Most people love casseroles because they are simple and they usually involve fewer dishes which means less cleanup. What’s better than combining a few of your favorite ingredients into a single dish where the flavors get to spend lots of time mingling and getting acquainted? Combining a few of your favorite ingredients to make a casserole that is 100% made from scratch! Making that canned condensed soup…you know the seasoned gloop that is wildly convenient but still a little suspect, is a breeze. It only adds about 15 minutes of cooking time and makes the finished casserole 10x better. You can even make it days in advance and store it until it’s time to make this broccoli cheese & rice casserole recipe.
Ingredients you’ll need
Produce
- Yellow onion
- Garlic
- Broccoli crowns
Baking & Pantry Items
- Low-sodium chicken broth (optional, but recommended)
- Kosher salt
- Fresh ground black pepper
- Paprika
- Your favorite seasoned salt (I used Creole seasoning)
- Ground mustard (optional)
- Ground nutmeg (optional)
- Rice
Dairy
- Unsalted butter
- Cream cheese
- Sharp cheddar cheese
- Mozzarella cheese
Other
- Our Homemade Cream of Chicken Soup (or a can of condensed cream of chicken soup)
Equipment you’ll need
- Rice cooker (not necessary, but rice does need to be cooked before being used in this recipe)
- Medium-sized pot
- Wooden spoon or rubber spatula
- 9×9″ casserole dish
How to make cream of chicken soup
Cream of chicken is made by first sauteing aromatics and making a roux (butter and flour) then adding broth and milk to make a thick sauce. Chicken broth gives cream of chicken soup its flavor, but variations like cream of mushroom soup are made by sauteing mushrooms with the aromatics. Click here for more about How to Make Cream of (Whatever) Soup.
Can I use frozen broccoli?
You sure can! Using fresh broccoli ensures that the final product won’t be mushy, but frozen is the next best thing. It is incredibly convenient as well since it’s often already broken down into perfect-sized florets.
What kinds of cheeses to use
Sharp cheddar is a must. Whether it’s regular sharp cheddar, extra sharp cheddar, or white cheddar, is up to you. For the other more melty cheese, mozzarella is perfect. The flavor develops after a little broiling is unmatched. For a bit of spice and flare, pepper jack cheese.
Ways to add some flare to your broccoli cheese & rice casserole
- Season and/or garnish with red pepper flakes to add some spice
- Add spinach or artichoke hearts to the mix
- Use homemade cream of mushroom soup instead of cream of chicken
- Experiment with the cheeses – try gruyere, white cheddar cheese, or gouda
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