Enjoy a rich and velvety baked asparagus dip that is full of fresh and earthy flavors and aromatic spices. Serve this cream cheese asparagus appetizer with your favorite party dippers such as crackers, bread, veggie sticks or tortilla chips.
If you love easy side dish recipes like this one, be sure to try my Irish mashed potatoes, cheesy Asparagus fries, or savory Cabbage Pie next.
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Why You'll Love This Asparagus Appetizer
- Easy recipe - baked asparagus is an easy way to sneak some veggies into your diet. It requires minimal ingredients and can be prepared quickly with just a little prep.
- Healthy - Asparagus is a nutritious vegetable that is low in calories and high in vitamins and minerals. Baking and steaming asparagus helps to keep most of the nutrients and flavor, making it an excellent appetizer or side dish to enjoy.
- Versatile - customize this asparagus dip even further with more seasonings. We like ranch seasoning, garlic, onion powder, paprika, taco seasoning, and a variety of different fresh or dried herbs.
🛒Ingredients
After trying this creamy dip you'll sure fall in love with this healthy vegetable!
- Green Asparagus - medium-thick or thin asparagus or white asparagus (these typically are thicker and need a longer time to cook). I don’t recommend using frozen (too soggy after cooking) or canned asparagus in this recipe.
- Seasonings - we use simple seasoning here but you can customize it with other options such as fresh garlic, garlic powder, celery salt or seasoned salt, onion powder, Italian Seasoning (Herbs de Provence), paprika, and red pepper flakes.
- Salt - sea salt or kosher salt for the best natural flavor.
- Cream cheese - for best results, full fat is preferred.
For the full list of ingredients, please scroll down to where you'll find the recipe card.
🥣Instructions
In a medium saucepot, add water and take it to a boil. Meanwhile, the water is warming up, prepare the asparagus stalks by snapping the woody ends off or cutting them off with a knife.
Add the stalks to boiling water, and simmer on low for 3-4 minutes. If you have a steamer, it would be the easiest way to cook asparagus in advance.
Make an ice bath. Remove the cooked asparagus from the water and place it in a bowl with cold water and ice.
Set aside to let the asparagus cool and stop cooking.
In a blender or food processor, add parmesan cheese, garlic, salt, onion, and cream cheese.
Pulse until all ingredients are combined, pureed, and creamy. Add the asparagus and pulse until smooth or a little chunky, as you wish.
Add the mixture to a smaller cast iron or baking dish and add more parmesan cheese on top.
Bake in preheated oven at 350 F for 10 minutes until the dip starts bubbling and the top becomes golden brown.
Remove from oven, let cool, and enjoy with your favorite dippers.
📋Tips
- Using good salt does matter. I like to use sea salt or sea salt flakes when seasoning my veggies. It brings out the veggie taste even more keeping its natural flavor at the same time (regular table salt doesn't).
- If the asparagus is thicker, use a vegetable peeler to remove any tough outer skin from the lower part of the stem.
- You don't need to cover the dip in the oven, but if you feel like it is becoming too brown check your oven temperature and cover the dip with a piece of aluminum foil.
- If you like the popular combination of asparagus and lemon, stir in the lemon zest of one smaller lemon into the dip before baking.
- If you're looking for a more traditional roasted asparagus, try this recipe for cheesy asparagus.
- My favorite method to cook asparagus is in the oven. Check out my recipe for more classic oven-roasted asparagus recipe where I explain 7 easy methods for cooking asparagus.
- I don't recommend using mozzarella or cheddar cheese here for its ultra-melty properties. Parmesan cheese is great for added savory flavor and right texture.
✅ EXPERT TIP For the healthiest option, buy veggies locally, organically, and most importantly during asparagus season.
Storage Instructions
- 🍱To Store. Allow the dip to cool and cover the pan with aluminum or plastic wrap. Or transfer it to an airtight container to prevent it from drying out. Store in the refrigerator until ready to use. About 2-4 days. Anything after that, asparagus will loose its flavor and texture.
- 🥶Freezing. You can freeze it as well for up to 2-3 months. However, I don’t recommend it as the flavor won’t be the same. Defrost overnight in the fridge. Before serving, give it a good stir to incorporate any separated liquids. Reheat in the microwave or oven until warmed through.
👪Serving Suggestions
Baked Asparagus dip is the perfect side dish for any occasion or party appetizer.
We like to serve asparagus dip as a:
- Party Appetizer - with veggie sticks such as carrots, celery, cucumbers, and bell peppers. Crackers, breadsticks, grissini, tortilla chips.
- Side dish - enjoy the dip with your favorite main dish, it tastes great with grilled chicken, steak, or fish fillets.
