Cheesy Keto Broccoli Casserole

This Keto Broccoli Casserole Recipe is the perfect combination of creamy and savory, and all kinds of delicious! It’s made with fresh broccoli, cheddar cheese, and seasoned just right.

Not only is it simple to make but it’s kid-friendly, and a definite crowd-pleaser!

Did any of you grow up as kids not loving broccoli?! Actually, I was one of those rare kids who liked eating their broccoli trees…but I have to say that when it was coated in cheese it definitely made it tastier. 

I’ve seen some picky eaters and this cheesy keto broccoli casserole has won over pretty much all of them. 

It’s the perfect combination of fresh broccoli mixed with a creamy cheddar cheese sauce and some spices. Oh and then it’s baked until it’s bubbling on top and the cheese is so stringy. 

Ok, I’m getting really, really hungry right now talking about it. 

So I’m gonna take a quick break and make another batch, I’m so happy I bought some fresh broccoli a few days ago.

What is Broccoli Cheese Casserole?

So what exactly is a keto broccoli cheese casserole? It’s pretty much exactly how it sounds…it is fresh broccoli cooked in a creamy cheesy sauce, then baked to perfection. 

It’s a perfect low carb side dish for your next family weeknight dinner, or you can serve it for a large crowd in the winter. Either way, I have a feeling everyone will love it.

Is Broccoli Casserole Healthy?

This low carb broccoli casserole does have cheese and other dairy products in it, which you probably don’t think of as being healthy. But actually, this keto broccoli side dish is healthy when eaten in small portions.

For ½ cup serving it’s only 260 calories…which isn’t too bad, considering how filling it is.

Oh and don’t forget this casserole is packed with fresh broccoli which is a super healthy veggie with tons of health benefits.

Just one cup has as much vitamin C as an orange and is full of antioxidants which are important to prevent damage and promote healing.

Can You Eat Broccoli on a Keto Diet?

Broccoli on a Keto diet is very much OK! It’s on the keto-approved food list so you can eat it without worrying. 

1 cup of raw broccoli has: 

• Calories: 31 
• Water: 89%
• Protein: 2.5 grams 
• Carbs: 6 grams 
• Fiber: 2.4 grams
• Fat: 0.4 grams 

Not only is broccoli a good veggie to eat while on keto it’s full of nutrients including vitamins and minerals.

How Many Carbs are in Broccoli Cheese Casserole?

Let’s go over quickly how many carbs are actually in this keto broccoli cheese casserole. For ½ CUP SERVING IT HAS ONLY 4.6 NET CARBS. 

In a non-keto broccoli casserole, there is a wide range of ingredients that you can add to it, meaning that often there they have a lot of carbs as well. There could be anywhere from 20-30 NET Carbs per serving. 

Holy moly that’s a lot more right? Go with the low carb version every time since it’s just as delicious anyway!

What Ingredients are in Keto Broccoli Casserole?

• Broccoli – 6 cups chopped broccoli. I don’t recommend chopping them too small, because it will turn to mush. It still tastes good but you want larger pieces so I recommend cutting them bigger. 
• Cream Cheese – Soften the cream cheese by letting it sit out for about 30 minutes. Any brand will work fine.
• Spices – Combination of salt, black pepper, paprika, and garlic powder.  
• Mayonnaise – I chose to use a combo of both mayo and sour cream. But you could double up on one of them instead. 
• Sour Cream – Use full fat instead of reduced. 
• Cheddar Cheese – My cheese of choice is cheddar, but you could change it out for mozzarella, gruyere, or another one you like.

Fresh Broccoli vs Frozen Broccoli for Cheese Casserole?

I typically always like to use fresh ingredients, including broccoli when making my broccoli casserole. Recipes always come out fresher-tasting and there is no comparison in flavor.

You could use frozen if you are in a bind, but the biggest problem with frozen broccoli is that it gets VERY watery when thawed out. I’ve used it to make roasted broccoli before and it just didn’t work that well. 

So whenever possible try and stick with fresh broccoli, the casserole will come out better.

What Kind of Cheese is Best for Broccoli Casserole?

When I think of the best cheese for a low carb broccoli cheese casserole or just broccoli for that matter, my mind instantly goes to cheddar cheese. The two ingredients just work so well together and there is such harmony between them!

I mean when you think about it, you have Broccoli Cheddar Soup, which is another favorite comfort dish of mine. Even the best way to get kids to eat their broccoli is to pour some Homemade Cheese Sauce over it. 

So naturally, I decided to add shredded cheddar cheese to this delicious keto broccoli casserole. 

Try to choose a quality cheddar cheese, and as always, shredding it by hand will always make it taste better than using the pre-shredded kind.

However, if you would like to use a different cheese that’s fine too. When making casseroles whether they are Keto casseroles or regular ones I like to use cheeses that get really stringy when they melt. 

