Zucchini Gratin

Name: Zucchini Gratin
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 45 min
Ingredients: 4 tablespoons butter; 1 small yellow onion, (sliced into thin half moons); 1 tablespoon garlic paste; 2 large zucchini, (sliced in half, then cut into half moons (about ¼ inch thick) ); ½ cup beef broth; ½ teaspoon salt; ½ teaspoon pepper; ½ tablespoon dried parsley; ⅓ cup heavy cream; 1 cup parmesan cheese, (freshly shredded ); 1½ cups Monterey Jack cheese

Zucchini gratin is made with tender half-moons of zucchini in a creamy, cheese sauce to create a flavorsome baked dish that showcases the flavors of this underrated low carb vegetable.

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Table of Contents

Zucchini Gratin Ingredients
Substitutions And Additions
How To Make This Zucchini Gratin Recipe
How To Serve Scalloped Zucchini
Storing This Zucchini Au Gratin
More Recipes You’ll Love
JUMP TO RECIPE
Even More Recipes You’ll Love

Zucchini gratin is a simple yet elegant side dish made with sauteed zucchini in a flavorsome cheese sauce. A tasty alternative to potato gratin, it’s easy to make in just a single skillet, and the whole family will love it, even your picky eaters.

close up shot of zucchini gratin being picked up with a spoon

Zucchini Gratin Ingredients

zucchini gratin raw ingredients that is labeled

This dish is the perfect combination of creamy and savory, with the added bonus of being packed with veggies.

This delectable dish is composed of tender slices of zucchini that are baked in a cheesy, savory sauce, making it a must-try side dish.

You’ll need:

4 tablespoons of butter
1 small yellow onion, sliced into thin half-moons
1 tablespoon of garlic paste
2 large zucchini, cut into quarter-inch-thick half-moons
½ cup of beef broth
½ teaspoon of salt
½ teaspoon of black pepper
½ tablespoon of dried parsley
⅓ cup of heavy cream
1 cup of parmesan cheese, shredded
1½ cups of Monterey Jack cheese

PRO TIP:

Don’t slice the zucchini too thin or it will fall apart while cooking.

Substitutions And Additions

YELLOW ONION: For a more delicate onion flavor, you could swap the yellow onion for a small red onion or three shallots.

PARMESAN CHEESE: Also known as Parmigiano-Reggiano, acceptable substitutes would be Grana Padano, Pecorino, or Reggianito.

MONTEREY JACK CHEESE: You could use any hard yellow cheese for this recipe, such as Colby, Gouda, Edam, or cheddar cheese.

BEEF BROTH: To make this easy dish suitable for vegetarians, simply switch the beef broth to vegetable broth.

BREAD CRUMBS: You could opt to top your zucchini gratin with a little bit of regular or panko breadcrumbs if you wish.

YELLOW SQUASH: An interesting variation on this simple recipe would be to switch half of the sliced zucchini for yellow squash or any other kind of summer squash.

How To Make This Zucchini Gratin Recipe

Let’s walk through the step-by-step instructions for making this cheesy vegetable dish together.

STEP ONE: In a large ovenproof skillet over medium heat, add the butter and onions. Cook for about ten minutes, until the onions begin to caramelize. Then add the garlic paste.

OUR RECIPE DEVELOPER SAYS

If you don’t have an ovenproof skillet, you could cook your recipe in a large skillet and transfer the ingredients to a baking dish right before you put it in the oven to melt the cheese.

STEP TWO: Add the zucchini slices and stir well. Cook for five minutes, stirring often until the zucchini is soft enough to pierce with a fork.

STEP THREE: Add the beef broth, salt, pepper, dried parsley, and heavy cream. Stir to combine.

PRO TIP:

The sauce is a bit runny in this recipe. I prepared it this way to allow you to spoon the cream sauce over meat, potatoes, or rice.

If you want a thicker sauce, add 1 tablespoon of flour to the beef broth and whisk together before adding it to the skillet.

beef broth, salt, pepper, dried parsley, and heavy cream combined in the skillet of zucchini

STEP FOUR: Allow the sauce to bubble slightly, then add in the parmesan cheese and a quarter cup of the Monterey Jack cheese.

Stir well until the cheese has melted, then turn down the heat and simmer on low heat for three to four minutes.

STEP FIVE: Top with the remaining shredded cheese and place the skillet under the broiler.

Broil for three to four minutes or until the cheese is hot, bubbly, and starting to turn golden brown.

PRO TIP:

Watch closely to make sure that the cheese doesn’t burn. It will only take a couple of minutes for the cheese to brown up.

cheese sprinkled on top of the zucchini gratin in a skillet

STEP SIX: Remove from the oven and serve.

