Recipe

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.

overhead view of zucchini au gratin in a baking dish

Easy Zucchini Au Gratin

Laura fuentes holding a skillet of food standing in front of a blue door

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. Most of us are probably familiar with potatoes au gratin and have had it at least once, but in this low-carb alternative, I'm using the concept of 'au gratin' to transform zucchini.

The oven's heat makes the squash tender, not mushy, while the topping gives each bite a cheesy, crisp texture, and eliminating the heavy sauce means one less thing for you to make tonight. Not to mention, this recipe has less than 4 grams of net carbs per serving.

Ingredients

You can make this recipe with zucchini or yellow squash. For seasoning, you’ll need garlic cloves, olive oil, dried thyme, salt, and pepper. To create a good crust in au gratin, use a hard cheese, like Parmesan, Asiago, Gruyère, or Pecorino Romano. These cheeses and breadcrumbs achieve the ideal texture for the topping.

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, a sharp chef's knife and large cutting board will do the trick. Remove the stub of the stem with the knife, and slice the zucchini, working away from your hand.

How to Make Zucchini Au Gratin

Bake the zucchini.
Toss the zucchini with the oil and seasonings. Transfer to a greased baking dish and bake in a preheated oven until the zucchini is softened for about 15 minutes.
Make the breadcrumb topping.
Meanwhile, in a separate large bowl, combine the breadcrumbs, Parmesan, and remaining oil.

left: zucchini slices seasoned in a baking dish; right: a bowl with breadcrumbs and shredded cheese

Add the topping.
Remove from the oven and sprinkle the breadcrumb mixture over the zucchini.
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 pan-seared chicken, pizza chicken, slow cooker chicken Parmesan, and baked bruschetta chicken.

Always See My Recipes In Google

Zucchini Au Gratin (Healthy Recipe)

Servings: 6

Prep Time: 5

Cook Time: 30

Total Time: 35

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

Prep:

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.

Bake:

Transfer to the greased baking dish and bake for 15 minutes or until the zucchini is softened.

Make it au gratin:

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.