Great for a holiday side dish or Sunday night dinner, this Cheese and Broccoli Bake is the perfect combination of healthy and comforting! With melty cheese and a golden brown breadcrumb topping, this broccoli casserole is sure to be a crowd-favorite veggie side.
WANT TO SAVE THIS RECIPE?
Enter your email below & we’ll send it to your inbox. Plus get great new recipes from us every week!SAVE
This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Affiliate, if you purchase through those links, I earn a small commission. Thank you! Read our disclosure policy here.
View more
Tender broccoli in a creamy cheese sauce and a delicious golden topping… Is there a better side dish? This is fantastic to bring some extra richness and life into any sit-down meal!
Why This Recipe Works
Featuring simple ingredients and classic flavors you know and love, this family-friendly casserole is fantastic as a side dish any night!
Easy to prepare, this recipe is packed with savory flavor and healthy broccoli in a creamy sauce. You can easily add more veggies if you like or keep things simple and follow the recipe as-is–either way, this casserole pairs well with all your favorite main dishes.
And if you love casserole-style side dishes, you should also try my Homemade Green Bean Casserole or a delicious Cauliflower Au Gratin!
Ingredients Needed
- Broccoli Florets: This broccoli recipe is best when made from nice fresh produce.
- Butter
- Panko Bread Crumbs: Any kind of breadcrumbs work, but I like the nice light crispy crunch from Panko.
- Garlic and Onion
- Flour
- Half and Half: Helps ensure that the sauce gets nice and creamy.
- Grated Cheese: Either mozzarella or Parmesan (or a combination of the two) are my go-to cheese varieties for this dish.
- Salt and Black Pepper
How to Make this Cheese and Broccoli Bake
- Step 1: Blanch the broccoli florets by cooking in boiling water for 2-3 minutes, then draining and transferring to cold water.
- Step 2: In a separate pot, melt butter and add the bread crumbs. Toast until golden brown, then remove and set aside.
- Step 3: In the same pot, melt butter and saute the garlic and onions.
- Step 4: Whisk in the flour and cook for a minute or two.
- Step 5: Add the cream to the pot and stir until combined.
- Step 6: Remove the pot from heat and add the cheese and seasonings, mixing until melted and combined.
- Step 7: Place broccoli in a casserole dish and cover with cheese mixture.
- Step 8: Top with toasted Panko breadcrumbs and bake for 20 to 25 minutes.
Recipe Tips
- If you want an even cheesier result, use both Parmesan and mozzarella. Some other great options for the cheese sauce include sharp cheddar cheese, pepper jack cheese, or velveeta cheese.
- Keep an eye on the casserole as it bakes. If the bread crumbs are getting too dark before the rest of the casserole is finished, tent with aluminum foil to prevent them from burning.
- Instead of bread crumbs, you could also use crushed butter crackers (Ritz crackers are a popular option).
- If you have leftovers, store in an airtight container in the fridge for 3 to 4 days.
- For more flavor, add other seasonings like red pepper flakes, smoked paprika, Italian seasonings, cumin, cayenne pepper, or whatever you keep in your cabinets.
