The Best Broccoli Casserole
To me, some meals can instantly transform your surroundings — whether it’s fun appetizers to get you in the mood to socialize or a childhood favorite that instantly gives you the feeling of being in your cozy childhood home. This recipe is the latter for me, one that my family has been making for decades since my mom discovered it in an old church cookbook. And truly I haven’t been able to find a casserole recipe that beats its flavor, texture, and perfect cheesiness. Broccoli casserole is a staple in our house for all holidays and we often fight about who gets to make it.
You start with the classic casserole base: cream of mushroom soup. I’ve tried this with alternative brands, and truly nothing competes with the classic Campbell’s version. While many other ingredients are substitutable, I highly recommend grabbing this OG cream of mushroom soup.
Can you use fresh broccoli in a casserole? Me, being health conscious and enjoying the crunch of fresh vegetables, thought it’d be a great idea to substitute frozen broccoli for fresh. But I have to admit, there’s nothing like the cohesion and texture that the frozen broccoli provides to this recipe.
What cheese should you use for broccoli casserole? AND the moment you’ve all been waiting for, the cheese. I’ve tried this with quite a few varieties all with great results: mild cheddar, sharp cheddar, Monterey Jack. I’d recommend first assessing what you have in the fridge that’s available, but also tailoring this to your preferences. Do you want a sharper bite from a rich cheese like sharp cheddar? Or something more mild and melty such as a Monterey Jack. Regardless of your choice, I promise the recipe will turn out as expected. The original recipe recommends adding the cheese in chunks, but between you and me, it melts better in shreds and that is my recommended preparation.
What to serve with broccoli casserole? Since broccoli casserole has such a distinct flavor, I recommend sticking to more neutral proteins or sides to let the casserole shine. You can’t go wrong with a roasted chicken, it’s the perfect protein to compliment the main event — the casserole itself. With that being said, this dish is versatile and can hold its own if you choose to have it on your busy thanksgiving table, where it’s present every year at my family’s gathering. Long story short — you can’t go wrong, but when in doubt pick a protein that’s going to let the casserole shine.
Can you add chicken to this casserole? Absolutely! This is a great technique to turn this broccoli casserole into a full meal. I’d recommend utilizing something shredded and tender such as a deconstructed rotisserie chicken.
Can you freeze broccoli casserole? Yes, this is a great dish to make ahead. My recommendation would be to assemble the casserole all the way until you’re to the step in the recipe where you’re putting it in the oven, tightly wrap it in plastic wrap, and freeze. When you’re ready to cook the casserole, remove it from the freezer allowing it to thaw and then proceed with the rest of the recipe.
What temperature to cook broccoli casserole? I recommend cooking this dish in a 375 degree oven — overall I find this temperature is a nice baseline to utilize for most recipes where you’re not sure.
From my family to yours, here’s the best broccoli casserole recipe.
The Best Broccoli Casserole
Ingredients
- 16oz bag of frozen broccoli
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- 1 cup of cheddar cheese, shredded
- 1 egg
- 10.5 oz can of Campbell’s cream of mushroom soup
- 2.8 oz package of fried onions
- ¼ stick of butter, cut into small cubes
Instructions
- Start by cooking the frozen broccoli according to package instructions and preheating your oven to 375 degrees. While the broccoli is cooking, combine mayonnaise, cheddar cheese, egg, and cream of mushroom soup into a large bowl. Add salt and pepper to taste, being mindful that the cream of mushroom soup is salty — I recommend about half of a teaspoon. Once the broccoli is cooked, add it to the large bowl with the mixed casserole ingredients, combining it gently.
- Spray your 9x9 casserole dish with a non-stick cooking spray to ensure the casserole is easily scoop-able when done. Add the broccoli mixture to the dish, spread the butter cubes evenly throughout the top, and bake for about 30 minutes. After this, when the casserole is bubbling, add the package of fried onions to the top and return it to the oven. Watch the casserole carefully during this step as you don’t want the onions to burn. Once the onions have browned nicely, remove it from the oven. Let it rest for about 5 minutes before serving.
The original recipe, discovered by my mother in an old church cookbook.
