This Cheesy Broccoli Casserole recipe is a creamy, savory, and indulgent side that's perfect for busy weeknights. I love easy casserole recipes like this one which combines the goodness of broccoli with creamy cheese.
Ready in just 35 minutes, this cheesy casserole is a comforting dish that even picky eaters will love. You will also enjoy this Make Ahead Broccoli Rice Casserole.
You'll love the creamy cheese sauce that coats each piece of broccoli. The sauce is made with simple ingredients like butter, flour, milk, and shredded cheddar cheese, and it really complements the broccoli.
Jump to:
- Broccoli Cheese Casserole
- Recipes Made With Broccoli
- Ingredients For Broccoli Cheese Bake
- How to Make Cheesy Broccoli Casserole
- Tips for Making Cheesy Broccoli Bake
- Can I Make This Ahead Of Time?
- How Do You Store Broccoli With Cheese?
- More Cheese and Broccoli Recipes
- Kitchen Tools You'll Need
- Recipes To Serve With This Dish
- 📖 Recipe
Broccoli Cheese Casserole
Broccoli cheese casserole is a crowd-pleaser at family gatherings and weeknight dinners for good reasons. Not only does it sneak in some greens for the kids, but it's very versatile. You can use it as a side dish or make a few changes into a main dish. Plus, it's simple to make and requires minimal ingredients.
Everyone loves this cheese broccoli casserole because it's super easy to whip up, and you can switch it up however you like. This dish is perfect for a quick dinner on those busy nights since it is ready in just 35 minutes.
Recipes Made With Broccoli
Broccoli, the main ingredient in this recipe, is a star in many recipes. It can be used in dishes ranging from creamy soups to crunchy salads. If you want more ways to use broccoli, check out these recipes.
- Beef and Broccoli Instant Pot
- Chicken Broccoli Alfredo Bake
- Instant Pot Broccoli Cheddar Soup
- Weight Watchers Broccoli Salad
Ingredients For Broccoli Cheese Bake
- Broccoli florets - Fresh broccoli is best, but frozen broccoli works in a pinch.
- Cream cheese - Softened cream cheese provides the base for the creamy sauce.
- Cream of mushroom soup - For flavor and texture.
- Cheddar cheese - Shredded. I used sharp cheddar cheese. It adds a gooey, melty texture to the dish.
- Parmesan cheese - Grated. Provides a sharp and nutty taste.
- Garlic - Minced.
- Bread crumbs - You can use panko bread crumbs or make them yourself. It is easy to learn how to make bread crumbs.
- Italian seasoning - For a pinch of flavor.
How to Make Cheesy Broccoli Casserole
Start by preheating the oven and preparing a casserole dish by spraying it with cooking spray. I use a 9x13 baking dish for this recipe. Steam the broccoli until it's just tender, then set it aside in a large bowl.
Mix together cream cheese, cream of mushroom soup, cheddar cheese, parmesan cheese, and seasonings in a medium bowl, stirring until combined.
Remember that broccoli that you set aside? It's time to cover it with the cheesy mixture and stir until the broccoli is completely coated. Scoop the mixture into your prepared pan, ensuring it is evenly distributed in the dish.
Top with a layer of breadcrumbs to give the dish a little crunch. Finally, bake this in a 350-degree oven until the cheese has gotten all bubbly. Finish with a few minutes of broiling so the top turns golden brown.
Tips for Making Cheesy Broccoli Bake
Tip 1: Want to bulk up this dish a bit and make it more of a meal? Mix in chopped cooked chicken to add some protein and make this more filling.
Tip 2: Feeling a little adventurous? Experiment with different varieties of cheese to find your favorite combination. A mix of sharp cheddar and creamy gouda can give this casserole some depth and zestiness.
Tip 3: Another option for this broccoli cheese casserole recipe is to roast the broccoli before adding it to the casserole. This helps to really bring out the broccoli's flavor.
Can I Make This Ahead Of Time?
Absolutely! Making this easy casserole ahead of time is a great idea, especially if you expect to be short on time when you are planning to serve it. It also works well for meal prepping.
Assemble the dish as instructed, cover it with foil, and refrigerate it. When you're ready to bake it, simply add a few extra minutes to the cooking time since it will be cold. You can make this the night before you plan to use it, but I wouldn't push it further than that.
How Do You Store Broccoli With Cheese?
If you have any leftovers, don't sweat it. Cheesy broccoli casserole is easy to store. Before you put away any leftovers, you will want to make sure they are completely cooled so no condensation forms on the top. Place any leftovers in an airtight container to keep them fresh.
