Simple Broccoli Casserole Recipe (2024)

By Aubrey · Published: · Last Updated: This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy.

Jump to Recipe Jump to Video Print Recipe

Simple Broccoli Casserole is an ideal comfort dish, full of broccoli and cheese, with a great crunchy topping your family is sure to love!

The only combo more famous than PB&J is broccoli and cheese, especially when there is a crispy, buttery topping, too! Simple Broccoli Casserole Recipe is the perfect side to feed the whole family; all it takes is fresh broccoli, cream of mushroom soup, milk, cheese, and crackers, and this fantastic dish is ready in less than an hour!

Simple Broccoli Casserole Recipe (1)

Classic Cravings

When kids are having a hard time eating vegetables, what do we do? We add cheese, of course! It’s easy to see why a classic dish like Simple Broccoli Casserole is still wildly popular today, with those comforting flavors of creamy cheese, broccoli, and buttery crackers- it’s enough to make anyone hungry! We make this dish for most holidays just because we know everyone loves it but we also make it on weeknights because it’s so easy and complements any chicken, steak, or pork chop dish we serve!

Slow Cooker Broccoli Cheese Soup is the perfect way to warm up after a chilly day and is just as quick to make as yummy and kid-pleasing Easy Veggie Pizza!

Other Recipes to Serve with Simple Broccoli Casserole Recipe

  • Sheet Pan Crispy Ranch Pork Chops is full of amazing flavors and is a great weeknight dish!
  • Keep showing the family how great broccoli is with more incredible and easy-to-make dishes like Creamy Broccoli and Mushroom Chicken.

Ingredients

Simple Broccoli Casserole Recipe (2)

Broccoli: To make this casserole, you will need two pounds of fresh broccoli. Cut the broccoli into small pieces, and don’t kick out those smaller stem pieces- they’re delicious, too!

Soup: To get that great creamy base, you will need a can of cream of mushroom soup. Regular and 98% fat-free cream of mushroom soup are both great options.

Dairy: Pick up shredded cheddar cheese and your preferred kind of milk.

Crackers: You will need about half of a sleeve of crushed Ritz crackers for the casserole topping.

How to Make Simple Broccoli Casserole Recipe

STEP ONE: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and grease a 9×13 baking dish. Using a steamer basket over a pot of simmering water, steam the cut broccoli for about 7 minutes or until crisp. Spoon the broccoli into an ice bath to stop the cooking. Drain the broccoli and place it in the prepared baking dish.

Simple Broccoli Casserole Recipe (3)

STEP TWO: In a small saucepan on medium heat, whisk together the milk, cream of mushroom soup, and 1 1/2 cups of cheese. Continue stirring the mixture for 3-5 minutes, until the cream mixture is warm and the cheese has melted. Pour the cream mixture over the broccoli in the pan and smooth the broccoli out.

Simple Broccoli Casserole Recipe (4)

STEP THREE: Sprinkle a little more shredded cheese over the broccoli, and then evenly distribute the crushed crackers over the top of the casserole. Sprinkle more cheese over the top of the crackers and then bake the casserole uncovered for 30 minutes or until golden on top.

Simple Broccoli Casserole Recipe (5)

STEP FOUR: Remove from the oven, and let the casserole cool for a few minutes before serving.

Simple Broccoli Casserole Recipe (6)

Tips for Success

  • Let’s talk soup: Some people don’t like cream of mushroom soup, but don’t let that stop you from making this incredible dish! Use a can of cream of broccoli, cream of celery, or even a can of cheddar cheese soup instead! If you use cheddar cheese soup, you can reduce the cheese you add to the cream mixture or add more broccoli to balance the dish.
  • If you don’t have time or don’t want to cut all of that broccoli, feel free to use frozen broccoli instead. Allow the frozen broccoli to thaw completely and dry it before adding it to the dish.
  • If you don’t have a steamer basket, you can simmer the broccoli in boiling water instead and follow the recipe as written.
  • To stop the broccoli from continuing to cook after it has been steamed, you’ll need to put it in an ice bath. An ice bath is a large bowl filled with cold water and a little ice that will quickly cool hot veggies so they don’t continue to cook and become too soft in the casserole.
Simple Broccoli Casserole Recipe (7)

Is it better to use fresh or frozen broccoli in a casserole?

