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This cheesy Creamy Broccoli Casserole recipe is baked with tender broccoli in a creamy cheese sauce and a buttery ritz crackers topping. This easy vegetable side dish is perfect for a holiday meal or a great recipe for the perfect side dish at dinnertime.
Want more delicious broccoli recipes? Try Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole, Mozzarella Bacon Broccoli Salad, and One Pot Cheesy Chicken Broccoli Rice.
Easy Broccoli Casserole Recipe
This creamy and cheesy broccoli casserole is an easy side dish for dinner and “fancy” enough for a holiday meal. It’s an easy way to get your kids to eat lots of broccoli when it’s covered in a cheesy creamy sauce and topped with buttery crackers; picky eaters approved and might even be loved by all the broccoli-haters.
If you’re a big broccoli fan then you’ll love this recipe! Even with the loads of broccoli in it, it still seems to be a family favorite and something even my kids will eat. It must have something to do with that cheesy sauce…
Simple Ingredients Needed
- Fresh Broccoli Florets : You need 4 cups of chopped broccoli for this broccoli bake. Chop it first and then measure out the 4 cups necessary.
- Cream of Chicken Condensed Soup
- Mayonnaise
- Sour Cream
- Shredded Cheddar Cheese
- Grated Parmesan Cheese
- Large Eggs
- Garlic Powder
- Onion Powder
- Kosher Salt & Black Pepper
- Ritz Crackers : The crackers need to be crushed; either crush them inside the sleeve or remove the crackers to a Ziploc bag and crush them using a meat pounder or something else that is heavy, or your hands work too. You want to use the ritz cracker crumbs in the crunchy topping and not the whole cracker.
- Butter : You can use salted butter or unsalted butter, whichever you prefer. If using unsalted butter you will want to add some additional salt in with the broccoli casserole ingredients. I usually still add some salt even when using salted butter; it just depends on salt preference or dietary restrictions.
How To Make The Best Broccoli Casserole (Printable Recipe Card)
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Spray a 8×8 baking dish with cooking spray and set aside.
In a large pot of boiling water, cook the broccoli florets for 3 minutes until crisp-tender. Drain in a colander and rinse under cold water to stop the cooking process. Set aside.
In a large bowl, add the cream of chicken soup, mayonnaise, sour cream, cheddar cheese, parmesan cheese, beaten eggs, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Stir until well combined.
Add the broccoli into the creamy mixture and stir until it’s evenly coated and combined.
Transfer the broccoli mixture into the prepared baking dish, spreading it out evenly.
In a separate bowl, combine the crushed Ritz crackers and melted butter. Mix well until the crackers are evenly moistened.
Sprinkle the buttery cracker crumbs evenly over the top of the broccoli casserole.
Bake for 30-35 minutes or until the casserole is hot and bubbly and the cracker topping is golden brown.
Remove from the oven and let it stand for 5-10 minutes before serving.
How To Store Leftovers of Cheesy Broccoli Casserole Recipe
Any leftovers should be stored in an airtight container, in the refrigerator, for up to 3 days. You can also just leave the casserole inside the casserole dish and cover it with a lid or tightly with plastic wrap or aluminum foil. Reheat in the microwave until heated through.
What Are Some Substitutions I Can Make?
- Cream of Chicken Soup : For a vegetarian option use cream of mushroom soup, cream of onion soup, or cream of asparagus soup. There are lots of different varieties of canned condensed soup and any of them will work well in this recipe.
- Mayonnaise & Sour Cream : Plain Greek yogurt can be substituted, although I would not use all greek yogurt became it will affect the taste of the final dish, giving it more of a tart, less flavorful taste. You can also use light sour cream or mayo for a reduced-fat broccoli casserole.
- Cheddar Cheese : Cheddar cheese is the preferred cheese to use, but you could use Colby Jack if wanted or even Pepper Jack cheese. Feel free to use mild cheddar, medium cheddar, or sharp cheddar cheese.
- Ritz Crackers : Try using another type of buttery cracker such as Club crackers or try a different variety of Ritz crackers such as whole wheat, everything bagel, sea salt, etc.
Recipe FAQ’s
Can I Use Frozen Broccoli Instead of Fresh?
Yes, frozen broccoli can be used in this recipe but you want to make sure it’s completely thawed and drained of any excess water before mixing it in with the other ingredients. I would also recommend taking a paper towel and dabbing the broccoli to ensure there is no excess moisture on it. Any excess water in the casserole will make the end result more watery and not as creamy.
Can I Make It Ahead of Time?
Assemble the casserole but without the butter crackers on top, cover it with a lid or plastic wrap, and refrigerate it for up to 24 hours. Add the cracker topping onto the top of the broccoli casserole right before baking.
Can I Add Meat To This Dish?
Yes, feel free to add some cooked & diced chicken breast, leftover turkey or ham, for a heartier dish and more of a main dish for dinnertime.
What If I Want Softer Broccoli For The Casserole?
If you prefer a soft broccoli, compared to a soft-crisp-tender broccoli, then boil the broccoli for 1-2 additional minutes. This will ensure that you end up with soft broccoli in the final dish. My family actually prefers the broccoli softer in this recipe, so I always boil the broccoli for additional time.
More Side Dish Casserole Recipes
- No Mushroom Green Bean Casserole
- Twice Baked Potato Casserole
- Meringue Topped Sweet Potato Casserole
- Cheesy Funeral Potatoes
- Cheesy Potato Bacon Casserole
- Copycat Chick-Fil-A Mac and Cheese
- Loaded Mashed Potato Casserole
Creamy Broccoli Casserole
Ingredients
- 4 cups chopped fresh broccoli florets
- 1 can (10.5 oz) cream of chicken soup
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
- 2 large eggs beaten
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 sleeve Ritz crackers (crushed, about 1½ cups)
- 4 tablespoons butter melted
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Spray a 8×8 baking dish with cooking spray and set aside.
- In a large pot of boiling water, cook the broccoli florets for 3 minutes until crisp-tender. Drain in a colander and rinse under cold water to stop the cooking process. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, add the cream of chicken soup, mayonnaise, sour cream, cheddar cheese, parmesan cheese, beaten eggs, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Stir until well combined.
- Add the broccoli into the creamy mixture and stir until it's evenly coated and combined.
- Transfer the broccoli mixture into the prepared baking dish, spreading it out evenly.
- In a separate bowl, combine the crushed Ritz crackers and melted butter. Mix well until the crackers are evenly moistened.
- Sprinkle the buttery cracker crumbs evenly over the top of the broccoli casserole.
- Bake for 30-35 minutes or until the casserole is hot and bubbly and the cracker topping is golden brown.
- Remove from the oven and let it stand for 5-10 minutes before serving.
Nutrition
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