Cheesy Broccoli Rice Casserole
This Cheesy Broccoli Rice Casserole skips the canned soup and uses a simple homemade cheddar cheese sauce instead. It's ready in less than an hour and can be turned into a make-ahead side dish for holidays, potlucks, or weeknight dinners.
Servings: 8
Ingredients
- 5 cups broccoli florets chopped
- 3 cups cooked long-grain white rice
- 2 tablespoons butter
- ½ yellow onion diced
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 2 cups whole milk
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon mustard powder
- ¾ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 2 ounces cream cheese
- 8 ounces sharp cheddar shredded, or mild cheddar
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Bring a 3-quart saucepan two-thirds full of water to a boil over high heat. Add broccoli and blanch for 2 minutes. Drain and set aside.
- Return the saucepan to medium-high heat and melt butter. Add diced onion and cook for 5 to 7 minutes, until translucent.
- Add flour and stir to combine, reducing heat to medium. Cook for 1 minute. Pour in milk one cup at a time, stirring until smooth after each addition.
- Increase heat slightly and stir in garlic powder, smoked paprika, mustard powder, salt, and pepper. Stir continuously until the sauce thickens, about 5 minutes.
- Turn off heat. Stir in cream cheese and three-quarters of the shredded cheddar until fully melted and smooth. Fold in the cooked rice and blanched broccoli.
- Transfer to a 2-quart baking dish. Top with the remaining cheddar. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, until bubbly with crispy edges.
- Broil for 2 to 3 minutes to brown the top, if desired. Let rest 10 minutes before serving.
Notes
Rice Shortcut: Leftover rice works well for this casserole. You also can use pre-cooked rice from the freezer section or grocery store shelves to save time and effort.
Make-Ahead Tip: This casserole can be fully assembled up to 24 hours in advance. Prepare everything through step 6, transfer to the baking dish, cover tightly with plastic wrap or foil, and refrigerate. When ready to bake, remove the covering and bake. You might need to add 5 to 10 minutes to the bake time since it will be starting from cold.