This broccoli bake is probably the easiest way to make sure everyone eats their veggies. Because, even if you aren’t a fan of broccoli, you won’t be able to resist it when it’s enveloped in a cheesy fresh cream sauce and topped with a buttery, crunchy topping. I definitely eat more broccoli in one sitting when it’s broccoli casserole for dinner. This might be true of all vegetables actually. Green Bean Casserole, Sweet Potato Casserole, Asparagus Casserole, and this Pasta with Peas recipe all have the benefit of making a vegetable extra appealing.
Why You’ll Love this Recipe
Key Ingredients
Complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.
Broccoli: Fresh broccoli cut into florets is preferred, but you can also use frozen broccoli florets for this recipe. We will blanch the fresh broccoli first to get the cooking process started. If you’re using frozen broccoli, just thaw it. Butter, onion, and flour: Because we aren’t using any canned soup or sauce, the base for this recipe starts the way most creamy sauces start: with a savory onion-y roux. This will thicken the sauce and add lots of warm flavor. Cheese: We are using both shredded cheddar cheese and grated parmesan cheese to make this cheesy, delicious broccoli casserole. Milk: This gives our sauce the perfect amount of creaminess. I suggest using either 2% or whole milk. A milk with less fat won’t be quite as creamy. Crackers: The crunchy topping for broccoli casserole is just crushed up crackers with butter. Use a buttery cracker like Ritz, or cheese crackers like Cheez-its.
How to Make Broccoli Casserole
First, we will blanch our fresh broccoli florets, then we’ll make a creamy cheese sauce, and then we’ll put it all together.
Recipe Tips
Don’t skip the blanching step. Cooking the broccoli partway by blanching is key to making sure that the broccoli is tender when the casserole is done baking. You can also steam the broccoli, cutting the usual time in half so that it doesn’t overcook. Bake in the skillet. If your skillet is oven-safe, feel free to make the whole casserole in one pan. Otherwise, bake this in a 9×13 inch casserole dish, or a shallow oval casserole dish. Add More Flavor. The flavors in this casserole are pretty basic, but definitely enough. If you like a more bold broccoli casserole, you can add garlic to the sauce, or a splash of hot sauce for an extra kick. Serve a Crowd. This recipe serves 8 as a side dish. You can double the recipe easily, and bake in a larger pan, or just bake in two casserole dishes. Careful when Crushing: You don’t want to crush the crackers too finely for the broccoli casserole topping. A bit of texture is good here.
What to Serve with Broccoli Casserole
A Holiday Dinner. Serve this delicious veggie side dish at Thanksgiving, Christmas, or Easter. It’s an all-holiday favorite. A Sunday Dinner. This casserole fits in nicely with a big, hearty meal like this Instant Pot Pot Roast or a Dutch Oven Roast Chicken. A Regular Weeknight Meal. Fast and easy meals are also amazing with some broccoli casserole on the side. Try Homemade Sloppy Joes, Garlic Butter Chicken Tenders, or Air Fryer Chicken Breasts. This delicious homemade broccoli casserole will be a dinner time favorite at your house after the first time you make it! Be sure to pin this recipe for later if you aren’t cooking it right now. © Little Sunny Kitchen
