• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Butter & Baggage logo
  • Home
  • Recipe Search
    • Recipe Index
    • Appetizers
    • Breads & Biscuits
    • Breakfast
      • Muffins
    • Desserts
      • Bars
      • Brownies
      • Cakes & Cupcakes
      • Cookies
      • Fruit Desserts
      • Pies, Cobblers & Crisps
    • Main Dishes
      • Beef
      • Chicken
      • Pork
      • Seafood
    • Pasta
    • Salads
    • Sauces & Dips
    • Side Dishes
    • Snacks
    • Soups & Chilis
  • Portfolio
  • About
  • Contact
  • Subscribe
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Home
  • Recipe Search
  • Recipe Index
  • Portfolio
  • About
  • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • ×

    Home » Recipes » Side Dishes » Broccoli Cheese Casserole

    Broccoli Cheese Casserole

    Published: Oct 25, 2019 · Modified: Sep 12, 2021 by Barbara Curry · This post may contain affiliate links.

    • Share
    • Tweet
    Jump To Recipe Jump To Video Print Recipe
    Cheese sauce being poured over broccoli for a broccoli cheese casserole.

    For the best Broccoli Cheese Casserole, start with fresh broccoli and add a creamy cheese sauce that’s made from scratch. Top it off with buttery panko and it will be come a holiday tradition that you’ll want to make all year long.

    You can make this ahead and then just bake for 15 minutes.

    A baking dish of cheesy broccoli casserole

    I’m sure you’re wondering why this is the BEST broccoli cheese casserole, but I promise you that this broccoli casserole is different from the others. Here’s what it doesn’t have: rice, canned soup, gloppy cheese, mayonnaise, or Ritz crackers. 

    Instead it has the creamiest cheese sauce flavored with just a little shallot and garlic. Then it’s topped with crunchy buttery panko.  You might think it would be a time consuming recipe, but it’s easy and only takes about 20 minutes to assemble and 15 minutes to bake.

    Why you’ll love it

    • A cheese sauce so good that you can get the kiddos to eat broccoli
    • Quick and easy to prepare
    • Nothing artificial in this casserole
    • You can make it ahead
    • It just takes 15 minutes to bake
    • It’s a perfect compliment to almost any meal
    • Great to take for a potluck

    What you’ll need for broccoli and cheese Casserole

    Ingredients for broccoli casserole
    • You’ll need panko bread crumbs. What are panko bread crumbs, they are a Japanese-style bread crumb made from white bread without crust. The result is a crispy coating when used for fried food as it doesn’t absorb as much oil. When combined with a little melted butter and parmesan, it creates a crispy topping for this awesome broccoli cheese casserole.  You can find it on the bread aisle or order them on Amazon.
    • Next for a creamy cheese sauce, you want to use a sharp cheddar cheese but what keeps the sauce creamy and not gloppy is the addition of a cup of American cheese. Why American cheese, because it contains emulsifiers which help hold the sauce together. It has a pretty mild flavor so by using just a cup and then 2 cups of sharp cheddar, you get a creamy but flavorful rich sauce. Get the American cheese from the deli it’s generally a better quality.
    • For the broccoli, use fresh broccoli, not frozen which will end up being watery in this recipe.  Just cut it into 1-2 inch bite size pieces and cover and microwave for about eight minutes. By steaming the broccoli first, it keeps it’s texture and flavor and reduces the cooking time in the oven.
    A colander of broccoli
    • The cheese sauce requires liquid and I’ve found that half-and-half works the best.  Cream is too rich and milk not creamy enough. The recipe will still be delicious if you want to cut back and use whole milk but fat free milk will not give you a creamy sauce.
    • To season the amazing cheese sauce, you’ll need a little flour,  a shallot, some garlic, hot sauce  (I use Texas Pete) and dry mustard.

    I used to make broccoli casserole with a standard bechamel cheese sauce using just cheddar cheese, but then I started adding a little American cheese and now this has become my go-to cheese sauce. It’s great over Kentucky Hot Browns.

