Every Christmas eve, my husband’s good family friend, Lori, throws a huge celebration filled with food, cocktails and good company. She makes incredible savory chicken and dumplings, an outrageously good apple walnut spinach salad and just last year she introduced a new-to-me cheesy veggie gratin filled with cauliflower, carrots and broccoli.
I knew I really liked it after one bite of cheddar cheesy goodness, but after scooping seconds and then thirds onto my plate, I realized that true love affair was going down between me and this fabulous gratin.
This year, I’m excited to be partnering up with ALDI to bring my version of Lori’s cheddar cauliflower broccoli gratin to you, and of course, in consideration for your Thanksgiving menu (aka my favorite day).
If you haven’t already shopped at ALDI before, then I might recommend heading there ASAP. It’s affordable, packed with fun snacks you can’t find anywhere else and they even have a wide variety of organic produce to choose from.
Tony is OBSESSED with Aldi’s chip selection and I personally love their almond milk, wine, bread, nut butters and seasonal organic produce. They recently remodeled the store near my house and it’s been a breeze to whip around the aisles and pick up everything I need.
What’s in this cheddar broccoli cauliflower gratin?
This isn’t your average butter-filled veggie gratin. Instead, it’s made with a lightened-up sharp cheddar cheese sauce that only uses a few tablespoons of butter, yet is still rich, flavorful and generously coats all of the veggies with plenty of cheesy love. You’ll only need a few simple, inexpensive ingredients to make the recipe (and they’re all from ALDI!)
Here’s what you’ll need for this recipe:
- Cauliflower, broccoli & carrots: this is what was in Lori’s gratin, and now it’s in mine too! You’ll want to make sure your florets aren’t too large, otherwise they won’t all fit nicely in your pan.
- Simply Nature Organic Salted Butter Quarters: ALDI makes a fabulous salted butter that I recommend using. I prefer salted butter in both cooking and baking, simply because it adds just a little more flavor.
- Baker’s Corner All-Purpose Flour: you can use regular flour, but know that whole wheat or a 1:1 gluten-free all purpose flour are also options.
- Friendly Farms Unsweetened Almondmilk (or milk of choice): I love using unsweetened almond milk in all of my baking and cooking, but you can also use regular milk if that’s your preference. Love how affordable yet tasty the almond milk at ALDI is too!
- Garlic powder: essential to adding additional flavor to the cheese sauce!
- Happy Farms Sharp Cheddar Cheese Block: I always recommend shredding your own cheese from a block of cheese, as it tends to melt better!
- Priano Parmesan Cheese Wedge: in addition to cheddar, we’re using parmesan cheese for nice, cheesy flavor
- Chef’s Cupboard Panko Breadcrumbs: while topping this gratin is optional, I do recommend it! Everyone loves a good crunchy breadcrumb coating.
Great news: ALDI is available on Instacart! If you’ve never shopped on Instacart before, you can use the code ALDIAK19 to get $10 off your first three purchases of $35 or more just in time for the holidays.
How to make this cauliflower gratin ahead of time:
If you want to make this recipe ahead of time and save time on Thanksgiving Day, simply make the recipe as directed, except do NOT add breadcrumbs. Instead, cover and place in the fridge for up to a day or two. Once ready to enjoy, bake as directed in the instructions, adding the breadcrumbs after 30 minutes of baking, then baking again uncovered.
I seriously love how delicious this broccoli cauliflower gratin is, and how easy it was to pick up everything I needed for a successful side dish at ALDI.
This recipe is perfect to serve during Thanksgiving, or just anytime you’re looking for a healthy, yet deliciously cheesy and easy side dish!
I hope you all love this cheddar broccoli cauliflower gratin! This recipe is sponsored by ALDI. All recipes, text and opinions are my own. Thanks for supporting AK and the brands that help make this site possible.
Cheddar Broccoli Cauliflower Gratin
Scrumptious cheddar broccoli cauliflower gratin with a crispy breadcrumb topping. This delicious cheesy side dish is perfect for serving guests during the holiday season, or pairing with your favorite protein for a yummy weeknight dinner!