Broccoli is a great vegetable to use in a casserole, soups, and as a simple side because it is so hearty and one of the few veggies that tastes great when fresh or frozen. Both types of broccoli work in this casserole, which is great if you’re in a time crunch! If you are using frozen broccoli for this recipe, let it thaw completely first and then dry the broccoli. Any extra moisture in the broccoli will cause the cheese sauce to become watery.

Simple Broccoli Casserole Recipe (8)

Can I make this dish ahead of time?

Holiday baking can be intense with all of the dishes that need to be assembled and baked, and certain weeknights can be hectic, too, so being able to make this broccoli casserole ahead of time is awesome. Make this dish one to two days before but leave off the cracker topping. Wrap the casserole and store it in the fridge until you can bake it. Before baking, allow the casserole to come to room temperature first, and then bake according to the recipe.

Simple Broccoli Casserole Recipe (9)

Veggie Comfort Casseroles for Every Occasion

  • Green Bean Casserole
  • Yellow Squash Casserole
  • Parmesan Corn Casserole
  • Loaded Cauliflower Casserole
  • Sweet Potato Casserole

*This post was originally posted on 11/16/2018.

Simple Broccoli Casserole Recipe (10)

Simple Broccoli Casserole Recipe

Simple Broccoli Casserole is an ideal comfort dish, full of broccoli and cheese, with a great crunchy topping your family is sure to love!

Print Recipe Pin Recipe Rate Recipe

Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 35 minutes minutes

Total Time: 50 minutes minutes

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Keyword: broccoli casserole

Servings: 8

Calories: 239kcal

Author: Aubrey

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.Spray a 9-inch x 13-inch baking dish with non-stick cooking spray. Set aside

  • Steam the broccoli in a largepot of simmeringwater until slightly tender, about 6-7 minutes. Remove from heat and transfer to an ice bath to stop the cooking.

  • Drain the broccoli and transfer to the prepared baking dish.

  • In a small saucepan over medium heat, whisk together the soup, milk, and 1 1/2 cups cheese. Cook for 3-5 minutes until warmed through and the cheese has melted.

  • Pour the cheese sauce evenly over the broccoli. Top with most of the remaining cheese.Top with crushed crackers and more cheese.

  • Bake uncovered for 30 minutes or until top is golden. Remove from oven and allow to cool slightly before serving.

Video

Notes

You can substitute cream of broccoli soup for cream of mushroom if desired.

Nutrition

Calories: 239kcal | Carbohydrates: 15g | Protein: 12g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 34mg | Sodium: 586mg | Potassium: 309mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 685IU | Vitamin C: 50.6mg | Calcium: 286mg | Iron: 1.5mg

Tried this recipe?Snap a pic and upload to your pin and let me know what you thought!

5 Time Saving Secrets

How to Get Dinner on the Table ... FAST
Simple Broccoli Casserole Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is broccoli casserole made of? ›

The ingredients? Broccoli of course, then bacon, flour, milk, cream, eggs, cheddar cheese, a little Dijon, salt, and lots of freshly cracked black pepper. The tricks to this broccoli cheese casserole are to: Pre-cook the broccoli florets a bit so they cook up tender in the casserole.

What are the four components to a casserole? ›

In the United States, a casserole or hot dish is typically a baked food with three main components: pieces of meat (such as chicken or ground meat) or fish (such as tuna) or other protein (such as beans or tofu), various chopped or canned vegetables (such as green beans or peas), and a starchy binder (such as flour, ...

Is it better to use fresh or frozen broccoli in a casserole? ›

Fresh vegetables contain less water

Frozen vegetables release moisture as they cook and when they're used in a casserole that moisture has nowhere to go but into your dish. If you want your casserole to have the best texture, it's best to use fresh vegetables.

Do you cook vegetables before putting in casserole? ›

Soft vegetables like broccoli can be quickly par-cooked (aka blanched). If you are using hard vegetables like potatoes or carrots or other hardy root vegetables, you'll want to par-cook for longer. Often a quick 2-5 minutes in the microwave will just give them that great head-start.

Why is my broccoli casserole watery? ›

The mistake: It comes out soupy or watery

What goes wrong: If your casserole is full of raw vegetables, you can end up with a watery mess as they release their natural juices.

What liquid to use in casserole? ›

Liquid for casseroles

Bone stock is good for beef casseroles, but failing that plain hot water enriched with a few drops of Worcestershire sauce and mushroom ketchup makes a handy instant stock. Red or white wine will add extra flavour of its own, and its acidity will actually help to tenderise the meat as it cooks.

