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Keto Broccoli with Cheese Sauce and Bacon

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This Keto Broccoli with Cheese Sauce and Bacon is the perfect side dish to accompany just about any keto main dish recipe. Fresh broccoli florets, drizzled with olive oil and seasoned with salt and pepper, and then roasted to perfection and topped with a silky cheddar cheese sauce and crispy bacon. Best of all, it is low carb, keto-friendly, and gluten free.

An enameled cast iron skillet with roasted broccoli, homemade cheese sauce and chopped crispy bacon.
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Ingredients in Keto Broccoli with Cheese Sauce

Individual ingredients in separate bowls to make roasted broccoli, homemade cheese sauce, and crispy bacon.

Ingredients Notes

  • Broccoli: Since the broccoli in this keto broccoli with cheese sauce recipe is being roasted, I recommend sticking to fresh broccoli. That way you can get those nice crispy edges. However, if you want to use frozen broccoli, I recommend heating the sheet pan in the oven for 15 to 20 minutes before cooking the broccoli. You can also make this with cauliflower, or a mix of the two. (Try this Sesame Chicken and Broccoli Recipe)
  • Cheese: You can substitute any cheeses you prefer in the cheese sauce. Want to kick things up a notch? Use pepper jack. For a rich, nutty flavor, use gruyere! The possibilities are endless. Some of my other favorite combinations are half sharp cheddar and half parmesan or half sharp cheddar and half pepper jack. (Try these Roasted Cauliflower Steaks with Cheese Sauce)
  • Hot sauce: The hot sauce in this recipe does not make it spicy at all. It just elevates the flavors. But for a little kick, put some of this crispy garlic chili oil on top when serving.
  • Heavy cream: Heavy cream or heavy whipping cream both work here. You can even substitute half and half. However, if substituting with half and half, you may want to add a little extra cheese to make sure that the cheese sauce is nice and thick. (Try this Parmesan Crusted Chicken with Lemon Cream Sauce)
  • Bacon: A nice crispy, smokey bacon is the perfect complement to the freshness of the broccoli and the richness of the cheese sauce. You could also use pancetta, ham, or prosciutto. (Try this Keto Candied Bacon Recipe)

How to Make Keto Broccoli and Cheese Sauce

Step by step photos showing how to roast broccoli on a sheet pan in the oven and make homemade cheese sauce.

Step by Step Instructions

STEP 1: Preheat the oven to 425°F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment. Arrange the broccoli florets in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet, drizzle with the olive oil, and then sprinkle generously with salt and pepper. Toss to coat.

STEP 2: Roast the broccoli for 15 minutes, then flip and roast for an additional 5 to 10 minutes, or until fork-tender and slightly browned on the edges.

STEP 3: While the broccoli is roasting, make the keto cheese sauce: Place the heavy cream, cheddar cheese, garlic, Dijon mustard, hot sauce, salt, and pepper in a large saucepan over medium heat. Stir continuously until the cheese has melted and the ingredients are well incorporated, then reduce the heat to low and stir occasionally while the broccoli finishes roasting.

STEP 4: Plate the broccoli, and top with the cheese sauce and bacon before serving. Enjoy your cheesy broccoli!

An enameled cast iron skillet with roasted broccoli, homemade cheese sauce and chopped crispy bacon.

Recipe Tips and Variations

  • Storage: Store leftover keto broccoli with cheese sauce in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. (these are my favorite storage and meal prep containers)
  • Reheating: You can reheat this in the microwave, or in a pan on the stovetop.
  • Add more veggies: This is also delicious with cauliflower, bell peppers, zucchini, mushrooms, and asparagus added. (Keto Vegetable Recipes)
  • Make it dairy free: For a dairy free cheese sauce, swap out the heavy cream for full fat coconut milk (or the dairy free milk of your choice) and swap out the cheeses for your favorite dairy free cheese alternative. (Dairy Free Keto Recipes)
  • Add nuts: For some added crunch and a hint of sweetness to pair with all the savory flavors, try chopping up some of these Keto Candied Pecans and sprinkling them over top.
  • Spice it up: To add a kick of heat to this low carb broccoli and cheese sauce recipe, sprinkle over some crushed red pepper flakes, or a drizzle of sriracha. Even better, add some of this crunchy garlic chili oil. It's my fav!
An enameled cast iron skillet with roasted broccoli, homemade cheese sauce and chopped crispy bacon.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use frozen broccoli in this recipe?

I recommend using fresh because it gets those perfectly charred edges. But if you only have frozen on hand, I recommend heating the sheet pan in the oven for 20 minutes or so before adding the broccoli to the pan.

Can cheese sauce be made ahead of time?

This sauce is best made fresh. If you make it ahead of time and store it in the fridge, it will become very thick and won't have that same silky texture when it's reheated.

An enameled cast iron skillet with roasted broccoli, homemade cheese sauce and chopped crispy bacon.

More Keto Side Dishes

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An enameled cast iron skillet with roasted broccoli, homemade cheese sauce and chopped crispy bacon.

Keto Broccoli with Cheese Sauce and Bacon

★★★★★

5 from 1 reviews
  • Author: Kyndra Holley
  • Total Time: 40 minutes
  • Yield: 6 Servings 1x
  • Diet: Gluten Free
Print Recipe

Description

This Roasted Keto Broccoli with Cheese Sauce and Bacon is the perfect side dish to accompany just about any keto main dish recipe. Fresh broccoli florets, drizzled with olive oil and seasoned with salt and pepper, and then roasted to perfection and topped with a silky cheddar cheese sauce and crispy bacon. Best of all, it is low carb, keto-friendly, and gluten free.

Ingredients

Units Scale
  • 1 ½ pounds broccoli florets
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil (I use this brand) Code kyndraholley for $5 off
  • Sea salt and ground black pepper
  • ¾ cup heavy cream
  • 2 cups shredded sharp white cheddar cheese
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
  • 1 teaspoon hot sauce
  • ½ teaspoon sea salt
  • ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 8 slices bacon, cooked crisp and chopped

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 425°F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment.
  2. Arrange the broccoli florets in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet, drizzle with the olive oil, and then sprinkle generously with salt and pepper. Toss to coat.
  3. Roast the broccoli for 15 minutes, then flip and roast for an additional 5 to 10 minutes, or until fork-tender and slightly browned on the edges.
  4. While the broccoli is roasting, make the sauce: Place the heavy cream, cheddar cheese, garlic, Dijon mustard, hot sauce, salt, and pepper in a large saucepan over medium heat. Stir continuously until the cheese has melted and the ingredients are well incorporated, then reduce the heat to low and stir occasionally while the broccoli finishes roasting.
  5. Plate the broccoli, and top with the cheese sauce and bacon before serving.

Notes

  • Net carbs per serving: 5.1g
  • Storage: Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. 
  • Reheating: You can reheat this in the microwave or in a pan on the stovetop.
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 30 minutes
  • Category: Side Dish Recipes
  • Method: Roasting
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Calories: 341
  • Fat: 26g
  • Carbohydrates: 7.4g
  • Fiber: 2.3g
  • Protein: 15g

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Crystal says

    Absolutely delicious and easy to make. We had Gruyère on hand and it was so yummy!

    ★★★★★

    Reply

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