Cheesy Broccoli Casserole

Broccoli Cauliflower Casserole baked in a cheesy homemade sauce and topped with a buttery panko bread crumbs is a favorite casserole side dish recipe. It has no condensed or cream of something soup and is made with easy to find pantry staple ingredients that you might already have on hand. I don't par boil my veggies before assembling because I don't like mushy vegetables and find that the broccoli and cauliflower comes out cooked to perfection if it's baked in the cheesy sauce.

Cheesy Broccoli Casserole is a favorite vegetable casserole recipe for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and holiday gatherings since it can be assembled ahead of time and baked before serving but deliciousness enough to be a regular on the dinner table.

Cheesy Broccoli Casserole is a favorite side in our house, even though technically this is a Broccoli and Cauliflower Casserole, because I only had 1 head of broccoli. I had to use the cauliflower in its place, but the kids always know it by Cheesy Broccoli Casserole so we are sticking with the familiar name for sanity's sake. Otherwise they will grill me for the next 30 minutes on what exactly it is I am making and planning to feed them.

And by them I mean mainly Mas because he's taken a sudden interest in trying his best to be a picky eater at the ripe old age of 10, but so far I am still winning the battle. He forgets he has 2 older siblings, and I've already been through this. Like when Lorna was little and told me she didn't like mushrooms. So I would put shiitake mushrooms in soup, and tell her they were calamari. She gobbled them up without a complaint!

After a few months I told her the truth of my evil ways, and she loved mushrooms ever since. Even LJ who has all these rules around when he will and won't eat cheese devours this one with pleasure. I think he categorizes this in the Baked Macaroni and Cheese with Panko family so all is good!

The kids always put in a request for this side since the broccoli, or broccoli and cauliflower dependent on what's happening in the fridge is covered in glorious velvety cheese sauce, and a crunchy panko topping. And by velvety cheese sauce I'm not talking about that plastic like Velveeta stuff. We are talking homemade deliciousness.

It's all about Sharp Cheddar, and in this case Sharp White Cheddar, because it's what I had in the fridge, but Medium Cheddars A-OK in my book too. Or even better Gruyere, the cheesy goodness possibilities are endless.

I love this dish for the holidays because I can assemble the Cheesy Broccoli Casserole ahead of time omitting the panko topping, until it's ready to be baked.

I strongly suggest you make this one sometime soon! Let me know if you do.

Melt a 1/4 cup Butter over medium-heat, and add 1/2 cup Finely Diced Onions.

Saute until onions are softened and stir in 1 clove Minced Garlic.

Cook until garlic is fragrant but not brown about 30 seconds.

    

Sprinkle 1/4 cup All-Purpose Flour over the top of onions and whisk until well blended. Cook flour mixture for about a minute.

Slowly whisk in:

• 1 1/2 cups Chicken Stock to prevent lumps
• 1 1/2 cups Milk.

While whisking bring mixture to a simmer and cook until thickened about 3 minutes.

Remove from heat and stir in 2 1/2 cups Grated Sharp Cheddar Cheese or desired cheese until cheese is melted.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Butter a 9"x13" baking dish and add 1 large head of Raw Broccoli Florets or 1/2 large head Broccoli Florets and 1/2 a large head Cauliflower Florets.

Pour half of Cheese Sauce over the top.

Then add remaining large head of Raw Broccoli Florets or half head Broccoli Florets and half head Cauliflower Florets.

Sprinkle 1 cup Grated Sharp Cheddar Cheese, or desired cheese evenly over the top.

In a small bowl mix together 1 cup Panko Bread Crumb and 2 tablespoons Melted Butter.

Sprinkle Panko mixture evenly over the top.

Bake Cheesy Broccoli Casserole for 25-30 minutes until veggies are tender and top is lightly browned.

Allow to rest for 5-10 minutes before serving.

Cheesy, crunchy, veggie goodness! The perfect side for any night of the week.

You might also love these other favorite Side Dishes:

• Oven Roasted Broccoli
• Broccoli Macaroni and Cheese
• Broccoli Salad
• Oven Roasted Broccolini
• Green Salad 

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American

Yield: 10

Author: Serena Bakes Simply From Scratch

Cheesy Broccoli Cauliflower Casserole

Broccoli Cauliflower Casserole baked in a cheesy homemade sauce and topped with a buttery panko bread crumbs is a favorite casserole side dish recipe. It has no condensed or cream of something soup and is made with easy to find pantry staple ingredients that you might already have on hand.

Prep time: 15 MinCook time: 30 MinTotal time: 45 Min

Ingredients

Homemade Cheese Sauce

• 1/4 cup Butter, Plus Additional For Greasing Pan
• 1/2 cup Onion, Finely Diced
• 1 clove Garlic, Minced
• 1/4 cup All-Purpose Flour
• 1 1/2 cups Chicken Stock
• 1 1/2 cups Milk
• 3 1/2 cups Cheddar Cheese or Gruyere, Grated

Broccoli Casserole

• 2 large heads Raw Broccoli, Florets or 1 Broccoli and 1 Cauliflower
• 1 cup Panko Bread Crumbs
• 2 tablespoons Butter, Melted

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Butter a 9"x13" pan, and set aside.
2. Melt butter in a pan. Add diced onion and cook until softened. Stir in garlic and cook until fragrant but not brown. Sprinkle flour over the top and whisk to coat. Cook flour mixture for about a minute while stirring.
3. Slowly stir in chicken stock to prevent lumps and then milk. Bring to a simmer and cook until thickened about 3 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in 2 1/2 cups Grated Cheese.
4. Place half of cut broccoli or broccoli/cauliflower mix into buttered pan. Cover with half of cheese sauce. Then repeat with remaining broccoli and cheese sauce. Sprinkle with remaining 1 cup of grated cheese.
5. In a small bowl mix together panko bread crumbs with 2 tablespoons melted butter. Sprinkle panko crumbs evenly over the top of casserole.
6. Bake for 25-30 minutes, until veggies are tender and top is lightly browned.
7. Allow to cool for 5-10 minutes before serving.

Nutrition Facts

Calories

349.34

Fat

22.30 g

Sat. Fat

12.51 g

Carbs

22.48 g

Fiber

4.03 g

Net carbs

18.45 g

Sugar

4.02 g

Protein

16.47 g

Sodium

508.79 mg

Cholesterol

61.72 mg

Calories are estimated.

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