Without fail, anytime I attend a family holiday gathering, this cheesy broccoli casserole recipe always makes an appearance—and I’m definitely not complaining. Loaded with tons of broccoli, bathed in an irresistibly cheesy, creamy sauce and crowned with a tantalizing topping of melted cheese and French-fried onions, it’s one of our top-rated casserole recipes for a reason.
This broccoli cheddar casserole is super adaptable and can be tweaked to complement countless dishes. Serve this broccoli casserole alongside your favorite roast chicken recipes, juicy pork chops, or any meat loaf recipes. Plus, it pleases kids and adults alike due to its heavenly cheese sauce that will fool the pickiest eaters and ardent broccoli haters into eating their veggies.
Beyond being a total crowd-pleaser, broccoli cheese casserole is affordable, requiring only five simple ingredients, including condensed cream of mushroom soup and frozen broccoli. It’s perfect for anyone in need of a quick and easy side dish.
Ingredients for Broccoli Casserole
- Frozen broccoli: Thawed frozen broccoli is perfectly acceptable for this broccoli cheddar casserole recipe. You can also opt to use fresh broccoli—just give it a brief steam to tenderize it before adding it to the recipe. There are so many simple broccoli recipes you won’t have a hard time using up any extra.
- Condensed cream of mushroom soup: Love it or hate it, a can of condensed soup will forever be one of our all-time favorite ingredient hacks. Just like other condensed soup casserole recipes, it’s a simple route to rich and creamy sauces that are full of flavor.
- Sour cream: Sour cream adds additional body and richness to the sauce while offering a subtle tanginess, too. It simply takes the dish to another creamy level.
- Sharp cheddar cheese: Like with broccoli cheddar soup, this casserole pairs broccoli with sharp cheddar cheese. The cheese melts like a dream and has a lovely, sharp flavor that cuts through the broccoli’s bitterness. These are the Test Kitchen’s picks for the best cheddar cheese.
- French-fried onions: You don’t have to wait until Thanksgiving to use fried onions. These provide the perfect crunchy contrast to the tender broccoli and creamy, cheesy sauce. Not sure what to do with the rest of the can? We have lots of ways to use French-fried onions.
Directions
Step 1: Prepare the sauce
Preheat the oven to 325°F. In a large saucepan over medium heat, combine the can of cream of mushroom soup, sour cream, 1 cup of cheese and 1-1/4 cups of French-fried onions. Heat through, stirring until blended, four to five minutes.
Step 2: Add the broccoli
Add the broccoli to the mixture and stir until it is evenly coated in the sauce. Transfer to a greased, 2-quart baking dish.
Step 3: Bake until bubbly
Bake, uncovered, until bubbly, 25 to 30 minutes, then sprinkle the broccoli casserole with the remaining cheese and French-fried onions. Return to the oven and bake until the cheese is melted, 10 to 15 minutes.
Editor’s Tip: We suggest letting this broccoli cheddar casserole stand for 5 to 10 minutes before serving, as the casserole will thicken slightly as it cools. The same rule applies to many of our mom’s best casserole recipes.
Recipe Variations
- Add depth with herbs and spices: You can layer extra flavor into the sauce by adding your favorite herbs and spices. Parsley, basil, oregano, thyme, lemon zest, crushed red pepper flakes or dry mustard powder would all be great choices to give the casserole further zip.
- Change the cheese: While cheddar is delicious, it’s not your only option. Take cues from other cheese recipes: Smoked Gouda, Swiss cheese, fontina, Havarti or Colby are just a few that would work well in this recipe. A little Parmesan, Romano or Asiago could also be added to the topping for additional savory goodness.
- Try a different soup base: If the mouths at your table don’t enjoy mushrooms, you can still enjoy this casserole. Swap for cream of broccoli, cream of celery, cream of asparagus, cream of chicken or even cream of bacon are all suitable options to experiment with.
- Pack in additional veggies: You can reduce the amount of broccoli in the recipe and load it up with other vegetables. Cauliflower is a natural choice, but carrots, green beans, parsnips or button mushrooms would also make nice additions.
- Go for more topping ideas: French-fried onions can be swapped for store-bought or homemade bread crumbs, crushed crackers (e.g., Ritz or Cheez-Its) or cornflakes.
- Make broccoli casserole without condensed soup: If you’re not a fan of cooking with condensed soup, you can make this broccoli casserole recipe with homemade cream of mushroom soup or cream of chicken soup instead. Keep in mind that you may need to reduce the amount slightly depending on the thickness of your homemade version to ensure the casserole isn’t too watery.
How to Store Broccoli Cheddar Casserole
Store cheesy broccoli casserole leftovers in an airtight storage container for up to four days in the refrigerator. Reheat in the oven or microwave until heated through.
Can you freeze broccoli casserole?
No. Due to the dairy content in broccoli casserole, we don’t recommend freezing this recipe. When frozen, the casserole risks separating and curdling, which will give it an unpleasant texture upon reheating. If you’re looking for a freezer-friendly, make-ahead meal, try these freezer casseroles instead.
Broccoli Casserole Tips
Should you use fresh or frozen broccoli in a casserole?
You can use fresh or frozen broccoli in this recipe (and many of these other recipes with broccoli). For best results, frozen broccoli should be thawed completely before using it. To use fresh broccoli, briefly steam it, so it’s tender-crisp yet still bright green before adding it to the casserole.
Do you need to thaw frozen broccoli for a casserole?
If you’re in a hurry to get this in the oven, frozen broccoli can be used without thawing. The cooking time will need to be extended by 10 to 15 minutes to ensure the casserole heats through, and the sauce may be thinner due to the additional water content of frozen broccoli.
What can you serve with broccoli casserole?
Serve this cheesy broccoli casserole with an array of family favorites, like cast-iron skillet steak, a sugar-glazed ham, and ranch pork chops. You can also turn this easy broccoli casserole recipe into a more substantial meal by serving it with egg noodles or rice. Or add a cup of cooked diced chicken, or turn it into a leftover turkey recipe with diced or shredded white or dark meat.
