Keto Turnip Recipes: Au Gratin Potatoes!?

If you’re looking for a delicious and healthy side dish to serve at your next holiday dinner, look no further than these Au Gratin “Potatoes”! Yep, I love keto turnip recipes! They’re made with lower carb turnips so they’re perfect for anyone on a keto diet.

And thanks to the creamy cheese sauce, they’re just as delicious as traditional Au Gratin Potatoes. So give them a try this Thanksgiving or Christmas!

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I used to love mashed potatoes for all of my holiday side dishes. But now that I’m following a keto diet, I prefer au gratin “potatoes”, or rather, au gratin turnips!

The cheesy sauce makes these potatoes so delicious and satisfying, and they’re a perfect low carb alternative to traditional mashed potatoes. So if you’re looking for a healthy and tasty side dish for your next holiday dinner, give these keto turnip recipes a try!

Are turnips keto or good on a keto diet?

Yes, turnips are good on a keto diet! They’re lower in carbs and high in fiber, making them a perfect keto-friendly food. Plus, they’re packed with vitamins and minerals, including potassium and vitamin C.

So if you’re looking for a healthy and delicious keto side dish, be sure to try some purple top turnips!

Are turnips a root vegetable?

As you may or may not know, potatoes are a root vegetable. They grow underground and are part of the tuber family. The tubers are swollen stems or roots like carrots and beets.

And yes, purple top turnips are another root vegetable. They have white flesh and grow in temperate to cold climates.

🥔 Turnips vs Potatoes

How many carbs are in turnips and potatoes?

Turnips are lower in carbs than potatoes – typically about 8 grams of carbs and 36 calories in a one cup serving of turnips, compared to around 26 grams of carbs and 110 calories in a cup of chopped potatoes.

I like to switch out turnips for potatoes in mashed potatoes and other potato recipes because they have a slightly sweet taste I enjoy.

Also, that carb count difference is pretty significant when trying to hit my macros! Turnips make a great low carb alternative.

What do roasted turnips taste like?

If you’ve never had roasted turnips, you’re in for a treat!

What do turnips taste like? They have a slightly sweet and nutty flavor, and they’re absolutely delicious, especially younger turnips.

Roasting turnips is a great easy way to enjoy them as a side dish, as they caramelize and become crispy tender.

Roasted or mashed turnips can be delicious, however, my favorite way to cook turnips is as keto au gratin turnips. They bake in the cheese and cream and are simply yummy!

How to choose the best turnips

When choosing turnips, you want to make sure they’re fresh. Look for smaller turnips to medium in size, and they should have a smooth, shiny skin.

Larger turnips can have a more bitter taste, while small turnips or a medium turnip will be more sweet and tender.

It’s best to look for young turnips, and you also want to avoid turnips that are wilted or have any blemishes on the skin.

Keto au gratin turnips macros

Let’s take a look at the macros for my favorite of keto turnip recipes!

In this recipe for au gratin turnips, one serving is 1/8 of the recipe. It has 251 calories, 9 grams of protein, 21 grams of fat, and 3 grams net carbs per serving.

I figure the macros for low carb au gratin potatoes with MyFitnessPal, with the ingredients I use in the recipe. I always recommend figuring out your own with the specific ingredients/brands you use. Net carbs are figured by taking the total carbs minus fiber and minus any sugar alcohol or erythritol carbs.

It’s especially important to determine your own if you’re keeping close track and want to be accurate.

What’s the difference between scalloped potatoes and au gratin?

Au gratin-style root vegetables are made with a creamy cheese sauce, while scalloped are sliced thin and baked in thickened milk. Usually, the sauce for scalloped is thickened with flour or corn starch, which I avoid since it is not gluten free and is higher carb.

So can you make keto scalloped turnips? You can, but most recipes then thicken them with cheese which makes them au gratin in my book.

And mashed potatoes?

The other most popular potato dish is mashed, and they’re delicious, but we’ve rather overdone this method at our house! I have made mashed turnips and they can have an amazing flavor.

Be warned, they do take longer to boil in salted water than traditional potatoes and may take more than a potato masher to get them the correct texture, but they can be mashed.

Therefore, au gratin is my current preferred method for cooking fabulously delicious root vegetables.

🍽 Equipment needed to make keto au gratin turnips

The first kitchen item you’ll need to make low carb au gratin turnips is either a mandoline slicer or a steady hand with a knife and cutting board! I like using a mandoline to get nice, even slices of turnip.

You’ll also need either an 8 x 8-inch glass casserole dish or an oven-safe skillet. A 9-inch pie plate could work for this recipe, or any similar size dish should do the job.

As for utensils, you’ll need a wooden spoon or spatula for stirring, the aforementioned knife and cutting board, and some kitchen basics.

• skillet or sauté pan
• mandoline slicer
• knife and cutting board
• a spatula
• measuring spoons and cups
• 8-inch square glass baking dish (or similar)

🥘 Ingredients needed for low carb au gratin turnips

The ingredients you’ll need for this keto recipe are:

• 3 medium turnips (about 1 1/2 pounds peeled and sliced thin)
• 1 small yellow onion (diced)
• 2 teaspoons unsalted butter
• 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
• 1 cup organic heavy whipping cream
• 1 1/2 cups grated gruyere cheese (or Swiss or cheddar)
• 1/3 cup grated parmesan cheese
• 1 tsp salt (more or less per preference)
• 1 tsp pepper (more or less per preference)
• Chopped fresh parsley, fresh thyme, or other fresh herbs to garnish

🔪 Instructions

To begin, preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. Also, butter an 8 x 8 x 2-inch (6 cup) baking dish.

