Ingredients
Equipment
Method
Prep and blanch
- Preheat the oven to 400F. Bring a pot of boiling salted water to a boil and blanch the halved Brussels sprouts for 4 minutes, then drain well and set aside.
Cook bacon and build the cheese sauce
- Cook the chopped bacon until crisp, then remove and reserve 1 tablespoon drippings. In the same pot, melt butter with the drippings, add minced garlic and flour, and cook for 1 minute while whisking.
- Whisk in the whole milk and heavy cream, then simmer until thickened, about 5–8 minutes. Stir in 1 cup shredded Gruyere, grated Parmesan, salt, and black pepper until smooth.
Assemble and bake
- Fold the blanched Brussels sprouts and half the reserved bacon into the cheese sauce, then pour into a baking dish. Top with the remaining Gruyere, the remaining bacon, and the panko breadcrumbs.
- Bake at 400F for 20–25 minutes until the casserole is bubbly and the top is golden. Rest 5 minutes before serving so the cheese sets slightly.
Notes
For the best texture, drain the blanched Brussels sprouts thoroughly so the casserole doesn’t loosen. Store leftovers covered in the fridge up to 3 days; reheat in a 350F oven until hot and bubbly. Freezing isn’t recommended because the creamy sauce can separate after thawing. Dietary swap: use half-and-half or evaporated milk in place of heavy cream for a lighter bake.