    How do you make Cheesy Broccoli Casserole

    Step 1: Cover a bowl of broccoli with plastic wrap and Microwave.

    Step 2: Sauté a shallot and garlic until soft and add flour. Slowly add the half-and-half and bring it too a boil. It will thicken slightly but will not be as thick as a bechamel sauce.  Remove from the heat and add cheese whisking until it has melted and then season.

    Step 3: Combine panko, parmesan and melted butter.

    Fresh broccoli in a casserole dish with a saucepan of cheese sauce beside it.

    Step 4: Place broccoli in your baking dish and pour the cheesy sauce over the top, stirring to combine.

    Cheese sauce being poured over broccoli

    Step 5: Top with the panko mixture. If making this ahead, wait to add the panko topping until right before baking.

    Panko butter mixture for topping on casserrole

    Step 6: Bake for 15 minutes and let cool for about 10 minutes before eating.

    A serving spoon in a dish of baked broccoli casserole

    So what’s so great about this particular broccoli casserole, it’s the cheese sauce. It’s not overpowering but has a subtle flavor from the shallots and garlic. The American cheese adds a creamier texture that you won’t see in other broccoli and cheese casserole recipes. 

    Making your own sauce is one hundred times better than broccoli casseroles that use mushroom soup. While adding soup might be a little quicker, you can make this casserole in twenty minutes, the extra few minutes is so worth it.  This broccoli casserole recipe does not contain rice.  I love rice, but it makes for a heartier casserole which is not what you need with a large meal.

    Have I convinced you to add it to your Thanksgiving meal yet!  Test it out with a simple rotisserie chicken dinner and you’ll transform a boring weeknight dinner.

    A spoon full of cheesy broccoli casserole in a baking dish.
    Can you make Broccoli Casserole ahead of time?

    This casserole is great for potlucks or Holiday dinners because you can make it ahead and bake it right before needed. Since it only takes 15 minutes to bake, you won’t tie up the oven which might be needed for other side dishes. If making this ahead, let it come to room temperature and wait to add the panko topping until right before you put it in the oven.

    Can you freeze broccoli casserole?

    The left-overs freeze great, just reheat in the oven or even in the microwave.


    What type of cheese should you use for broccoli casserole?

    To keep the sauce creamy, add a cup of American cheese and for flavor add two cups of sharp cheddar. A little parmesan is added to the topping.

    Can you add more broccoli to this recipe?

    If you want more broccoli than cheese, you can easily increase the amount of broccoli. This recipe uses 8 cups of broccoli.

    If you’re a broccoli fan but don’t want to make a casserole, then try a Broccoli Salad, it’s always a crowd pleaser.

    A bowl of bacon broccoli salad

    Need some more Thanksgiving Sides

    • Make Ahead Mashed Potatoes
    • Easy Sweet Potato Casserole
    • Homemade Cranberry Sauce
    • Yeast Roll Recipe

    What else can you do with Panko breadcrumbs

    You can add it to the coating for French toast for super crispy French Toast Sticks. It gives a crunchy coating to Parmesan Chicken Fingers, and will help hold Chicken Marsala Meatballs together. I always keep a box in the pantry.

    A baking dish of cheesy broccoli casserole.

    Broccoli Cheese Casserole

    Author: Barbara Curry
    For the best Broccoli Cheese Casserole, start with fresh broccoli and add a creamy cheese sauce that's made from scratch. Top it off with buttery panko and It will be come a holiday tradition that you'll want to make all year long.
    5 from 3 votes
    Print Pin
    PREP: 20 minutes
    COOK: 15 minutes
    Servings: 12

    Ingredients
     

    • ¾ cups panko breadcrumbs
    • ½ cup parmesan cheese
    • 6 tablespoons butter melted (divided)
    • 2 heads broccoli florets (about 8 cups) cut into bite size florets
    • 1 shallot (about ¼ cup) chopped fine
    • 2 garlic minced
    • 3 tablespoons flour
    • 3 cups half-and-half
    • 2 cups sharp cheddar cheese 8 ounces
    • 1 cup American Cheese 4 ounces
    • 2 teaspoons hot sauce
    • 1 teaspoon dry mustard
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions
     

