• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Buy This Cook That
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Recipes
  • Meal Plans
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • ×

    Home » Recipes » Sides

    Make this NOW - Roasted Asparagus Smothered in White Cheddar

    Updated Aug 8, 2022

    422 shares
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    Cheesy Roasted Asparagus

    If it is possible for a side dish to be "wow" and "simple" at the same time, this is it. This recipe starts with a classic oven-roasted asparagus and finishes with a scratch-made white cheddar cheese sauce. Topped with a light sprinkle of nutmeg, this cheesy side dish will be a new family favorite.

    A white platter of roasted asaparagus topped with white cheese sauce and sprinkled with nutmeg

    Roasted Asparagus with White Cheddar Sauce

    My family is 100% pro-asparagus. Warm and roasted asparagus is one of our favorite side dishes, just as is. But if you have been following our blog long enough, you know I have a thing for cheese.

    Cheese is kind of like bacon. It makes everything better.

    For this Roasted Asparagus with White Cheddar Sauce, we picked out the biggest asparagus we could find. You can use the thinner asparagus if you would like, but I wanted all of that asparagus flavor to stand up to the cheese sauce.

    Fresh asparagus on a towel

    Ingredients Needed:

    • Fresh asparagus
    • Olive oil
    • Butter
    • All purpose flour
    • Milk
    • White cheddar cheese - Get a good quality, sharp cheddar for this recipe.
    • Salt + pepper
    • Nutmeg - Trust me.

    Basic Recipe for Roasted Asparagus:

    1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
    2. Wash asparagus and dry.
    3. Break off the tough ends by gently bending toward the cut end. (They will snap where they need to.)
    4. Drizzle the asparagus lightly with extra virgin olive oil.
    5. Toss with your hands to coat.
    6. Sprinkle with salt and pepper (optional).
    7. Roast in the oven for about 15 - 20 minutes.
    How to prepare fresh asparagus

    While all that yummy asparagus goodness is roasting in the oven, time to work on this easy sharp white cheddar cheese sauce. The sauce is so easy and is also delicious on Brussel sprouts, broccoli and potatoes.

    First melt butter in a saucepan. Whisk in flour. Stir until well blended and bubbly. You want to cook the flour in the butter for a couple of minutes.

    A sauce pan with melted butter and flour

    More recipes to try:

    Summer Squash Cakes

    Poor Girl's Okra + Tomatoes

    Roasted Stuffed Tomatoes

    Smoked Gouda + Cheddar Potato Ham Casserole

    We wanted our cheddar cheese sauce to be on the thicker side. If you prefer yours on the thinner side, start with less flour.

    Once the flour mixture is smooth and buttery, slowly whisk in the milk. (Get the complete ingredient list and amounts at the bottom of this post.) I also add my seasonings at this time and make sure they are well blended.

    A flour and butter mixture being whisked in a sauce pan

    Once the milk is incorporated and the cheese sauce mixture is smooth, increase the heat to medium high and bring the sauce to a low boil. Be sure to whisk frequently.

    Remove from heat and slowly stir in the shredded white cheddar. You can also use yellow cheddar if you prefer, but I really do like the taste of the white cheddar sprinkled with a bit of nutmeg.

    *Note: use the nutmeg sparingly. You don't want to over power the sauce, but it adds a nice, warm touch. If you love nutmeg like I do, sprinkle just a little over the top before serving, too.

    Shredded white cheddar cheese on a slate board

    Shred your own cheese for the best results. Pre-shredded cheese contains additives that might change the consistency of the sauce.

    Serve the Roasted Asparagus warm drizzled with a generous amount of the homemade white cheddar cheese sauce. If your family is anything like mine, you'll need to serve extra cheese sauce on the side, too.

    A plate of roasted asparagus, topped with cheese sauce next to a vintage spoon

    How easy is this delicious side dish recipe? This is a tasty way to jazz up roasted asparagus that your family will love.

