Broccoli Cheese Bake
Broccoli Cheese Bake, the creamiest and cheesiest Broccoli Side Dish you will ever eat. Everyone will ask for seconds. A dish you will be making over and over.
One good thing about the holidays is I can add all the creamy bake dishes I want and just say “Well it’s the holidays”. So that, my friends, is what I am saying and I am sticking to it.
Before I made the biggest decision of my life, which was to get married and move to Italy, my husband spent some time in Toronto, (actually that is where we met) getting to know my family and friends and of course enjoying my Mom’s cooking.
One of his favourite dishes was this Broccoli Casserole. I was never a big broccoli fan but done this way it is easy to become one. Needless to say this is one of many recipes that I took with me to my new country.
How to make Broccoli Cheese Casserole
- Cook the broccoli florets in boiling water for about 10 minutes, drain well.
- In a medium large pot over low heat melt the butter, then whisk in the flour and salt, combine until smooth.
- Then slowly add the milk and continue to whisk until thickened and starts to boil.
- Remove the pot from the heat.
- Fold in the cheese and broccoli and gently combine, then add the eggs and combine.
- Pour into prepared baking dish and bake for approximately 30 – 45 minutes.
- Remove from oven and let sit 5 minute before serving!
So whenever my husband would bring home a head or two of broccoli that his wonderful mother would gift us with from her garden this of course was one of the first dishes I would make.
Italians like to steam or boil the broccoli first then sauté it with some olive oil, garlic and salt. This is a delicious way also. But nothing beats baked broccoli.
I know how hard it can be sometimes to get your kids to eat vegetables, especially broccoli, but done this way my kids actually love it and look forward to a remake.
More delicious Broccoli Recipes
- Orecchietti Pasta with Broccoli
- Creamy Broccoli Potato Casserole
- Baked Broccoli Tater Tots
- Creamy Broccoli Bacon Penne Casserole
Can Broccoli Cheese Casserole be prepared ahead of time?
The casserole can be prepared the day ahead, just be sure to cover tightly with plastic wrap and place in the fridge. Just remove from the fridge and bake.
How to store Broccoli Casserole?
The Broccoli Cheese Casserole should be stored in an airtight container or tightly wrapped and kept in the refrigerator. Stored properly, the casserole will last for three to five days in the fridge.
How to freeze it
If cooked be sure to freeze it when it is completely cooled and cover very well, wrap in plastic wrap and place in a freezer safe bag or container. You can also freeze it unbaked, again cover tightly, then in a freezer bag, bake it from frozen, although it will need more time to bake.
Is Broccoli good for you?
Broccoli is full of vitamins, minerals, fiber and antioxidants as . Including vitamin C, it is also delicious whether eaten cooked or raw.
You can never go wrong with this delicious creamy baked dish. Tender broccoli in a delicious white sauce mixed with the tanginess of swiss cheese which is then all baked to perfection.
Broccoli cheese bake is also a perfect dish to make for when I have friends or family for dinners, it also makes the perfect side dish for special holidays. I hope you enjoy it! Buon Appetito!
Broccoli Cheese Bake
Ingredients
- 1 pound head of broccoli ** 1/2 kilo
- 3 1/2 tablespoons butter
- 3 tablespoons flour
- 1 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 cups milk 490 grams
- 1 3/4 cup shredded swiss cheese (or cheddar cheese) 200 grams
- 2 eggs beaten
Instructions
- Pre-heat oven to 325° (160° celsius)
- Lightly grease a large baking dish. (at least 10 x 7 inches / 25 x 18 centimeters)
- In boiling water cook broccoli for approximately 5-10 minutes (until al dente) drain well. (gently dry with paper towels to absorb extra moisture).
- In a large pot over low heat melt butter, whisk in flour and salt, continue whisking until smooth. Slowly add the milk and continue whisking constantly until thickened and starts to boil (let slow boil 1-2 minutes). Remove from heat.
