Description
Broccoli cheese casserole brings comfort straight from Grandma’s kitchen to your dinner table. Creamy, cheesy goodness combines tender broccoli and a crispy topping that makes your family crowd around the dish with eager smiles.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 4 cups broccoli florets
- 1 cup cheddar cheese
- 1 cup cream of mushroom soup
- ½ cup milk
Flavor Enhancers:
- ½ cup onion
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon paprika
Topping:
- 1 cup breadcrumbs
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 tablespoons butter
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375°F and lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish with cooking spray.
- Chop 4 cups of fresh broccoli florets into bite-sized pieces, ensuring they are roughly uniform in size for even cooking.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine 1 cup cream of mushroom soup, ½ cup milk, ½ cup finely chopped onion, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon salt, and ½ teaspoon black pepper until smooth.
- Fold 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese into the soup mixture, stirring until the cheese is evenly distributed throughout the sauce.
- Transfer the broccoli florets into the prepared baking dish, then pour the cheese sauce evenly over the top, ensuring all broccoli is coated.
- In a separate small bowl, mix 1 cup breadcrumbs, ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese, and 2 tablespoons melted butter until the crumbs are completely moistened.
- Sprinkle the breadcrumb mixture across the entire surface of the casserole, covering it completely.
- Bake uncovered at 375°F for 25-30 minutes, until the top is golden brown and the broccoli is tender when pierced with a fork.
- Remove from the oven and let the casserole rest for 5 minutes before serving to allow the sauce to set.
Notes
- Blanch broccoli briefly to keep it bright green and crisp-tender before mixing into the casserole.
- Shredded cheddar works best, but experiment with gruyere or monterey jack for different flavor profiles.
- Use room temperature cream cheese to ensure smooth, lump-free mixing with other ingredients.
- For a gluten-free version, replace breadcrumb topping with crushed gluten-free crackers or almond meal.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Casseroles
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 235 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 570 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 17 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 10 g
- Cholesterol: 35 mg