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There’s no better combination than broccoli and cheese! This easy broccoli casserole recipe is a simple side dish that comes together with a handful of pantry staples. Use fresh broccoli or frozen broccoli, and create a healthy broccoli casserole with just a few simple substitutions! It’s perfect alongside a Thanksgiving turkey, a Christmas ham, or a simple roasted chicken dinner.
Table of Contents
How to Make Broccoli Casserole | 1-Minute Video
Broccoli is one of the most popular vegetables among children, so it has been a staple on our dinner menus for years! If you’re looking for a new way to serve this nutritious cruciferous veggie, then this broccoli casserole recipe is the ticket!
Rest assured — you no longer have to choke down that flavorless, mushy steamed broccoli!
Ingredients
This is just a quick overview of the ingredients that you’ll need for a broccoli cheese casserole. As always, specific measurements and step-by-step instructions are included in the printable recipe box at the bottom of the post.
- 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. If you prefer, however, you can steam about 9 cups of fresh broccoli florets cut into bite size pieces, just until crisp-tender.
- Condensed cream of mushroom soup: the base of the creamy sauce. Feel free to substitute with another flavor of condensed soup, such as cream of celery soup or cream of chicken soup.
- Cheddar cheese: I use sharp cheddar cheese, but any variety will work.
- Lemon juice: for a bright touch of acidity. You can swap it out for milk or water if you don’t have any lemon on hand.
- Egg: thickens the sauce and helps the casserole set.
- Mayonnaise: for flavor and creamy mouthfeel. We prefer Duke’s brand mayo, or you can substitute with light mayonnaise to cut back on fat and calories.
- Onion: grated onion adds savory flavor. Swap out the fresh onion for onion powder in a pinch. A dash of garlic powder is also good!
- Dry stuffing mix and melted butter: create a flavorful breadcrumb topping. If you don’t have stuffing mix, try crushed Ritz crackers, other buttery crackers, or seasoned breadcrumbs instead.
How to Make Broccoli Casserole with Cheese
- Steam or parboil the broccoli just until it’s crisp-tender. Transfer the broccoli to a colander to strain off any excess liquid.
- Whisk together the condensed soup, grated cheese, and lemon juice in a small saucepan over low heat just until the cheese melts.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the egg, mayonnaise, and grated onion or onion powder.
- Combine the broccoli with the soup mixture and the egg mixture. Transfer to a greased 8-inch or 9-inch square baking dish or other 2-quart casserole dish.
- Stir together the dry stuffing mix and the melted butter. Sprinkle the buttered crumbs over the top of the casserole.
- Bake, uncovered, in a 400°F oven just until the topping is golden brown and the inside of the casserole is hot. Tent the casserole loosely with aluminum foil if the top starts to get too dark before the filling is hot. Season with salt and black pepper, if desired.
How to Make a Healthy Broccoli Casserole
If you’d like to make a few healthier substitutions without sacrificing any flavor, try these ideas:
- Use light mayonnaise, and swap out half of the mayonnaise for plain Greek yogurt;
- Try low-fat cheese;
- Use organic, gluten-free cream of mushroom soup OR Campbell’s Healthy Request or 98% Fat Free Cream of Mushroom Soup;
- Skip the topping completely! You can omit the buttered stuffing mix or Ritz crackers if you want a Keto Broccoli Casserole.
Prep and Storage
- Assemble the casserole up to 24 hours in advance. Cover the dish and chill in the fridge until ready to bake. Before baking, allow the casserole to sit on the counter and come to room temperature for at least 30-60 minutes.
- Leftover casserole will keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days, or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
- Reheat the casserole loosely covered in a 350°F oven just until warmed through, about 15 minutes.
What’s the Best Casserole Dish to Use?
We rounded up the best casserole dishes you can buy, including 2 that I personally own and love! While I use different-sized casserole dishes for different meals, the Staub Ceramic Rectangular Baking Dish earned the top spot. You can buy it on Amazon for $78.95 or at Target for $79.95. That said, I also love the beautiful, Scandinavian style of the Dansk Kobenstyle Baker, available for $135.