    • Preheat oven to 400º.
    • Place cut broccoli in a microwave safe bowl with ¼ teaspoon of salt. Cover with plastic wrap and microwave for 8 minutes, until it is tender but not mushy. Drain and pour into a 9 x 13 baking dish.
    • Melt 3 tablespoons of butter in a saucepan and add shallots and garlic cooking over medium heat until softened about 2 minutes. Add flour and whisk cooking for a minute. Slowly whisk in half-and-half and then turn to high and bring to a boil. Remove from heat, it will be only slightly thickened. Add cheddar and Amerrican cheese, hot sauce mustard, 11/2 teaspoons salt and ½ teaspoon pepper and whisk until the cheese has melted and it is smooth.
    • In a small bowl combine panko, 3 tablespoons melted butter and parmesan.
    • Pour cheese sauce over broccoli and stir to combine. Cover with panko mixture.
    • Bake uncovered for 15 minutes until the cheese is bubbly around the edges and the top is golden brown. Let cool for about 10 minutes before serving.

    Video

    Barbara’s Tips + Notes
    • You can increase the amount of broccoli
    • If making ahead, wait to add panko topping and refrigerate. Let it warm to room temperature, add panko right before placing it in the oven. 
    • Don’t substitute the American cheese, you need this for the creamy texture.
    • You can freeze and reheat in the oven.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 324kcal | Carbohydrates: 15g | Protein: 14g | Fat: 24g | Saturated Fat: 15g | Cholesterol: 72mg | Sodium: 532mg | Potassium: 451mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 1352IU | Vitamin C: 92mg | Calcium: 428mg | Iron: 1mg
    Follow Me On SocialDid you make this recipe? Mention @ButterandBaggage or tag #ButterandBaggage on Instagram!
    « Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins
    Make Ahead Mashed Potatoes »

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Nancy Turner says

      November 08, 2019 at 11:08 am

      Excellent…enough sauce to support a lot of broccoli. Definitely on our Thanksgiving menu this year! Thanks, Barbara!

      Reply
      • Barbara Curry says

        November 08, 2019 at 3:27 pm

        You can add more broccoli if you want to serve a bigger crowd, there is a generous amount of cheese sauce.

        Reply
    2. Bailey says

      November 20, 2020 at 2:28 pm

      I had to double the broccoli to get enough for a 9×13 pan. I ended up using 4 heads of broccoli. It was quite annoying to have to go back and make more broccoli after realizing it wasn’t enough.

      Reply
      • Barbara Curry says

        November 20, 2020 at 2:40 pm

        Bailey,
        I’m sorry if the recipe wasn’t clear and that that you had to cook more broccoli, how frustrating. I find the broccoli heads can vary so much in size. The recipe card has 8 cups of broccoli. I’ll go back to the post and add let others know that it might take more broccoli. Thanks for letting me know.

        Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Barbara Curry is the culinary adventurer of Butter & Baggage. With a dedicated enthusiasm for real butter made from happy cows she is in constant pursuit of delicious recipes and tasty dishes. She shares her experiences, ventures, and occasional misadventures because let’s face it things can get messy in any kitchen.

    More about me →

    Subscribe

    Strawberry Recipes

    • Strawberry Jam Cake
    • Strawberry Jam without Pectin
    • Strawberry Pound Cake
    • Sheet Pan Pancakes
    • Strawberry Cobbler
    • Strawberry Biscuits

    Popular

    • Breakfast Puff Pastry (VIDEO)
    • Steak Marsala
    • Queso Chicken
    • Sausage Balls Recipe
    • Chocolate Bark Recipe
    • Mini Croque Monsieur

    Footer

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    breakfast bread chicken pasta dessert bars

    COPYRIGHT © 2022 BUTTER & BAGGAGE | PRIVACY POLICY
    BRANDING & CUSTOMIZATION BY GRACE + VINE STUDIOS

    306 shares
    306 shares