This Cheesy Broccoli Rice Casserole is the ultimate comfort food! With creamy cheese sauce, tender broccoli, and fluffy rice, it’s an easy, crowd-pleasing side dish perfect for holidays, family dinners, or a quick weeknight meal. Just mix, bake, and enjoy!
When I was living in Albuquerque, we used to go to Cheddars Restaurant. I would always add their cheddar broccoli as a side dish to my Salmon dinner order. Since there’s no chain here in Los Angeles, I decided to create this myself.
One of the best things about this recipe is how easy it is to prepare. It’s just a few pantry staples, minimal prep time, and a simple bake-and-serve method. You’ll have a crowd-pleasing casserole that pairs well with almost any main course.
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WHY YOU’LL LOVE THIS RECIPE
✔ Super Easy to Make – Just mix, bake, and serve! No complicated steps.
✔ Great for Meal Prep – Make it ahead and reheat throughout the week.
✔ Perfect for Holidays – A must-have side dish for Thanksgiving or Christmas.
✔ Family Favorite – Even picky eaters love the cheesy, creamy texture.
✔ Customizable – Add chicken, bacon, or extra veggies for variety.
So let’s get these ingredients from the grocery store and make this!
THE BREAKDOWN
- CREAM OF MUSHROOM SOUP – or any cream of soup. This is what I had.
- CHEESE SAUCE – one of the main stars of this recipe for the cheesy appeal.
- BUTTER – brings the smooth flavor.
- MILK – enhances the creaminess.
- BROCCOLI – adds a pop of color and nutrition!
- QUICK COOKING RICE – makes it so much easier to prepare
- ONION – cause it brings a little sweetness and balance.
see recipe card for the full instructions
HOW TO MAKE CHEESY BROCCOLI RICE CASSEROLE
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish with butter. Set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together cream of mushroom soup, cheese sauce, melted butter, and milk until smooth.
- Stir in the broccoli, minute rice, and diced onion, making sure everything is well combined.
- Pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish and spread evenly.
- Bake for 45-55 minutes, until the casserole is bubbly and golden on top.
- Let cool for 10 minutes before serving. Enjoy!
I love the crispy edges part of this casserole!
TIPS FOR THE BEST CASSEROLE
- Don’t overcook the rice! Quick-cooking rice absorbs liquid while baking, so it stays fluffy.
- Use fresh broccoli if preferred—just steam it for a few minutes before adding.
- Want a crispy topping? Add crushed crackers or breadcrumbs before baking.
- Make it a meal by mixing in cooked chicken or ham.
WHAT TO SERVE THIS CASSEROLE WITH
These are my favorite MAINs to serve with this recipe:
SUBSTITUTIONS
Cheese Sauce Alternative: Use shredded cheddar cheese + ½ cup heavy cream for a homemade option.
Cream of Mushroom Soup: Swap with cream of chicken or cream of celery for a different flavor.
Frozen Broccoli: Use fresh broccoli, steamed for 3-4 minutes before mixing in.
Minute Rice: Substitute with cooked long-grain rice or brown rice (adjust liquid as needed).
TWEAK THIS CASSEROLE
Add Protein: Stir in cooked shredded chicken, diced ham, or crumbled bacon for a heartier dish.
Make It Spicy: Mix in ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper or top with crushed red pepper flakes. I like them spicylicious too!
Veggie Boost: Add sautéed mushrooms, bell peppers, or shredded carrots for extra nutrition. Cause you know it’s needed for our bodies.
STORAGE AND REHEATING
🧊 Store: Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
🔥 Reheat: Warm in the microwave or oven at 350°F until heated through.
❄️ Freeze: Assemble the casserole but don’t bake it. Cover tightly and freeze for up to 3 months. Bake from frozen at 350°F for 1 hour.
FAQ
Yes! Just steam or blanch fresh broccoli before adding it to the casserole.
Absolutely! Try adding shredded rotisserie chicken, diced ham, or crumbled bacon.
Use a gluten-free cream soup alternative and check the labels on all ingredients.
Yup! Assemble everything a day ahead, cover, and refrigerate. Bake when ready to serve.
Cheesy Broccoli Rice Casserole
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 cans cream of mushroom soup
- 1 15 oz jar of cheese sauce
- ¼ cup butter melted (plus extra for greasing the dish)
- 1 cup milk
- 32 oz frozen chopped broccoli thawed
- 2 cups quick-cooking rice parboiled “minute rice”
- 1 medium onion diced
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Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish with butter. Set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together cream of mushroom soup, cheese sauce, melted butter, and milk until smooth.
- Stir in the broccoli, minute rice, and diced onion, making sure everything is well combined.
- Pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish and spread evenly.
- Bake for 45-55 minutes, until the casserole is bubbly and golden on top.
- Let cool for 10 minutes before serving. Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information for the recipe is provided as a courtesy and is an approximate only. We cannot guarantee the accuracy of the nutritional information given for any recipe on this site.
Mahy
I could eat this every day any day. Fantastic caserrole and super easy to make!
Janie | EATernally Yours
Me too! So easy to make and eat!
Catalina
Total comfort food heaven! Creamy, cheesy, and a great way to get some greens in without complaints from the kids.
Janie | EATernally Yours
Haha I hear you on that! Thanks!
Paula
Incredible recipe for this cheesy broccoli rice casserole. My family was really impressed, and my daughter requested I make it again soon. When you can impress a middle schooler, you know you’ve won!
Janie | EATernally Yours
Aww how nice! So happy your mini tootz wants this again!
Beth
This is the perfect dinner recipe! It’s so hearty and so easy. You can’t beat that!
Janie | EATernally Yours
Thanks Beth!
Bev
This casserole was SO amazingly cheesy & yummy! BONUS: It was super-easy, too!
Janie | EATernally Yours
I’m so glad you made this! Cheese will always please!