Cheesy Broccoli Casserole

Metal spoon scooping broccoli casserole from a white casserole dish.

Cheesy broccoli casserole is made with tender cooked broccoli and homemade cheese sauce, topped with a buttery garlic panko crust. An easy holiday side dish to make from scratch!

Prep Time 15

Cook Time 20

Servings servings

Author Heather

Ingredients

24 ounces broccoli florets about 2 large heads of broccoli
¼ cup unsalted butter
¼ cup all purpose flour
3 cups whole milk
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon pepper
½ teaspoon paprika
½ teaspoon garlic powder
8 ounces sharp cheddar cheese shredded

Panko Topping

1 cup panko bread crumbs
3 tablespoons unsalted butter melted
¼ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon garlic powder

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350℉. Grease a 9x13 casserole dish and set aside.
Bring a pot of water to a boil. Add broccoli florets and boil for about 3 minutes, or until broccoli is tender crisp and bright green (if using frozen, thawed broccoli, cook for one minute less - frozen broccoli is already partially cooked). When pierced with a fork, broccoli should still have a bit of resistance. Drain and set aside to cool.
In a saucepan over medium heat, melt butter. Add flour and whisk to combine, creating a paste. Cook for one minute.
Add milk, salt, pepper, paprika, and garlic powder, whisking to combine. Cook for 3-4 minutes, whisking frequently, or until mixture thickens slightly. Remove from heat.
Add shredded cheese and stir until melted.
Add your cooled, par-cooked broccoli (make sure it's no longer wet) and stir until evenly coated. Pour into prepared casserole dish and spread into an even layer.
In a small bowl, add panko bread crumbs, melted butter, salt, and garlic powder. Toss until evenly incorporated. Sprinkle over casserole in an even layer.
Bake casserole, uncovered, for about 18-20 minutes, or until hot and bubbly in the center. Optionally, turn on the broiler for 2 minutes to brown the top (watch carefully, crust will brown quickly).
Remove from oven and allow to stand for 5 minutes before serving.

Video

Notes

To use frozen broccoli in a microwaveable steam bag: Follow the cooking directions listed on the bag, but for half the amount of time listed. Use your discretion based on the type/brand/size of broccoli you have on hand. You're looking for partially cooked broccoli that's still crisp, not completely cooked through.
Topping: Panko topping can be substituted with crushed butter crackers.
Storage: Leftovers will keep for 3-4 days in the refrigerator. Dairy based sauces do not freeze and thaw well, so I do not recommend freezing this recipe.

Nutrition