Broccoli Cheddar Brown Rice Casserole Recipe from Oh My Veggies! (2024)

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I am serving up comfort food realness today with a broccoli cheddar brown rice casserole. Comfort food because: hello, cheesy casserole! And realness because there are no cans of soup or blocks of faux cheese involved. It takes a little more time to make your own cheese sauce, but trust me, it's completely worth it.

This Broccoli Cheddar Brown Rice Casserole was not inspired by a casserole at all, but by Rice-A-Roni. Or maybe Uncle Ben's. I don't know! But growing up, my mom would always make broccoli cheese rice from a box. That was one of my favorite side dishes, even if the cheese was powdered and the broccoli was microscopic. I didn't care! I was making a cheese sauce for mac & cheese several weeks ago and started thinking about that rice and wondering if I could make my own version of that rice using a homemade cheese sauce. Although I took the extra step of baking it, you could also just serve it right out of the pot—that works too!


I hadn't really intended this to be a Thanksgiving post because I think most people have their menus planned by now, but if you're looking for an extra side dish, this one is definitely a crowd-pleaser. (And if you have French-fried onions left over from your green bean casserole you can use those on top instead of panko!) Because cheese sauce has a tendency to be temperamental, particularly when it's made with cheddar, I wouldn't risk making the whole casserole in advance—just cook the rice and broccoli, then make the cheese sauce and assemble the casserole on Thanksgiving day.

Recipe

Broccoli Cheddar Brown Rice Casserole Recipe from Oh My Veggies! (3)

Broccoli Cheddar Brown Rice Casserole

A comfort food classic made without faux cheese or canned soup!

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Prep Time: 40 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes minutes

Total Time: 1 hour hour 10 minutes minutes

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Diet: Vegetarian

Keyword: Broccoli Cheddar Brown Rice Casserole, vegetarian casserole

Servings: 6 -8 servings

Calories: 343kcal

Author: Oh My Veggies

Ingredients

  • 3 cups broccoli florets
  • ½ cup shredded carrots optional
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 1 small yellow onion chopped
  • 1 clove garlic minced
  • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 2 cups milk whole is best, but reduced fat will do
  • 1 ¼ cup shredded extra-sharp cheddar cheese divided
  • ½ cup parmesan cheese
  • ½ teaspoon mustard powder
  • ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 cup brown rice cooked according to package instructions (when cooked, it should be between 3 and 4 cups)
  • ¼ cup panko bread crumbs

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350ºF.

  • Bring an inch of water to a boil in a medium saucepan fitted with a steamer basket. Place the broccoli and carrots in the basket, cover, and steam for 3-5 minutes, or until tender. Transfer the veggies to a large bowl, then drain and dry the saucepan.

  • Return the saucepan to medium-low heat. Once the saucepan is warm, add the butter and let it melt, then stir in the onions and garlic. Cook for about 7 minutes, or until the onions are softened and translucent. Sprinkle the flour over the onions and cook 2-3 minutes more, stirring constantly, until flour is golden brown. Slowly pour the milk into the saucepan, whisking to incorporate it into the flour as you pour. Take your time with this step! Once all the milk is in the saucepan, bring the mixture to a simmer, continuing to whisk constantly. Continue to cook, whisking often, until the sauce is thickened and coats the back of a wooden spoon (about 5 minutes more). Remove from heat and whisk in 1 cup of the cheddar cheese, the parmesan cheese, mustard powder, and paprika. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

  • Transfer the cooked rice to the bowl with the broccoli and carrots and pour the cheese sauce on top. Stir to incorporate; taste and add additional salt and pepper, if needed. Grease a square baking dish with butter or spray it with an oil mister (or cooking spray, if you don't have an oil mister); transfer the rice mixture to the baking dish and top with the remaining ¼ cup of cheddar cheese and the panko. Spray the top of the casserole with additional oil and bake for 25 minutes, then broil for about 3 minutes more, until the panko is lightly browned. Remove from oven and let the casserole sit for about 5 minutes before serving.

Notes

Cheese sauce can be temperamental, so while I usually encourage substitutions and experimentation with recipes, it's best to follow this one to the letter so your sauce doesn't separate. Whole milk makes a more stable sauce, but I have successfully made cheese sauces with reduced-fat milk too. If at all possible, use cheese that you've shredded yourself—bagged shredded cheese contains anti-caking agents that can affect the texture of cheese sauces.

Nutrition

Calories: 343kcalCarbohydrates: 39gProtein: 16gFat: 14gSaturated Fat: 8gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 39mgSodium: 363mgPotassium: 449mgFiber: 3gSugar: 7gVitamin A: 2589IUVitamin C: 43mgCalcium: 412mgIron: 2mg

Craving more veg-friendly recipes? Shop our collection of vegetarian and vegan cookbooks, including our new Vegan Thanksgiving and Vegan Christmas cookbooks!

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Julie W says

    Family loved it! We are not strictly vegetarian so modified the recipe a bit by caramelizing the onions, added a dash of cayenne, roasted the broccoli, and added shredded chicken to make it a "one-dish wonder" for dinner. Definitely adding to the recipe rotation. Thanks!

    Reply

  2. Diana says

    Does it work with white rice and minus out the mustard and paprika?

    Reply

    • Kim Quinn says

      Broccoli Cheddar Brown Rice Casserole Recipe from Oh My Veggies! (4)
      You are right. Over cooked broccoli, boiled, broiled, baked, it's disgusting. But an intelligent person can drop the broccoli in simmering water and keep an eye on it to remove it when it is tender crisp. Just take awareness and care. Don't be quick to dismiss or be rude. There are many fine cheese sauce variations. Variety is the spice of life. When you begin to think 'THIS ONE is the best and only...." you sadly limit yourself.

