Bushra Griffith
Broccoli Cheese Casserole is a comfort food classic and a family favourite. It's an easy dish to make and can be served as a side or a main course. The key to a good broccoli cheese casserole is to use frozen broccoli, which has been thawed and drained of excess water, and a generous helping of cheese. The broccoli is mixed with a simple cheese sauce and baked in the oven for around 45 minutes. The cheese sauce is made with butter, flour, milk, and garlic powder, and seasoned with salt and pepper. The casserole is then topped with a buttery cracker crumb topping.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of Dish | Side Dish |
| Ingredients | Broccoli, Cheese, Mayonnaise, Eggs, Onion, Ritz Crackers, Salt, Black Pepper, Paprika, Milk, Cream, Bacon, Flour, Garlic Powder, Butter |
| Preparation | Broccoli should be thawed, steamed, and drained of excess water. All ingredients are then mixed together and spread in a baking dish. |
| Baking Time | 45 minutes |
| Baking Temperature | 350 degrees F |
| Baking Dish | Medium-sized rectangle (about 11x7) |
| Serving Size | N/A |
| Nutritional Information | Calories: 350kcal, Carbohydrates: 15g, Protein: 13g, Fat: 27g, Saturated Fat: 17g, Cholesterol: 79mg, Sodium: 494mg, Potassium: 544mg, Fiber: 3g, Sugar: 2g, Vitamin A: 1770IU, Vitamin C: 126.9mg, Calcium: 330mg, Iron: 1.5mg |
| Storage | Can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. |
| Reheating | Individual slices can be reheated in the microwave, or the entire casserole can be reheated in the oven at 350°F for 20 to 30 minutes. |
| Freezing | Can be frozen for up to 3 months. |
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What You'll Learn
Preparing the broccoli
Broccoli cheese casserole is a comfort food classic and a family favourite. It's an easy dish to make and can be prepared with simple, affordable ingredients. The broccoli is a key component of the dish, so it's important to prepare it correctly.
Firstly, decide whether to use fresh or frozen broccoli. Frozen broccoli is a convenient option and works well in this recipe. If you use fresh broccoli, you will need to blanche it first, which can be more trouble than it's worth due to the extra moisture that needs to be drained. If you choose frozen broccoli, it's important to thaw it and drain any excess water to avoid a runny consistency in your casserole. You can also steam frozen broccoli in the bag to reduce cooking time, or cook it in the microwave for half the time indicated on the package instructions.
If your frozen broccoli has a lot of ice crystals, it's a good idea to steam it for a couple of minutes before adding it to your casserole. This will help prevent a watery casserole. Chop your broccoli into small florets, ensuring they are evenly sized for consistent cooking. You can also pre-cook the broccoli florets slightly before adding them to the casserole to ensure they are tender.
For a broccoli cheese casserole, it's essential to have well-prepared broccoli that is drained of excess moisture to ensure the casserole has the right consistency. This simple step will ensure your broccoli cheese casserole is a success!
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Making the cheese sauce
For a more decadent sauce, you can substitute half-and-half or cream for milk. If you're making a large batch or simply want to add more flavour, you can also add some mayonnaise to the sauce. Just be sure to use regular full-fat mayo for the best results. If you're making a smaller batch, you can reduce the amount of cheese sauce by melting it with some cream on the stovetop first. This will ensure your casserole is extra cheesy!
When selecting cheese for your sauce, cheddar is a popular choice, and sharp cheddar pairs particularly well with broccoli. However, you can also experiment with different cheeses like Colby or Pepper Jack. Grating your own cheese will yield the most delicious results, and you can adjust the amount of cheese to your preference—the more cheese, the better!
Remember to thaw your frozen broccoli and drain any excess water before adding the cheese sauce. You can also steam the broccoli in the bag and add it to the sauce hot, reducing the overall cooking time. Once you've mixed the broccoli and sauce, spread the mixture into a greased baking dish and top with buttery cracker crumbs for added flavour and crunch.