What are the main ingredients of this casserole? ›

Ingredients
  • 8 large potatoes, peeled and chopped.
  • 1 pound lean ground beef.
  • ½ cup chopped onion.
  • 1 (15 ounce) can carrots, drained.
  • 1 (15 ounce) can green beans, drained.
  • 1 (10.5 ounce) can condensed cream of mushroom soup.
  • 1 (10.5 ounce) can condensed tomato soup.
  • ¾ cup shredded Cheddar cheese.
Nov 5, 2023

What is the key to making a good casserole? ›

  1. Choose the right baking dish. If you're all about the crunchy topping, use a shallow dish. ...
  2. Undercook your pasta. ...
  3. Drain your meat. ...
  4. Beware of mushy vegetables. ...
  5. Know your cheeses. ...
  6. Master the art of casserole assembly. ...
  7. Don't skip the topping. ...
  8. Make it now, but bake it later.
Nov 1, 2021

What is the appropriate cooking method for broccoli and why? ›

Broccoli can be eaten raw, but blanching it quickly in boiling water helps give it a more crisp-tender texture and bring out its flavor. Broccoli can also be steamed, sautéed, and roasted. You could even throw long spears on the grill!

Is it healthier to boil or bake broccoli? ›

In conclusion, the current study clearly shows that nutrient and health-promoting compounds in broccoli are significantly affected by domestic cooking. All cooking treatments, except steaming, caused great losses of chlorophyll and vitamin C. Only boiling and stir-frying/boiling caused the loss of total carotenoids.

Do I need to defrost broccoli before baking? ›

You can roast frozen broccoli exactly the same way you would fresh broccoli.
  1. Preheat the oven to 450°F. In a large bowl, toss broccoli with olive oil, salt, and pepper.
  2. Spread in a single layer on a rimmed baking sheet; roast until tender, about 15 minutes, rotating pan halfway through cooking.
Mar 30, 2023

Do I bake my casserole covered or uncovered? ›

Uncovering the foods promotes browning and crisping, and reduces the amount of liquid in the finished dish. If a casserole looks soupy when it's ready to bake, bake it uncovered unless the ingredients include pasta or rice, which absorb liquid.

Should you cook onions before putting in casserole? ›

Sauteing onions: Softens them, most people prefer not to run into raw onions in their sauce. Onions will cook in a sauce, but very slowly, so frying them before makes sure they will be soft even if your sauce has a fast cooking time. Releases sugars, making them taste sweeter.

How long should a casserole be in the oven? ›

Stir well and bring to a simmer on the hob. Cover with a lid and bake in the oven for 1½ hours. Carefully remove the casserole from the oven and stir in the carrots and mushrooms. Cover and bake for a further 45 minutes, or until the beef and vegetables are just tender.

What are casserole dishes made of? ›

“A casserole dish and a baking dish are the same thing, an oven-safe piece of cookware, usually made of ceramic, porcelain, or glass,” says Anthony Contrino, Emmy-awarded culinary producer and food stylist. "They can come in various shapes, with the most common being rectangular, oval, or square.

What is broccoli pasta made of? ›

Its ingredients, broccoli, garlic, and olive oil, sound simple, but when brought together with pasta and pasta water to form a creamy sauce, something magical happens. Even the pickiest of eaters love it!

What is broccoli quiche made of? ›

Key Ingredients in Broccoli Quiche

Broccoli: Cut a small head of broccoli into bite-size florets. Cheese: Use shredded sharp Cheddar or part-skim low-moisture mozzarella cheese, or a combination of both. Eggs: You'll need 3 large eggs. Whole milk, half-and-half, or heavy cream: Use your choice of dairy here.

What is the difference between a dish and a casserole? ›

Definition: Casserole is the name of the dish used to cook with, whereas hot dish is the meal itself. Ingredients: Casseroles can contain any ingredients under the sun practically, where hot dishes have set ingredients they have to have.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Recommended Articles
Article information

Author: Cheryll Lueilwitz

Last Updated:

Views: 6649

Rating: 4.3 / 5 (54 voted)

Reviews: 85% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Cheryll Lueilwitz

Birthday: 1997-12-23

Address: 4653 O'Kon Hill, Lake Juanstad, AR 65469

Phone: +494124489301

Job: Marketing Representative

Hobby: Reading, Ice skating, Foraging, BASE jumping, Hiking, Skateboarding, Kayaking

Introduction: My name is Cheryll Lueilwitz, I am a sparkling, clean, super, lucky, joyous, outstanding, lucky person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.