This cheesy keto zucchini gratin is an easy, creamy low carb side dish that’s perfect for using up fresh summer zucchini. If you’re looking for a simple keto zucchini recipe that actually gets eaten (even by picky eaters), this is the one!
You can skip the origin story for this easy keto zucchini gratin but using the jump to recipe button at the top of the post.
When Mr. Hungry decided to join me on keto recently to drop a few pounds after our carb heavy trip to the states in October, I had mixed feelings about it. He said he was doing it to lose weight and support me in my keto efforts, but as you wives know – that usually means more work for us.
“What can I eat?”
“I’m starving, do we have any snacks?”
“Did you eat all the bacon again?” (Yes, yes I did.)
Don’t get me wrong, Mr. Hungry does more than his fair share around the house, but cooking is mostly my department. And that would be fine – except he hates 90% or more of the things I love to eat on keto.
So while I would be perfectly happy throwing some Better than Potatoes Cheesy Cauliflower Puree in a bowl for myself and calling it dinner (which I do a lot) – he won’t touch anything that has cauliflower in it with a 10 foot pole.
Or broccoli, or spinach, or pretty much any vegetable that isn’t potatoes. Which makes it really hard to make keto friendly meals that he’ll actually eat.
Cue this keto zucchini gratin…
Zucchini is on the list of less offensive but not his favorite (i.e. “I don’t love it, but it doesn’t make me want to kill myself”) vegetables that I sometimes sneak in there.
Those of you with picky eaters in the family know the struggle. Whether it’s finicky kids or veggie phobic spouses, making something that everybody will eat and like is a challenge sometimes.
I find that to be true of keto side dishes most of all. Who doesn’t love a good steak or roasted chicken? But coming up with tasty low carb veggie side dishes that go with those main courses night after night can be a problem.
So when this Easy Keto Zucchini Gratin went down and everybody liked it – I mentally high-fived myself and made it a regular thing. You’re going to want to do the same when you try it!
I used pepper jack cheese the first few times I made this zucchini gratin, and we love the mild heat that it adds – but if you prefer cheddar I tried that too and it’s also delicious.
In fact, I’m pretty sure you can’t go wrong with almost any cheese in this keto zucchini gratin – so you do you, it’s all good.
Any time a keto dinner (complete with vegetables) goes on the table and nobody is whining or complaining?
That’s a win my friends – and I’ll take it!
Let me know in the comments if this zucchini gratin passed the test with your family!
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Easy Keto Zucchini Gratin – Low Carb
- Total Time: 56 minutes
- Yield: 9 servings 1x
- Diet: Diabetic
Description
This Easy Zucchini Gratin has become a staple in our house! It’s cheesy and creamy, super easy to throw together, and the perfect low carb side dish for your keto diet!
Ingredients
- 4 cups sliced raw zucchini
- 1 small onion, peeled and sliced thin
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1 1/2 cups shredded pepper jack cheese
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
- 1/4 teaspoon xanthan gum
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees (F).
- Grease a 9×9 or equivalent oven proof pan.
- Overlap 1/3 of the zucchini and onion slices in the pan, then season with salt and pepper and sprinkle with 1/2 cup of shredded cheese.
- Repeat two more times until you have three layers and have used up all of the zucchini, onions, and shredded cheese.
- Combine the garlic powder, butter, heavy cream, and xanthan gum in a microwave safe dish.
- Heat for one minute or until the butter has melted. Whisk until smooth.
- Gently pour the butter and cream mixture over the zucchini layers.
- Bake at 375 degrees (F) for about 45 minutes, or until the liquid has thickened and the top is golden brown.
- Serve warm.