Tips for a Frozen or Fresh Broccoli Casserole
- The frozen broccoli florets are a convenient shortcut because you can cook them in the microwave without any chopping or dirty pots. If you prefer to use fresh broccoli, just substitute with about 9 cups of fresh broccoli florets.
- When pre-cooking the broccoli, I recommend only steaming it until it’s crisp-tender (not too soft). For a microwave bag, this about half of the recommended cooking time on the bag. Remember, the broccoli will continue to cook as the casserole bakes in the oven, and you don’t want a mushy over-cooked broccoli when it’s finished.
- This is a broccoli casserole with stuffing, but if you prefer a broccoli casserole with Ritz crackers, simply substitute an equal amount of crushed Ritz crackers for the herb seasoned stuffing mix. You’ll still want to toss the cracker crumbs with melted butter to add flavor and to help them turn a nice golden brown.
- This casserole is particularly convenient for the holidays because you can assemble the entire dish in advance and just keep it in your refrigerator until you’re ready to bake it!
More Fresh Broccoli Recipes to Try
Easy Broccoli Casserole
Prep: 15 minutes
Cook: 15 minutes
0 minutes
Total: 30 minutes
This easy broccoli casserole recipe is a simple side dish that comes together with a handful of pantry staples!
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 packages (10.8 ounces each) frozen chopped broccoli (or about 8-9 cups of fresh broccoli florets)
- 1 (10.5 ounce) can condensed cream of mushroom soup (not diluted) (I used Campbell's Healthy Request)
- 1 cup grated cheddar cheese
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice (or substitute with milk or water)
- 1 egg
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- ½ small onion, grated (or substitute with 1 teaspoon of onion powder)
- ¾ cup dry stuffing mix (I used Pepperidge Farm Herb Seasoned Stuffing Mix, but you can also substitute with an equal amount of crushed Ritz crackers)
- 2 tablespoons melted butter
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F. Grease or spray an 8- or 9-inch square baking dish with nonstick cooking spray and set aside.
- Cook broccoli in microwave, just until crisp tender (about half of the time called for on the package). You don’t want to cook the broccoli until it’s soft because it will continue cooking when you bake the casserole. Place broccoli in colander to drain.
- In a small saucepan over very low heat, stir together condensed soup, cheese, and lemon juice, just until cheese melts. Do not let the cheese get too warm, or it can separate resulting in a grainy texture.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together egg, mayonnaise, and grated onion. Combine broccoli, soup mixture, and egg mixture. Transfer to prepared baking dish.
- In a small bowl, stir together dry stuffing mix and melted butter. Sprinkle on top of the casserole.
- Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until heated through and topping is golden brown.
Video
Notes
Prep-Ahead: You can assemble this casserole in advance, through Step 5. Cover tightly and keep in the refrigerator for up to 1 day, or in the freezer for up to 3 months. Bake according to instructions above. If baking from frozen, you will need to double the baking time to make sure that the casserole is completely heated through. Leave the frozen casserole covered for the first half of baking so that the top doesn’t burn.
Healthy Substitutions:
- Use light mayonnaise, and swap out half of the mayonnaise for plain Greek yogurt;
- Use low-fat cheese;
- Use organic, gluten-free cream of mushroom soup OR Campbell’s Healthy Request or 98% Fat Free Cream of Mushroom Soup;
- Skip the topping completely! You can omit the buttered stuffing mix or Ritz crackers if you want a Keto Broccoli Casserole!
Nutrition
Serving: 1/6 of the casseroleCalories: 275kcalCarbohydrates: 19gProtein: 10gFat: 18gSaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 62mgSodium: 626mgPotassium: 704mgFiber: 3gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 1055IUVitamin C: 90.2mgCalcium: 239mgIron: 1.3mg
This recipe was originally published in October, 2018. The photos were updated in November, 2022.
This was really good. Took it to a church potluck and there were no leftovers. I didn’t put the stuffing on top because I forgot to buy it, so I added more cheese to the top.
Thank you, Bonnie! I’m so glad that you made it work without the stuffing, and that your friends loved it! 🙂
I’ve made this a few times we absolutely love this recipe. Today I’m making it and using cream of chicken healthy choice because I’m making chicken for main course.
Perfect! I’m so glad that you enjoy this dish, Dawn! 🙂
Great recipe but prep time is more like 3o minutes!
