Description
Hearty easy broccoli cheese casserole warms family dinner tables with classic comfort. Rich Wisconsin cheddar and tender broccoli florets blend perfectly for a creamy side dish you cannot resist.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups (200 g) shredded cheddar cheese
- 4 cups (1 lb / 450 g) broccoli florets
- 1 can (10.5 oz / 300 g) condensed cream of mushroom or cream of chicken soup
- ½ cup (120 ml) mayonnaise or sour cream
- 1 cup (100 g) crushed buttery crackers
- 2 tbsps (30 g) unsalted butter, melted
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Prep Station: Position oven rack and preheat to 350F (175C). Select a baking dish and generously coat with cooking spray to prevent adherence.
- Broccoli Preparation: Steam fresh florets until tender-crisp or thoroughly drain thawed frozen broccoli to eliminate excess moisture.
- Flavor Foundation: Whisk condensed soup, mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, garlic powder, salt, pepper, and half the cheddar cheese in a large mixing bowl until smooth and well-integrated.
- Assemble Casserole: Fold broccoli into creamy mixture, ensuring complete and even coating. Transfer to prepared baking dish, spreading mixture uniformly.
- Cheese and Crunch Layer: Sprinkle remaining cheddar cheese over broccoli mixture. Combine crushed crackers with melted butter and scatter evenly across the top to create a golden, crispy crown.
- Baking Process: Slide casserole into preheated oven and bake until edges bubble vigorously and topping turns a rich, appetizing golden-brown, approximately 25-30 minutes.
- Serve and Enjoy: Allow casserole to rest briefly after removing from oven, permitting flavors to meld and texture to set. Serve warm as a comforting side dish or standalone meal.
Notes
- Optimize Broccoli Texture: Blanch fresh broccoli briefly to maintain vibrant color and crisp-tender texture, preventing mushiness and preserving nutritional value.
- Moisture Management: Drain thawed or blanched broccoli thoroughly using a colander or paper towels to eliminate excess water, ensuring a creamy and not watery casserole.
- Cheese Melting Technique: Use freshly grated cheese for superior melting quality and enhanced flavor, avoiding pre-shredded varieties that contain anti-caking agents.
- Cracker Topping Hack: Experiment with different cracker types like Ritz or panko breadcrumbs for varied crunch levels, adjusting butter quantity to achieve perfect golden-brown coverage.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 360
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 730 mg
- Fat: 24 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 27 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 11 g
- Cholesterol: 45 mg