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Home » Recipes » Side Dish Recipes

Asparagus Casserole with Ritz Crackers

Published: Nov 29, 2022 Last Updated: Nov 29, 2022 by Marye 1309 words. | About 7 minutes to read this article.

Easy asparagus casserole is topped with Ritz crackers and bacon and takes just 30 minutes. It's the perfect holiday side dish! Assemble ahead of time and bake when you're ready to serve!
Total time 30 minutes
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Overhead view of asparagus casserole on a white plate. Text overlay for Pinterest.
Overhead view of a casserole dish with asparagus casserole in it. Text overlay for Pinterest.

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Overhead view of asparagus casserole with a serving spoon.
Jump to:
  • ❤️ Why you'll love it
  • 🧾 Ingredients
  • 🔪 Instructions
  • 🥫 Storage
  • 📖 Variations
  • 💭 Things to know
  • 👩‍🍳 FAQs
  • 📚 Related recipes
  • 🍽️ Serve with...
  • 🥄 Restless Chipotle recommends
  • 📞 The last word
  • Asparagus Casserole with Ritz Crackers
  • 💬 Comments

❤️ Why you'll love it

  • You can assemble it ahead of time and bake when needed.
  • Crunchy bacon, creamy sauce, and gooey cheese - who doesn't love that?
  • Just 5 ingredients and done in 30 minutes - it couldn't be easier!

Asparagus has a bad reputation - and for good reason! People have been overcooking it to a slimy, green mass of ooblek for years.

This cheesy asparagus casserole recipe with Ritz crackers redeems this much maligned vegetable in the most delicious way possible!

🧾 Ingredients

This is an overview of the ingredients. You'll find the full measurements and instructions in the green recipe card (printable) at the bottom of the page.

Ingredients for asparagus casserole recipe.
You need just 5 ingredients for this easy asparagus casserole.

🔪 Instructions

This is an overview of the instructions. Full instructions are in the green recipe card at the bottom of the page.

Step by step images showing how to make asparagus casserole.
  1. Cut fresh asparagus in bite sized pieces. Cook until crisp-tender.
  2. Drain and add a layer to a casserole dish.
  3. Top with half the cream of mushroom soup.
  4. Top with half the cheese. Repeat layers ending with cheese.
Overhead view of asparagus casserole ready to go in the oven.
  1. Mix bacon grease (or butter) with the crushed crackers.
  2. Sprinkle on top of the casserole and then top with cooked bacon.
  3. Bake for 30 minutes.

🥫 Storage

You can assemble this easy recipe ahead of time and bake when you're ready to serve it.

Leave the cracker crumbs and bacon off until you are ready to bake it, however.

Refrigerate asparagus casserole, tightly covered with plastic wrap or in an airtight container, for up to 4 days. You can also freeze it for up to 3 months.

📖 Variations

  • Make this creamy asparagus casserole recipe a main dish by adding cooked chicken or ham.
  • You can substitute crispy french fried onions for the Ritz crackers on top.
  • Substitute panko bread crumbs for the Ritz cracker crumbs.
  • Broccoli, green beans, or cauliflower work well in this recipe, too.
  • Almost any "cream of" soup can be substituted for the cream of mushroom. Cream of celery is especially good.
  • Some people like hard-boiled eggs chopped up and mixed in with the soup layer.

💭 Things to know

Expert Tip: Separate the tips of the asparagus and the stems after you cut the stalks up. Add the stalks to boiling water first and let them cook about 2 minutes before adding the tips. That way the stalks will be cooked through but the tips won't be mushy.

  • Cover the ends with a wet paper towel and store in the fridge until ready to use. Use within a day or two.
  • Don't overcook the asparagus. It will cook a bit more in the oven and you don't want it to be slimy.
  • Choose plump, firm stalks of asparagus with tightly closed tips.
  • Thicker asparagus stalks are better than the very thin ones.
  • Don't wash or trim asparagus shoots until you are ready to use them in your recipe.

👩‍🍳 FAQs

How to choose asparagus.

The tops are tightly closed and the stalks look plump and moist. See tips above.

How to trim asparagus.

It's easiest to just snap off the ends. Hold the bottom part of the spear firmly and bend. It will break where the tenderest part of the asparagus stalk begins. This does result in a lot of waste. If this is a concern trim the stalks with a knife just above the woody part.

Can you freeze asparagus casserole?

Yes. You can freeze it unbaked without the topping for up to 3 months. Just thaw overnight in the refrigerator, top with the cracker crumbs and bacon, and bake as directed.
You can also freeze it after it's been baked.

Is asparagus better thick or thin?

Thin asparagus is better for quick cook methods like stir frying while thick asparagus is better for steaming or roasting. You can use either in this recipe.

Serving of asparagus casserole on a plate.
This creamy, cheesy asparagus bake is the perfect spring side dish.

📚 Related recipes

  • Southern Pineapple Casserole Recipe is good any time but is especially popular at Easter.
  • Poppy Seed Chicken Casserole with Ritz Crackers is a classic southern dish. It's quick, easy, and delicious!
  • Jiffy Cornbread Casserole is another side dish that's easy to make!
  • Baked Macaroni and Cheese has a crispy, breadcrumb topping.
  • Best Pineapple Fluff Recipe
  • Loaded Green Bean Casserole
  • 23 Southern Easter Side Dishes
  • Mom's Homemade Potato Salad

🍽️ Serve with...