Made this today and it was delicious. The only thing I changed was using fresh broccoli instead of frozen. Thank you for the recipe!
Amazing, thanks for sharing!
Hi Heidi,
When you used fresh broccoli did you cook it at before putting in the casserole? Thanks for your help!!!
This recipe is easy to follow. I tried it once and it came out delicious !
Thanks, Danielle!
I’m so used to doing boring veggies w butter, salt microwave. I decided to try this to jazz up broccoli. This was super easy for terrible cooks like me. One thing I did different was I topped a more shredded cheese then used the crumbled topping. My family loved it. I’ll so this from now on.
I’m so glad that you liked it, Teresa! I need to add this to our rotation as well…it’s been awhile, and I’m sick of salads and plain veggies, too. Thanks for the reminder! 🙂
Can cream of chicken be used instead of cream of mushroom
Hi, Pat! Sure, any flavor that you like should work fine. Enjoy!
I’m so glad to know that I can use a cream of chicken instead of cream of mushroom also I was sitting here debating on if I should do that so thanks for the tip I will let y’all know how it turned out
Made it quick an easy for the kiddos an they loved it!
Thanks, Krista! We just had it last night, too! 🙂
My favorite side dish. Try velveeta cheese instead of shredded cheddar. I also omit onion which did not impact the overall deliciousness.
Oh, yes…I know that Velveeta cheese would be perfect in this dish! Thanks, Dara! 🙂
Just curious…is it really necessary to steam the broccoli first…? Could I just cook it from frozen…? Also I’m wondering if I can use panko and French’s fried onions on top. Thanks…!
Hi, Anne! It’s really a matter of personal preference. If you just thaw the frozen broccoli and then bake it, it will be slightly soft, but still pretty firm. Most folks prefer a softer broccoli in the casserole, which is why we pre-cook it a bit before it bakes. Also, you DON’T want to bake the broccoli while it’s still frozen, since it will release way too much liquid and water down the dish. Instead, drain off that extra water after you steam it (or after you thaw it). Hope that helps!
Sodium seems high for a broccoli casserole
I just made this for supper tonight. I can’t wait to try it. My oldest loves broccoli so it’s a perfect meal for him. I love making cassroles. Super easy. I’m not such a cook so it makes it simple when there is meals like these. It’s awesome!!
We’re so glad you find it helpful and hope you enjoy, Tanya!
Fantastic! For the topping I mixed panko with garlic powder and butter. Thank u!
Perfect! Thanks, Chelsea!
Can you use Miracle Whip instead of Mayo?
Hi, Joe! Yes, the Miracle Whip should work fine. Enjoy!
Can I leave out the lemon?
Absolutely! 🙂 You might want to sub with a tablespoon or so of milk, just to thin the soup mixture a bit.
i forgot the lemon juice. Was delicious and everyone raved.
I used fresh broccoli, steamed halfway. Used the Pacific organic GF soup as you mentioned, and GF Panko w/butter and parmesan for the top. Parmesan was my addition to your delicious recipe, but it did brown nicely with the little bit of Parm on top.
Sounds perfect, Deborah! Thank you! 🙂
I used cream of onion organic soup, It was fantastic !! Excellent recipe. Thanks
Sounds perfect, Gina. Thanks for letting me know!
Super easy recipe I’m waiting on it to bake. I’m sure my family will love it with the ribs that are on the smoker.
Sounds like a great meal, Stephanie! Hope you enjoy!
I agree that this takes a lot longer than 15 minutes of pre time, more like 45 minutes. I am a novice and I messed up, because some instructions(which may seem obvious to some) where not and I messed up. So, I had to start over. I didn’t realize that you had to put the cheese sauce in the broccoli immediately.
Made this according to the recipe used crushed Ritz crackers and added more shredded cheese on top. My wife loves it.
Awesome! Thank you!
I was wondering if I could make this a day or two a head? I want to make it for Christmas, but I’m hosting Christmas Eve and Christmas dinner so my time is limited on the actual days.
Hi, Sue! Yes, ma’am! Make-ahead dishes are the best for holidays! 🙂 You can assemble the dish in advance, and then bake it just before serving. Here are the directions:
Assemble the casserole up to 24 hours in advance. Cover the dish and chill in the fridge until ready to bake. Before baking, allow the casserole to sit on the counter and come to room temperature for at least 30-60 minutes.
