This cheesy broccoli casserole, full of Italian spices, cheese, and garlic, will be a dinner winner any night of the week - even your picky little eaters will be asking for seconds.
Servings : 6servings
Prep Time 10 minutesmins
Cook Time 20 minutesmins
Resting Time 5 minutesmins
Total Time 35 minutesmins
Ingredients
1½poundsbroccoli florets
8ouncescream cheese, room temperature, cut in cubes
¼cupsour cream
1cupshredded cheddar cheese
¼cupgrated parmesan cheese
2clovesgarlic,minced
1teaspoonItalian Seasoning
salt,to taste
¼teaspoonfresh ground black pepper,or to taste
crushed red pepper flakesfor garnish, optional
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350˚F.
Grease a 2.5 quart to 3 quart baking dish with butter and set aside.
In a large skillet, bring 1/2 inch of salted water to a boil.
Add the broccoli; cover and cook over high heat until crisp-tender, about 3 to 4 minutes.
Drain and transfer broccoli to prepared baking dish; set aside.
In a mixing bowl combine cream cheese, sour cream, cheddar cheese, parmesan cheese, garlic, Italian Seasoning, salt, and pepper; mix until incorporated.
Add cream cheese mixture to the broccoli and stir until thoroughly combined.
Bake in the oven for 17 to 20 minutes, or until bubbly and lightly browned on top.
Remove from oven and let stand 5 minutes before serving.
Optionally, garnish with crushed red pepper flakes and serve.
Notes
Tips & Variations
Prep Your Broccoli: It's important to cook the fresh broccoli before adding it to the casserole to ensure it's adequately softened. You can steam or blanch it in boiling water for a few minutes, as per the instructions in this recipe.
Cheese Choice: Cheddar cheese is a popular choice because of its strong flavor, but feel free to experiment with different types like Gouda, mozzarella, or even a blend of several kinds of cheese.
Add Crunch: For an added texture, sprinkle some bread crumbs or fried onions on top before baking.
Extra Flavor: While Italian seasoning and garlic are a great start, you can also add other flavors like Dijon mustard, smoked paprika, or a splash of hot sauce for some heat.
Add turkey. Shredded cooked turkey is a great way to add protein to the casserole.
Use chicken. Leftover rotisserie chicken blends well with the cheesy casserole.
Add more veggies. Adding your favorite veggies like cauliflower or yellow corn into the mix will add more nutrition, flavor, and texture to the casserole.
How To Make Ahead
Cook broccoli in boiling water for 4 minutes. Transfer the broccoli to a baking dish and add the cheese mixture.
Wait for it to cool down to room temperature, then cover it with foil and set it in the fridge for up to 24 hours.
When ready, remove the cover, stir everything together, and bake until the mixture is hot and bubbly.
Nutritional info is an estimate and provided as courtesy. Values may vary according to the ingredients and tools used. Please use your preferred nutritional calculator for more detailed info.
Course: Dinner, Side Dish
Cuisine: American
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