  • braised pork and red cabbage
  • 30 dinner minute rolls
  • strawberry rhubarb pie

🥄 Restless Chipotle recommends

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You'll need the following items to make this recipe successfully.

  • casserole dish
  • saucepan
  • knife

📞 The last word

Asparagus is in season all spring long and there's no better way to serve it than in this creamy side dish!

Tender asparagus is covered in a creamy, cheesy sauce that's lick your plate delish!

If you love green bean casserole you'll love this recipe!

If you click on the number of servings in the recipe card you can adjust the measurements up or down for the exact number of servings you need. Don't forget that you can click on "add to collection" to save it to your own, private recipe box!

If you love this recipe please give it 5 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Overhead closeup of the asparagus and cheese casserole.
4.73 from 47 votes

Asparagus Casserole with Ritz Crackers

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Easy asparagus casserole is topped with Ritz crackers and bacon and takes just 30 minutes. It's the perfect holiday side dish! Assemble ahead of time and bake when you're ready to serve!
Course Side Dish
Cuisine Amercian Heritage
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Servings:6
Calories:268
Author:Marye Audet-White
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Equipment Needed

  • 9x9 casserole dish 2 quart baking dish

Ingredients

  • 2 pounds fresh asparagus, trimmed, cut into 1-inch pieces
  • 10.5 ounces cream of mushroom soup
  • 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
  • 1 cup Ritz crackers
  • ½ cup bacon, cooked, reserve 2 tablespoons bacon grease

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Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350°F.
  • Cut asparagus in bite sized pieces and separate the tips from the stalks.
  • Add the stalks to salted, boiling water and cook for about 2 minutes.
  • Add the tips and cook for a minute or so more - or until the stalks are crisp-tender.
  • Drain.
  • Cook the bacon until crisp. Reserve 2 tablespoons of the bacon grease.
  • Crumble the bacon and set aside.
  • Crumble the crackers and set aside.
  • Grease a 2 quart casserole dish and add half the cooked asparagus.
  • Top with half the cream of mushroom soup.
  • Add half the cheese and repeat the layers.
  • Mix the reserved bacon grease with the cracker crumbs. You may substitute 2 tablespoons of melted butter if you like.
  • Sprinkle over the top of the casserole.
  • Top with the crumbled bacon.
  • Bake, uncovered, until heated through and bubbly, 25 - 30 minutes.

Notes

Storage:
You can assemble the casserole ahead of time and bake when you're ready to serve it. Leave the cracker crumbs and bacon off until you are ready to bake it, however.
Refrigerate asparagus casserole, tightly covered, for up to 4 days. You can also freeze it for up to 3 months but the topping tends to get mushy so scrape that off first.
Tips on choosing, storing, and cooking asparagus
  • Separate the tips of the asparagus and the stems after you cut the stalks up. Add the stalks to boiling water first and let them cook about 2 minutes before adding the tips. That way the stalks will be cooked through but the tips won't be mushy.
  • Cover the ends with a wet paper towel and store in the fridge until ready to use. Use within a day or two.
  • Don't overcook the asparagus. It will cook a bit more in the oven and you don't want it to be slimy.
  • Choose plump, firm stalks of asparagus with tightly closed tips.
  • Thicker asparagus stalks are better than the very thin ones.
  • Don't wash or trim asparagus shoots until you are ready to use them in your recipe.
 

Nutrition Facts

Calories: 268kcal | Carbohydrates: 15g | Protein: 14g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 35mg | Sodium: 690mg | Potassium: 437mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 1339IU | Vitamin C: 8mg | Calcium: 190mg | Iron: 4mg

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    First published March 12, 2021. Last updated November 29, 2022 for editorial improvements.

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    About Marye

    With a 40 year focus on the importance of family and a passion for southern comfort food, Marye Audet-White is an expert in melding the two together effortlessly. Marye's a NY Times Bestselling author with 10 cookbooks under her belt and her recipes have been featured in Good Housekeeping, Country Living, Today, House Beautiful, Texas Living, Food & Wine, and many more.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Reginald Deneau

      July 26, 2022 at 7:28 pm

      5 stars
      Excellent recipe and very easy to prepare.

      Reply
    2. sue

      February 14, 2022 at 4:34 pm

      5 stars
      I just made this--delicious! Had all the ingredients on hand. In fact, I had some cold leftover bacon from yesterday in the refrigerator and had saved the bacon grease. It made the recipe even easier to make. This was so tasty that I ate a big bowl of it for dinner. This is a good potluck dish, would just double or triple the recipe.

      Reply
    3. Janet

      March 12, 2021 at 8:14 pm

      5 stars
      Even my non-asparagus-loving hubby likes this dish--
      am going to try it with the new (hard to find!) Campbell's Cream of BACON soup! Sounds like a perfect dish to use it in!
      Thanks for all your wonderful ideas and recipes!

      Reply

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