The Ultimate Comfort: Mom’s Broccoli, Rice, and Cheese Casserole
Why This Broccoli Rice Casserole is a Must-Make
- A Holiday Feast Essential: This broccoli casserole isn’t just delicious; it’s a perfect crowd-pleaser for any holiday table, be it Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, or any special celebration. Its creamy, cheesy goodness makes it universally loved, ensuring every guest finds something delightful on their plate.
- Effortless Preparation: Say goodbye to complicated cooking! This recipe is incredibly easy to assemble. It’s essentially a “dump and bake” dish where all the ingredients are combined in one baking dish, minimizing prep time and maximizing flavor. It’s perfect for busy evenings or when you want a hearty meal without the fuss.
- Ideal for Leftovers & Meal Prep: Cook once, enjoy multiple times! This casserole holds up beautifully, making it an excellent candidate for meal prepping. Prepare a generous batch on your designated cooking day, and you’ll have delicious, ready-to-eat lunches or dinners for several days, saving you time and effort later in the week.
- Budget-Friendly Ingredients: Crafted with common, affordable ingredients, this casserole is a smart choice for feeding a family without breaking the bank. It leverages pantry staples and readily available produce to create a rich, satisfying meal.
- Family-Friendly Appeal: Even the pickiest eaters will find something to love in this dish. The tender broccoli is enveloped in a savory, cheesy sauce that makes vegetables enjoyable for everyone. It’s a guaranteed hit at family dinners.
Key Ingredients for This Classic Broccoli Rice and Cheese Casserole
Crafting the perfect broccoli, rice, and cheese casserole begins with a selection of simple, yet essential ingredients that combine to create its signature creamy and comforting flavor profile. Here’s a closer look at what you’ll need and why each component is so crucial:
Broccoli: For this recipe, I find frozen broccoli cuts incredibly convenient and effective. They cook down perfectly and blend seamlessly into the creamy sauce. However, if you prefer, fresh broccoli florets can absolutely be used. Just ensure they are steamed or blanched until tender-crisp before adding them to the mixture to guarantee a lovely texture in the final casserole.
Onion: A finely chopped yellow or white onion forms the aromatic foundation of this casserole, adding a subtle yet indispensable depth of flavor. Onions provide that essential savory note that elevates the overall taste profile and balances the richness of the cheese and soups. Never underestimate the power of a good onion!
Cheese Whiz: This is the secret weapon and a true staple in my mom’s recipe! Cheese Whiz delivers an unparalleled creamy texture and a distinctively tangy, rich cheese flavor that melts perfectly into the casserole, creating that gooey, comforting consistency we all love. While other cheeses can be used, Cheese Whiz truly makes this casserole unique and nostalgic. You’ll definitely want a jar of it for authentic flavor.
Cream of Mushroom Soup: This canned classic contributes significantly to the casserole’s creamy base and adds a wonderful umami depth. Its velvety texture helps bind all the ingredients together, ensuring every spoonful is moist and flavorful. You can opt for store-bought canned cream of mushroom soup for convenience, or for a fresher, more customized approach, consider making your own homemade version.
Cream of Chicken Soup: Working in harmony with the cream of mushroom soup, the cream of chicken soup introduces another layer of savory richness and enhances the casserole’s overall creamy texture. It’s a key ingredient that provides a familiar, comforting flavor profile, making the dish even more hearty and satisfying. Its inclusion is vital for achieving the traditional taste and consistency of this beloved casserole.
Milk: Any type of dairy milk will work beautifully to achieve the desired creamy consistency for this casserole. I typically use whole milk for maximum richness, but feel free to use 2% or skim milk if you prefer, adjusting for a slightly lighter texture. The milk helps to thin the condensed soups slightly, creating a perfectly balanced sauce.
Rice: The star of the show alongside the broccoli and cheese is the rice. Uncooked minute rice is specifically called for in this recipe because of its quick-cooking properties, allowing it to cook directly in the casserole alongside the other ingredients. If minute rice isn’t available, you can substitute it with an equal amount of cooked regular long-grain white rice, ensuring it’s fully cooked before adding it to the mixture to avoid a grainy texture.
Step-by-Step Guide: How to Make Broccoli Rice and Cheese Casserole
Making this comforting broccoli rice and cheese casserole is delightfully straightforward, perfect for cooks of all skill levels. Follow these simple steps to bring this family favorite to your table:
First, begin by preparing your oven and baking dish. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (175°C) to ensure it’s at the ideal temperature when your casserole is ready to bake. Then, generously spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with a non-stick cooking spray or lightly grease it with your oil of choice. This crucial step prevents the casserole from sticking and ensures easy serving.