A few options are: 

• Mozzarella 
• Fontina
• Gruyere
• Provolone 
• Monterey Jack  

No matter what cheese you chose you’re going to have a cheesy keto broccoli casserole that your family will love. 

Now what I don’t recommend swapping out the cream cheese, that mixed with the sour cream and mayonnaise is what makes the creamy cheese sauce. So make sure you keep it in the recipe.

Different Variations of Keto Broccoli Cheese Casserole 

The variations you can make to this keto cheesy broccoli casserole are great. You can add a crunchy topping by using crushed pork rinds, moon cheese, or toasted almond flour. 

You can also add some fresh protein to your low carb broccoli casserole. Chicken is my favorite meat to add, but you could add shrimp, steak, or even pork. 

Oh another variation you could make is if you want more protein but you are a vegetarian you could always add some tofu. Not my first choice, but for those who love tofu you probably will really like it. 

Can I use a different cheese? Sure! Swap out the cheddar for some mozzarella, gruyere, fontina, or even provolone. 

Casseroles are great because you don’t always have to stick exactly to my recipe. You can add or swap out ingredients for different ones. Go for whatever you like, or even what is in your fridge.

Can I Put a Breadcrumb Topping on a Keto Broccoli Casserole?

You can definitely make a “breadcrumb” topping to go on top of your keto broccoli cheese casserole. A few different ideas are:

1. Pork Rinds – In my opinion, this is the most common way people make a crunchy topping when on keto. All you need to do is crush them and sprinkle on top. 
2. Almond Flour – Another good way to add a topping. I recommend toasting the almond flour in the oven first then add them on top of the low carb broccoli casserole. 
3. Moon Cheese – They look like the old fashioned cheese balls we used to eat as kids. Crush them up, then sprinkle on top. 
4. Combo – You can use a combo of any of these ideas I mentioned. All of them taste delicious.

Can I Add Protein to this Broccoli Casserole?

Absolutely you can add some protein to this easy cheesy keto broccoli casserole. 

The first thing that comes to my mind when thinking about adding a protein is chicken. Adding in some cooked or shredded chicken makes this a more rounded dish. 

Chicken and broccoli go great together, then add in some cheese and you’ve got yourself a complete meal in a one casserole dish. 

Other options would be shrimp, pork, sausage, or even beef.

Tools to Use

The beauty of casseroles is that you don’t need any special tools to make it. 

All you need are items that you already have in your kitchen:  

• Cutting Board
• Knife
• Stockpot 
• Strainer
• Small Mixing Bowl 
• Measuring Bowls and Spoons 
• Baking Dish

How to Make Cheesy Keto Broccoli Casserole 

Learn how to make this keto broccoli cheese casserole by following these simple instructions: 

Preparing the Broccoli 

STEP 1: Start by prepping the broccoli. I usually start by rinsing the broccoli off, then pat it dry.

STEP 2: Grab a large cutting board and your knife of choice and cut the broccoli into bite-sized pieces.

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Don’t cut them too small because after they are cooked they will lose their firmness and can turn into mush. 

STEP 3: Put the broccoli into a larger bowl and set aside.

Do I Have to Cook the Broccoli Before Baking the Casserole?

Yes, cooking the broccoli before baking it in a casserole is a necessary step.  Here’s what you do:

STEP 4: Fill a large stockpot with water and bring to a boil.

STEP 5: Once the water has started to boil add the broccoli to the pot and cook for about 2-3 minutes. You really only want to blanch it.

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STEP 6: Drain the broccoli and set aside while you prepare the rest of the casserole. Make sure to drain it thoroughly or your casserole will come our runny.

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Mixing the Ingredients

STEP 7: In a small bowl add the softened cream cheese, mayonnaise, sour cream, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and paprika. Stir all the ingredients together.

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STEP 8: Pour the creamy mixture over the blanched broccoli, then add 1 ½ cups shredded cheddar cheese. Gently stir all the ingredients together.

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STEP 9: Transfer the broccoli into your casserole or baking dish. Sprinkle with the remaining ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese.

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Baking It

STEP 10: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Bake the keto broccoli casserole for about 15 minutes or until the cheese is fully melted and the sauce is bubbling.

STEP 11: Serve right away.

It’s Great for a Crowd

I LOVE making casseroles, but especially this keto broccoli casserole for a larger crowd. It’s so easy to make and feeds a ton of people. 

The exact recipe for this low carb broccoli cheese casserole has 11 – ½ cup servings, which feeds a good amount of people. However, if you are having a really large crowd then I would recommend doubling the recipe.

