3-Ingredient Simple Broccoli Cheese Casserole
3-ingredient broccoli cheese casserole is a the perfect side to bring to the next potluck or party! You can toss this together in minutes and let those compliments roll in.
Want to get those picky eaters eating veggies? Need the perfect side dish for a party of potluck? This easy broccoli casserole recipe is your answer.
It’s super simple: you only need the 3 ingredients, and about 5 minutes of hands-on time. The casserole makes it’s own creamy cheese sauce as it bakes, and no one has to know you didn’t work hard.
Bring this easy side dish to family dinners, eat it alongside your Thanksgiving turkey, or just add it to the rotation to level up meals for your whole family!
What’s in cheesy broccoli casserole?
This version of the recipe uses simple ingredients you can find at just about any grocery store:
- Frozen Broccoli Florets: You can also use fresh broccoli florets for this. I like the convenience of keeping bags of frozen broccoli around — it makes this something I can whip up at a moment’s notice!
- Broccoli Cheddar Canned Soup: Many similar recipes will use a can of cream of mushroom soup, sour cream, cream cheese, or heavy cream to hold the casserole together. All of these are substitutes that will work, but I love how the broccoli cheddar soup kicks that cheesy goodness up a notch!
- Grated Cheddar Cheese: You can use whatever cheddar you like: sharp cheddar cheese, mild, or medium all work. You can also sub this for any other cheese you’d like as long as it will melt – Monterey Jack, Gruyère, and mozzarella are all good options.
Making simple broccoli casserole
Step 1 | Steam the Broccoli
The secret here is to not steam the broccoli all the way. Most bags of frozen broccoli tell you to microwave it for 5 minutes. Instead, do 3. This will keep the broccoli from becoming limp and mushy as it cooks inside the casserole.
You want your steamed broccoli to still be firm and maybe just slightly still cold in places. We don’t want tender broccoli quite yet.
Once you’ve reached that point, drain the broccoli and toss it into a large bowl.
Step 2 | Mix It Up
To the broccoli, add the broccoli cheese soup and 1/4 cup cheddar cheese. Stir until the broccoli is coated with the soup.
Put your broccoli mixture into a 9×9 casserole dish and spread it out evenly.
Over the top of the casserole, sprinkle the rest of the cheese.
Step 3 | Cook
Cook your casserole for 15 minutes at 350°. It’s done when the cheese is melted and golden brown on top
Step 4 | Enjoy!
Let the casserole rest for 5-10 minutes, and then serve. This one doesn’t really need any garnishing, but it goes great with chicken, steak, and pork chops as a delicious side dish!
Optional Add-On: Crunchy Topping
If you want to add a deliciously buttery topping to the casserole to give it a little crunch, you can make a good one from Ritz cracker crumbs.
Just crush a sleeve of buttery crackers and add 4 tbsp melted butter. Mix those together, then sprinkle them over the cheese before baking. The crushed crackers make a delightful addition to the base recipe!
Other Easy Veggie Sides
FAQs
Yes, you can! If you prefer fresh broccoli, steam or blanch the florets until slightly tender before adding them to the casserole.
Absolutely. Cream of mushroom, cream of celery, cream of chicken, or a can of cream of broccoli soup works well as a substitute if you don’t have broccoli cheese soup on hand.
You can store the leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. You can also cover your casserole dish tightly with aluminum foil and place the casserole in the fridge for up to 3 days.
3-Ingredient Broccoli Cheese Casserole
Ingredients
- 24 oz frozen broccoli florets
- 10.5 oz can broccoli cheese soup
- 1 1/2 cups grated cheddar cheese, divided
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°.
- Steam broccoli for 3 minutes. You want the broccoli to be slightly firm still.
- Drain broccoli and put it in a mixing bowl. Add broccoli cheese soup and 1/4 cup cheddar cheese. Mix until well combined.
- Put broccoli mixture in a 9×9 baking dish. Sprinkle remaining cheese over the top.
- Bake casserole at 350° for 15-20 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and golden brown.