Next, focus on the star vegetable: the broccoli. If using frozen broccoli, steam the frozen broccoli cuts until they are tender and no longer frozen, but still hold a slight crispness. Be careful not to overcook them, as they will bake further in the oven. Once steamed, allow them to cool slightly, then roughly chop the broccoli florets into smaller, more manageable, bite-sized pieces. This ensures an even distribution throughout the casserole.
Now it’s time to combine the magic. In a large pot or Dutch oven on the stove, place all of the prepared ingredients: the steamed and chopped broccoli, finely chopped onion, a full jar of Cheese Whiz, both cans of cream of mushroom and cream of chicken soup, milk, and the uncooked minute rice. Gently heat the mixture over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, until all the ingredients are well combined and warmed through. This step allows the soups and Cheese Whiz to meld together, creating a smooth, cohesive sauce before baking.
Once the mixture is thoroughly combined and warmed, carefully pour it into your prepared 9×13-inch baking dish, spreading it evenly. Place the dish into the preheated oven and bake uncovered for approximately 1 1/2 hours. The casserole should be bubbly, heated through, and have a beautifully golden-brown crust on top. The minute rice will absorb the liquids and become perfectly tender during this baking time.
Finally, once baked to perfection, remove the casserole from the oven. For best results, allow it to rest for 5-10 minutes before serving, which helps the flavors settle and the casserole to firm up slightly. Then, serve this glorious broccoli, rice, and cheese casserole directly from the warm dish at your table, or present it buffet style for a casual gathering. Enjoy the hearty, comforting flavors that make this dish a beloved classic!
Can You Put Uncooked Rice in a Casserole?
This is a common question, and the answer depends heavily on the type of rice and the casserole’s liquid content. Typically, it is not recommended to put regular uncooked rice directly into a casserole without sufficient liquid to ensure it cooks thoroughly and without becoming dry or undercooked. Regular rice requires a precise liquid-to-rice ratio and a specific cooking environment to become tender. If you attempt to use regular uncooked rice, the casserole will certainly require a significantly longer cooking time, often necessitating additional liquid to prevent it from drying out. This can sometimes lead to an unpredictable outcome, with some parts of the rice being perfectly cooked while others remain hard.
However, the beauty of this particular Broccoli, Rice, and Cheese Casserole lies in its use of **Minute Rice**. Minute Rice is pre-cooked and then dehydrated, meaning it cooks much faster and absorbs liquid more efficiently than regular uncooked rice. When I prepare this casserole, using Minute Rice is never a problem. Its quick-cooking nature means it integrates seamlessly into the baking process, absorbing the creamy sauce and becoming perfectly tender within the casserole’s standard baking time. This is precisely why it’s the preferred choice for this specific recipe, guaranteeing a consistent and delicious result every time without needing to adjust liquid amounts or extended baking times.
How Long to Keep This Broccoli Rice Casserole in the Fridge
Cooked broccoli rice casserole, when stored properly, will remain fresh and delicious in the refrigerator for **three to four days**. To ensure maximum freshness and safety, allow the casserole to cool completely before transferring it to an airtight container. Refrigerating it promptly helps inhibit bacterial growth and preserves its quality. This extended shelf life makes the casserole an absolutely perfect solution for meal prep, providing convenient and satisfying lunches or dinners throughout your week. Many people even find that the flavors deepen and meld beautifully overnight, making the leftovers just as delicious, if not more so, than the freshly baked dish!
Can You Freeze This Broccoli Rice Casserole?
Absolutely! Freezing this casserole is a fantastic way to preserve leftovers or prepare meals in advance. If you find yourself with more casserole than you can consume within the refrigerator’s recommended timeframe, or if you simply want to stock your freezer with ready-made comfort food, then freezing is an excellent option. To freeze, first ensure the casserole has completely cooled to room temperature. Then, transfer portions into a **freezer-safe storage container or heavy-duty freezer bag**. For individual servings, consider using smaller containers or even muffin tins (then pop out and store in a bag). Be sure to remove as much air as possible from bags to prevent freezer burn. Properly stored, the broccoli rice casserole can be kept in the freezer for up to **six months** while maintaining its quality. Don’t forget to **label the container** with the date and contents to easily identify it later!
