This quick Cheese Sauce for Broccoli is a low carb, simple side dish to add to any meal! The creamy 6-ingredient sauce is mild, ready in 15 minutes, and the perfect topping for veggies.
Broccoli and cheese has been a staple in our house for years, but I wanted to make sure our go-to cheese sauce fit our low carb lifestyle. This broccoli cheese sauce only uses a handful of ingredients, comes together in just 15 minutes, and is mild enough that even picky eaters will love it too.
It pairs really well with broccoli, but it’s also great over cauliflower, asparagus, or just about any protein. If you love this flavor combo, you’ll also want to try my Broccoli Cheddar Soup or these Sausage Broccoli Cheddar Foil Packs.
Why you’ll love this recipe:
- Versatile – This is the perfect basic cheese sauce! It goes with anything… steamed broccoli, roasted veggies, burgers, or spaghetti squash just to name a few.
- Quick & Easy – The sauce itself takes about 10-15 minutes depending on your preferred consistency and flavor! There are no expensive ingredients, special appliances, or complicated steps. The sauce requires just a small pot and a heating source!
- Low Carb & Gluten-Free – A serving of the sauce has about 123 calories and less than 3 net carbs.
Cheese Sauce Ingredients
Here’s a quick overview of what you’ll need for the recipe. Scroll down to the printable recipe card for the exact measurements.
- Half-n-half and Unsalted butter – This makes the base of the creamy sauce. If you only have salted butter, you may not need to add any with your seasonings.
- Dijon mustard, Garlic powder, Onion powder, Salt (to taste) – General, all-purpose flavor. Feel free to add some paprika for a little kick if you’d like.
- Shredded cheddar cheese – If you shred it from a block of cheese, you’ll save a little in carbs and have a smoother melt. If you wanted some spice, you could replace half with pepper jack.
- Broccoli – I used fresh broccoli because we love the texture, but you could use frozen broccoli instead (it may require an extra minute of steaming, check that it’s fork-tender). This sauce is also great with cauliflower, green beans, asparagus, and more!
How to Make Cheese Sauce for Broccoli
In addition to the ingredients listed above you will just need a sauce pot and spatula. This easy, cheesy side dish is super easy and quick! Here’s a step-by-step guide for making this cheese sauce recipe.
- First, place the broccoli in a steamer basket and set it inside a pot filled with 2 inches of water. Then bring to a simmer and cover for 7-8 minutes. When the broccoli has reached your desired tenderness remove from heat and set aside. Remember, the cooking times may vary depending on the size of your florrets.
- While the broccoli is steaming, heat a medium-sized pot or saucepan on medium heat. Then add the cream and butter. Warm for about 5 minutes, stirring frequently. Now, add Dijon mustard, garlic powder, and onion powder, then stir until combined. Finally, pour in the cheese and stir continuously until the cheese is melted. Taste and add salt if needed.
- Once the sauce is smooth and broccoli is fork-tender and bright green, we’re ready to serve! Remove the broccoli from the steamer basket and serve with the cheese sauce either on the side or drizzled all over.
How to Serve Cheese Sauce
This easy cheese sauce is great as a topping or a dip! Serving in little cups with the broccoli lets everyone decide how much cheese they prefer, but drizzling it all over the broccoli is easy and super delicious!
More veggies that go with cheese sauce:
Storage and Reheating Instructions
- Refrigerator Storage: Both the cheese sauce and the broccoli can be kept in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 5 days, but they should be stored separately for the best texture.
- Freezer Storage: This cheese sauce can be frozen up to 3 months! It’s best to store in an airtight container (make sure to leave some extra room so it can expand without breaking your jar). You’ll get the best texture if you defrost the sauce overnight in the fridge, then reheat using the directions below.
- Reheating Instructions: For the best texture, I like to reheat the broccoli and sauce separately. To reheat the sauce quickly, microwave at 50% power in 20-second increments, stirring between each blast for even reheating. Broccoli can be air fried (350 degrees, 2-5 minutes), baked (350 degrees 5-8 minutes), or microwaved (about a minute… but beware, it makes the scent super strong).
If you love this delicious side dish, check out these easy keto recipes!
- Broccoli Cheddar Muffins – The BEST side dish with some low-carb tomato soup or as a breakfast or snack! These are easy to freeze and reheat, too.
- Cheesy Bacon Wrapped Asparagus – These are great as an appetizer or side dish! The everything bagel seasoning adds a great twist on an old favorite.
- Pumpkin Waffles– A 10-min recipe you can even make ahead of time for a delicious fall breakfast or snack.
- Buffalo Cauliflower– All you need is a few simple ingredients and everyday kitchen tools to make this crowd-pleasing dish.
- Cabbage and Sausage Recipe– A 5-ingredient sheet pan dinner.
Recipe FAQ
Absolutely not! You could use the air fryer or roast it in the oven if you prefer crispier broccoli. The cheese sauce is so good, it would even be a great dip for raw broccoli!
No, this cheese sauce has a lovely smooth texture. There’s no flour or cream cheese, so any clumps in the sauce are simply shredded cheese clumps. This means all you need to do is continue to warm and stir until it’s completely smooth!
Note: If you freeze the sauce, then reheat it too quickly (like in the microwave), that could cause the texture to become separated and less smooth. See the reheating section for the correct way to reheat the sauce.
Cheese Sauce for Broccoli
Video
Ingredients
- 3 cups broccoli florets
- ½ cup half n half
- 1 tbsp unsalted butter
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ¼ tsp onion powder
- ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese
- Salt to taste
Instructions
- Place the broccoli in a steamer basket and set it inside a pot filled with 2 inches of water. Bring to a simmer and cover for 7-8 minutes, until broccoli is tender and bright green.
- Meanwhile, make the cheese sauce. Add the cream and butter to a medium pot or saucepan and heat over medium for about 5 minutes, stirring frequently.
- Add the Dijon mustard, garlic powder, and onion powder and stir until combined.
- Add the shredded cheese and stir continuously until the cheese is melted and the sauce is smooth. Taste and add salt to taste.
- Remove the broccoli from the steamer basket and serve with the cheese sauce, either on the side or drizzled all over!
Notes
- I found this recipe was really good without any added salt, my husband liked it better with ¼ tsp of salt added. Either way, it’s delicious!
- The sauce thickens slightly as it cools, just heat it up gradually if needed to get it back to pouring consistency.
- Nutrition values for cheese sauce + broccoli: Calories: 146 grams, Total Fat: 11 grams, Cholesterol: 32.2 milligrams, Sodium: 166.4 milligrams, Carbohydrates: 6.8 grams, Fiber: 1.8 grams, Sugar: 2.5 grams, Protein: 6.2 grams, Net Carbs: 5 grams
- This recipe makes 4 servings, and each one is about 3 tablespoons (but this may depend on whether you prefer a thinner or thicker consistency). Each serving of SAUCE ONLY has 2.2 net carbs.
Nutrition
Hi, I’m Maggie! After obtaining a Master of Education degree in 2020, I decided to combine my love of teaching with my passion for food. Cooking good food feeds our bodies and souls, but it also helps give us a confidence that empowers us far beyond the kitchen. I hope to share my knowledge and experience to help cooks of all levels create delicious meals, snacks, and desserts for everyone they love!