Notes
Depending on your zucchini, you may find it takes longer to cook in order to get your sauce to reduce. If you find it very watery after the 45 minutes, lower the oven temp to 350 and cook it another 10 minutes or so.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 46 minutes
- Category: keto side dishes
- Method: oven
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 3 x 3 square
- Calories: 230
- Fat: 20g
- Carbohydrates: 3g net
- Protein: 8g
More Zucchini Recipes You Will Love
If you’re overrun with extra zucchini, here are a few more low carb favorites:
Keto Chocolate Zucchini Cupcakes w/ Mocha Frosting
Easy Four Cheese Pesto Zoodles
keto crispy baked zucchini slices – an edible mosaic
To get more fantastic keto recipes, download my super bundle of FIVE e-books for just $19.99!
greenapples says
Mmm..this look perfect. I’ll be trying it!
Mellissa Sevigny says
Awesome! Let us know if you liked it as much as we did!
Lynda says
Can I ask does this taste like potato gratin? I don’t like zucchini, but if it doesn’t taste like it, maybe this will work.
Mellissa Sevigny says
I don’t know that it tastes exactly like potato gratin, but especially with the pepper jack cheese the zucchini takes on the flavor of the sauce and you don’t really taste it. I guess it depends on how much you don’t like zucchini – we loved this but we don’t hate zucchini either. If you try it let me know if it passes the test ha ha!
Lynda says
Will do!!!!! Thanks for answering.
Anne C says
Ahhhh! Looks so delicious! Going to make this tomorrow!
Mellissa Sevigny says
Let us know how it turned out Anne!
Jennifer says
Will this one work reheated during the week, if I made a large batch on the weekends, or do you think it would end up soggy?
Mellissa Sevigny says
I should have mentioned in the post that this reheats SO WELL that I enjoyed it just as much or more the next few days that I had it for lunch! It just keeps reducing and getting thicker, so it’s really really good reheated!
Melissa says
This looks delicious! I’m going to have to make it sometime soon since I think my hubby will enjoy it too :) Thanks!
Mellissa Sevigny says
I hope he likes it as much as mine did!
Tiffany Harrop says
What a great sub for an all time favorite! Cannot wait to try it ot! ??
Mellissa Sevigny says
Hope it’s a hit Tiffany!
Holly Yager says
Hi. I have a very picky husband as well when it comes to vegetables and keto. He likes potatoes (baked or lumpy mashed) and green beans with everything and has a problem with mushy textures (so that makes mashed cauliflower a no-go) I love the idea of making this I just worry whether or not he will eat it because of his texture issues. Lol. Does this come out super soft or are the zucchini still a little firm?
Mellissa Sevigny says
I think at 45 minutes the zucchini aren’t totally mushy, but if he likes it firmer you can always reduce the cooking time a bit – my only worry is that the sauce won’t reduce all the way. Mr. Hungry has texture issues too and he was fine with this. Worst case? He hates it but that means more for you! Ha ha!
Ashley B. says
OMG this looks incredible! I’m obsessed with zucchini! Hopefully I can find some decent zucchini at the store this week. Their quality and supply were lacking last time I looked.
Mellissa Sevigny says
Yeah it’s not zucchini season – but at least zucchini is one of those veggies that mostly tastes the same all year round if you can find some that aren’t totally wrinkled and pathetic looking! ?
Rachael says
Can’t wait to try this. Have you thought about tackling a spaghetti squash gratin? I tried a couple versions that I found online, but they were not written specifically for a ketogenic diet and they came out kinda blech. I know you’d make something delicious.
Mellissa Sevigny says
I wish! I miss spaghetti squash so much since moving to Belize – I don’t think they even know what it is here and it’s impossible to get. If I’m back in the states visiting for an extended time I’ll try though. I do have a spaghetti squash with pesto that’s good on the blog!
Sonjs says
I love spaghetti squash with Keto friendly
Alfredo Sause ! Amazing
Gina says
This recipe is perfect! My husband also said he wanted to drop some pounds but he won’t touch cauliflower, Brussel sprouts, spinach, need I go on. This makes the challenge of dinner side dishes quite complicated. This is my go-to site for all recipe ideas because they always turn out great without the need for tweaking. Thanks for keeping me inspired.
Mellissa Sevigny says
Don’t even get me started on the Brussels Sprouts Gina! Ha ha! Hopefully your husband will like this gratin as much as mine did!