Easy Broccoli Cheese Rice Casserole Recipe
Quick and easy broccoli cheese rice casserole is a great recipe. It is a side dish you can put together in no time. This comfort food is perfect for family gatherings. This easy side dish has been a part of my holiday gatherings for as long as I can remember.
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My easy broccoli rice casserole is a perfect dish because even people who do not enjoy vegetables will eat this great casserole. I know the first time you try this, you will want to make it a part of your family dinners.
Whether you use fresh or frozen broccoli, this cheesy broccoli rice casserole will become a family favorite.
Broccoli Cheese Rice Casserole
Quick and Easy Broccoli Rice Casserole is a perfect dish for the holidays or perhaps even a potluck dinner. Making this casserole is one of the best ways to get even the pickiest eaters to try some broccoli.
I’d like to share a little story about this Broccoli Rice Casserole recipe. This is a variation of the recipe that my Grandmother used to make.
This is one of the rice casserole recipes my grandmother would always make. I can’t imagine a holiday without this broccoli-rice casserole. When I start to host my holiday dinners with my family, this broccoli rice casserole recipe is the one I use. Year after year, this dish is one of my favorite Thanksgiving recipes.
She used instant rice (Minute Rice) in her dish, but I prefer regular long-grain rice. I think it has a better texture and reheats better than instant rice. If you wanted to, you could use brown rice.
I made this dish for a potluck when I had very little in the house, and it was a big hit. I know it isn’t the most sophisticated dish, but I know a recipe is a winner when the dish comes back empty.
Ingredients for Broccoli Rice Casserole
Here’s a list of what you need:
- Broccoli florets – Provide essential nutrients, vibrant color, and hearty texture
- White onion – Adds aromatic flavor foundation and subtle sweetness when cooked
- Salted butter – Creates richness and helps cook the onions to perfection
- Velveeta or American cheese – It delivers the creamy, smooth meltability that defines this casserole
- Cream of chicken soup – Contributes savory flavor and creamy texture that binds everything together
- Cooked white rice – Forms the hearty, filling base that absorbs all the delicious flavors
Ingredient Notes
You can use either fresh or frozen broccoli, whichever you prefer. I love to pick up fresh broccoli and make it for dinner, and if there is some leftover, I will use it for this dish.
For this recipe, I like to use the store brand of American cheese. While I do like the Velveeta brand cheese, I often think that store brands can work just as well.
How to Make Broccoli Cheese Rice Casserole
- If you are using fresh broccoli, steam until just done.
- In a medium saucepan, cook the onion in the butter until transparent.
- Add the cheese, soup, broccoli, and rice to the onions and stir through to melt the cheese and warm everything through.
- You can serve this dish now or put it in a baking dish or casserole, cover it, and refrigerate it.
- When you are ready to serve, uncover it and bake at 350 degrees for about 20 minutes or until hot and bubbly.
This dish reheats well. For me, that is important as I do a lot of cooking on the weekends and reheat dishes throughout the week when I have dinner.
Variations on Broccoli Rice Casserole
There are many different ways to switch up this recipe. Turn this into a main dish by adding some leftover cooked chicken. You can also add even more vegetables or switch them completely. You can also swap out the cheese.
You could also top this casserole with some buttered crumbled Ritz crackers, or even some buttered panko crumbs if you want to make this extra fancy! No matter how you make it, you are going to love how this tastes!
Dishes that go well with Broccoli Rice Casserole
Let’s round out a meal with this famous side. Here are some suggestions for what to serve with this famous casserole.
For protein options, I suggest:
- Grilled or baked chicken breasts
- Pork chops
- Grilled fish
Looking for additional side dishes:
Here are 5 ways you can modify this classic rice casserole
- Add cooked chicken – mix in 1 to 2 cups of cooked chicken and turn this into a cheesy chicken broccoli rice casserole
- Add leftover ham – mix in 1 to 1 1/2 cups of cooked ham pieces
- Add a tablespoon of pimiento – this will add a nice savory note to this recipe
- Add cauliflower – swap half of the broccoli with cooked cauliflower
- Switch the cheese to Meximelt cheese – make your broccoli rice casserole with a bit of spice
How to Store Rice and Broccoli Casserole
It’s hard to imagine you will have any left of this casserole but in case you do, let’s cover how you can store this recipe.
- Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Store in the freezer in an airtight container for up to 3 months.
Frequently Asked Questions about Broccoli Rice Cheese Casserole Recipe
Yes, in this recipe the rice must be fully cooked before adding it to the recipe.
The best way to reheat this recipe is to reheat it in the oven at 350 degrees. The best way to reheat this recipe is to reheat it in the oven at 350 degrees. Be sure to cover a baking dish with aluminum foil, and you may even want to add some additional cheese on top.
If you have 4 or more portions heat for about 20 minutes, if you have 2 portions 10 to 15 minutes is all that is needed.
