Cracked Out Asparagus – easy baked asparagus recipe loaded with cheddar, bacon, and ranch. Low-carb, keto-friendly, and gluten-free. Super simple to make with no prep time and ready to eat in under 30 minutes. Asparagus, mayonnaise, cheddar cheese, ranch dressing mix, and bacon. Serve this easy side dish with your favorite steak for a meal that is better than any restaurant. Add this to your menu ASAP!

cracked out cheese and bacon asparagus in baking dish with text overlay

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Cheesy Baked Asparagus with Cheddar, Bacon & Ranch

This Cracked Out Asparagus recipe has been on repeat at our house. Fresh asparagus, mayonnaise, cheddar cheese, ranch dressing mix, and bacon. I could honestly make a meal out of just this asparagus. This is super simple to make and tastes great! Plus it is ready to eat in under 30 minutes. You can’t beat that. This side dish is low in carbs and high in taste! You must try this ASAP!

What does CRACK mean?

If a recipe has crack in the title it means that it has cheddar, bacon, and ranch in the recipe. It all started with my Crack Dip way back in 2007. I made the dip for a Titans football game. Everyone went crazy over it. We couldn’t stop eating it and said it was like crack. The name stuck. The flavor combination is amazing. This asparagus is no exception.

cheese and bacon asparagus in baking dish

How to Make Cracked Out Asparagus

This side dish is effortless to make with only five simple ingredients. In a skillet, cook bacon slices until crispy. Remove the bacon from the skillet and drain it on paper towels. Chop the bacon and set it aside. Trim asparagus to remove the woody ends. Place asparagus spears in a medium size baking dish or baking tray. In a small bowl, stir together mayonnaise and ranch dressing mix. Spread the mayonnaise mixture over the asparagus. Sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese and chopped bacon over the asparagus. Bake until tender.

Tips & Frequently Asked Questions

Make sure to trim the woody ends of the asparagus spears. The thick bottom part of the spear is white or light purple in color. It is tough and not meant to be eaten. Use a knife to quickly cut the tough ends off before adding the spears to the baking dish.
- When possible, choose a bunch of asparagus where the stalks are about the same diameter.
- Depending on the size of the asparagus, you will need one or two bundles.
I baked this asparagus in a baking dish, but you can also make it on a rimmed baking sheet.
I prefer to use Duke’s or Hellmann’s Mayonnaise.
Sprinkle the asparagus with some red pepper flakes for a kick!
Here is our recipe for Homemade Ranch Dressing Mix made with buttermilk powder, parsley, garlic powder, onion powder, chives, dill, salt, and pepper: https://www.plainchicken.com/homemade-ranch-dressing-mix/
Can Cracked Out Asparagus be made in advance? Yes! You can assemble the recipe ahead of time and refrigerate it overnight before baking.
You can use any cheese that you enjoy in this recipe. Gruyere cheese or gouda would all be delicious!
Is Cracked Out Asparagus low-carb? Yes! All of the ingredients are low-carb and keto-friendly.
Is Cheesy Baked Asparagus with bacon gluten-free? Yes! All of the ingredients are gluten-free.

What to Serve with Roasted Asparagus

This asparagus has quickly become a favorite at our house. We love to eat this with casseroles, grilled chicken, pork chops, and especially steaks! This easy recipe is also great for dinner parties! It looks fancy but it is so easy to make! Don’t tell anyone! It can be our little secret.

Need more main dish ideas? Here are a few of our favorite recipes from the blog that go great with this easy vegetable recipe:

Grilled Chicken