How To Serve Scalloped Zucchini

This is a wonderful dish to make for a dinner party. It is elegant and delicious, and no one will know that the entire recipe took very little time to make.

Serve alongside a delicious main course such as chicken marsala or French onion pork chops.

Our zucchini boats are another cheesy dish to enjoy when your garden is full of zucchini.

Our zucchini bread is a sweet quick bread that would be perfect for breakfast or a snack.

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Storing This Zucchini Au Gratin

Here’s how to store your scrumptious zucchini gratin for future enjoyment.

MAKE AHEAD: You can make this zucchini gratin ahead of time to save yourself some effort on busy days.

Prepare the dish as directed in the recipe, but instead of baking it, cover it tightly with plastic wrap or aluminum foil and store it in the refrigerator.

It can stay there for up to 24 hours before you’re ready to bake it.

IN THE FRIDGE: Cooked zucchini au gratin can be stored in the fridge for up to three days in a sealed container. Reheat in the oven for 15 minutes before serving.

IN THE FREEZER: While it’s possible to freeze zucchini gratin, it’s not recommended as the zucchini would go a little mushy.

Zucchini gratin is a delicious casserole that is quick and easy to make. Made with scallops of zucchini in a cheesy and creamy sauce, this perfect side dish goes well with all kinds of meat and fish dishes. What a great way to use up lots of zucchini from your garden during the summer months.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Can I freeze this scalloped zucchini casserole?

This delicious recipe can be frozen, although zucchini tends to get a bit mushy after freezing.

Can I use a different cheese than Monterey Jack?

You have plenty of options to use for the melted cheese in the cheesy white sauce. Try cheddar, gouda, or gruyère cheese for tasty choices.

I don’t have an ovenproof skillet. Can I use a different pan?

You could cook your recipe in a large skillet and transfer the ingredients to a baking dish right before you put it in the oven to melt the cheese.

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Zucchini Gratin

5 from 1 vote

Zucchini gratin is made with tender half-moons of zucchini in a creamy, cheese sauce to create a flavorsome baked dish that showcases the flavors of this underrated low carb vegetable.

Prep Time 15

Cook Time 30

Total Time 45

Servings

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Ingredients

4 tablespoons butter
1 small yellow onion, sliced into thin half moons
1 tablespoon garlic paste
2 large zucchini, sliced in half, then cut into half moons (about ¼ inch thick)
½ cup beef broth
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon pepper
½ tablespoon dried parsley
⅓ cup heavy cream
1 cup parmesan cheese, freshly shredded
1½ cups Monterey Jack cheese

Instructions

In a large ovenproof skillet over medium heat, add butter and onions. Cook until onions are starting to caramelize and brown, about 10 minutes. Add garlic paste and stir well.
Add zucchini to the skillet and stir to combine. Let zucchini cook for 5 minutes while stirring often. It should be soft enough to pierce with a fork, but still somewhat firm so it holds its shape while it continues cooking.
Add in the beef broth, salt, pepper, dried parsley, and the heavy cream into the onion garlic mixture. Stir to combine.
Allow the sauce to slightly begin to bubble, then add in the parmesan cheese and ¼ cup Monterey Jack cheese. Stir well to melt the cheese and combine. Let simmer on low for 3 to 4 minutes.
Top with remaining cheese and place in the oven under the broiler. Broil for 3 to 4 minutes, or until the cheese is hot, bubbly, and starting to brown.
Remove from the oven and serve over chicken, pork chops, or along with your favorite meat and potatoes!

Notes

From Recipe Developer: The sauce is a bit runny in this recipe. I prepared it this way to allow for you to spoon the cream sauce over meat, potatoes, or rice. If you want a thicker sauce, add 1 tablespoon flour to the beef broth and whisk together before adding it to the skillet.
Don’t slice the zucchini too thin or it will fall apart while cooking.
If you don’t have an ovenproof skillet, you could cook your recipe in a large skillet and transfer the ingredients to a baking dish right before you put it in the oven to melt the cheese.
Watch closely to make sure that the cheese doesn’t burn. It will only take a couple of minutes for the cheese to brown up.

Nutrition

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Proudly Prepared by the Spaceships Kitchen

This recipe was developed, tested, cooked and photographed by the Spaceships Kitchen. From our dinner table to yours, we hope you think it's out of this world!

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Zucchini Gratin

Zucchini Gratin Ingredients

Substitutions And Additions

How To Make This Zucchini Gratin Recipe

How To Serve Scalloped Zucchini

Zucchini Mushroom Chicken

Zucchini Noodles

Storing This Zucchini Au Gratin

More Recipes You’ll Love