Yes, you can. Simply mix all of the ingredients together. Place into your baking dish, and cover with foil. Cook in a 350-degree oven the day you wish to serve. You will need to add 5 to 7 minutes of cooking time.
Favorite Casserole Recipes
- Baked Spaghetti Casserole
- Instant Potato Casserole
- Hamburger Tater Tot Casserole
- Hamburger Green Bean Casserole
- Hash Brown Casserole Cracker Barrel
- Scallop Casserole
- Leftover Chicken Casserole Recipes
More Rice Side Dishes
- Cajun Rice
- French Onion Rice
- Spanish Rice Casserole
- Chipotle Cilantro Lime Rice
- Easy Rice Pilaf Recipe
- Thai Fried Rice Recipe
Be sure to check many other great rice side dish recipes and easy casserole recipes here on CopyKat.com.
Plus you’ll get great new recipes from us every week!
Broccoli Rice and Cheese Casserole
Ingredients
- 16 ounces chopped broccoli fresh or frozen
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 1/2 cup chopped onion
- 1 cup Velveeta cheese (diced) 4 ounces
- 10.75 ounces cream of chicken soup 1 can
- 2 cups cooked white rice
Instructions
- Place the broccoli into a steamer and steam for 5 to 7 minutes, until it turns bright green.
- In a medium saucepan, melt the butter. Add the chopped onion and sauté until the onion becomes translucent.
- Add the cheese, cream of chicken soup, broccoli, and rice and stir until the cheese is melted and the mixture is heated through.
- You can serve this dish now, or you can put it in an 8-inch square baking pan, cover, and refrigerate. When you are ready to serve, uncover and reheat in a 350°F oven for about 20 minutes, until hot and bubbly.
Perfect side dinner for Christmas dinner
Instead of Velveeta I mix in Mexican cheese or spicy cheddar and for the rice I use cauliflower rice and sometimes top the casserole with crispy fried onions or seasoned croutons for extra crunch and then bake it in the oven for a few minutes. We used to have this for thanksgiving when I was growing up and now I make it more often as a side dish since I love broccoli and it’s so quick and easy to make.
is there a need for salt and pepper? Wanted to ask before I make it!
The cheese and the canned soup are already fairly salty, I would taste before seasoning with additional salt and ground black pepper.
Can I leave out the cream of chicken soup?
You can, you will need to add some extra milk or another liquid to replace the soup.
I add ham cream cheese.
It’s a great meal
Try putting some Cajun boudin in it everyone is always begging me to make it again. Thank you for the wonderfully delicious recipe
Last minute Thanksgiving dish to take to the
in laws! Turned out Great! Thanks for sharing! God Bless u!
This turned out perfectly!! Tastes great! Serving it at my Thanksgiving dinner!
This is alot like my grandmothers green rice recipe. Always a big hit at family gatherings, and potlucks!
thanks for yummy recipe with all my favorite ingredients!
No one makes rice any more. get yourself a rice maker they are heaven. they make the best rice and save you so much time . simply drop your ingredients in the pot and turn it on. after it cooks it will automatically go on warm. what could be better then that!
I use my Instant Pot to make rice now. I finally have rice that turns out not burnt.
Since my mother in law is highly allergic to onions how would this play(cook) out??
Linda … Amen. We used to have good & bad rice cookings. But, we went to a Japanese style rice cooker last Christmas. And, Ho ho ho, Santa was good to us … And, we are never going back to the primitive methods of making rice.
This looks delicious. I just prepared and will put in the oven to get hot and bubbly. Thanks.
Just made this but used cream of mushroom (all I had in my pantry) and 1/2 teaspoon chicken bouillon graduals…. followed instructions on printed recipe… very good!!! This one is a keeper!!
I am so glad you enjoyed this recipe.
Thanks for the recipe! I can’t cook but with this I feel like I can actually cook coz it tastes delicious!
I hope you give this one a try! It really is easy.
Cheddar cheese okay to use?
It won’t melt like American cheese. For this recipe, I wouldn’t suggest using it.
YUM, loving all the cheese on top of this casserole!
Thanks, it is a pretty cheesy casserole.
My son loves broccoli cheddar soup, so he will be thrilled when I make up a batch of this for dinner. Thanks for sharing.
I think this is a great way to sneak in vegetables. I used to have a sister in law that was completely against anything with chlorophyll.
I have been making this for years! Add chicken for a complete meal, buttery round cracker crumbs makes a tasty topping. If you’re out of cream of chicken, you can substitute mayo. Super yummy!
I love the addition of the crackers you are adding. I will try this the next time I make this recipe. Thank you for your suggestion.
Ah broccoli is a personal favorite. It is delicious and highly nutritious and I have been collecting broccoli recipes and experimenting with my own since I started cooking. Your casserole looks sumptuous.
this recipe is great for quick meal. I love it