If we haven't said it yet, we love casseroles! They take minutes to prepare and create little to no mess as it's cooked and served in the same dish.

Most often casseroles are made with protein like beef, chicken, or fish, but I promise you, veggie casseroles are just as good. Especially if it's a broccoli and cheese casserole. Your family will be licking their fingers after this one! (P.S. It goes well with roasted ham and potatoes.)

Follow these easy instructions and you will learn how to make broccoli cheese casserole in your cast iron casserole dish in no time at all!

Broccoli Casserole: A Cheesy Wonder for the Whole Family

Rated 5 stars by 11 users

• Share on Twitter
• Share on Facebook
• Share on Pinterest

Servings

8

Prep Time

15 minutes

Cook Time

60 minutes

Ingredients

• 1 can of cream mushroom soup
• 1 cup mayonnaise
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1/4 of chopped onions
• 10 ounces of frozen chopped broccoli (or 2 fresh broccoli heads)
• 8 ounces of shredded cheddar
• A pinch of salt and pepper
• A pinch of paprika

Directions

1. Prepare the broccoli. If you are using frozen broccoli, it's better to thaw it in the fridge overnight. Alternatively, you can throw broccoli into a bowl with water and leave it for an hour to thaw. If you use frozen broccoli, your cheesy casserole might turn out a bit too watery and might burn way too easily. Alternatively, if you are using fresh broccoli, boil it first. Fresh broccoli takes longer to cook, boiling it beforehand simply speeds up the process. Break broccoli heads into small florets and put them in boiling water for 6-8min. You can also steam them instead of boiling if you prefer. 6-8min will be sufficient.
2. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Take a casserole dish, butter it or spray it lightly with oil.
3. Take a large mixing bowl. Pour in the mushroom soup, add egg, mayo and onions. Then whisk everything together.
4. Add broccoli into the mixture. Use a spatula to mix it all.
5. Add cheese, and mix everything.
6. Take the casserole dish, pour in the mixture and smooth the top. Sprinkle with some salt, pepper and paprika. If you want your cheesy broccoli to have more texture, you could also sprinkle some breadcrumbs and sunflower seeds.
7. Cook it for approx. 45min.
8. Congrats! You've just made broccoli and cheese casserole. Go on and enjoy it!

Can I freeze broccoli casserole leftovers?

Absolutely. Broccoli out of all vegetables loves to be frozen. Well, it doesn't mind it as it doesn't get too mushy when thawed, though it all depends on how you prepare it. 

To freeze a broccoli bake, first, wait until it cools completely. Freezing warm casserole will make it watery and mushy. Once it's cold, simply freeze it in your casserole dish. It's best to have a dish that is both freezer-proof and oven-proof. Alternatively, you can transfer your broccoli casserole into portion size containers, however, as it will have mushroom and soup sauce it may not turn out to be as presentable as the "original" casserole. 

Now the secret is to wrap the dish very well. Cover it with plastic wrap and then a layer of foil. For extra protection, add into a freezer bag (not necessary, but advisable). Then put it in a freezer. 

When you want to enjoy your cheesy broccoli again, leave it in the fridge overnight to thaw and bake it the next day. This will prevent the meal from burning as this way it will heat more evenly.