes—nothing tricky there. But here’s where we make it special:

You’re going to layer half your asparagus in a baking dish, then shower it with olive oil, salt, minced garlic, crispy bacon bits, and a generous handful of cheese. Then you repeat those layers like you’re building a masterpiece.

I used Gruyere here because it melts like a dream and has this amazing nutty flavor that plays so well with the bacon. But honestly, use whatever good melting cheese makes you happy – sharp cheddar would be incredible, or maybe some fontina if you’re feeling fancy. Smoked gouda would be pretty fab, too.

The whole thing bakes until the asparagus is tender (but not mushy – nobody wants mushy asparagus) and the cheese is all golden and bubbly. I like to hit it with a pinch of red pepper flakes at the end for just a tiny bit of heat, but that’s totally optional.

Swaps & Tips:

Want to switch things up? Here’s what I’ve learned works (and what doesn’t) through our multiple test runs of this recipe:

For the cheese: Gruyere is my favorite here, but sharp cheddar, fontina, or even a good quality Swiss will work beautifully. I wouldn’t recommend pre-shredded cheese though – it doesn’t melt as smoothly and you’ll miss out on that creamy, bubbly top we’re going for.

No bacon? No problem. Crispy pancetta or even some diced ham will work great.

Garlic situation: If fresh garlic isn’t your thing, you can use about 1/2 teaspoon of garlic powder instead. Just sprinkle it over the asparagus with the salt.

Spice level: Those red pepper flakes are totally optional, but they add such a nice little kick. Start with just a pinch if you’re not sure about heat levels.

One thing I’ve learned the hard way: don’t skip the oil and salt on the asparagus. It might seem like a small step, but it makes a huge difference in how everything tastes and how well the asparagus roasts.

Why This Works for That Low Carb Life:

Let’s talk numbers for a second. Asparagus clocks in at just 0.3 net carbs per spear, which means you can eat a generous portion without worrying about your macros. Add in the cheese and bacon for your good fats, and you’ve got yourself a perfectly keto-friendly side dish.

I’ve been serving this alongside grilled chicken or steak, but honestly, I’ve caught myself eating it straight from the pan as a snack (don’t judge me).

• Asparagus Stuffed Chicken: A family favorite!
• Ham and Asparagus Quiche Bites: Perfect way to get some green in your breakfast!
• Prosciutto Wrapped Asparagus: Adding prosciutto instantly makes asparagus 10x tastier!
• Garlic Parmesan Asparagus: Easy roasted asparagus!
• Bacon Wrapped Asparagus: We make this in the air fryer!