How to Reheat Broccoli Rice Casserole
Reheating this delicious broccoli casserole is simple, and you have a few convenient methods depending on your preference and the amount you’re reheating. Whether from the fridge or freezer, you can enjoy this comfort food again with ease:
- Microwave: For individual servings, the microwave is your quickest option. Place a portion of the casserole in a microwave-safe dish, cover it loosely, and reheat for **1:30-2:00 minutes**, stirring halfway through, until heated thoroughly. If it seems a little dry, a splash of milk can help restore its creaminess.
- Oven: To reheat a larger portion or the entire casserole from the fridge, transfer it to an oven-safe dish. Cover it loosely with foil to prevent drying out, and place it in a **preheated 350°F (175°C) oven for 12-15 minutes**, or until it’s warmed through and bubbly. Remove the foil for the last few minutes if you prefer a crispier topping.
- Skillet: For a quick reheat of smaller amounts, particularly if you want a slightly crispier bottom, you can **cook it in a skillet** on the stovetop over medium-low heat. Stir occasionally until heated through. Again, a little milk can help loosen it up if needed.
If you’re reheating the casserole straight from the freezer, it’s highly recommended to allow it to **thaw in the refrigerator overnight** before reheating. This ensures more even heating and a better texture. If you choose to reheat it directly from frozen, you will need a significantly longer cook time for any of the above methods, typically doubling the recommended times, and ensuring it reaches a safe internal temperature throughout.
Expert Tips for the Best Broccoli Rice and Cheese Casserole
- Garnish for Visual Appeal: While not strictly necessary for the recipe’s flavor, adding a few fresh broccoli florets or a sprinkle of shredded cheddar cheese on top before baking can make your casserole look even more appealing. A dash of paprika can also add a pop of color.
- The Right Rice Matters: For optimal texture and ease of preparation, always aim to use **uncooked minute rice**. Its quick-cooking nature is designed for dishes like this, ensuring the rice becomes perfectly tender by absorbing the creamy sauce during baking. If you must use cooked regular rice, ensure it’s fully cooked and cooled before mixing, and consider slightly reducing the milk to account for the cooked rice’s moisture.
- Make it Heartier: To transform this already satisfying side dish into a more substantial main course, consider adding cooked protein directly into the mixture. Cubed cooked ham or shredded cooked chicken are excellent choices that complement the flavors beautifully and create a truly hearty, complete meal.
- Don’t Overmix: When combining all the ingredients in the pot, stir just enough to incorporate everything. Overmixing can sometimes lead to a gummy texture, especially with the rice.
- Check for Doneness: The casserole is done when it’s bubbly around the edges and the rice is tender. If the top starts browning too quickly, you can loosely cover it with foil for the remaining baking time.
- Let it Rest: After removing from the oven, allow the casserole to rest for 5-10 minutes. This helps the sauce to set and makes for cleaner, easier serving.
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Don’t forget to pin this incredibly delicious and easy Broccoli, Rice, and Cheese Casserole recipe to your Pinterest board! Pinning it now will make it super easy to find whenever you’re craving a comforting, cheesy meal, whether it’s for a holiday gathering, a quick weeknight dinner, or a hearty meal prep solution. Save it, share it, and enjoy this timeless family favorite again and again!
Some More of my Favorite Recipes
- Hearty Chicken and Broccoli Casserole
- Delicious Broccoli Stuffed Mushrooms
- Classic Reuben Casserole
- Ultimate Loaded Baked Potato Casserole
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Rating: 4.44 from 30 votes
Print Recipe
Broccoli, Rice and Cheese Casserole
Equipment
- Rubber Spatulas
- Cuisinart Chef’s Classic Nonstick 1-Quart Saucepan with Lid
- 9×13 Pyrex Baking Dish with a Lid
Ingredients
- 2 10.8 ounce packages frozen broccoli cuts, steamed and then roughly chopped
- 1 small onion finely chopped
- 1 8 ounce jar CheeseWhiz
- 1 10.75 ounce can cream of mushroom soup
- 1 10.75 ounce can cream of chicken soup
- 1/2 soup can milk
- 1 cup uncooked minute rice
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (175°C). Spray a 9×13 baking dish with non-stick cooking spray or grease lightly.
- Steam frozen broccoli until no longer frozen and tender. Roughly chop the florets into bite-sized pieces.
- Place all of the ingredients (steamed broccoli, onion, Cheese Whiz, cream of mushroom soup, cream of chicken soup, milk, and uncooked minute rice) in a large pot on the stove. Heat through over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, until well combined and warmed. Pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish and bake uncovered for 1 1/2 hours until bubbly and rice is tender.
Nutrition
