Get my Cookbooks! Cheesy Baked Broccoli
Oven baked broccoli in a creamy garlic Parmesan sauce. This make-ahead casserole recipe is a perfect side dish idea for family dinners and holidays!
This is a perfect side dish to serve alongside Paula Deen’s Corn Casserole recipe.
Cheesy Baked Broccoli Ingredients
- Fresh Broccoli- You can sub frozen
Garlic Parmesan Sauce
- Butter– Consider unsalted
- Garlic
- Flour
- Milk– Any kind will work
- Half and Half
- Parmesan Cheese– Purchase a block and grate into a powder at home
- Romano Cheese– same as above ☝️
Topping
- Butter
- Ritz Crackers
How Long to Bake Broccoli
Steamed broccoli takes 30 minutes to bake at 350°. The same applies to frozen broccoli that has been thawed and patted dry.
Raw broccoli takes about 45 minutes to bake at 350°
Using Frozen Broccoli
16 oz. frozen broccoli florets may also be used. Thaw it first and pat it dry. No need to steam it.
Turn this Baked Broccoli into a Meal!
Check out my Broccoli Cheddar Chicken and Rice Casserole, it’s a whole meal in a single casserole! It’s a great make-ahead meal and your whole family will love it!
Love casseroles? Check out my favorite casserole recipes!
Make-Ahead Method
You can assemble this in a baking dish (minus the cracker topping), and wait on baking for up to 2 days.
Let it sit out for 30 minutes prior to baking.
Storage
- Refrigerator: Store leftovers in an airtight container. It’s best if used within 3 days.
- Freezer: Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge prior to reheating if possible.
Try These Next
-
- Tuna Noodle Casserole
-
- Broccoli Pasta
-
- Smothered Chicken
-
- Baked Tacos
-
- Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta
-
- Crock Pot Roast with Gravy
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Cheesy Baked Broccoli
Ingredients
- 4 cups fresh broccoli florets
Garlic Parmesan Sauce
- 2 Tablespoons butter
- 2 cloves garlic
- 2 Tablespoons flour
- ¾ cup milk
- 1 cup half and half
- ½ cup Parmesan cheese, freshly grated
- ½ cup Romano cheese, freshly grated
Topping
- 2 Tablespoons butter, unsalted
- 8 Ritz crackers, crushed
Instructions
- Steam the broccoli for 4-5 minutes and set aside.
Prepare the Sauce
- Finely grate the Parmesan and Romano cheeses and set aside.
- Melt the butter in a small saucepan over medium heat.
- Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute.
- Whisk in the flour until well-combined.
- Slowly stir in the milk and half and half.
- Increase to medium-high heat, whisking as you do so.
- Once it begins to lightly bubble, decrease heat to low.
- Slowly sprinkle in the Parmesan and Romano cheese, whisking constantly.
- Remove from heat. The sauce will continue to thicken upon standing.
Prepare the Broccoli Bake
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Add the steamed broccoli and warm Parmesan sauce in a large bowl. Use a silicone spatula to gently stir until well-combined.
- Add to a lightly greased 1.5 quart baking dish.
- Cover and bake for 20 minutes.
- Combine melted butter and crushed Ritz crackers.
- Add to casserole dish and bake uncovered for 10 minutes, until the cracker topping turns a golden brown.
- Let it sit 5 minutes prior to serving.
Notes
If you prefer not to steam the broccoli first, you can bake the casserole for 40-45 minutes prior to adding the topping.
Using Frozen Broccoli
16 oz. frozen broccoli florets may also be used. Thaw it first and pat it dry. No need to steam it.
Make-Ahead Method
You can assemble this in a baking dish (minus the cracker topping), and wait on baking for up to 2 days. Let it sit out for 30 minutes prior to baking.
Haven’t made this yet but I’m sure it’s as spot on as all your recipes are! Wondering if this could be done in a crockpot?
Thanks!!!!!
Hi Kim! I haven’t tested out a crock pot method yet, when it comes to dairy I try to be a little bit careful to ensure it doesn’t curdle in the crock pot.
I have not made this yet but it sounds delicious I know I will like it and I’m sure I will take it to a Thanksgiving family dinner also thank you for the recipe!
Great! I hope you love it Sheri!!
Can I use a casserole dish instead of a roasting pan?
Hi Patrick! A casserole dish will work fine! Mine was 1.5 quarts so if you have a smaller casserole dish, that will work but a larger one should be fine too. There isn’t actually a reference to a roasting pan and I wouldn’t recommend using that for this as the walls wouldn’t be high enough.
I’ve made this several times and every time I make it it gets devoured in the first couple of minutes. I’ve made it as a meal before but this time I’m going to make it for a Thanksgiving side dish. I’m going to follow the instructions on making it ahead!
I might be making this one for Thanksgiving too!😀 Thanks so much for the review!
Now I know how to make everyone fall in love with broccoli! And how to make them ask for supplements :))) It is so simple and delicious that it is impossible to stop eating. Now I will also cook this dish often, because it is also healthy! Thank you for such an idea. 50 minutes and minimum efforts, and the perfect side dish is ready to be eaten.