- Fold in cheese and broccoli and combine gently until cheese starts to melt slightly, add eggs and continue to stir gently to combine.
- Pour into prepared baking dish and bake for approximately 30-45 minutes. Remove from oven and let sit 5 minutes before serving. Enjoy!
- ** You can use Broccoli, Romanesco or Cauliflower
Notes
Nutrition
Updated from November 27, 2014.
Just the recipe I was looking for. Thank you!
Thanks Cristina, we really enjoy this recipe. Hope you do too.
I’m making this today for thanksgiving I just had a comment about the eggs – won’t it be easier to stir them into the sauce before adding broccoli? Also is this a good dish to make ahead and bake at the last minute?
Hi April, I make it the way my Mom always made it, maybe the sauce would be too hot to add the eggs right away, because you want the cheese to start to melt, but what the heck try it if you want and then let me know. Happy Thanksgiving! Have a great day.
The sauce would be hot so you would probably end up scrambling the eggs if you added them before the broccoli.
Can you use frozen broccoli florets to save time?
Hi Sofia, I don’t see why not, they may already be pre-boiled so check that, if not they may not need 10 minutes of boiling. Hope that helps. Have a great weekend.
I used frozen broccoli and boiled it for 10 minutes. I cut off the stems and also cut the florets smaller. Turned out perfect.
This looks fantastic! Came across this recipe on Pretty Practical Pantry and will be serving this on Thanksgiving if not before.
Hi Margaret, thank you, let me know how you enjoyed it, and Happy Thanksgiving to you.
We love broccoli dishes like this. I love the way you made this. it looks so creamy ,cheesy and good!
I love broccoli and this looks insanely good! I bet my kids would love it too!
Haha! Yes – “the holidays” allow us to get away with so much, don’t they? Love broccoli and cauliflower together and everything’s better with cheese!
Oh hell yes, I would love this… I love things like broccoli and cauliflower baked in a classic cheese sauce, this looks beautiful!
My boyfriend would LOVE this! It looks amazing, and simple to make! 🙂
Growing up I would not touch broccoli unless it was dripping in cheese sauce (usually made from velveeta) – now days I love to roast it and drizzle it with olive oil and parmesan. Your broccoli bake looks like a much better version of how I liked it as a child – looks so good!
Broccoli is my favorite vegetable! And anything covered in a cheese sauce, is true perfection in my book. I can’t wait to give this a try!
Absolutely gorgeous. I’ve printed this recipe for my “to make” list. Yum!
Hi Tina, thanks let me know how you like it.
Might try this on my kids as they refuse to eat vegetables
My kids love this recipe. Hope you enjoy it.
This is such a beautiful cheesy broccoli recipe and I agree . . . this time of year, we can justify the indulgence just a wee bit more! My family in Italy doesn’t prepare broccoli very much and I just can’t figure that out . . . I love it raw, cooked, baked, roasted . . . whatever! Happy American Thanksgiving Rose!
Hi Roz, thanks, I know I love broccoli too. Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving.
Hi Rose i was wondering after you take it out of the oven whats the texture like? Is it suppose to be really runny? solid?
Hi Monica, no it shouldn’t be really runny. If it is it could be because the broccoli wasn’t drained enough or the sauce wasn’t thick enough. Hope that helps.
Oh Rose!! This is so funny. My mamma had never made broccoli cheese bake but somehow she got a hold of the recipe from a friend at work. She made it for EVERY family get together. My kids loved it and my sweet daughter-in-law is crazy about it. Since my mom has passed away I’ve made it once. I’ll have to resurrect her recipe. She put buttered bread crumbs on top which gave it that pleasant crunchy texture. Today is Thanksgiving here and part of the dishes we’re taking to our daughters is Swiss Chard Gratin. very yummy!!. Alla prossima.
Hi Marisa, isnt’t that funny, buttered breadcrumbs on top sound delicious. I love swiss chard. Have a wonderful and Happy Thanksgiving. Auguri!