Southern Broccoli Cheese Rice Casserole
on Feb 17, 2022
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Bake up some Southern comfort with this Broccoli Cheese Rice Casserole. It’s one of those classic meals that works every single time. Best of all, it’s easy to make for a low-effort mid-week dinner.
Cheese and broccoli are always a delicious combination. Whether eaten as an entree or served as a side dish, you can’t go wrong with this vegetarian-friendly potluck staple.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Broccoli: You’ll need about two heads of fresh broccoli florets. Broccolini also works.
- Rice: White rice is usually used for this recipe, but you can substitute it with brown rice, jasmine rice or basmati rice.
- Onion: Shallots, yellow or white onions will do for this recipe.
- Unsalted Butter: Use unsalted butter to avoid over-salting the casserole. If you use salted butter, be sure to adjust the amount of salt you’re using.
- Flour: Regular, all-purpose flour works for this recipe, or whichever one you happen to have on hand.
- Garlic: Fresh garlic works best, but you can use pre-minced garlic or garlic powder.
- Freshly Ground Black Pepper
- Milk: Use your choice of dairy or nondairy milk for this recipe.
- Dry Mustard: Also known as English mustard or ground mustard, this spice adds lots of flavor to your casserole. Substitute with turmeric powder.
- Paprika: Paprika, smoked paprika or chili powder adds a slight kick to this dish.
- Salt: Remember to use less salt if you’ll be using salted butter
- Cream Cheese: Cream cheese, cottage cheese or ricotta adds extra creaminess.
- Shredded Cheese: Cheddar, gouda and Monterey Jack are all delicious options for this casserole.
How to Make Southern Style Broccoli Cheese Rice Casserole
1. In a large skillet over medium heat, add butter.
2. Once melted, add onion and broccoli and cook for a few minutes until softened. Add flour, garlic, and black pepper. Sauté for 2 minutes, then add milk and whisk constantly until combined.
3. Remove from heat, and add mustard, paprika, cream cheese. Mix together.
4. Add 1 ½ cups of cheddar cheese. Stir constantly until the cheese is melted and the mixture has thickened. Make sure the cheese mixture is quite thick.
5. Add in room temperature rice. Mix until combined.
6. Pour the mixture into a greased casserole dish.
7. Sprinkle the remaining cheese over the top of the mixture.
8. Bake in a 350°F oven, until the cheese has completely melted and the casserole is bubbly.
Pro Tips for the Best Broccoli Cheese Rice Casserole
- You can use leftover rice to save time: You can cook rice ahead of time or use leftover white rice for this recipe.
- Let the rice cool to room temperature before cooking: It’s best not to use hot rice for this recipe. Let rice cool to room temperature before adding it to the dish.
- If you use frozen chopped broccoli, make sure to thaw it completely first: To avoid a soggy, watery casserole, be sure to thaw frozen broccoli before cooking.
- Check the thickness of the mixture before adding the rice: Before adding in the rice, you want to make sure that the cheese mixture is thick and creamy so that everything will come together in the oven. Keep stirring until the mixture becomes thick.
Cheese for Broccoli Rice Casserole
Sharp or mild cheddar are both great options for this casserole. Other good choices are Montery Jack or even some Mozzarella for extra cheesiness.
Variations
- Chicken Broccoli Cheese Rice Casserole: Get in an extra serving of protein by adding chicken to your casserole. Grill, bake or pan fry skinless, boneless chicken breast, then cut into bite size cubes and mix into the dish before baking. It helps to slightly undercook the chicken so it can finish up in the oven.
- Cheese Whiz Broccoli Rice Casserole: Kraft Cheese Whiz is a smooth and creamy dip often used for nachos or baked potatoes. You can use a 15oz jar of Cheese Whiz for an easy, cheesy Broccoli Rice Casserole.
- Healthy Broccoli and Rice Casserole: Make this casserole even more wholesome by using quinoa, brown rice or cauliflower rice instead of white rice.
- Broccoli Rice and Cheese Casserole with Condensed Soup: Incorporating a can of Campbell’s Soup into your casserole is an easy way to maximize on flavor and make it extra creamy and delicious. You can use your favorite variety of soup, including Chicken Noodle or Cream of Mushroom.
Can You Make Broccoli Cheese Rice Casserole Ahead of Time?
Casseroles are great make-ahead dishes that are perfect for family dinners, potlucks and other gatherings. You can make your Broccoli Cheese Rice the day before or even a few days before. The casserole keeps in the fridge for up to five days and can be frozen in an airtight container for about a month.
Can I Use Uncooked Rice?
Many people use uncooked rice for casseroles because the rice will cook in the oven. Some people swear by this method to prevent the dish from getting too soft or mushy.
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Easy Broccoli Cheese Rice Casserole Recipe
Ingredients
- 5 cups fresh broccoli, cut into bite-size or you can use frozen chopped broccoli
- 3 cups cooked white rice, room temperature
- 1 small onion, diced
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 3 tablespoons flour
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 2 cups milk
- 1/2 teaspoon dry mustard
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- salt, to taste
- 2 tablespoons cream cheese
- 3 cups shredded cheddar cheese, divided
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a large baking dish and set aside.
- In a large skillet over medium heat, add butter.
- Once melted, add onion and broccoli and cook for a few minutes until softened. Add flour, garlic, and black pepper. Sauté for 2 minutes.
- Add milk and whisk constantly until combined.
- Remove from heat, and add mustard, paprika, cream cheese. Mix together.
- Add 1 ½ cups of cheddar cheese. Stir constantly until the cheese is melted and the mixture has thickened. Make sure the cheese mixture is quite thick.
- Add in room temperature rice. Mix until combined.
- Pour the mixture into the greased casserole dish. Sprinkle the remaining cheese over the top.
- Bake for 30-35 minutes or until the cheese has completely melted and the casserole is bubbly. Serve and enjoy!
Nutrition information provided is an estimate only and will vary based on ingredient brands and cooking methods used.