Blair, can you double or 1.5 times this recipe without affecting the taste or consistency? Thanks.
Hi, Judy! Absolutely. For instance, you can double all of the ingredients and bake the casserole in a 9 x 13-inch dish. Just make sure that you double ALL of the ingredients so that the proportions stay the same. You might need to add a few extra minutes to the total baking time, but otherwise the instructions would be the same. Hope you enjoy!
This Broccoli Casserole was delicious. I made it for an Easter celebration, and it was a big hit. It was so easy to make, but I used a club cracker topping since I don’t have corn flakes. I put it together the night before and baked the next morning.
Thanks Blair for making easy to make recipes and instructions.
Thank you, Teresa! Happy Easter! 🙂
Thank you, this was a delicious side dish. My family loved it. I will be making it again in the future.
I’m so glad to hear that, Deborah! Thank you!
Do you think Stove Top Stuffing Mix will work with this? Just wondering because you normally add so much water to it when cooking per the box instructions.
Hi, Dennis! Yes, you can definitely use the Stove Top stuffing in the same way. We’re not actually preparing the stuffing, but instead using the dry stuffing mix as a crunchy, flavorful topping on the casserole. It’s similar to adding seasoned buttered breadcrumbs to a casserole. You want them crisp and crunchy by the end, not soft and moist like a normal stuffing. Hope that makes sense! 🙂
Baking this tonight to go with some Italian chicken.
Awesome, Barbara! Hope you enjoy!
Hi
Can you omit the Mayo all together and sun all for the Greek yogurt?
Hi, Jaymee! Yes, I think that would work — it will just give the casserole a different flavor, since Greek yogurt is so much tangier and less salty than mayo. You’d want to use a full-fat yogurt, too, so that it doesn’t separate or break in the oven.
I want to know with this recipe can I use a 9×13 baking dish?
Sure! Just double all of the ingredients! 🙂
I’m going to make this broccoli casserole for Christmas, hope it came out well. Thanks for sharing. Merry Christmas.
Merry Christmas, Geneva!
Easy, tasty, and the ingredients are available at even the most basic grocery store. People in this house were going back for seconds!
We’re so happy to hear this, Karin!
Sounds like an easy & interesting recip.e
Wanted to try it BUT couldn’t print it. Can’t bring my tablet into the kitchen area. Too bad.
We’re sorry you had issues trying to print it. Here is another link to the printable recipe. If that doesn’t work, try clearing your cache and refreshing the page. Please let us know if this helps!
What’s the point of a recipe that tells you what ingredients to use but not the amount of each ingredient should you just wing it this is useless
Hi, Mary! The ingredient measurements and specific cooking instructions are included in the printable recipe box at the bottom of the post.
This is such a simple, delicious recipe that I’ve made numerous times. The lemon juice really brightens it up. I always use fresh broccoli & cream of chicken, lately without the topping to reduce carbs. Another variation I made was to substitute cauliflower florets with about a teaspoon of curry powder, THAT was super yummy too.
Great suggestions, Stephanie. Thank you! I’m so glad that you like it!
This recipe is delicious, I made it for my husband and myself for dinner with chicken on the side , it made a big casserole more fitted for a group dinner but we will eat the leftovers, I used milk instead of the lemon juice and used the whole box of stuffing mix and added extra butter to compensate
Thank you for the feedback, Nancy! We’re so glad you enjoyed the recipe and were able to make it work for you.
Took a while to steam frozen broccoli (in 3 batches) otherwise, prep was pretty easy. It came out really delish and I will be keeping this recipe on hand.
That’s great, Lorraine. So glad that you enjoyed it!
Nice recipe but it would be nice if you had measurements of the ingredients.
Hi, Marie! You can see all of the specific measurements and cooking directions in the recipe card at the bottom of the post. You can also click on the “Jump to Recipe” button at the top of the post to take you directly there. Hope you enjoy!
Hi,
If using fresh broccoli should it be precooked to soften. If so how and for how long?
Hi! Yes, you’ll want to steam it just until it’s crisp-tender.