Broccoli Cheese Casserole

Ingredients & Substitutions

Here I explain the best ingredients for my broccoli casserole recipe, what each one does, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card.

• Broccoli – Kind of a must for a broccoli and cheese casserole, right? I use and recommend fresh broccoli here. Frozen broccoli works, but turns out softer.
• Cheeses – Cream cheese and cheddar (I prefer sharp cheddar cheese, but mild is fine). Both thicken the sauce and make it cheesy. Feel free to swap the cheddar with Monterey Jack, Parmesan, mozzarella, or whatever melty cheese you love.
• Garlic – I highly recommend freshly minced! If you’re in a rush, you can substitute 2 teaspoons of jarred minced garlic, or stir 1/2 teaspoon of garlic powder in with the cream cheese.
• Broth – You can make your own with my easy chicken broth recipe, use your favorite brand, or swap in vegetable broth instead for a vegetarian option. Otherwise, bone broth works great for extra nutrients.
• Unsalted Butter – I use this to sauté the garlic for flavor, but olive oil works as well.
• Sea Salt & Black Pepper

How To Make Broccoli And Cheese Casserole

I have step-by-step photos here to help you visualize the recipe. For full instructions with amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card.

1. Sauté the garlic. Melt the butter in a large pot or Dutch oven, then toss in the garlic and let it cook until it smells amazing.
2. Cook the broccoli. Pour in the chicken broth, add the broccoli, and give it a stir. Let it simmer uncovered, until the broccoli is bright green and tender.

3. Melt the cheeses. Stir in the cream cheese and shredded cheese, until smooth and melty. Adjust salt and pepper to your taste.
4. Pour everything into a baking dish. (The bigger one in this set is the perfect size!) Sprinkle more cheese on top.
5. Bake your broccoli cheese casserole in the oven. It won’t take long, just until the cheese on top is melty!

Recipe Variations

I kept the base of this broccoli cheese casserole easy and simple, but have also changed it up in these ways:

• Add rice – Stir in 4 cups of cooked rice (or cooked cauliflower rice) after melting the cheeses.
• Add other veggies – Sometimes I saute mushrooms, chopped onion, carrots, and/or bell peppers before adding the garlic. You can also replace some of the broccoli with cauliflower, which is similar to my broccoli cauliflower casserole.
• Add protein – Turn this broccoli casserole into a full meal with diced ham, shredded chicken (my favorite addition), ground beef, sausage, or even pulled pork. If using raw meat, cook it first before adding the garlic, or if it’s already cooked, stir it in after melting the cheeses. For a different flavor that still includes broccoli, try my chicken broccoli casserole or chicken bacon ranch casserole.

MAYA’S TIP: Make these adjustments if you have at least 2 cups of extra add-ins:

• Add an extra 1/4 to 1/2 cup of broth, 2-4 ounces of cream cheese, and 1/2 to 1 cup of cheddar. This will ensure you have enough sauce.
• Use a larger casserole dish. I use this larger one when I have significant add-ins to ensure it all fits.

• Toppings – For extra richness, I love a few tablespoons of cooked bacon over this cheesy broccoli casserole. Just crumble on before baking.
• Instant Pot – I actually made this version first (years ago) and now prefer the simpler stovetop + oven method above, but I kept this option here for you. To make it, use the Instant Pot’s Saute mode to saute the garlic in butter. Add broccoli and broth, seal, and pressure cook for 0 minutes (yes, set it to 0!). Once it pressurizes (takes about 5 minutes), do a quick release and melt in the cheeses. Transfer to a casserole dish and bake as usual.

Serving Ideas

There are endless ways to enjoy this broccoli cheese casserole recipe. I usually choose depending on the occasion:

• Weeknight mains – I make crispy baked chicken thighs or chicken leg quarters most often. You can whip up my air fryer shrimp or baked salmon quickly if you’re craving seafood, or skillet pork chops or air fryer steak for more hearty options.
• Dinner for guests – If we have company, I try to make the main dish a little more interesting, but still easy. My garlic butter chicken, Crock Pot pork tenderloin, or Tuscan salmon are great options.
• Date night – For a romantic evening, serve this broccoli casserole with halibut, sirloin steak, lobster tails, garlic butter Instant Pot chicken thighs, or for something more unique, my Chilean sea bass with beurre blanc.
• Holiday centerpieces – This is one of my favorite veggie options for Thanksgiving, and it’s a great recipe for Christmas if you celebrate. For your showstopping main, you can’t go wrong with my roasted turkey (or roasted turkey breast for a smaller crowd), beef tenderloin, or prime rib roast.