Cheesy Baked Asparagus is the best side dish when you want a great depth of flavor for very little fuss! With tender asparagus and a creamy cheesy garlic sauce, there's a delightful crunch to the breadcrumb topping that makes this dish stand out from all the rest!
Preheat oven to 425 degrees F and lightly grease a casserole dish (you don't want it too big -- just big enough to hold your asparagus in a mostly flat layer. Too big and your sauce may burn)
Place your trimmed asparagus in the baking dish or roasting pan.
Combine the heavy cream, 2 tablespoons Parmesan, salt, garlic, and pepper. Pour the mixture over the asparagus in the pan.
Sprinkle remaining Parmesan and Panko bread crumbs on top.
Bake for 12-15 minutes until desired tenderness is reached. The sauce will thicken as it cooks and may brown slightly.
Notes
Ingredient substitutions:
Cream: this recipe works because heavy cream will thicken on its own when cooked. A lighter cream will not thicken the same way. You can swap the heavy cream for light cream but your sauce will be thin.
Seasonings: feel free to add additional seasonings to your tastes!
Storage
Store: This recipe is best eaten right away, but you can refrigerate leftovers for up to 4 days and reheat them in the oven (350 degrees for 10 minutes or until heated through).