This broccoli cheese casserole recipe made with a creamy cheese sauce and a Ritz cracker topping is both easy to make and a crowd-pleasing side dish!
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Easy Broccoli Casserole Recipe
Broccoli cheese casserole is just one of many Thanksgiving side dishes that are easy to make and a hit with everyone. It’s a creamy, cheesy broccoli casserole topped with a crispy, buttery cracker topping that is filling and pairs well with everything!
It’s one of my favorite casserole recipes and easy to whip up in under an hour. Similar to chicken broccoli rice casserole and chicken divan, however, this one is definitely meant to be a side dish, whether for the holidays or a casual weeknight meal!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- The contrasting sharp creamy flavors and tender-crisp textures are what make this broccoli cheddar casserole so good!
- Made with simple, cost-effective ingredients and ready in under an hour.
Broccoli Cheese Casserole Ingredients
Find the full printable recipe with specific measurements below.
- Broccoli: I use frozen broccoli florets that I thaw ahead of time and then drain. Makes this even easier!
- Egg: Helps to bind the ingredients so it sets up nicely without everything falling apart.
- For the cream sauce: Cream of mushroom soup and mayonnaise combine for a rich cream sauce with tons of flavor.
- Seasoning: Black pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder. The creamed soup and the cheese provide enough salt that you won’t need to add any extra.
- Cheddar cheese: Freshly grated sharp cheddar cheese from a block tastes and melts better than pre-shredded from a bag. In a pinch, it’s definitely an option.
- Crackers and butter: Crushed butter crackers (like Ritz crackers) and melted butter come together to make a crispy topping.
Topping Variations
If you don’t have butter crackers on hand, swap those with Panko breadcrumbs, homemade breadcrumbs, crushed cornflake cereal, or just some more shredded cheddar cheese!
How to Make Broccoli Cheese Casserole
Make the creamy sauce mixture by combining the egg, cream of mushroom soup, and seasonings in a large mixing bowl and stirring to combine. Then, add the shredded cheese and stir to make sure it’s evenly dispersed.
Stir in the broccoli florets and mix until they’re coated in the saucy mixture, and transfer it to a prepared 9×13 casserole dish.
Sprinkle the top with cracker crumbs and melted butter and place the broccoli cheese casserole into a preheated 350°F oven for 40 minutes until the top is nice and golden brown.
Recipe Tips
- Be sure to drain the thawed broccoli. If you don’t, any excess water will cause the creamy sauce to separate and be thin and runny.
- You can use fresh broccoli florets if you prefer. Follow my steamed vegetables recipe to cook them until tender-crisp first.
- Use cauliflower instead for a twist. Or a combination of both!
- Toss in some extra veggies for texture. Mushrooms would be great.
- If the mushroom flavor isn’t for you, try cream of chicken soup instead.
More side dishes to try easy cheesy potatoes, green bean casserole with fresh green beans and cheesy scalloped potatoes.
More Side Dish Recipes
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Broccoli Cheese Casserole
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Ingredients
- 30 ounces frozen broccoli , thawed and drained
- 1 egg
- 10.5 ounces cream of mushroom soup (one can)
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- 2 cups grated cheddar cheese
- 1 ½ cups crushed butter crackers
- ¼ cup melted butter
Instructions
- Prepare oven and dish: Preheat oven to 350°F and coat a 9×13 inch baking dish with non-stick cooking spray.
- Make sauce: In a large bowl, mix together 1 egg, 1 can cream of mushroom soup, 1/2 cup mayonnaise, 1/2 teaspoon pepper, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, and 1/2 teaspoon onion powder until smooth. Add 2 cups shredded cheese and stir well.
- Add broccoli: Add broccoli to the cheese sauce and mix until coated.
- Make the crumb topping: In a small bowl, stir together the 1 1/2 cups butter cracker crumbs and the 1/4 cup melted butter until well mixed.
- Add to the pan: Pour the broccoli mixture into the pan and evenly top with the buttery crackers.
- Bake: Bake for 40 minutes.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.
Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below!
Recipe FAQs
Since this is a perfect side dish for your Thanksgiving or Christmas
dinner, I suggest serving it with honey baked ham or oven roasted turkey
along with classic sides such as dinner rolls, cranberry sauce, and
crockpot stuffing.
This isn’t just reserved for the holidays, you can enjoy it during
anytime on the side of roasted chicken too.
You can! Assemble the cheese broccoli casserole into the baking dish and store covered in the fridge for up to a week. Once you’re ready to bake it, top it with the cracker topping and bake as directed.
You can freeze it too, if you’d like. In this case, I would use a disposable aluminum pan and wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and a layer of foil. Freeze for up to 3 months and then thaw in the fridge before baking.
Keep leftovers stored in an airtight container for up to 3 days in the fridge. Reheat it in the microwave or the oven.
Categorized as: American, Casseroles, Christmas, Kid-Friendly, Side Dishes, Thanksgiving, Vegetables, Vegetarian
Jamielyn Nye is the founder and recipe creator at I Heart Naptime. She is the author of the I Heart Naptime Cookbook and shares easy family-friendly recipes and desserts for every occasion.
Can you make this ahead of time?
Yes, just wait to add the cracker topping until right before baking.
So delicious! My kids actually wanted to eat broccoli when I made this dish! – Alisha, recipe tester
So glad to hear that everyone loved it!