- Sandwich spread - with bagel, toast or crusty bread of choice.
- Topping for baked potatoes, potato skins, or as a dip for potato fries.
Have more asparagus? Check out these best asparagus recipes to try next: Roasted Asparagus, Fries or Asparagus Dip.
🌱🍴Have more asparagus? Check out these best asparagus recipes to try next: Roasted Asparagus, Fries or 4-minute Pan Fried Asparagus.
How To Choose The Best Asparagus
- Visual and texture - choose asparagus stalks that are visually smooth and straight, firm with tightly closed tips. If the tips are open or loose it indicates that asparagus is not the freshest.
- Snap test - snap the end of one of the stalks. If it snaps easily, it's fresh.
- Color - fresh asparagus should have a bright green and some purple hue to it. Avoid stalks that start to brown or have a yellow color to it.
- Size - I prefer using thinner spears rather than thick ones. The flavor is somewhat similar but thinner ones tend to be sweeter, flavorful, and tender.
- Smell it! - if it has a sour or weird unpleasant odor the asparagus is spoiled. Fresh asparagus will have a fresh grassy smell to it.
How To Prepare Asparagus For Roasting
- Clean the asparagus by rinsing it under cool running water to remove any debris. Pat dry the spears with a clean kitchen towel or paper towel. This ensures maximum crispness when roasting.
- Trim asparagus by snapping off the ends one by one. To do so, hold each spear by the woody stems and bend it until it snaps. It should happen easily without force leaving you with bright green stalks ready for baking. I find this method easiest but you can cut the tough ends with a good sharp chef's knife. Line up a bunch of spears on a cutting board and cut off the ends (about 1-2 inches).
- If the asparagus is thicker, you may also want to use a vegetable peeler to remove any tough outer skin from the lower part of the stem.
Asparagus Health Benefits
Asparagus is a nutritious vegetable that offers multiple health benefits. You can make this dip healthier by reducing the amount of cheese or using low-fat cheese instead.
Check out these popular health benefits of adding asparagus in your diet:
- Low-calorie veggie - Asparagus has 20 calories per 100 grams. This makes it a great food for weight loss or a healthy diet.
- Rich in fiber and supports digestive health - Like with many veggies, asparagus is a great source of dietary fiber which your gut health will thank you for. It also has inulin fiber that helps to promote the growth of good bacteria in the gut.
- Vitamins - Asparagus is loaded with vitamin K, vitamin C, and folate.
- Antioxidants - And asparagus has plenty. Antioxidants help to lower the risk of chronic diseases, such as cancer and heart disease.
- Anti-inflammatory - Asparagus can help to reduce inflammation in the body which is linked to many health issues.
- It can lower your blood pressure - Potassium found in asparagus helps to maintain healthy blood pressure levels. A diet rich in potassium may help to lower the risk of heart disease and stroke.
I hope you love this baked asparagus dip as much as we enjoy it! Happy Cooking!
Rita
Easy Asparagus Recipes
- Healthy Asparagus Fries
- Roasted Carrots and Asparagus
- Sauteed Asparagus
- Asparagus Stuffed Chicken Breast
❤️Did you make this recipe? Please be sure to leave a rating and a comment below. Thank you!❤️
Baked Asparagus Dip (Easy Asparagus Appetizer)
Ingredients
- 8 oz cream cheese softened to room temperature
- 14 oz asparagus stalks
- 1 ½ teaspoon fresh garlic minced
- 2 tablespoon brown onion diced
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes as a garnish or mix it in
- salt to taste
- black pepper to taste
- ⅓ cup parmesan cheese more for topping grated
Instructions
- In a medium saucepot, add water and take it to a boil. Meanwhile, the water is warming up, prepare the asparagus stalks by snapping the woody ends off or cutting them off with a knife. Add the stalks to boiling water, and simmer on low for 3-4 minutes. If you have a steamer, it would be the easiest way to cook asparagus in advance.
- Make an ice bath. Remove the cooked asparagus from the water and place it in a bowl with cold water and ice. Set aside to let the asparagus cool and stop cooking.
- In a blender or food processor, add parmesan cheese, garlic, salt, onion, and cream cheese. Pulse until all ingredients are combined, pureed, and creamy. Add the asparagus and pulse until smooth or a little chunky, as you wish.
- Add the mixture to a smaller cast iron or baking dish and add more parmesan cheese on top. Bake in preheated oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 10 minutes until the dip starts bubbling and the top becomes golden brown.
- Remove from oven, let cool, and enjoy with your favorite dippers.
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This beautiful recipe was inspired from Daily Dish recipes.
Bring this creamy dip for your next potluck or party! It's delicious!