Asparagus Casserole

Savory Asparagus Casserole is a creamy veggie side dish featuring fresh asparagus and mushrooms baked in a garlic cheese sauce. This cheesy asparagus bake is topped with crispy parmesan breadcrumbs, and everyone loves it!

I’m sure you’ve had green bean casserole before, but have you tried a creamy casserole with asparagus? This asparagus casserole is similar to green bean casserole, but using asparagus instead of beans makes it a more sophisticated side dish.

Make a cheesy asparagus bake for Thanksgiving or Christmas this year, or serve it at Easter when local asparagus spears abound. This decadent, creamy, savory asparagus casserole will go with just about any traditional meal.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

1. Cheesy, Crispy Crumb Topping – The stuff inside the asparagus casserole is good, but the topping is divine! Panko breadcrumbs mixed with parmesan cheese make the most flavorful and crispy top layer.
2. Perfect for Holiday Dinner – You’re going to want to serve this casserole when you have guests over. They will ooh and ahh over how beautiful it looks, and then do it again when they taste how amazing it is!
3. Tender Asparagus – I’ll show you how to blanch the asparagus before adding it to the casserole. This way, it’s mostly cooked before the casserole goes in the oven, and it comes out perfectly.

Ingredients In Asparagus Casserole

Here’s what you need to make this delicious side dish:

Complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.

• Asparagus: You need two pounds of asparagus to make a casserole that serves 8 people as a side dish. It’s best to weigh it at the store since bundle sizes can vary.
• Mushrooms: I like to use cremini mushrooms for this dish, but white button mushrooms will work just fine too.
• Garlic: Fresh garlic, finely minced gives the cheesy cream sauce tons of savory flavor
• Butter, Milk, and Cream Cheese: We’re making a cream sauce! These items in the proper proportions make a silky, rich sauce base for our casserole. Go all out and use full-fat versions of all of them for the best flavor.
• Mozzarella and Parmesan Cheeses: Shredded mozzarella gets melted into the sauce, while the parmesan is in the topping, and will get toasty and delicious there.
• Panko Bread Crumbs: Panko is crispier than regular breadcrumbs, so it’s perfect to top asparagus casserole.
• Seasonings: Salt, Pepper, and a little bit of Ground Nutmeg.

How To Make Asparagus Casserole

1. Blanch Asparagus: Bring 4 quarts of water and 1 teaspoon of salt to a boil. Add the asparagus and set a timer for 2-3 minutes depending on the thickness of your stalks. Meanwhile, prepare a large bowl with ice-cold water.
2. Cool and Chop: When the timer is up, Remove the asparagus from the boiling water, and plunge it into the ice water to stop the cooking process.  Leave the asparagus in the ice water for 5 minutes, then drain and dry with paper towels. Cut into 2-inch pieces.
3. Mix the Topping Ingredients: In a bowl, combine the breadcrumbs with parmesan, and set aside. Preheat the oven to 350°F/180°C while you make the sauce.
4. Saute Mushrooms: To start the sauce, melt butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add the mushrooms, season with salt and pepper, and cook for 2-3 minutes or until tender.

1. Stir in Flour: Add the garlic and cook for just 30 seconds, then stir in the flour and cook for 30 more seconds.
2. Then Milk and Cheese: Gradually add the milk and whisk until heated through. Then add the cream cheese, mozzarella cheese, and nutmeg. Remove from the heat, and stir until the cheeses are melted.
3. Now the Asparagus: Once the sauce is finished, add the blanched asparagus and stir to combine.
4. Bake: If needed, transfer the asparagus mixture to an oven-safe casserole dish. Sprinkle the parmesan panko mixer over the top. Bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes, then switch on the broiler and cook until the topping is golden brown.

Recipe Tips

• How to Blanch Asparagus: I have a whole post on the process of blanching asparagus. So head there if you need more details! Basically, we’re cooking the asparagus most of the way in boiling water, then plunging it into ice water so it doesn’t get overcooked.
• Don’t skip the ice bath for the asparagus spears. This step stops the cooking process so that you don’t end up with mushy vegetables. 
• You can make this recipe with thin stalks of asparagus or thick ones. What’s most important is that the asparagus is fresh and that you’ve removed the parts at the bottom that are woody and difficult to eat. 
• If you prefer a different topping, try asparagus casserole with crispy french fried onions, potato chips, or buttery crackers like Ritz instead of the breadcrumbs. 
• Cheese substitutions: Any kind of melty cheese will work in the sauce. Try swiss cheese instead of mozzarella.
• Try adding protein: I haven’t done this myself yet, but I’ve seen others add a cup or two of shredded chicken directly into the asparagus casserole to create a full meal out of it.

Storing Tips

You can store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

This dish is best when eaten fresh from the oven, so I don’t recommend making it ahead of time on purpose, but leftovers are tasty if they happen.

What To Serve With Asparagus Casserole

This asparagus bake recipe is completely perfect for big holiday meals and fits right in with the usual Easter, Christmas, or Thanksgiving dinner sides.

For Easter, serve asparagus casserole with Honey Baked Ham and a batch of freshly baked Texas Roadhouse rolls on the side. Don’t forget to make a batch of Deviled Eggs too!

The ideal Christmas dinner would have to include roast beef or Bacon Wrapped Turkey, a festive Christmas Tree Cheese Ball appetizer, and plenty of Christmas cookies!

If you are planning Thanksgiving dinner, I have many delicious turkey options for you to choose from. Maybe you can try a Smoked Turkey this year with this asparagus casserole, crockpot mashed potatoes, and pumpkin pie.

Recipe FAQs

I can’t wait for you to make this recipe! Asparagus Casserole is the BEST way to eat and serve asparagus. It’s the perfect side dish for ham, turkey, chicken, or beef, and will be a welcome addition to your holiday table.