Ingredients
- Nonstick cooking spray or olive oil, for greasing the baking dish
- For the veggies:
- 4 cups medium broccoli florets (from 1 head broccoli)
- 4 cups medium cauliflower florets (from 1 head cauliflower)
- 3 medium carrots, sliced
- For the cheese sauce:
- 2 tablespoons Simply Nature Organic Salted Butter
- ⅓ cup Baker’s Corner All-Purpose Flour (whole wheat or gluten free 1:1 flour will all work)
- 2 1/3 cups Friendly Farms Unsweetened Almondmilk (skim, 2%, whole milk will all work)
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt, plus more to taste
- Lots of freshly ground black pepper
- 8 ounces Happy Farms Sharp Cheddar Cheese, cut into small cubes
- 1/3 cup Priano Parmesan Cheese
- For the topping:
- 3/4 cup Chef’s Cupboard Panko Breadcrumbs
- 1 tablespoon Simply Nature Organic Salted Butter, melted
Instructions
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Preheat your oven to 375 degrees F. Spray 2 ½ quart baking dish or 9x9 inch baking pan with nonstick cooking spray, or grease with olive oil or butter. Add broccoli florets, cauliflower florets and sliced carrots to prepared baking dish. Set aside.
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In a large skillet or pot add butter and place over medium heat. Once butter is melted, whisk in a little bit of the flour and then slowly add in milk, a little bit at a time, alternating with the flour and vigorously whisking away any lumps. Bring mixture to a boil, then reduce heat to low and simmer for a few minutes stirring every so often, until the sauce thickens up similar to a gravy. Stir in garlic powder, salt and LOTS of freshly ground black pepper. If the sauce is WAYYY too thick, feel free to add in a splash more milk. If the sauce is two thin, stir in another tablespoon of flour.
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Next add in sharp cheddar cheese and parmesan cheese and stir until completely melted into the sauce. Taste and add more salt and pepper, if desired. A fairly salty cheese sauce is best!
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Pour cheese sauce evenly over the veggies in the baking dish. Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes.
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In a medium bowl, mix together breadcrumbs with 1 tablespoon of melted butter.
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After 30 minutes of baking time, remove the foil from the baking dish, evenly sprinkle breadcrumbs on top of the veggies and bake UNCOVERED for 20-30 minutes more until breadcrumbs are slightly golden brown and veggies are fork tender. Serve 6-8.
Recipe Notes
You can easily make this recipe gluten free by using a gluten free 1:1 flour and gluten-free breadcrumbs.
16 comments
I would love to see a post on what’s good to buy from Aldi. I live near the one at Montrose and Western and I have no clue what’s good there. But I’d love to get in on the saving$.
Absolutely! I love the fresh produce they offer + the brands I’ve listed in this recipe (and this one) are amazing and so affordable.
This was absolutely amazing! I made it for a dinner party on Friday – no substitutions or modifications – and people scraped the dish clean! And it immediately went on to our Thanksgiving Day menu. Thank you for a fabulous recipe!
Love that! So delicious.
Can this recipe be made ahead of time? So excited to try it for thanksgiving!
Yes, absolutely! You can chop all veggies, make the cheese sauce and partially bake without the breadcrumbs covered for 30 minutes. Then you can let cool completely, and keep in fridge until the day of. On the day of, add breadcrumbs and bake again for 20-30 minutes.
Made this, but using this method for cooking a gratin and added some sweet potatoes. https://food52.com/recipes/32682-todd-coleman-s-potato-gratin
I LOVED how this used almond milk instead of half and half like most gratin recipes, but it still tasted decadent with the cheese 😋
Perfect! So delicious 🙂
Have you added other veggies to this? I was thinking of adding green beans.
I haven’t tried it yet but more veggies sounds delicious!
Do you think these could be made with frozen veggies?
Yes I think that would work well 🙂
Super good cheese sauce in this recipe! And it was easy to make!
Absolutely! Glad you enjoyed!
I was looking for a recipe to use up my broccoli and cauliflower at the end of the week. This recipe was excellent and easy. My 7 and 10 year olds stated this casserole was better than the Mac and cheese at Easter! I did add some half and half to make it a little creamier. It is nice that it is so adjustable. Loved it and it will go in my regular rotation!
Amazing! Perfect recipe for using up those veggies. Glad the kiddos loved it!