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Combining ingredients
To make a broccoli cheese casserole, you can use either fresh or frozen broccoli. However, using frozen broccoli is easier as you don't have to worry about blanching and draining the excess water, which can make the casserole watery. If you do use frozen broccoli, it is recommended to thaw it and drain any excess water before adding it to the rest of the ingredients. You can also steam the broccoli in the bag and add it to the cheese sauce hot, reducing the cooking time.
The other ingredients you will need include a can of condensed cream of mushroom soup, mayonnaise, eggs, a chopped onion, cheese, and seasonings like salt, pepper, and paprika. For the cheese, it is recommended to grate your own cheddar cheese, and you can also add some shredded cheese to the topping. The eggs should be beaten before adding them in, and the mayonnaise should be regular fat mayo.
To make the cheese sauce, melt butter over medium heat and whisk in flour, garlic powder, and paprika. Cook this mixture for several minutes until it turns golden. Then, add milk or half-and-half and bring it to a simmer until thickened. Remove from the heat and stir in the cheese, reserving some for the topping. You can also add bacon and dijon mustard to the cheese sauce for extra flavour.
Once you have prepared all the ingredients, simply mix everything together and spread it in a baking dish. For the topping, combine crushed crackers with melted butter and stir in the remaining cheese.
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Baking the casserole
To bake a frozen broccoli cheese casserole, you'll first need to preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. While the oven is heating up, prepare your frozen broccoli by thawing it and draining any excess water. You can also steam the broccoli in the bag and add it to the cheese sauce hot, which will reduce the cooking time.
Next, prepare your cheese sauce. Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat, then whisk in flour, garlic powder, and paprika. Cook this mixture for several minutes until it turns golden. Add milk, cream, or half-and-half and bring it to a simmer until thickened. Remove the saucepan from the heat and stir in grated cheddar cheese, reserving some for topping if desired. Season with salt and black pepper to taste.
Pour the cheese sauce over the broccoli and gently stir to coat evenly. Transfer the mixture to a greased or lined baking dish. If using a 2-1/2 quart casserole dish, baking time will be faster, while a deeper dish will require more time in the oven. For a medium-sized rectangle baking dish (about 11x7), spray it with cooking spray and set it aside.
At this point, you can add any toppings you like, such as crushed crackers, buttery cracker crumbs, or crispy salad topping onions. Cover the dish with aluminum foil and bake for about 45 minutes to an hour, removing the foil for the last 30 minutes to prevent over-browning. The casserole is ready when it's hot in the centre and the topping is crispy and golden.
If you're baking the casserole after freezing it, unwrap the top layer of foil and place the frozen casserole in its original baking dish. Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 20 to 30 minutes, or until completely heated through. You can also reheat individual slices in the microwave or in a casserole dish covered with foil at the same temperature for 20 to 30 minutes.
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Storing leftovers
When you are ready to enjoy your leftovers, simply reheat a portion in the oven or the microwave. To reheat in the oven, cover the casserole dish with foil and warm at 350°F for 20 to 30 minutes, or until completely heated through. Alternatively, you can reheat individual portions in the microwave for 1 to 2 minutes or until hot.
If you wish to freeze your leftovers, wrap individual slices of the broccoli cheese casserole in plastic wrap, followed by a layer of foil. You can also freeze the entire batch in a large freezer-safe container. Frozen leftovers will last for up to 3 months. When ready to eat, thaw the leftovers in the refrigerator and then reheat in the oven or microwave until heated through.
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Frequently asked questions
You will need frozen broccoli, cheese, canned condensed mushroom soup, mayonnaise, eggs, onion, salt, pepper, and paprika.
Cheddar cheese is the most popular choice, but you can also use Pepper Jack and Colby cheese.
You can either thaw the broccoli and drain the excess water, or steam it in the bag and add it to the cheese sauce hot. Make sure to watch out for ice crystals formed on the broccoli, as this can lead to a runny consistency.
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. The bake time is typically around 45 minutes, but can be up to 1 hour and 15 minutes depending on the amount of ingredients used.
Yes, you can freeze both a fully cooked casserole and individual slices. Wrap the casserole tightly in foil and freeze for up to 3 months. To reheat, remove the foil and bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 20 to 30 minutes, or until completely heated through.