You can store this casserole in the fridge for 3-4 days. When you're ready to enjoy it again, reheat it in the oven or microwave. If you don't think you'll eat the leftovers soon, you can freeze them for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight before reheating in the oven.
More Cheese and Broccoli Recipes
Broccoli and cheese are a match made in heaven. They are used in many nutritious and satisfying recipes. Here are some of my favorite ways to combine these ingredients to make something delightful!
- Broccoli Cheese Soup
- Parmesan Broccoli Healthy Dip
- Easy Cheesy Tuna and Rice
- Ranch Cheddar Chicken and Broccoli Bake
Kitchen Tools You'll Need
To create this casserole, you'll need a few essential kitchen tools. First, make sure you have some accurate measuring cups and spoons to ensure your ingredients are perfectly measured. A good cutting board and a large knife are great for chopping the broccoli.
A large pot with a steaming basket is handy. If you don't have a great set of bowls for mixing everything together, you'll want to get one. Finally, a 9X13 casserole dish is essential to bring it all together. You can easily find all these tools on Amazon.
Pyrex Basics 3 QT Glass Baking Dish With Plastic Lid, Casserole Dish, Glass Food Container, Oven, Freezer And Microwave Safe, Clear ContainerPrettyFine Collection 8 Piece Gold Measuring Cups Set and Measuring Spoons, Golden With fragrant wood Handles-Complete Set of Measure Cups and Spoons For Cooking and Baking.…GREENER CHEF 18 Inch Extra Large Bamboo Cutting Board with Lifetime Replacements - Wood XL Cutting Boards for Kitchen - Organic Wooden Butcher Block and Chopping Board for Meat and VegetablesWanbasion 5 Piece Silicone Spatula Set Heat Resistant, Colorful Rubber Baking Spatula Set, Kitchen Spatula Set Dishwasher Safe for Nonstick Cookware Cooking MixingFAWLES 12 Pack Glass Storage Containers with Lids, Leak-Proof Meal Prep Containers, Dishwasher/Microwave/Oven/Freezer Safe Glass Food Storage Containers for Leftovers, to GoBerglander Slotted Spoon, Stainless Steel Gold Slotted Cooking Spoon With Titanium Plating, Gold Slotted Serving Spoon, Kitchen Spoon, Spoon for Cooking (Gold)
Recipes To Serve With This Dish
📖 Recipe
Cheesy Broccoli Casserole
Ingredients
- 6 cups broccoli florets
- 8 ounces cream cheese softened
- 10 oz cream of mushroom soup
- 1 cup cheddar cheese shredded
- ¼ cup parmesan cheese grated
- 1 tablespoon garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon Italian Seasoning
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ⅓ cup panko bread crumbs
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350˚F.
- Grease a 9x13 inch baking dish.
- Steam the broccoli for 4 minutes.
- Add the steamed broccoli to a large bowl and set aside.
- In a medium bowl, combine the cream cheese, cream of mushroom soup, cheddar cheese, parmesan cheese, and seasonings.
- Add the creamy mixture to the broccoli in the bowl and stir until the broccoli is coated.
- Pour this mixture into the prepared casserole dish.
- Sprinkle bread crumbs over the top of the casserole.
- Bake for 20 minutes in the middle rack of the oven, then broil on high for 2 minutes to allow the top to slightly brown.
Notes
- Mix in chopped cooked chicken if you want to make this dish more filling and give it a protein boost.
- Experiment with different types of cheese to find your favorite combo.
Beth
This is the best combination of broccoli and cheese in any form I've ever had. I LOVE that crunchy top.
Vicky
Yes!! I'm so happy you love it. That crunchy topping is everything! 😊
Paula
This was a delicious way to get my kids to gobble up their veggies with zero complaints!
Vicky
That's fantastic! Hearing this makes my day – finding recipes kids love is the best feeling! 😊
Angela
I was looking for a side dish for our dinner and this sounds delicious. Great timing as well as we have some broccoli to use up. Excited to try it. Thanks for sharing!
Vicky
Wonderful! This is the perfect way to use up fresh broccoli. I hope you enjoy it! 😁
Nathan
This was SUCH a fantastic dish! I added a bit of roasted chicken to mine so I could serve it as a main course and it turned out perfectly.
Vicky
That's an excellent idea! Adding roasted chicken sounds like a delicious way to make it a complete meal. Thanks for sharing!
Gianne
The combination of tender broccoli, creamy cheese sauce, and crunchy topping was absolutely delicious. It's definitely going in my regular rotation of side dishes.
Vicky
That makes me so happy! It's a favorite of mine too – so easy and comforting. 😊