This popular Broccoli Gratin combines Swiss and Parmesan cheese for a delicious low-carb side dish for a special meal. And this recipe is perfect for Thanksgiving, but make it any time you want a special version of broccoli and cheese!
PIN this low-carb Broccoli Gratin try it later.
Through the years there have been some definite Thanksgiving side dish favorites on the blog, and this low-carb Broccoli Gratin is a dish I’ve made over and over. And Thanksgiving is all about the side dishes, don’t you agree?
I love this cheesy broccoli side dish that’s definitely fresher-tasting and lower in carbs than the canned soup version of Broccoli with Cheese Sauce that quite a few people in my family still like. And if you’re looking for a carb-conscious vegetable option for Thanksgiving, I think Broccoli Gratin recipe is going to be a hit with just about everyone.
And I bet it’s going to become a favorite if you have a family that likes cheesy broccoli! In fact, this year I am going to my sister Val’s for Thanksgiving and this is what she requested for me to bring! Hope you will try it some time too.
What ingredients do you need for this recipe?
(This is only a list of ingredients; please scroll down for complete printable recipe. Or if you use the JUMP TO RECIPE link at the top of the page, it will take you directly to the complete recipe.)
What is a Gratin?
A Gratin is a dish where food is topped with a browned crust that usually contains cheese, breadcrumbs, or butter. I’ve become a huge fan of cheesy gratin dishes like this, and don’t think any breadcrumbs are needed!
Can you use other types of cheese for Broccoli Gratin?
If you don’t like Swiss Cheese or have other cheese on hand, you can use any white cheese that melts well for this recipe.
Can the Broccoli Gratin be made ahead?
I haven’t made this Broccoli Gratin too far ahead, but you can definitely blanch the broccoli and store it in the fridge for the day while you prepare the rest of the meal. Let the broccoli come to room temperature before you bake.
Want more low-carb options for Thanksgiving?
Easy Instructions for Broccoli Gratin:
(This is only a summary of the steps for the recipe; please scroll down for complete printable recipe. Or if you use the JUMP TO RECIPE link at the top of the page, it will take you directly to the complete recipe.)
- Blanch the broccoli just two minutes minutes in boiling salted water, then drain well.
- Mix together grated Swiss cheese, mayo, lemon juice, Dijon, and finely chopped green onion to make the cheese topping.
- Put drained broccoli in a low-sided glass or crockery casserole dish, then spread the cheese topping over the top.
- Sprinkle the finely grated parmesan over the top.
- Bake about 30 minutes, or a little longer if you like it well-browned like I do. Serve hot.
- I hope this will become a Thanksgiving tradition in your family!
More Low-Carb Broccoli Recipes:
Ingredients
- 8 cups bite-size broccoli flowerets
- 1 1/2 cups finely grated Swiss cheese
- 8 T mayo
- 1 1/2 T fresh squeezed lemon juice
- 3/4 tsp. Dijon mustard
- fresh ground black pepper to taste
- 3 T finely chopped green onions
- 1/4 cup finely grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375F.
- Bring large pot of salted water to a boil while you trim broccoli and cut into small flowerets. (I leave on a fair amount of the stem, but if stems are thick I recommend peeling some of the stem with a vegetable peeler.)
- When water starts to boil, put broccoli in and cook exactly 2 minutes (just until the broccoli turns bright green.)
- Immediately dump broccoli into a colander placed in the sink and let drain well.
- Spray a low-sided glass or crockery casserole dish with non-stick spray or olive oil.
- Put broccoli in casserole dish, spreading out into close to a single layer.
- Stir together mayo, lemon juice, Dijon mustard and black pepper, then mix in finely chopped green onion and finely grated Swiss cheese.
- Spread mayo-cheese mixture over the top of broccoli (I used a rubber scraper to do this. This is not a sauce that will completely cover the broccoli, but a thin layer of cheese sauce on the top.)
- Sprinkle parmesan cheese over mayo-cheese mixture.
- On Thanksgiving Day, this could be made ahead up to this point and kept in the refrigerator. Let come to room temperature before baking.
- Bake uncovered for about 30 minutes, or until cheese is melted and slightly browned on top. (I baked the broccoli gratin in the photos for exactly 32 minutes.
- Serve hot.
Nutrition Information
Yield
8
Serving Size
1
Amount Per Serving
Calories 241Total Fat 18gSaturated Fat 6gUnsaturated Fat 11gCholesterol 27mgSodium 235mgCarbohydrates 8gFiber 5gSugar 3gProtein 10g
Nutrition information is automatically calculated by the Recipe Plug-In I am using. I am not a nutritionist and cannot guarantee 100% accuracy, since many variables affect those calculations.
Low-Carb Diet / Low-Glycemic Diet / South Beach Diet Suggestions:
All the ingredients in this Broccoli Gratin are low-carb foods, making this a better choice for low-carb and Keto diets than many traditional Thanksgiving vegetables. This recipe is relatively high in fat which won’t matter to low-carb eaters, but if you’re following the original South Beach Diet, it’s probably a “once-in-a-while treat”.
Find More Recipes Like This One:
Use Holiday Recipes for more Thanksgiving ideas. Use the Diet Type Index to find recipes suitable for a specific eating plan. You might also like to follow Kalyn’s Kitchen on Pinterest, on Facebook, on Instagram, on TikTok, or on YouTube to see all the good recipes I’m sharing there.
Historical Notes for this Recipe:
This recipe for broccoli baked with a creamy cheesy gratin tipping was first posted in 2008, and it’s been popular every year at Thanksgiving time. It was last updated with more information in 2024.
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