Best Tips

Here are a few quick tips that will make this keto broccoli cheese casserole come out great every time:

• Don’t cut the broccoli florets too small, because they will overcook and turn into mush. 
• Be sure to use softened cream cheese. It will be much easier to stir. 
• This recipe for keto broccoli casserole is best with fresh broccoli. Frozen broccoli can work in a pinch but does tend to be watery. Try to use fresh instead. 
• Other cheese options are Mozzarella, Fontina, Gruyere, Provolone, or Monterey Jack. 
• The mayonnaise can be replaced with Greek Yogurt, but the carb content may change a bit.
• Double the recipe when serving a large crowd or if you want more leftovers.
• Adding chicken or another protein can make this a complete one-dish meal. 
• Cheesy Keto Broccoli Casserole can be prepared ahead of time and stored in the fridge for 24 hours ahead of baking it. 
• Toppings can include: Toasted Almond Flour, Crushed Pork Rinds, or Crushed Moon Cheese.

How to Make Cheesy Keto Broccoli Casserole in the Microwave

So you really shouldn’t make the entire casserole in the microwave, but you can certainly cook the broccoli in the microwave instead of on the stove. 

I’ll quickly walk you through it. 

1. Cut the broccoli florets and place them in a microwave-safe bowl and add 2-4 tablespoons of water. 
2. Cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap and microwave for 2 minutes. 
3. Let it sit, covered, for another 2 minutes, then drain any water that is in the bowl. 
4. In a small bowl add the cream cheese, mayonnaise, sour cream, and spices. Pour it over the steamed broccoli.
5. Add the cheddar cheese and stir all together.
6. Transfer into a baking dish and bake for 15 minutes at 350 degrees.

Other Diets This Recipe is Good For

Gluten-Free: A lot of casseroles out there including broccoli casseroles can contain gluten. But this recipe is not only a low carb broccoli casserole but it’s a gluten-free low carb broccoli casserole too.

Vegetarian: There is no meat in our cheesy keto broccoli casserole which makes it a great side dish for any of you vegetarians out there. 

Nut-Free: So many keto and low carb recipes contain some kind of nut or nut flour. But if you have a nut allergy then this broccoli cheese casserole is perfect for you.

What to Serve with Low Carb Broccoli Casserole?

Low carb veggie casseroles, like this keto broccoli and cheese casserole, it goes with so many dishes and it’s pretty versatile. 

A few things you can serve it with are: 

• Corned Beef 
• Crispy Low Carb Fried Chicken 
• Keto Meatloaf 
• Keto Stuffed Peppers 
• Everything Bagel Chicken 

Those are just some I quickly came up with, but there are so many different things you can make that it would go just beautifully with.

How to Make Ahead & Store Broccoli Cheese Casserole 

Another great plus to making this low carb broccoli cheese casserole is that you can make it ahead of time which is great when you are cooking for guests. 

I love making things ahead of time that way I can spend more time with my friends. 

1. Follow all the recipe card’s instructions except for baking it. 
2. Once you transfer it to your baking dish cover it with foil, or if your baking dish comes with a lid then use that. 
3. Place it in the fridge for up to 24 hours. 
4. When you are ready to eat it, place it in the oven and cook according to the original recipe. 

Here is another reason why make-ahead casseroles are great:

You can prepare it ahead of time and then if you are out of the house, or just busy, your husband or kids just has to pop it in the oven. It’s that simple!

How to Reheat Broccoli Casserole

You can reheat your broccoli cheese casserole in 2 different ways: 

1. Microwave – Place the leftovers in a microwave-safe bowl and heat for 60-90 seconds. 
2. Oven – Put leftover keto cheesy broccoli in a baking dish or another oven-safe dish. Bake at 350 for about 10 minutes or until completely heated through.

Can You Freeze Keto Broccoli Casserole?

Yes!! You can definitely freeze the keto broccoli casserole, whether it has been precooked or not. 

Assemble the broccoli and cheese casserole as you normally would. Then after it’s been assembled you can either freeze it before it’s cooked, or you can freeze the leftovers. 

Here are the instructions for both ways:

Freeze before cooking: Assemble the casserole, but do not cook it. Cover the casserole with plastic wrap, then again with foil. Place in the freezer and freeze up to 3 months. 

Freeze the leftovers: Transfer to a freezer-safe container. You can wrap the entire container in foil if you want to help give some added protection. Freeze for up to 3 months.

More Low Carb Broccoli Recipes

We have a bunch of other great broccoli recipes you will love. Here are a few:

• Keto Broccoli Cheddar Soup
• Roasted Broccoli with Garlic and Cheese
• Keto Broccoli Salad with Bacon

More Keto Side Dishes

If you’re in the mood for some other Keto-friendly side dishes then try our:

• Keto Cauliflower Mashed Potatoes
• Easy Low Carb Coleslaw
• Keto Fried Cabbage with Bacon
• Roasted Cauliflower
• Cheesy Keto Brussel Sprouts

All of them are Keto-friendly and low carb, and will have your friends raving!

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