Cheesy Broccoli Rice Casserole
Made from scratch, this Cheesy Broccoli Rice Casserole is so easy to make loaded with rice, broccoli and a creamy cheese sauce then topped with buttery bread crumbs and baked. A satisfying side dish everyone is sure to love!
Cheesy Broccoli Rice Casserole
Cheesy Broccoli Rice Casserole is a warm and cheesy one dish recipe. It makes an excellent easy side dish that goes well with just about anything.
Ingredients
- 1 Tbsp. Butter
- 1 Small Onion, diced thin
- 1 Cup Celery, diced thin
- 1/2 tsp Salt
- 3 Cups Fresh or Frozen Broccoli
- 1/4 Cup water
Cheese Sauce
- 2 Tbsp. Butter
- 1/2 Cup Flour
- 4 Cups Milk
- 6 oz. Shredded White Cheddar Cheese
- 1 tsp Salt, more or less to taste
- 1/4 tsp Ground Black Pepper
Topping
- 2 Tbsp. Butter, melted
- 1/2 tsp Salt
- 1/4 tsp Ground Black Pepper
- 1/2 Cup Bread Crumbs **
- 2 oz. Shredded White Cheddar Cheese
Instructions
- Butter a 9x13 pan and set aside
- Melt 1 tablespoon of butter in a 4 quart pan then add diced onion, celery and 1/2 tsp salt and sauté on medium heat until tender.
- Add 3 cups of fresh or frozen broccoli and 1/4 cup of water, simmer until broccoli is tender but do not overcook.
- Do not drain off liquid, pour the cooked veggies into a medium sized bowl and set aside.
- Make the Cheese Sauce
- Melt butter in pan until bubbly then add flour, salt and ground black pepper.
- Whisk in milk until smooth.
- Add shredded white Cheddar Cheese.
- When cheese is melted and creamy, mix in the cooked rice, onion, celery and broccoli.
- Pour ingredients into a buttered 9 x 13 pan.
- Topping
- Melt butter in a bowl and add salt, pepper, bread crumbs and shredded cheese.
- Mix together with a fork to fluff and sprinkle on top of casserole.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Place in preheated oven and bake for 30 minutes or until bubbly.
Notes
* Serve warm with roast, chicken or meatloaf
** Make your own bread crumbs by placing 3-4 slices of bread onto a cooking sheet. Preheat oven to 325 degrees then bake in the oven for 10-15 minutes. Be sure to flip the bread after about 6 minutes to evenly dry out both sides. It may take a little longer depending on how moist your bread is. You will be looking for completely crisp bread but not burnt bread.
Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely. Once cooled break into smaller pieces then pieces into a food processor and pulse to crumble.
Why we love this recipe:
Warm and cheesy, this recipe is a wonderful side dish to serve with any meat you are making. We often serve it with meatloaf, Easy Smoked Chicken Breasts or with Cast Iron Roasted Whole Chicken With Vegetables. It is comforting and filling and we always go back for seconds.
Ingredients used in Cheesy Broccoli Rice Casserole:
- Rice – I love to use up leftover rice in this dish. Jasmine, Basmati or any long grain rice you prefer would work in the recipe but I would not recommend instant rice.
- Butter
- Onion
- Celery
- Fresh or frozen Broccoli
- Unbleached flour
- Salt
- Pepper
- White Cheddar Cheese
- Bread Crumbs – I made my own from our fresh milled bread but store bought would work as well.
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How to make your own homemade breadcrumbs-
Place 3-4 slices of bread onto a cooking sheet. Preheat oven to 325 degrees then bake in the oven for 10-15 minutes. Be sure to flip the bread after about 6 minutes to evenly dry out both sides. It may take a little longer depending on how moist your bread is. You will be looking for completely crisp bread but not burnt bread.
Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely. Once cooled break into smaller pieces then pieces into a food processor and pulse to crumble.
Step-by-Step instructions to make Cheesy Broccoli Rice Casserole:
Cook the Vegetables
- Begin by melting 1 tablespoon of butter in a 4 quart pan
- Then, add diced onion, celery and 1/2 tsp salt and sauté on medium heat until tender.
- Add 3 cups of fresh or frozen broccoli and 1/4 cup of water to the mixture and simmer until broccoli is tender but do not overcook. Do not drain off liquid, pour all of the veggies into a medium sized bowl and set aside
Making the Cheese Sauce
Cheese sauce is quick to make and it adds so much goodness to any dish. Begin by melting butter in a pan until bubbly. Then add flour, salt, and ground black pepper. Whisk in milk until smooth then in add shredded white cheddar cheese. (You may chose to add more or less salt depending on what cheese you use. Some cheeses are saltier than others.) It is always good to salt to your preference especially when sharing with others.
Putting it all together
Once cheese sauce is melted and creamy, mix in the cooked rice, onion, celery and broccoli mixture. Pour into a buttered 9 x 13 pan.
Prepare the topping mixture
Melt butter then mix in salt, pepper, bread crumbs and shredded cheese. Mix together with a fork to fluff and sprinkle on top of casserole.
Baking your Cheesy Broccoli Rice Casserole
Preheat oven to 350 degrees then place casserole into oven and bake for 30 minutes or until golden on top and bubbly.
