Easy and Cheesy Broccoli Casserole

Warm and comforting, this Kid-Friendly Easy and Cheesy Broccoli Casserole is the perfect side dish to have on hand for either a holiday meal or during the week. This Broccoli Casserole is the ultimate comfort food with the melted cheese on top and even the pickiest vegetable eaters are sure to enjoy!

We love to find interesting ways to serve our daughters fresh vegetables, and while they do like steamed broccoli, sometimes we need to “fun” it up a bit. This easy recipe can be made in advance, and you can have amazing leftovers prepared for the week, or for any holiday meal.

We prefer to make the sauce (Béchamel) from scratch and not use canned condensed soup for this recipe. Don’t let this part scare you, the béchamel sauce is made from a roux (equal parts butter and flour) and milk – it tastes amazing and is relatively simple to make. This recipe is flexible enough to add your favorite protein choice as well. We often add ground turkey, but you can add ground beef and sausage as well.

Why This Recipe Works?

• Warm and Comforting.
• Easy recipe that can be made in advance.
• Uses a few easily available ingredients.
• A great way to get your kids to broccoli.
• Easy to add a protein if you desire.
• Perfect side dish for holiday meals or during the week.
• Great use for leftover rice.
• Does not use canned condensed soup.
• The Best Broccoli and Cheese Casserole Recipe ever!!!

Main Ingredients

This recipe uses super easy ingredients that can be purchased from a local grocery store if they are not already in your kitchen. Read the Recipe Card for the measurements.

• Broccoli – Fresh cut broccoli is best to use. If you only have frozen, you can use that but but make sure to drain out any excess water when you are defrosting the frozen broccoli.
• Cheddar Cheese – It is better to grate the cheddar cheese yourself than to use pre-shredded cheddar, as it will melt easier and be tastier. However, if you only have pre-shredded cheese available, you can use that as well.
• Rice – Cooked long grain white rice works best, however brown rice can be substituted as a healthier alternative. Other healthy susbstitues include: Quinoa, barley, orzo, farro or bulgur wheat.
• Onion/Garlic/Spices – Cooking the broccoli with fresh onion and garlic and incorporating the rustic spices gives the casserole filling a warm, comforting flavor. You can adjust the heat level from the cayenne pepper to your liking.
• Flour – We use all purpose flour. You can substitute whole wheat to make it a little healthier.
• Milk/Butter – These baking staples contribute to helping the filling stick together and maintain a moist, creamy texture.

How to make Easy and Cheesy Broccoli Casserole:

Step 1: Prep It

• Set the oven rack to the middle position and preheat to 350 degrees F. Spray a 9×13 oven proof casserole dish with cooking spray and set aside.
• In a large bowl, combine the broccoli florets, cooked rice, and 2/3 of the shredded cheese; set aside.

Step 2: Sauce It

• To make the béchamel sauce; add the butter, onion, and garlic into a medium sauce pan. Cook over medium-low heat until the onions are soft and translucent, about 3 minutes.
• Add the flour and stir until a paste forms. Continue to stir and cook for about 3-5 minutes, or just until butter/flour mixture turns a light golden brown color.

• Whisk the milk into the butter/flour mixture and turn the heat up to medium.

• Continue to whisk the béchamel sauce as it heats up. Allow it to reach a simmer, at which point the sauce will thicken, about 5 minutes.
• Remove the sauce from the heat and season with the salt, thyme, cayenne, and black pepper.

• Taste the sauce and add more seasoning if desired. The sauce should be heavily seasoned because it will be mixed into the broccoli and rice which contain no seasoning of their own. Make it just a bit saltier than you would prefer if you were eating the sauce on its own. 

Step 3: Combine It

• Pour the béchamel sauce over the filling ingredients. Using a rubber spatula, remove any stubborn sauce that sticks to the bottom and sides of the pot.
• With the rubber spatula, fold over the ingredients until everything is evenly coated in the sauce. Empty into the prepared 9×13 casserole dish and top with the remaining 1/3 shredded cheddar. 

Step 4: Bake It

• In the preheated 350 degree oven, bake the casserole uncovered for 35 minutes, or until there is some light browning around the edges and on top.

Garnish with chopped parsley and serve immediately.

Another great dish you might like to try is our popular Cheesy Spinach Squares.