    A close up finished shot of Roasted Asparagus with White Cheddar Sauce

    Love this post? Sign up for the Buy This Cook That Newsletter for a weekly email of new content. You can also follow us on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter and Instagram for our latest + greatest ideas!

    Roasted Asparagus with White Cheddar Cheese Sauce

    Roasted Asparagus with White Cheddar Cheese Sauce

    An easy recipe for oven roasted asapargus served with a homemade white cheddar cheese sauce. 
    4.92 from 12 votes
    Print Recipe Email Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 15 mins
    Cook Time 20 mins
    Total Time 35 mins
    Course Side Dish
    Cuisine American
    Servings 4
    Calories 234 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 pound asparagus washed, dried
    • 1 tablespoon olive oil
    • 2 tablespoons butter
    • 1 tablespoon all purpose flour
    • 1 cup milk
    • 4 ounces white sharp cheddar shredded
    • ¼ teaspoon black pepper more to taste
    • ¼ teaspoon sea salt more to taste
    • ⅛ teaspoon nutmeg plus more for sprinkling, optional

    Instructions
     

    • Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Break the woody stems from the asparagus spears.
    • Place the prepared asparagus on a baking sheet. Drizzle with the olive oil. Toss with your hands to coat the spears. Sprinkle with a little bit of black pepper and salt if desired.
    • Bake for 15 - 20 minutes, turning halfway during cooking.
    • While the asparagus is roasting, prepare the white cheddar sauce. Start by melting the butter in a medium sized sauce pan over low heat.
    • Whisk in the flour. Cook and stir until smooth and bubbly, about 2 minutes.
    • Gradually whisk in the milk. Stir in the salt, pepper, and nutmeg. 
    • Increase the heat to medium high to bring the sauce to a low boil. When the mixture starts bubbling, remove from heat.
    • Stir in the cheddar cheese until melted.
    • Serve the roasted asparagus with a generous portion of the cheddar cheese sauce. Sprinkle with a small amount of nutmeg to finish if desired.

    Notes

    This recipe makes enough cheese sauce for serving on top of the asparagus plus more on the side. You could easily double the amount of asparagus and keep the cheese sauce portions the same to serve 8 people instead of 4.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1gCalories: 234kcalCarbohydrates: 9gProtein: 11gFat: 17gSaturated Fat: 10gCholesterol: 50mgSodium: 431mgPotassium: 337mgFiber: 2gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 1415IUVitamin C: 6.4mgCalcium: 301mgIron: 2.7mg
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

    More Side Dishes

    • Stuffed Portabello Mushrooms
      Learn to Make Amazing Stuffed Portabello Mushrooms with Tomato + Pesto
    • Fried Cabbage
      How to Make Skillet Fried Cabbage
    • Hashbrown Casserole
      Cheesy Ranch Hashbrown Casserole
    • Irish Colcannon
      How to Make Irish Colcannon with Bacon

    SUBSCRIBE

    for weekly recipes.

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Playoff Ready

    Chicken Wings

    Cocky's Carolina Mustard Wings

    Reuben Sliders

    Reuben Sliders (Are the Best)

    Diablo Skillet Loaded Fries | Buy This Cook That

    Diablo Skillet Loaded Fries

    Game day. Today. Any day. These Pimento Cheese Bacon Jalapeno Poppers are legit snack time winners.

    Pimento Cheese Bacon Jalapeno Poppers

    More Game Day Recipes →

    Salad Recipes

    winter salad

    Winter Salad with Cranberry Chipotle Vinaigrette

    pasta salad

    Bacon Tomato Avocado Salad with Pasta

    Grilled Citrus Spring Salad | Buy This Cook That

    Grilled Citrus Spring Salad

    Fresh & colorful, this spicy and crunchy Jamaican Slaw Recipe is a flavor-packed side dish. Sweet and bright peppers with healthy cabbage.

    Spicy Jamaican Slaw Recipe

    More Salad Recipes →

    Free Meal Plans

    Footer

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy + Disclosure

    Free Meal Plans

    • Sign Up! for Free Meal Plans

    Contact

    • Contact

    Copyright © 2022 Buy This Cook That