What’s a BBQ without coleslaw? A lamb roast without rice? A thanksgiving without the CHEESY BROCCOLI??? Okay, you get my point. There are just some meals that are not made whole without a delicious side dish. Enter: THE CHEESY BROCOLLI casserole. While many of my recipes do center around the holidays, others can be made as a stand alone feast. This is one that my Aunt Jeanne has made for years and it’s totally worth the hype.
File this one under the more offensive family traditions. This is not low fat or low calorie by any means (but it’s actually keto and low carb!), but it became a Thanksgiving casserole side dish that we eat every year. If you want a holiday side dish that really celebrates the season of gluttony, this is it. You can even call it healthy because it’s made with broccoli.
What is in a broccoli casserole?
Broccoli casseroles are typically made with cream of mushroom soup, milk and cheese. They’re usually served as an accompaniment to meat or chicken dishes.
But broccoli casserole is also a favorite comfort food for many people who have celiac disease. It’s one of the few gluten-free recipes that can be made without using wheat flour.
The dish has been around since at least the 1950s, when it was first published in the “Better Homes & Gardens” cookbook. I also suspect that this may have come from the cheese whiz library of comfort food. All criticisms aside, if you haven’t tried cheese whiz (jar or can) have you even lived?
This creamy casserole includes broccoli spears (& florets) and I recommend removing any additional stalks as they tend to be less tender when cooking. You will also need a jar of cheese whiz, a can of cream of mushroom soup, butter and an onion. For a crunchy topping to this casserole dish, you will also need fried onion rings. Feel free to use low fat or grocery store label products in lieu of name brands.
What goes well with this casserole?
A cold winter’s day and slippers pair exceptionally well with this holiday broccoli casserole recipe. Although I really do love this as a holiday side dish to replace any green bean casseroles. Server this dish next to mashed potatoes, poultry, stuffing and a salad for a full meal. I once made this for a potluck and it was a big hit. I had to make two batches because there were so many people who wanted some! It’s very easy, quick and delicious. This is definitely one of my family and friends favorites! Who wouldn’t like broccoli with cheese sauce?
Can I substitute fresh broccoli in place of frozen?
While using frozen broccoli spears saves time and cardio, you can absolutely use fresh broccoli in this delicious recipe. Just remember that if you do decide to use fresh broccoli, that I highly recommend steaming it first prior to cooking it within the casserole. The dish itself is meant to have some additional texture provided with the french onion rings and tender broccoli heads.
Ingredients
20-30 oz frozen broccoli florets / spears
8 oz jar of cheese whiz
4 tablespoons of butter
8 oz jar of mushrooms
1 can of cream of mushroom soup 1 large can of French fried onions
1 medium onion, chopped
9 x 12 baking dish
1 teaspoon black pepper (if desired)
1 teaspoon salt (if desired)
Cooking spray
Recipe
Let broccoli thaw overnight so that it is no longer frozen and pat dry. Coat the inside of the baking dish with cooking spray. Place the heads of broccoli mixture in the baking dish and set aside.
Sauté onions in melted butter.
Mix together cheese whiz and soup (cheese mixture), then add to onions in melted butter.
Pour the creamy sauce mixture over the broccoli and add drained mushrooms on top.
Onion Rings
Place 1/3 an of French fried onions on top and place into 350 degree oven, covered with tin foil, for 1 hour. During the last 15 minutes of baking, remove tin foil and place remaining fried onions on top until golden brown. Serve warm plate side next to Thanksgiving turkey or completely on it’s own as a delicious keto casserole.
Other Cheesy Broccoli Recipes for Inspiration
- Cheesy Broccoli Casserole From Scratch | YellowBlissRoad.com – Cheesy Broccoli Casserole with tender broccoli, a homemade cheddar cheese sauce and finishes with a crispy, buttery cracker crumb topping. (yellowblissroad.com)
- Broccoli Cheese Casserole – Num’s the Word – Cheesy Broccoli Casserole is the perfect side dish to any meal. Easy to prepare, tastes delicious and is a crowd pleaser! A family favorite recipe! (numstheword.com)
- Cheesy Cheddar Broccoli Casserole – Even people who don’t like broccoli beg me to make this comforting broccoli cheese casserole recipe. It’s similar to a classic green bean casserole, but the melted cheese just puts it over the top. —Elaine Hubbard, Pocono Lake, Pennsylvania (tasteofhome.com)
- Keto Easy Broccoli and Cheese Casserole • Low Carb Nomad – Low Carb Keto Broccoli Casserole – Healthy Broccoli cheese Casserole that is super quick and easy to make! The perfect Low carb Broccoli side dish! (lowcarbnomad.com)
Did you try this recipe? Let a comment below on how well it turned out.
