This Broccoli Rice Casserole recipe is made from scratch with no condensed soup! Fresh broccoli cooked until tender crisp and fluffy rice come together in a creamy cheesy homemade sauce to create a family favorite side dish!
This cheesy broccoli rice casserole is great served alongside our Crispy Baked Chicken with a tossed salad for the perfect easy meal!
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If you’re looking for a side dish your whole family is going to love, this broccoli rice casserole is the answer! I’ve combined my favorite velvety cheese sauce with a combination of broccoli & rice and baked it until bubbly. The result is a side (or a quick meatless meal that my whole family loves)!
How Do You Make Broccoli Rice Casserole?
Don’t let the homemade sauce scare you away from giving this recipe a try, this from scratch cheese sauce tastes amazing (much better than just adding in a can of soup)!
- The sauce for this recipe starts with a roux (which is just butter and flour cooked and milk added). Let the butter and flour cook for a few minutes before adding milk for the best flavor.
- Slowly stir in milk a bit at a time while whisking and cook until thick and bubbly. Add cheeses and stir until melted and creamy.
- Toss cheese sauce with broccoli and rice and bake in a casserole dish.
Variations on Broccoli Rice Casserole
- Lighten it up: To lighten this up a little bit you can use light cheese and lowfat milk with great results. We’ve also subbed in brown rice or quinoa (or even Cauliflower Rice) with amazing results.
- Add protein: We very often add in chicken to make a chicken and rice casserole (the perfect way to enjoy your leftover baked chicken breasts). Turkey or ham work great too.
- Swap the Cheeses: Out of cheddar? Use swiss, monterey jack or whatever you have on hand.
- Add veggies: Add in cauliflower or whatever other veggies you have on hand to turn it from a side into a whole meal!
Serving Suggestions
Broccoli Rice Casserole is great as an entrée for vegetarians, but if you are a meat-eater, it goes perfectly with any kind of protein! It’s a perfect complement to roasted chicken, pork chops, or even a beef roast!
Add a crunchy, cold salad, some dinner rolls with butter!
Cheesy Dishes You’ll Love
- Broccoli Cheese Soup – ready in 20 mins!
- Cheesy Broccoli Cauliflower Casserole – made without condensed soup
- Cheese Grits – deliciously creamy side dish!
- Broccoli Cheese Casserole with Ham – quick & easy cheese sauce!
- Homemade Mac and Cheese Casserole – rich, creamy casserole
Equipment
Ingredients
- 6 cups broccoli florets cut into bite sized pieces
- 2 cups cooked white rice
For the Sauce
- 1 small onion diced
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- ¾ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 2 cups milk
- ½ teaspoon dry mustard powder
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon salt more to taste
- 3 tablespoons cream cheese
- 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese divided
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Bring a large pot of water to a boil.
- In a medium saucepan, cook onion and butter on medium-low heat until softened and translucent. Stir in flour, garlic powder, and pepper, and cook for 2 minutes more.
- Gradually pour in milk while whisking. Continue whisking over medium heat until thick and bubbly.
- Remove the sauce from the heat and add dry mustard, paprika, cream cheese, and 1 ½ cups of cheddar cheese. Stir until melted. Taste, and season the sauce with additional salt and pepper if needed.
- Place broccoli in boiling water for 1-2 minutes, until bright green, but still crisp. Drain well.
- Stir together cooked rice, broccoli, and cheese sauce. Place in a greased 2-quart casserole dish. Top with the remaining cheese and bake for 35 minutes. or until cheese is bubbly and lightly browned.
Video
Notes
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.
Course Side Dish
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I absolutely LOVE this recipe! Have made it a handful of times and there are never any leftovers. Great accompaniment to fish and meat dishes but I’m vegetarian so I just have it as is. My number one comfort food!!
I’m so glad you loved it Allie!
So, I can’t see where you say to put the broccoli in raw or cooked. I’m assuming raw, guess I’ll try it. Usually the broccoli is cooked a little.
I apologize for the confusion, part of the recipe wasn’t displaying properly. I’ve updated and it should be ok now!
Any recommendation if you don’t have cream cheese?
I have only made this as written so I can’t say for sure.
Thank you for the share of Chicken rice casserole. It has been ages since I made one.
I like the idea of the onion soup mix… This will be supper tonight ( with just a little southern addition. I’ll add little cajun spice to it. ) Thanks, again.. brought back memories of the days when I had two small kids and a very limited budget…. those were the days.
That is awesome! Enjoy!
Can I make this the day ahead and bake it when ready the next day? If so is the baking time different?
You can absolutely make this ahead of time Mary! The cooking time will be the same, but make sure to set your casserole dish out earlier if it is glass to avoid shattering in the oven!
2 cups rice measured when uncooked or cooked?
The rice is measured after cooking.
I don’t have mustard powder, what other spice would be yummy?
You could add a pinch of cayenne pepper or even a little dash of dijon mustard.
Sounds good…and, for a change, no pre-packaged/canned items! Also, for those who are gluten intolerant, you can use corn starch instead. 1 1/2 T. in place of the flour. Thanks for a complete, from scratch recipe!
This was delicious! I added rotisserie chicken & doubled the recipe!! It’s a keeper!
Awesome! We’re happy to hear that you loved it so much!
Trying this tonight. Seeing how my picky eaters, including my husband, will like it.
It’s definitely delicious !!
Woohoo! Happy to hear it!
These casserole dishes looks extremely awesome!! I really like broccoli and macaroni casseroles!!! These are very simple to make and to prepare for a family!
Made this for holiday dinner. It was amazing!
I’m so glad you loved it!
can this recipe be made in a crockpot instead of a casserole? I would love to do as a crockpot meal but don’t know if anything would have to be changed??
I haven’t tried this recipe in a slow cooker. Please let us know how it works out for you if you try it!
Will try. Looks good
Love your recipes. Plz keep posting. Thank you.
Thank you Denise.
How many does this feed?
This recipe serves 8 as a side dish.
We are making it now, can’t wait to try it! All your recipes are about to be made in my house THANKS
Wow, looks DELICIOUS! I will be trying this (doubled) for Thanksgiving.
Thank you Malea. :) Happy Thanksgiving!
I tried this this recipe yesterday for my family and they LOVED it!! It was really comfort food at its best….thank you so much.
I’m so glad your family loved this recipe!