Broccoli Cheese Rice Casserole is a creamy, cheesy, flavour-filled side dish perfect for holidays or whatever weeknight dinner. This green rice casserole is filled with rice, broccoli, and cheese, and H2O chestnuts add together that extra compaction. Cheesy broccoli and rice casserole is 1 of my favorite recipes to serve on Thanksgiving because it’second then slowly, together with you tin arrive ahead of time too!
What’second in Broccoli Rice Cheese Casserole?
Casseroles of all kinds are my favorite, together with this cheesy broccoli in addition to rice casserole is at the superlative of the list. It’second a total crowd-pleaser, it’sec cheesy, rice-y, too broccoli-y…what’s not to dearest?
- Frozen Broccoli: No involve to thaw; simply make according to the instructions on the bundle, too it’second make to use! You tin as well steam fresh broccoli if y'all prefer. You’ll ask virtually 4 cups.
- Minute Rice: Another time-saving element! Of form, yous tin ready more or less white rice from raw if y'all prefer, only I beloved this slowly method!
- Water Chestnuts: Add a delightful crunch to this casserole.
- Cream of Mushroom Soup: Adds a rich as well as creamy texture and an umami season.
- Milk: Adds wet together with creaminess.
- Velveeta: Creates a smoothen, velvety texture and infuses this casserole with so much cheesy season.
- Cheddar Cheese: Enhances the overall cheesy season of the casserole.
Pro Tip: Try cream of chicken or cream of celery soup for a slightly different flavour!
Variations on Green Rice Casserole
There are tons of ways to alter upward this cheesy casserole to adjust your tastes. For a total meal, endeavor adding just about cooked diced chicken, ham, tuna, or crumbled bacon. You could as well add together more veggies, like roasted mushrooms or steamed cauliflower.
For a spicy casserole, try adding about diced jalapeños, carmine pepper flakes, or a dash of hot sauce. And for a scrap of compaction, meridian amongst crushed Ritz crackers or Panko breadcrumbs mixed amongst melted butter.
You tin can use either! It’second of import to blanch the broccoli earlier adding it to the casserole, though, then that it doesn’t stop upward undercooked.
Frozen broccoli tin be steamed or boiled. Just make sure to follow the directions carefully in addition to take aid non to overcook it!
Yes! That’second why we’re using minute rice to relieve on prep time.
Make sure non to overcook the casserole, in addition to don’t cover it alongside foil spell it bakes!
If your casserole is soupy, it is probable that the broccoli every bit not drained well enough. You may desire to gently squash the broccoli inwards a towel to remove excess moisture.
You certain tin can! It will keep good for up to 3 months.
I personally prefer to freeze this casserole uncooked, then bake it directly from frozen the 24-hour interval of for about an 60 minutes. However, you lot tin as well freeze it fully cooked too just defrost before reheating.
How to Store together with Reheat
Store leftover broccoli cheese rice casserole tightly covered amongst foil inward the refrigerator for upwardly to 5 days. Reheat in a 350°F oven for twenty-25 minutes or inward the microwave inward 30-minute increments until warmed through.
How to Freeze
Freeze this green rice casserole baked or unbaked tightly wrapped inwards 2 layers of plastic roll together with ane layer of aluminum foil for upwardly to 3 months. Bake directly from frozen (take the plastic wind start!) for nigh i hr or permit the fully cooked casserole thaw overnight in the refrigerator earlier reheating.
Serving Suggestions
I particularly dearest this warm cheesy broccoli too rice casserole on Thanksgiving because it complements all the other foods so perfectly. Mashed potatoes, turkey, creamed corn, fresh dinner rolls… Yum!
It’s besides dandy alongside a regular weeknight meal, similar oven baked fried chicken, baked Caesar chicken, beef tenderloin, Salisbury steak, or smoked pork chops.
Recipe
Broccoli Cheese Rice Casserole Recipe (Green Rice Casserole)
Ingredients
- 12.half dozen ounces frozen broccoli (i handbag/well-nigh four cups)
- one½ cups minute rice
- 8 ounces water chestnuts (ane tin)
- 10.v ounces cream of mushroom soup store-bought or homemade (one tin can)
- 10.v ounces milk (function the soup tin can to measure)
- ¾ pound Velveeta (well-nigh three inches)
- 1 cup freshly shredded cheddar cheese
Recommended Equipment
Instructions
- Cook the broccoli according to the directions on the bag together with drain.12.half-dozen ounces frozen broccoli
- Cook the rice inward one loving cup of H2O (follow instructions on the parcel).1½ cups infinitesimal rice
- Add all ingredients together (except shredded cheese), add to a 9×thirteen-inch casserole dish, and mix well. Sprinkle with shredded cheese.eight ounces water chestnuts, x.v ounces cream of mushroom soup, ten.5 ounces milk, ¾ pound Velveeta, 1 cup freshly shredded cheddar cheese
- Bake at 350 degrees for 30-45 minutes, or until hot too bubbly.
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made!
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Becky’s tips
- This can live made ahead of time too baked when ready. It as well freezes well!
Storage: Store broccoli cheese rice casserole tightly covered with aluminum foil inward the refrigerator for upward to 5 days or in the freezer for up to three months.
Nutrition Information
More Broccoli Casserole Recipes We Love
- Slow Cooker Velveeta Broccoli Rice Casserole
- Broccoli Rice Casserole
- Broccoli Cheese Casserole
- Chicken Broccoli Cheese Rice Casserole