You know those comfort food dishes that make you feel all warm and cozy inside? This broccoli rice casserole fits the bill!
I started making this recipe years ago, and it quickly became a family favorite. It’s loaded with tender broccoli, fluffy rice, and a cheesy sauce. The best part? It’s so easy to make!
It’s a complete meal in one pan. Try it for a cozy weeknight dinner or to bring to your next potluck. You won’t be disappointed!
Why You’ll Love This Broccoli Rice Casserole
Once you try this recipe, you’ll instantly fall in love!
- Comfort Food Classic: It’s the ultimate comfort food, and everyone at the table will gobble it up.
- Crowd-Pleaser: It’s a great option for potlucks, holiday dinners, or any time you need to feed a group of people.
- Easy Prep: It’s easy to make, with simple ingredients and straightforward steps. You can even prep it ahead of time and reheat it when you’re ready to serve.
- Leftovers Galore: It makes great leftovers, so you can enjoy it for days after you make it. Some people even think it tastes better the next day!
Ingredients
Here’s everything you need to make this easy casserole:
- Fresh Broccoli Florets: They’re the tender, bright green stars of the show.
- Cooked White Rice: It soaks up all the cheesy goodness. Use your favorite variety of long-grain white rice.
- Butter and All-Purpose Flour: They make the velvety cheese sauce.
- Onion and Garlic: They bring tons of aromatic flavor!
- Whole Milk: It makes the sauce smooth, rich, and creamy.
- Seasonings: I use garlic powder, black pepper, dry mustard powder, paprika, and salt. They season the casserole to perfection.
- Cream Cheese, Sharp Cheddar Cheese, and Parmesan Cheese: A trifecta of cheesy indulgence!
- Crushed Ritz Crackers or Potato Chips: The crunchy, butter topping takes this dish over the top.
How to Make Broccoli Rice Casserole
Making this recipe is so easy! Just follow these steps:
- Prep the ingredients. Preheat the oven to 350°F, grease a baking dish, blanch the broccoli, and cook the rice.
- Sauté the aromatics. Melt the butter, sauté the onion until translucent, and stir in the garlic.
- Make the roux. Sprinkle the flour over the onion mixture. Cook for 2 minutes, and gradually whisk in the milk.
- Thicken the sauce. Simmer until thickened, remove from heat, and add the seasonings.
- Add the cheeses. Stir in the cream cheese, cheddar, and Parmesan until melted and smooth.
- Combine the components. In a large bowl, mix the cooked rice, blanched broccoli, and cheese sauce.
- Assemble the casserole. Pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish. Top with remaining cheddar and crushed crackers or chips.
- Bake the casserole. Bake for 30-35 minutes until bubbly and lightly browned.
- Rest and serve. Let stand for 5 minutes before serving.
Tips for the Best Broccoli Rice Casserole
This casserole is foolproof, but these tips make it the very best:
- Try other cheese combos. Sharp cheddar, Parmesan, and cream cheese are a great mix. But you can try other cheeses, such as Monterey Jack or Gruyere.
- Be generous with the seasoning. Don’t be afraid to add more seasoning to deepen the casserole’s flavor.
- Try other toppings. Top the casserole with crushed Ritz crackers, panko breadcrumbs, saltines, or Club crackers.
- Don’t overbake! Don’t overbake the casserole, or it can dry out. Bake just until bubbly and the topping is lightly browned.
- Have fun with variations. Mix it up by adding cooked chicken, ham, or turkey to make it a main dish. Or, swap in cauliflower or other veggies, or use brown rice or quinoa.
How to Store
Follow these tips to enjoy your casserole at a later date.
To Store: Keep it in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for up to 4-5 days. Store within 2 hours of cooking to maximize shelf life.
To Freeze: Cool the casserole completely. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap and foil, and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating. Or bake directly from frozen, adding extra time as needed.
To Reheat: Reheat individual portions in the microwave in 30-60 second increments until warmed through. For larger amounts, cover with foil and reheat in a 350°F oven for 20-30 minutes.
Broccoli Rice Casserole
8
servings15
minutes35
minutes347
Broccoli rice casserole is a true comfort food classic! It’s easy to make and is full of creamy and cheesy goodness.
Ingredients
6 cups fresh broccoli florets, cut into bite-sized pieces
2 cups cooked white rice
3 tablespoons butter
3/4 cup onion, diced (about 1 small onion)
3 cloves garlic, minced
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 cups whole milk
1/4 teaspoon each garlic powder, black pepper, dry mustard powder, paprika
Salt to taste
3 tablespoons cream cheese, softened
2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese, divided
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 cup crushed Ritz crackers or potato chips
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- Blanch the broccoli in boiling water for 2-3 minutes until crisp-tender. Drain well.
- In a large skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the onion and sauté until softened and translucent, about 5 minutes. Stir in the garlic and cook 1 minute more.
- Sprinkle the flour over the onion mixture. Cook, stirring constantly, for 2 minutes. Gradually whisk in the milk, stirring until smooth.
- Bring to a simmer and cook until thickened, about 3-5 minutes. Remove from heat. Stir in the garlic powder, black pepper, mustard powder, paprika, and salt to taste.
- Add the cream cheese and 1 1/2 cups of the cheddar cheese. Stir until melted and smooth. Fold in the Parmesan cheese.
- In a large bowl, combine the cooked rice, blanched broccoli, and cheese sauce. Mix well. Pour into the prepared baking dish.
- Top with the remaining 1/2 cup cheddar cheese and crushed crackers or chips.
- Bake for 30-35 minutes until bubbly and the topping is lightly browned. Let stand 5 minutes before serving.
