Easy Broccoli Casserole is a fresh take on a beloved side dish! Made with fresh broccoli, cheese, and toasted breadcrumbs, it’s a healthy way to enjoy a casserole.
Side dishes are always a favorite at any meal! Air Fryer Baked Potatoes, Honey Glazed Carrots, or Skillet Green Beans, are classic side dishes perfect for any meal.
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5-Star Reader Comment
My new favorite Broccoli Recipe!
William
I love a good casserole. The thing is, I want to taste what’s in the casserole, and I don’t want the ingredients covered up with sauce (you know what I mean) and an overabundance of cheese. My Easy Broccoli Casserole is exactly that. It’s light, loaded with fresh broccoli, and packed with fresh flavor.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Just 7 Ingredients: Each one is perfectly selected to provide maximum flavor and texture all in one easy dish.
- Light and Flavorful Sauce: Made with sour cream, the sauce is creamy but still light enough to let the filling shine through! There’s no cream of mushroom soup or mayo here!
- Bake It or Freeze It: This casserole freezes incredibly well! You can make it and then freeze it to have it ready to go when a crazy day strikes.
Fresh Broccoli Casserole Ingredients
- Fresh broccoli florets and shredded cheddar cheese are the stars of this dish. I like using sharp cheddar cheese for the most cheese flavor.
- Sour cream, butter, kosher salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and red pepper flakes create a decadent sauce that lightly coats the broccoli.
- Bread crumbs and Panko breadcrumbs add the much-needed crunch to this hearty bake.
Recipe Variations
- Use Greek Yogurt: To make this a bit healthier, swap half of the sour cream for Greek yogurt.
- Add Bacon or Ham: For some added protein, bacon bits or cubed ham can be mixed in.
- Try Crushed Crackers: If you don’t have bread crumbs, swap them with buttery crackers, Ritz cracker crumbs, or cheese crackers for extra cheesy flavor.
Step By Step Instructions
- Mix the Fillings: In a large bowl, combine the cheese, sour cream, and seasoning with the broccoli. Place everything in a prepared baking dish.
- Make the Topping: Next, toss the breadcrumbs and Panko together. This will give the casserole great crunch and texture.
- Bake: Dot the top with butter and bake. Once the casserole is golden brown and bubbly, remove it from the oven and let it cool for 10 minutes before serving.
Do You Cook The Broccoli Before Adding It To The Casserole?
Yes, you do. You can either blanch the broccoli in boiling water and then shock it to stop the cooking process or steam it in the microwave. Just make sure not to overcook it, then drain well.
Frequently Asked Questions
You can prep this casserole ahead of time. Make according to the directions up to the point of adding the topping. Cover the casserole and place it in the refrigerator. Before baking, add the topping and butter and bake until done.
No, frozen broccoli has too much liquid as it thaws, so it can make the casserole soggy. I’d stick to fresh broccoli.
Once baked and cooled, you can freeze it for up to 3 months, wrapped in foil and plastic wrap or an airtight container. Let it thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating in the oven.
Serving Suggestions
This broccoli cheese casserole makes the perfect side dish paired with Crock Pot Chicken Thighs, Easy Marinated London Broil Recipe, and this Busy Day Slow Cooker Pot Roast. For another side dish, I like to add some Crispy Smashed Potatoes or Air Fryer Baby Potatoes to the table.
More Easy Casseroles You’ll Love
If you tried this Broccoli Casserole Recipe or any other recipe, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the comments below. Thanks!
Ingredients
- 6 – 7 cups chopped broccoli
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1 ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- ¼ teaspoon garlic salt
- dash red pepper flakes
- 1 cup bread crumbs
- ½ cup panko bread crumbs
- 1 tablespoon butter – cubed
Instructions
- Heat oven to 350 degrees.
- Place broccoli in a microwave safe bowl. Add ¼ cup water, cover bowl and steam broccoli for 30 seconds. Drain.
- In a small bowl, mix sour cream, cheese, salt, pepper, garlic salt and red pepper. Pour mixture over cooled broccoli and mix well.
- Coat baking dish with non stick cooking spray and add broccoli.
- Mix together breadcrumbs with panko breadcrumbs. Sprinkle over casserole. Dot with cubes of butter.
- Bake for 25 – 30 minutes or until golden brown and bubbling. Let cool for 10 minutes and serve.
Notes
-
- Use Greek Yogurt: To make this a bit healthier, swap half of the sour cream for Greek yogurt.
-
- Add Bacon or Ham: For some added protein, bacon bits or cubed ham can be mixed in.
-
- Try Crushed Crackers: If you don’t have bread crumbs, swap them with buttery crackers, Ritz cracker crumbs, or cheese crackers for extra cheesy flavor.
- Prep this casserole ahead of time. Make according to the directions up to the point of adding the topping. Cover the casserole and place it in the refrigerator. Before baking, add the topping and butter and bake until done.
- Once baked and cooled, you can freeze it for up to 3 months, wrapped in foil and plastic wrap or an airtight container. Let it thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating in the oven.
Nutrition
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My go-to air fryer recipes....you have to try these!
William
My new favorite Broccoli Recipe!
Donya
Hey there William!
Thank you so much for your kind words of support and your fantastic rating, I am so happy to hear that you enjoyed this recipe!
~Donya
Alice
Is there a substitute for sour cream. I am allergic to sour cream.
Donya
Hey there Alice!
That’s a great question! Instead of using Sour Cream in this recipe, you can substitute full fat Greek yogurt, but make sure it’s full fat so that the consistency is similar to sour cream. If you’re lactose intolerant, you can usually find lactose free Greek yogurt in most grocery stores, if you’re not lactose intolerant you can also use ricotta instead of sour cream. Both of these substitutes will obviously change the intended flavor of the dish, but it will still taste delicious and the texture will be the same. I hope this helps, if you end up trying this recipe let me know what you think! Thank you for your interest!
~Donya