While the oven is heating up, cut off the turnip greens and peel them with a vegetable peeler. Take one turnip bulb at a time and slice the turnips thinly with a mandoline slicer or knife.

I aim for about 1/8 inch thickness, but a little thicker or thinner won’t make too much of a difference in this recipe! You may just have to adjust the cook time to get cooked turnips.

Next, slice or dice the onion into small pieces.

Then, in a large skillet or sauté pan, melt the butter with the olive oil over medium heat. Add the onions to the melted butter mixture and cook until they’re soft and translucent – about 5 to 8 minutes.

Layer the au gratin turnips, keto style

Then, in the prepared baking dish, position a layer of the sliced turnips, overlapping slightly. Now sprinkle salt and pepper over the layer to your liking.

Now spread over about 1/3 of the shredded gruyere (or Swiss or cheddar) cheese, and pour about 1/3 of a cup of the heavy cream over it gently.

After that, repeat the layer with more turnips, salt, pepper, and cheese. Next, evenly spread the sautéed onions over the top then cover everything with another 1/3 cup of heavy cream.

Complete the third layer of turnips, salt, pepper, and cheese, and carefully cover it with the last of the cream.

Then top with the remaining turnips, add salt and pepper, and sprinkle the parmesan cheese over top.

As it bakes, it all comes together to make a delicious cream sauce for the turnips!

⏲ Bake time

Bake the creamy goodness for 1 to 1¼ hours, until the turnips are tender and the top is beginning to brown and bubbly.

💭 Top tip

Test the turnips for tenderness with a knife. The thicker the turnips are cut, the longer they will need to cook to soften. If they do not soften after an hour and 15 minutes, you may wish to place a sheet of foil over the top so the cheese does not become too dark.

Allow the delicious keto side dish to cool for 10 minutes and then serve hot. It pairs fabulously with a Thanksgiving turkey or Christmas roast or steak.

🥣 How to store leftover low carb au gratin turnips

You can store any leftovers of this amazing dish in a covered container in the fridge for up to four days. Reheat individual servings in the microwave, being careful not to overcook and dry out the turnips.

Or, place the dish back in a 350-degree F oven for 10-15 minutes, until heated through.

👩‍🍳 Other ways to prepare turnips

If you’re not a fan of au gratin dishes, there are many other ways to cook turnips. Here are a few ideas:

Roasted turnips – Peel and slice the turnips into 1″ cubes. Toss with olive oil, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and fresh rosemary or other herbs. Roast at 400 degrees F for 30 minutes to an hour. Depending on the size and age of the turnips, it can take up to an hour or more in the oven to become fork tender.

Mashed turnips – Peel and dice the turnips into 1″ cubes. Boil turnips in water for 35-40 minutes until soft. Drain and mash turnips with a little butter, sour cream, salt, and pepper to taste.

Get creative and add cream cheese, cheddar, roasted garlic, or bacon if you want!

Use an immersion blender or food processor for the smoothest consistency. It’s possible to freeze mashed turnips in an airtight container for up to two months. Or check out this Mashed Turnips recipe for more detail.

Sautéed turnips – Peel and slice the turnips into thin wedges or strips. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the turnips and cook for 10-15 minutes until slightly softened. Add salt, pepper, and any other seasonings to taste.

Turnip fries – Cut the turnips into long, thin strips. Toss with olive oil, onion powder, salt, pepper, or other seasonings. Spread on a baking sheet and bake at 400 degrees F for 30-40 minutes flipping once after 20 minutes.

Have you ever cooked with turnips before? What’s your favorite way to prepare them? Let us know in the comments below!

🙋‍♀️ Are you sold on keto turnip recipes yet?

If not, please try out this low carb potato substitute in au gratin turnips. You may like them even better, and this keto side dish is perfect for your next family gathering.

The creamy, cheesy goodness will be a hit with everyone. Not to mention, it’s simple to make and can easily be doubled or tripled if needed. Leftovers reheat well, so you can enjoy the deliciousness of this low carb recipe all week long.

What are you waiting for? Give this easy low carb au gratin turnips recipe a try today!

🦃 More holiday dinner-worthy keto sides recipes

• Easy Roasted Air Fryer Radishes
• Keto Stuffed Mushrooms
• Cauliflower Mashed Potatoes
• Keto Asparagus Fries with Spicy Garlic Dip
• Cauliflower Keto Mac and Cheese Bake
• Creamy Keto Dill Dip
• Buffalo Deviled Eggs

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Nutrition Disclaimer

Please be aware I am not a medical specialist or nutritional professional. On this blog, I share recipes and what works for me. Please do not take anything on this blog as medical advice and always consult with your doctor before starting any diet or exercise program.

I use MyFitnessPal dot com to calculate nutrition facts as a courtesy to my readers, and I remove erythritol from the final carb count and net carb count because does not affect my own blood glucose levels or impact blood sugar.  

This is as accurate as possible, but it’s best to independently calculate nutritional data on your own with the specific ingredients you use. I expressly disclaim any and all liability of any kind with respect to any act or omission wholly or in part in reliance on anything contained in this website.