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Home » Recipes » Side Dishes

Healthy Zucchini Au Gratin Recipe

By Laura Fuentes Updated Feb 22, 2024

5 from 30 votes

Recipe

This post may contain affiliate links. Read our disclosure policy here.

The Parmesan and breadcrumb toppings add a delicious, golden-crispy topping to this healthy Zucchini Au Gratin recipe.

This zucchini au gratin is a healthier version of the classic dish, made without cream sauce and topped with a Parmesan breadcrumb topping that turns golden and crispy in the oven.

It’s a delicious way to use up an abundance of squash or make a low-carb alternative to potatoes au gratin that’s incredibly tasty.

healthy zucchini au gratin in an orange baking dish
Jump to:
  • What is Au Gratin
  • Ingredients
  • How to Make Zucchini Au Gratin
  • Zucchini Au Gratin Recipe

And if the only au gratin you’ve ever had came from a box- 1.) My apologies 2.) This recipe will be a pleasant re-introduction.

The oven’s heat makes the squash tender, not mushy, while the topping gives each bite a cheesy, crisp texture.

Not to mention, this recipe has less than 4 grams of net carbs per serving- you could say it’s a keeper.

What is Au Gratin

The term au gratin describes a dish covered with breadcrumbs and cheese, then baked into a golden-brown crust.

Most of us are probably familiar with potatoes au gratin and have had it at least once, but in this recipe, I’m using the concept of ‘au gratin’ to transform zucchini.

You’ll also find many au gratin recipes made with a bechamel sauce or white sauce that consists of heavy cream, flour, and cheese. However, for the sake of simplicity and to keep this dish on the light side, we skip the sauce.

The topping gives the baked zucchini huge amounts of flavor, and eliminating the heavy sauce means one less thing for you to make tonight

Ingredients

Turn zucchini into this au gratin delight only takes a few simple staples. You’ll find the ingredient measurements in the recipe card at the end of the post, but first, let’s see what you need: 

  • Zucchini or yellow squash: both are similar in flavor and texture, so you can swap one for the other without altering the outcome of this recipe.
  • Garlic: did anyone say epic flavor and aroma?
  • Olive oil: adds flavor and helps to stick the seasonings to the zucchini.
  • Seasonings: dried thyme, salt, and pepper.
  • Breadcrumbs: combined with the cheese, make a delicious breading! Use regular or gluten-free breadcrumbs.
  • Grated Parmesan: or another hard cheese, such as Asiago, Gruyére, or Pecorino Romano
dish of zucchini au gratin with pea & carrot ragout in the background

What is the Best Cheese to Use for Au Gratin

To create a good crust in au gratin, you want to use a hard cheese, like grated Asiago, Gruyére, Pecorino Romano, or plain ole’ grated Parmesan.

These cheeses and breadcrumbs achieve the ideal texture for the topping, but don’t stress if you don’t have the fancy stuff on hand- grated Parmesan works just fine.

Using Gluten-Free Bread Crumbs

You can also use gluten-free breadcrumbs to make this zucchini au gratin. I have a simple Panko breadcrumb recipe made with gluten-free rice cereal that has the crispy texture we love and makes a perfect all-purpose breadcrumb option. 

Zucchini au gratin is also a favorite side dish for holiday menus and making it a gluten-free option ensures that everyone can have a bite. And if finding gluten-free recipes for Thanksgiving is a headache, check out my Giving Thanks: a Gluten-Free Menu.

It has 23 incredibly delicious recipes everyone will rave over and look forward to enjoying next year! 

zucchini slices in an orange baking dish

How to Slice Zucchini Slices

For this au gratin, you’ll want the zucchini thinly sliced, about ½ to ¼-inch. By far, the easiest way to achieve thin, even slices is with a mandolin, but if you don’t have one, there’s no need to make a new purchase. A sharp chef’s knife and large cutting board will do the trick. 

Trim the end
Place the zucchini on a large cutting board and use the knife to remove the stub of the stem.  

