Cheesy Broccoli Rice Casserole

broccoli rice casserole in a 9x9 blue baking dish.

No ratings yet

Cheesy Broccoli Rice Casserole

This cheesy broccoli rice casserole is made from simple, wholesome ingredients, no cream of mushroom soup needed. Completely made from scratch and makes the perfect holiday side dish!

Prep Time10

Cook Time50

Total Time1

Course: holiday recipes, Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Servings:

Author: Julie Maestre

Ingredients

For The Rice

2 cups Jasmine rice
3 cups water or chicken stock
½ tablespoon olive oil
1 teaspoon salt

For The Casserole

1 head Broccoli
1 12 ounce can evaporated milk
2 cups heavy cream
3 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 small onion finely diced
2 garlic cloves finely minced
¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes optional
4 cups cheddar cheese freshly grated
½ cup mozzarella cheese
salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

Add the water, olive oil, and salt to a saucepan and let it come to a boil. Once it comes to a boil, stir in the rice, cover, reduce the heat to medium low and cook until the rice is fully cooked through.Then Allow the rice to cool for at least 20 minutes.
Cook the broccoli in boiling water for 3 minutes, then drain it and chop it into bite sized pieces.
Add about a tablespoon of olive oil to a skillet with high sides and add in the onions and cook for 2-3 minutes. Once the onions are softened, stir in the garlic and red pepper flakes. Cook for about 10 seconds.
Stir in the butter and once it melts completely, whisk in the flour. Cook it for 2-3 minutes while stirring frequently.
Slowly pour in the evaporated milk while whisking, then add the heavy cream. Cook the sauce for 15–20 minutes, or until thickened, stirring frequently to prevent burning or sticking.
Once the sauce is nicely thickened, turn off the heat and add 2 cups of cheddar cheese. Stir it well and then season with salt and pepper.
In a large bowl, combine the cooked rice, broccoli, and sauce, mixing until well incorporated. Transfer the mixture to a greased 9×9 baking dish, smooth the top, and sprinkle with the remaining cheese. Cover and bake at 350°F for 20 minutes.
Once the 20 minutes are up, uncover and bake for 3-5 minutes and broil until the top is golden brown.
Serve warm and enjoy!

Notes

Make sure to cook the broccoli otherwise it will be tough!
I highly recommend adding mozzarella cheese if you want a nice cheese pull.
Be sure to stir the sauce frequently to prevent it from burning or sticking to the pan.
After mixing the rice, broccoli, and sauce, check for seasoning and add salt and pepper if needed.

Nutrition