Traditional Cheesy Broccoli Casserole

This Traditional Cheesy Broccoli Casserole is comfort food at its best. We are talking about an old-school side dish here. Something my mom would make for the holidays or a Sunday Supper. You know, one of those old-style ones with the soup, mayo, sour cream, and lots of cheddar cheese. Oh my goodness, was it good!! 

Want more great casseroles that are this easy to make? Try our amazing Ruth’s Chris Copycat Sweet Potato Casserole; it is one popular recipe here! Or how about our delicious Turnip Puff for something different, it is a real Canadian tradition. Lastly, we love this Old-Fashioned Cornbread Dressing and Potato Leek Gratin. All of these recipes, including today’s, are easily made ahead.

Do you like to get naughty sometimes? Even when it is not the holidays? Maybe for a Sunday dinner if you are having someone over? We almost always opt for fresh steamed veggies or a salad, but I was in the mood for some comfort food the other night when we were having salmon and rice. So we whipped up this Traditional Cheesy Broccoli Casserole.

I can gauge it is a real winner when everyone at the table has seconds!! Cheesy, creamy goodness with delicious broccoli and a buttery crunchy cracker topping. What is not to love?! This casserole goes great with any entree.

What is Cheesy Broccoli Casserole Made With?

Is there anything better than broccoli and cheese sauce when it comes to a comforting side dish? I think not. Instead of using bread crumbs or standard crackers, we used roasted red pepper crackers for the topping. It just added even more flavor. So make a topping with your favorite cracker, and you will be happy that you did!! Ritz crackers always work great, too, and now they have other flavors like roasted vegetables too. Those delicious fried onions in a can work well here too.

This is just too scrumptious; you will have to make it very soon. If you want it to be gluten-free, just change up the topping, and you are set to go. 

Can I substitute fresh broccoli for frozen in a casserole?

You can use fresh or frozen broccoli for this casserole; just give it a quick parboil for 3 min. as it also cooks in the casserole in the oven. 

How to Make Cheesy Broccoli Casserole

Does Broccoli need to be Cooked Before Casserole?

Yes, it is best to have the broccoli cooked for a few minutes until it is just starting to cook. Don’t overcook it, as then it will become mushy, but if you don’t cook it at all, it doesn’t really absorb the cheesy flavors of the sauce. It also helps to preserve some of that bright green color.

The beauty of a recipe like this is that you don’t need to make a cheese sauce, just mix and bake! Some people like to add cooked rice to a casserole like this, but you really don’t need the extra carb. I like to add rice to a casserole with zucchini where it needs some substance to it.

Preheat oven to 325 F.

In a large pot of boiling water, add the broccoli and cook for 3 minutes or until tender-crisp, (you can also shock the broccoli after cooking in ice water to lock in the bright green color more).

Spray a round or oblong 3-quart casserole or baking dish and set aside. Mix together the sour cream, mayonnaise, soup, garlic, onion powder, and salt and pepper.

Add the cheese and stir to combine. Add the broccoli and mix well to coat. Pour into the prepared casserole.

If making ahead, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate at this point overnight.

For the topping, mix together the crackers and the melted butter and spread them onto the casserole. Bake for 30 min. or if refrigerated for 45 min. Place foil on if starting to brown too much.

I am drooling thinking about this casserole again. People love a casserole like this at any time so keep it in mind for BBQs, potlucks, and gatherings at any time of the year!! For a potluck in the summer, I would take a casserole like this, and over the salads that everyone else brought, it would always be the first to go!

Want more Great Casseroles like this one?

Here is a short list of some of our other favorite casseroles. They are great any time of the year, and each of these is a bit of a switch from what you may be used to seeing.

Zucchini Au Gratin With Rice – Try this lovely side dish recipe to change things up for the holidays or just any night of the week.

Instant Pot Boulangere Potatoes – Let the instant pot do all the work, and you just finish this gorgeous casserole off with a quick broil in the oven.

Old-Time Squash Casserole – One of my favorites is this cheesy delightful casserole that changes things up from the traditionally sweet ones you see in the fall.

Zesty Green Bean Casserole – This recipe is a bit of a change-up from the traditional one that you have seen for years. It is even more delicious.

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*This post has been updated with new photos but the same great recipe.

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Traditional Cheesy Broccoli Casserole

Yield: Serves 6-8 servings

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 45 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes

You don't have to wait for the holidays to have this delicious Traditional Cheesy Broccoli Casserole. Make it any night as a scrumptious side that everyone will love!!

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Ingredients

• 1 1/2 lbs. fresh or frozen broccoli florets
• 1/4 cup sour cream
• 1/4 cup mayonnaise
• 1 (10 oz.) can cream of mushroom soup
• 1 tsp. garlic, minced
• 1 tsp. onion powder
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1 1/2 cups cheddar cheese, grated

Topping

• 1 1/2 cups roasted red pepper crackers, or crackers of your choice, crushed
• 1/2 cup butter, melted

Instructions

1. In a large pot of boiling water, add the broccoli and cook for 3 minutes or until tender-crisp.
2. Preheat oven to 325 F. Spray a round or oblong 3-quart casserole and set aside.
3. Mix together the sour cream, mayonnaise, soup, garlic, onion powder, and salt and pepper. Add the cheese and stir to combine.
4. Add the broccoli and mix well to coat. Pour into the prepared casserole. If making ahead, cover and refrigerate at this point.
5. For the topping, mix together the crackers and the melted butter and spread onto the casserole. Bake for 30 min. or if refrigerated for 45 min. Place foil on if starting to brown too much.

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Nutrition Information:

Yield: 8 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 340Total Fat: 29gSaturated Fat: 14gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 13gCholesterol: 62mgSodium: 625mgCarbohydrates: 12gFiber: 3gSugar: 5gProtein: 9g

Recipe calculation was provided by Nutritionix and is an estimation only. If you need nutritional calculations for medical reasons, please use a source that you trust.