Broccoli Casserole

Serve up this broccoli casserole that is loaded with broccoli, crispy bacon, a creamy cheese base and a kick of ranch in each bite. This cheesy broccoli casserole is a hit for any night of the week.

If you are on the hunt for a new broccoli recipe, this crack broccoli recipe is calling your name. A keto broccoli casserole that is packed with flavor!

Cheese, bacon, dry ranch, and broccoli come together in a tasty way. A wonderful weeknight side, holiday side dish for a potluck recipe.

Why Everyone Loves This Side Dish

Simple Ingredients – A simple dish with big flavor, without all the bells and whistles of ingredients. Raid that pantry and fridge of yours, and you might have all the items on hand.

Quick to Assemble – Minimal prep work goes into this broccoli and bacon casserole! Whip it up and have in the oven in no time. Especially if you pre-cook the bacon ahead of time.

Vegetable Casserole – A vegetable casserole that is a must make Christmas side dish, weeknight broccoli side dish recipe, and more. No matter when or what the occasion is, this casserole is a hit.

Make Ahead Side Dish – Want potluck casserole recipe you can make in advance? Or plan to serve a crowd but want to prep in advance? This recipe can be made, stored in the fridge, then bake when you are ready!

Keto Broccoli Recipe – This is a keto friendly side dish if you are looking for keto recipes. The cheese sauce helps give this dish the ultimate comfort flavor, without the guilt.

Ingredients Needed

• Broccoli – Fresh or frozen broccoli work for this casserole dish. Use what you have on hand. We used fresh broccoli but we have used frozen in the past.
• Bacon – Crumbled bacon adds a nice savory twist to the casserole. This is optional.
• Butter
• Flour – The flour is the thickening agent for the cheese sauce you are going to make.
• Cream Cheese – Adds a lot of creamy, rich flavor!
• Cheddar Cheese – Shredded cheese adds so much flavor to this broccoli recipe.
• Milk – Whole or 2% work best. Whole milk adds the most flavor to the cheese sauce.
• Heavy Whipping Cream
• Ranch Seasoning – Learn how to make dry ranch seasoning or buy packet dry ranch to use.
• Green Onions – optional but adds tons of flavor.

How to Make

Step 1: In a pan or oven baked method, you want to cook your bacon. Then once it is done, crumble, and set aside for later. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees and grease a 9×13 pan.

Step 2: In a pot on the stove, steam your broccoli for 5 minutes. Once the broccoli is done, remove and run broccoli under cold water to stop the cooking process.

Step 3: Add your butter into a pan on the stove and melt. Whisk in flour, to make a thick paste, which is your roux.

Step 4: Once the roux has cooked a minute or two, then add in the milk and cream, whisking. Make sure to continuously whisk, to break up the clumps.

Step 5: Next, whisk in 2 cups of the cheese, cream cheese, and the dry ranch seasoning.

Step 6: Once melted, stir in the broccoli and mix. Then pour into the baking dish.

Step 7: Top the broccoli dish with the remaining shredded cheese, diced bacon, and green onions.

Step 8: Bake as directed in the printable recipe card below. Once done, let sit for 10 minutes, then dish up!

Storage

Refrigerate – You will need to refrigerate any of the broccoli that you don’t eat right away. This broccoli cheddar casserole will store for 3-4 days.

Reheating – To reheat you can warm up the casserole in the microwave, or warm up in the oven. If you heat the leftovers, just cover with foil. Then warm up in the oven at 325 until it is warmed through.

Freezing – You can freeze the casserole if you don’t eat it all. Just place in the proper container and freeze for 2-3 months. The texture will be a lot softer once reheated.

Expert Tips and Variations

• Fresh or Frozen broccoli works. If you use frozen, just toss in frozen to the cheese sauce. Skip the steaming of the broccoli.
• Top with crushed Ritz crackers, or even Cheez It crackers. Some even use cornflakes.
• Saute diced onions with the butter, until soft and translucent.
• Swap the cheddar cheese with pepper jack, colby jack, etc.

Practical notes

Common questions when making this broccoli and cheese casserole recipe!

What is broccoli casserole made of?

Broccoli casserole is a cheese based broccoli dish and that topped with shredded cheese, bacon and green onions. Depending on the recipe ingredients can vary.

Can we substitute fresh broccoli for frozen in a casserole?

Go right ahead and swap frozen broccoli for fresh. The two are interchangeable when it comes to casseroles. You will just stir in frozen and bake. No need to blanch off cook a bit before baking.

How do you make a casserole better?

Grate your cheese, instead of buying bagged cheese. Use butter not margarine. Quality ingredients provide better flavor. Those are a few of our quick tips.

How do you thicken broccoli casserole?

Using the flour to make a roux with the butter is going to act as the thickening agent. You can also take 1 tablespoon cornstarch to 2 tablespoons cold water and mix. Then pour into cheese sauce and stir over heat to thicken the sauce even more.

Can you freeze broccoli and cheese casserole?

You can freeze any of the casserole you don’t plan to eat right away. The broccoli will become softer once thawed from being frozen. Place in a proper container and freeze for 3-4 months. Then warm in the microwave or opt to heat up in the oven.

Here are some more vegetable side dish ideas, that are just as tasty. Let us know how you like this fresh broccoli casserole in the comment section as well, if you make it!

Ingredients

Makes 9 x13

• 2 Heads Broccoli, chopped (can use frozen broccoli)
• 3 Tablespoons Butter
• 3 Tablespoons Flour
• 1 1/2 cups Milk, Whole or 2%
• 1/2 cup Heavy Whipping Cream
• 1 Tablespoon Ranch Seasoning
• 4 to 8 oz Cream Cheese, cut into slices, your choice how creamy
• 3 cups Cheddar Cheese, shredded
• 6 slices Cooked Bacon, chopped
• 2 Green Onions, sliced thinly

Equipment

• Rae Dunn BEAT Whisk
• Nevlers Stainless Steel 3 Quart Steamer Pot with 2 Quart Steamer Insert

Method

1. Start by cooking your bacon in a skillet or in the oven until done. Then place on a paper towel lined plate, and then once grease has come off, chop.
2. Then in a pot you will steam your broccoli for 5 minutes. Then run the broccoli under cold water to stop the cooking process. Or if using frozen broccoli, skip this step.
3. Then in a new pan, you will add your butter and let it melt. Once melted, whisk in the flour, and stir well, cooking for 1-2 minutes. This will remove the flour flavor but help create the roux.
4. Now whisk in the milk and cream, whisking continuously. Set stove to medium high heat, and stir non-stop. Wait for the mixture to thicken.
5. Now stir in 2 cups of your shredded cheese, ranch dressing, and the diced up cream cheese. Stir until fully melted and mixed.
6. Toss in the broccoli and coat all the broccoli.
7. Pour into the greased 9×13 pan, and then top with the remaining cheese, green onions and bacon.
8. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until the cheese is nice and golden brown on top. Let sit 10 minutes before you dish up the broccoli casserole.

Kitchen notes

How to Steam Broccoli

– Pour 3/4 to 1 inch of water to a boil. Add in the chopped broccoli to the steamer and then cook for 5 minutes. Then rinse in cold water to stop the cooking process. Topping – You can also crush up Ritz crackers or even cornflakes or Cheez It crackers and top the casserole for added crunchy flavor. Storage – The leftover casserole needs to be stored in the refrigerate for 3-4 days. Or you can freeze for 2-3 months.