Slice and repeat
Begin to slice the zucchini into ½ to ¼-inch thick slices, working away from your hand. Repeat with remaining zucchini. 

breadcrumb and cheese in a glass bowl

How to Make Zucchini Au Gratin

Now that your zucchini is prepped and ready to go, let’s start on the rest of this recipe: 

  1. Prep
    Position one oven rack on the lowest oven shelf and preheat to 450ºF. Lightly grease a 9 x 13-inch baking dish.
  2. Bake the zucchini
    Toss the zucchini with the oil and seasonings. Transfer to the prepared baking dish and bake until the zucchini is softened for about 15 minutes.
  3. Make the breadcrumb topping
    Meanwhile, in a separate large bowl, combine the breadcrumbs, Parmesan, and remaining oil. 
  4. Add the topping
    Remove the baking dish from the oven and sprinkle the breadcrumb mixture over the zucchini. 
  5. Bake until golden brown and beautiful 
    Continue to bake until the cheesy topping is golden brown and crisp. 

What to Serve with Zucchini Au Gratin

This zucchini au gratin is ideal as a side dish for dinner, and below I’ve included recipes to serve it with: 

  • Pan-seared Chicken
  • Pizza Chicken
  • Slow Cooker Chicken Parmesan
  • Baked Bruschetta Chicken

Zucchini Au Gratin Recipe

healthy zucchini au gratin in an orange baking dish
Servings: 6
Prep Time: 5 minutes mins
Cook Time: 30 minutes mins
The Parmesan and breadcrumb toppings add a delicious, golden-crispy topping to this healthy Zucchini Au Gratin recipe.
5 from 30 votes
Print Pin

Ingredients

  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 3 medium zucchini, thinly sliced
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon freshly ground pepper
  • ½ cup breadcrumbs*
  • ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese

Instructions

  • Position one oven rack on the lower third shelf and preheat to 450F. Grease a 9 x 13-inch baking dish with olive oil or cooking spray. 
  • In a large bowl, combine the garlic, 1 tablespoon of oil, thyme, salt, and black pepper. Add the zucchini and toss to coat with the seasonings. 
  • Transfer to the greased baking dish and bake for 15 minutes or until the zucchini is softened. 
  • Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, combine the breadcrumbs, Parmesan, and remaining oil. Whisk until the breadcrumbs are dampened and crumbly. 
  • Using oven mitts, remove the baking dish from the oven and sprinkle the topping over the zucchini. Bake for an additional 15 minutes or until the topping is crisp. 

Notes

Swap the regular breadcrumbs for gluten-free breadcrumbs of any kind. 
 

Equipment

thanksgiving menu in ipad
Gluten-Free Thanksgiving Menu
printed papers of weekly family meal plan
Ad Free Weekly Meal Plan $1

Nutrition

Serving: 1 serving | Calories: 118kcal | Carbohydrates: 10g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 7mg | Sodium: 298mg | Potassium: 290mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 253IU | Vitamin C: 18mg | Calcium: 130mg | Iron: 1mg

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Comments

    5 from 30 votes (26 ratings without comment)

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    Recipe Rating




  1. Lauren says

    August 10, 2014 at 9:56 am

    5 stars
    Im wondering how this will taste as leftovers the next 2 days…has anyone tried heating it up days later?

    Reply
    • Laura Fuentes says

      August 10, 2014 at 10:48 pm

      I’ve brought it in a thermos to work without any issues. 🙂

      Reply
  2. Melanie @ Carmel Moments says

    May 12, 2014 at 9:15 am

    5 stars
    I’m always looking for new zucchini recipes. We grow it in the summer and love it but you tend to get a bit bored with it after awhile. This looks scrumptious!
    Have a marvelous Monday!

    Reply
    • Laura Fuentes says

      May 12, 2014 at 2:47 pm

      thank you Melanie! I’m jealous of your homegrown stash!

      Reply
  3. Michelle | Creative Food says

    May 07, 2014 at 8:41 pm

    5 stars
    I NEED to try this recipe! I love zucchini and this is looking absolutely delicious right now.

    Reply
    • Laura Fuentes says

      May 09, 2014 at 4:40 pm

      let me know what you think after you try it Michelle!

      Reply
  4. Matt Robinson says

    May 07, 2014 at 1:16 pm

    5 stars
    Love this so much Laura. Zucchini is one of our favorite veggies. And we do the same thing, serve dinner family style and insist on all of us eating together at the table. No TV, no phones, etc.

    Reply

Hi! I'm Laura.
Certified Integrative Nutrition Health Coach, mom of three, and the woman behind the world’s best pancakes—here to help you ditch the mealtime drama with recipes your family will actually eat.

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