Cheesy Broccoli Rice Casserole - We Love this Vegetarian Recipe! (2024)

5 from 19 votes

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Servings: 6 servings

Author: Jenn Laughlin - Peas and Crayons

• 3-4 cups cooked rice
• 1 lb fresh broccoli (I used the tops as well as 2/3 of the stems)
• 1 medium onion (approx. 2 cups chopped)
• 2 cloves garlic minced
• ¼ cup unsalted butter
• ¼ cup flour
• 1.5 cups milk (2% or whole)
• ½ cup vegetable broth
• ½ tsp sea salt
• ¼ tsp black pepper
• ¼ tsp paprika
• ¼ tsp cayenne pepper
• ⅛ tsp nutmeg or allspice optional
• 4 oz gouda cheese (freshly grated)
• 4 oz sharp cheddar cheese (freshly grated)
• 1 TBSP butter (separate from above)
• 1/4-1/3 cup Italian seasoned breadcrumbs
• optional fresh chopped parsley to garnish

• First cook your rice via your favorite method. I used my Instant Potand you could also use a rice cooker or trusty stove-top method to fluff up some rice!

• While the rice cooks, roughly chop the broccoli florets and chop up those stems as well! I usually chop off the bottom-most portion of the stem and dice the remainder. You'll want a pound total which you can usually get out of one large head of broccoli! Cook via your favorite method. I blanched mine in boiling water until the tops turned bright green. Steaming works great too!

• Pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees F.

• Finely dice the onion and mince the garlic.

• Heat a sauce pot to medium heat and add the butter, onion, and garlic. Cook until the onions are soft and tender, then add the flour and stir into a paste. Continue to stir and cook the paste for about two minutes, or just until it turns a light golden brown. I use whisk and babysit this step to prevent burning. The browning cooks off the four taste and will help us make our sauce nice and thick.

• Whisk the milk and vegetable broth into the butter and flour mixture. Continue to whisk the mixture while it heats, allowing it to reach a simmer and thicken. Remove from the heat.

• Season with the salt, pepper, paprika, and cayenne. If you're a fan of nutmeg, add a pinch here. Allspice works great if you're not a fan of nutmeg! Gradually add half of your grated cheese and mix well. Give it a taste and add more seasoning if desired. Since we're not seasoning the broccoli or rice all the flavor is going to come from our dreamy, creamy cheese sauce!

• Pour the sauce over the rice, broccoli, and cheese, and stir until everything is evenly coated in sauce. Coat an 8x8 or 9x9 casserole dish with non-stick spray, then spread the casserole mixture evenly in the dish. Top with the remaining shredded cheese.

• Melt 1 TBSP of butter in a small skillet and add breadcrumbs. Mix constantly while toasting, then sprinkle over casserole.

• Bake the casserole for 35 minutes, or until you get some light browning around the edges and on top.

I used fresh broccoli here but you can 100% use frozen broccoli. Steam it up or cook via your favorite method and you're good to go!

Craving extra veggies? Carrots, cauliflower, and zucchini also make fabulous mix-ins. You can swap some of the rice for extra veggies if you'd like! Just make sure you cook 'em up along with the broccoli.

Both white and brown rice work great here - choose your family's favorite! I went with basmati this time around because we're totally crushing on it lately.

Nutrition Facts below are estimated using an online recipe nutrition calculator. Adjust as needed and enjoy!