Broccoli Au Gratin Recipe: How to Bake the Classic Side Dish
Written by MasterClass
Last updated: Dec 21, 2024 • 2 min read
Broccoli au gratin combines broccoli with cheese and a white sauce for a crisp-tender veggie dish.
Learn From the Best
What Is Broccoli Au Gratin?
Broccoli au gratin, or simply broccoli gratin, is a cheesy broccoli casserole dish. A side dish or an entree, it combines layers of cheese sauce and crisp-tender broccoli, according to a culinary technique called gratin, which involves topping a dish with panko breadcrumbs, cheese, or melted butter before baking it under a broiler to achieve a crispy brown crust. While a strong cheddar cheese and Parmesan cheese are classics for this dish, you can also use Gruyère cheese or Emmental cheese for a more sophisticated flavor profile.
You can also make au gratin by substituting broccoli with another vegetable, such as leeks, green beans, cauliflower, zucchini, sweet potatoes, butternut squash, onions, or Brussels sprouts for a new veggie and cheese combination. Usually, broccoli au gratin serves as a side dish alongside a protein, such as pork chops, roasted chicken, or steak. Alternatively, you can mix a protein into the broccoli au gratin itself—for example, diced ham or crumbled bacon—to make it an entrée.
Broccoli Au Gratin Recipe
makes
prep time
10 mintotal time
1 hr 20 mincook time
1 hr 10 minIngredients
- 1
Preheat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Coat the inside of the baking dish with cooking spray or butter.
- 2
In a large pot, bring about an inch of water to a boil. Set up a steamer or colander over the boiling water. Add the broccoli florets to the steamer and season them with salt. Cover and let the broccoli steam for about 5 minutes or until it is tender. Remove the broccoli from the steamer and set it aside to dry.
- 3
To make the béchamel sauce, melt 3 tablespoons of butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Once it’s melted, whisk in the flour until the mixture is smooth. Cook the mixture for 2 minutes, stirring constantly.
- 4
Add the milk, 1 cup at a time. Bring the mixture to a boil while you continue to whisk. Once the sauce starts to boil, reduce the heat and allow the sauce to simmer, stirring occasionally until the sauce has thickened, about 20 minutes.
- 5
Season the sauce with salt, black pepper, and nutmeg. Remove the saucepan from the heat.
- 6
Add the cooked broccoli to the baking dish. Combine the cheddar and Gruyère cheeses in a small bowl. Sprinkle half of the cheese over the broccoli, followed by the béchamel sauce. Top the dish with the second half of the cheese.
- 7
In a medium skillet, melt the remaining 1 tablespoon of butter over medium-high heat. Once it’s melted, add in the breadcrumbs and cook them until they’re lightly browned, about 2 minutes. Combine the cooked breadcrumbs with the Parmesan cheese.
- 8
Sprinkle the breadcrumb and Parmesan cheese mixture over the top of the casserole. Bake the dish in the oven for about 20 minutes or until it’s bubbly and golden brown.
- 9
Remove the dish from the oven and allow it to cool slightly before you serve it.
Become a better chef with the MasterClass Annual Membership. Gain access to exclusive video lessons taught by the world’s best, including Alice Waters, Gabriela Cámara, Niki Nakayama, Chef Thomas Keller, Yotam Ottolenghi, Dominique Ansel, Gordon Ramsay, and more.