      Reply

  3. Jennifer says

    Broccoli Cheddar Brown Rice Casserole Recipe from Oh My Veggies! (5)
    Love this recipe. Made it a few times now and again tonight.

    Reply

  4. Millie Tyler says

    Broccoli Cheddar Brown Rice Casserole Recipe from Oh My Veggies! (6)
    I made this last night for my husband and myself for dinner. It was very good. We are not vegetarians but my husband said he didn't miss the meat at all.

    Reply

  5. Kimberly Chandler says

    Made this and it turned out perfectly and was delicious. The paremsan cheddar combination really made a difference. Nice and flavorful. The only thing I did differently is that I added my mustard and paprika as the roux was almost done. And I add chicken for my meat-eating family but I like this as a vegetarian option and I know they won't miss the meat due to the hardiness and flavor of this dish. I think this recipe is great just as it is laid out here but certainly, the sky is the limit with variations of vegetables, cheeses etc. This one is a keeper!

    Reply

  6. Christa says

    Whew! Just put in oven and smells good ! But my gosh, anyone who preps that in ten minutes is amazing or I am super slow, took me a good 40 minutes of prep before in the oven . Hoping it tastes great 😊

    Reply

    • Christa says

      Sorry lol it took exactly what it said I misread prep time

      Reply

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Broccoli Cheddar Brown Rice Casserole Recipe from Oh My Veggies! (2024)

FAQs

How do you reheat broccoli rice casserole? ›

If you've made this casserole ahead of time and refrigerated it, allow for an additional 5 minutes of cooking. Leftovers if any can be reheated in the microwave for several minutes on high, or in a preheated 350°F oven for 20 to 25 minutes.

What is broccoli cheese casserole made of? ›

The ingredients? Broccoli of course, then bacon, flour, milk, cream, eggs, cheddar cheese, a little Dijon, salt, and lots of freshly cracked black pepper. The tricks to this broccoli cheese casserole are to: Pre-cook the broccoli florets a bit so they cook up tender in the casserole.

How many calories in a broccoli cheddar rice casserole? ›

½ cup of broccoli, rice & cheese casserole (Handmade Real Foods) contains 150 Calories. The macronutrient breakdown is 45% carbs, 36% fat, and 19% protein. This is a good source of calcium (15% of your Daily Value).

What is the main ingredient in a casserole? ›

In the United States, a casserole or hot dish is typically a baked food with three main components: pieces of meat (such as chicken or ground meat) or fish (such as tuna) or other protein (such as beans or tofu), various chopped or canned vegetables (such as green beans or peas), and a starchy binder (such as flour, ...

What are the 4 parts of a casserole? ›

Not every single casserole has all of them, but as a rule of thumb, here's what to look for: a starch, a binding agent or sauce, and a protein or vegetable. Many casseroles also have both vegetables and proteins, as well as a crunchy element to give some textural contrast, and cheese.

Can you use fresh broccoli instead of frozen? ›

Broccoli: I use frozen broccoli florets for ease, but you can also use fresh broccoli florets if you prefer. The frozen steam-in-bag broccoli florets are a nice shortcut because there's no need to chop the broccoli and you can just cook it in the microwave in a few minutes.

Is it safe to reheat a casserole twice? ›

If food has been hygienically prepared, cooled quickly after cooking (or reheating) and stored cold, reheating more than once should not increase the risk of illness. However, prolonged storage and repeated reheating will affect the taste, texture, and sometimes the nutritional quality of foods.

How do restaurants make broccoli so good? ›

How do restaurants make broccoli so good? Restaurants often blanch broccoli first to ensure it's cooked quickly and evenly, maintaining a vibrant color and crisp texture.

Why is my broccoli cheese casserole watery? ›

You might not realise it, but those perfectly ripe, bursting-with-moisture-veggies that you're tossing into your casserole are most likely the culprits when it comes to a watery bake, which is why it's important to heed the recipe when it comes to prepping your vegetables and cooling your finished product.

Why is sauce used in a casserole? ›

Sauces such as gravies or cream of chicken soup often help bind the casserole together as it bakes and prevent it from drying out in the oven.

Does broccoli casserole have carbs? ›

Broccoli Casserole (broccoli, Rice, Cheese, And Mushroom Sauce) (1 cup) contains 32.2g total carbs, 29.4g net carbs, 13.2g fat, 10.9g protein, and 287 calories.

How many carbs are in broccoli cheese casserole from cheddar? ›

Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen Sides Broccoli Cheese Casserole (1 serving) contains 14g total carbs, 7g net carbs, 13g fat, 8g protein, and 200 calories.

What is broccoli rice made of? ›

Broccoli rice is essentially broccoli chopped into the size of grains of rice. Simple as that. It's an amazing way to add tons and tons of veggies into your diet. Use it as replacement for regular white or brown rice and make a low-carb high veggie meal with it.

What makes a casserole dish a casserole? ›

Casseroles Are Largely Defined by Their Baking Dish

agrees, telling us that "a casserole is baked in a casserole dish—a deep baking dish. The word casserole comes from a French word meaning 'saucepan.

What is broccoli pasta made of? ›

Its ingredients, broccoli, garlic, and olive oil, sound simple, but when brought together with pasta and pasta water to form a creamy sauce, something magical happens. Even the pickiest of eaters love it! This broccoli spaghetti is perfect for busy weeknights when I want to make something quick but nourishing.

What is broccoli sauce made of? ›

In fact it is made from the simplest of ingredients - broccoli, lemon, walnuts and olive oil. It is a sauce quickly whizzed up in a blender or food processor, so there's no faffing with flour or stirring until your arm aches!

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