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This delicious and easy Broccoli Casserole recipe uses fresh broccoli florets (or frozen) tossed in a creamy sauce, with cheese crackers baked on top. It's warm and comforting and an easy side dish that pairs well with anything!
I have soo many Thanksgiving recipes, but this Broccoli Casserole was one I always looked forward to my Aunt bringing. The cheese crackers on top are the perfect flavor to pair with the creamy sauce and fresh broccoli. It's a crowd pleaser, and I love that you can prepare it in advance, to free up cooking time on Thanksgiving morning.
Forget the green bean casserole–this cheesy Broccoli Casserole gets my vote every year!
Ingredients Needed:
- Broccoli: I prefer fresh, but frozen will also work.
- Shredded Cheese: cheddar, or your favorite kind. Freshly grate the cheese yourself rather than buying pre-grated cheese, as it will melt and taste better.
- Cream of Mushroom Soup: from the can, or my homemade recipe is delicious and easy!
- Dried Minced Onion: or ¼ cup diced onion.
- Eggs.
- Cheese Crackers: crushed into crumbs. You could also use ritz or club crackers, or breadcrumbs.
How to Make Broccoli Casserole:
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Bring a large pot of water to boil. Boil broccoli for 2 minutes. Drain well. In a large mixing bowl combine mushroom soup, mayonnaise, eggs, onions and shredded cheese and mix well.
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Pour over broccoli and toss to combine. Pour into greased casserole dish.
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Sprinkle crushed cheese crackers on top. Bake at 400 degrees F for 40-45 minutes.
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Recipe Variations:
- Healthy Broccoli Casserole: Some options for making the recipe even healthier include making the cream of mushroom soup from scratch, using Greek yogurt instead of mayonnaise, omitting the cheese and using low-fat cheese crackers, or omitting the crackers.
- More Veggies: I like to add a cup or two of frozen mixed veggies: corn, peas, green beans and carrots.
Storing Instructions: Leftovers will keep in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat in the oven or microwave.
Make Ahead Instructions: Prepare the entire dish, but store the cheese crackers separately in a ziplock bag. Refrigerate casserole 1-2 days in advance. Allow to come to room temperature for 20 minutes before adding cheese crackers and baking.
More Warm Side Dish Ideas:
Funeral Potatoes (Cheesy Potatoes)
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Recipe
Broccoli Casserole
Ingredients
- 6 cups fresh broccoli florets about 2 bunches
- 10.5 ounce can cream of mushroom soup (or homemade)
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 2 large eggs
- 2 Tablespoons dried minced onion
- 1 cup freshly grated sharp cheddar cheese
- 1 cup cheese crackers , crushed
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of water to boil. Boil broccoli for 2 minutes. Drain well.
- In a large mixing bowl combine mushroom soup, mayonnaise, eggs, onions and shredded cheese and mix well.
- Pour over broccoli and toss to combine. Pour into greased casserole dish (about 2 qt size, or 8'').
- Sprinkle crushed cheese crackers on top. Bake at 400 degrees F for 40-45 minutes.
Notes
Nutrition
Have you tried this recipe?!
RATE and COMMENT below! I would love to hear your experience.
I originally shared this recipe November 2015. Updated November 2020.
This was the best broccoli casserole I have made in past 10 years
I made the taste better broccoli casserole for my family reunion and everyone loved it thank you very much.
Can I use fresh onion and make ahead? I’m worried it will be overwhelming…maybe I should just use onion powder?
Yes you can use fresh onion and make it ahead of time!
When using frozen broccoli that is thawed, do you still have to cook it first?
If it’s frozen broccoli that’s already been blanched, you don’t need to cook it again. Just thaw it and squeeze out as much moisture as you can before using it.
I haven’t made this yet. Can I make in advance & freeze this casserole?
Yes, you can make it 1-2 days ahead and refrigerate unbaked (store crackers separately), then let it come to room temperature for 20 minutes before adding crackers and baking. The recipe doesn’t mention freezing, so I’d stick with refrigerating for best results.
Just made this and brought it to a Christmas party potluck. Made a double batch and 80% of it was gone and several people complimented us on it. It was delicious. Use garlic butter ritz for the crust. Only thing I did differently is that I covered it for the first 25 minutes to keep the cracker crust from getting too brown / burning. Pretty sure that ritz crackers will burn at 400F for 40-45 minutes uncovered. Otherwise it was a perfect recipe .
can you make this without the eggs
The eggs help bind the casserole together, but you could try omitting them. The casserole might be a little looser and less set, but it should still work. You could also try replacing them with a flax egg (1 tablespoon ground flaxseed mixed with 2.5 tablespoons water per egg, let sit 5 minutes) or just add an extra tablespoon or two of mayonnaise to help bind everything.
Unfortunately, this dish was not a big hit at Thanksgiving dinner. Too rich for everyone. Next time, I’ll just serve plain broccoli.
What kind of cheese crackers? Like “cheese-its”?
Yes, Cheez-Its or any similar cheese crackers work great. Use your favorite!
We’ve always used ritz crackers! I personally like the garlic butter ritz the best for this
How do you think the time and temp would differ if recipe was doubled and baked in a glass 13×9?
Keep the temp at 400°F but add 10-15 minutes (so 50-60 min total). Glass heats slower than metal, and a doubled recipe will be thicker. Check at 50 minutes. if the crackers brown too fast, tent with foil and keep baking until the center is hot and bubbly.
Can I use cream of chicken instead of cream of mushroom soup?
Yes you can!
Is it better to use cream of mushroom or cream of chicken?Soup
I’d say mushroom but depends which you like better
If you use frozen broccoli instead of fresh, how much should you use?
Use the same amount. A 12-oz bag of frozen broccoli works great here. Just thaw and drain it so it’s not watery