Broccoli Rice and Cheese Casserole

Quick and easy broccoli cheese rice casserole is a great recipe, it is a side dish you can put together in little time. This comfort food is perfect for family gatherings. This easy side dish has been a part of my holiday gatherings for as long as I can remember.

My easy broccoli rice casserole is a perfect dish because even people who do not enjoy vegetables will eat this great casserole. I know the first time you try this, you will want to make it a part of your family dinners.

To use fresh broccoli, you can simply steam it in a steamer for a couple of minutes before using it. No matter if you use fresh or frozen broccoli, this cheesy broccoli rice casserole is going to become a family favorite.

Broccoli Cheese Rice Casserole

Quick and Easy Broccoli Rice Casserole is a dish that is perfect for the holidays, or perhaps even a potluck dinner. Making this casserole is one of the best ways that you can get even finicky eaters to take in some broccoli.

I have to tell you a little story about this Broccoli Rice Casserole recipe. This is a variation of the recipe that my Grandmother used to make.

This is one of the rice casserole recipes my grandmother would always make. I can’t imagine a holiday without this broccoli-rice casserole. When I would start to host my own holiday dinners with my family this broccoli rice casserole recipe is the one that I use. Year after year this dish shows up as one of my favorite Thanksgiving recipes.

She used instant rice (Minute Rice) in her dish, but my preference is for regular long-grain rice. I think it has a better texture and it reheats better than instant rice. If you wanted to, you could use brown rice.

I made this dish for a potluck when I had very little in the house, and it was a big hit. I know it isn’t the most sophisticated dish, but for me, I know a dish is a winner when the dish comes back empty.

Ingredients for Broccoli Rice Casserole

Here’s a list of what you need:

• Broccoli florets
• white onion
• salted butter or unsalted butter, both work well.
• Velveeta cheese
• Cream of chicken soup – you could use other canned soups like cream of mushroom soup, or cheddar cheese soup
• Cooked white rice – you can use Minute rice, this is a great way to use leftover rice, or you can use long grain rice

CopyKat Ingredient Tips

• You can use either fresh or frozen broccoli, your choice. I love to pick up fresh broccoli and make it for dinner, and if there is some leftover, I will use it for this dish.
• For this recipe, I like to use the store brand of American cheese. While I do like Velveeta brand cheese, I often think that store brands will work well. Store brands like Aldi’s Clancey, or HEB brand are wonderful.

How to Make Broccoli Cheese Rice Casserole

1. If you are using fresh broccoli, steam until just done.
2. In a medium saucepan, cook the onion in the butter until transparent.
3. Add the cheese, soup, broccoli, and rice to the onions and stir through to melt the cheese and heat it all.
   
4. You can serve this dish now or you can put it in a baking dish, cover, and refrigerate.
5. When you are ready to serve, uncover it, and bake at 350 degrees for about 20 minutes or until hot and bubbly.
   

This dish reheats well, for me that is important. As I do a lot of cooking on the weekends and reheat dishes throughout the week when I have dinner.

Variations on Broccoli Rice Casserole

There are many different ways to switch up this recipe. Turn this into a main dish by adding some leftover cooked chicken. You can also add even more vegetables or switch them completely. You can also swap out the cheese.

Here are 5 ways you can modify this classic rice casserole

1. Add cooked chicken – mix in 1 to 2 cups of cooked chicken
2. Add leftover ham – mix in 1 to 1 1/2 cups of cooked ham pieces
3. Add a tablespoon of pimiento – this will add a nice savory note to this recipe
4. Add cauliflower – swap half of the broccoli with cooked cauliflower
5. Switch the cheese to Meximelt cheese – make your broccoli rice casserole with a bit of spice

How to Store Rice and Broccoli Casserole

It’s hard to imagine you will have any left of this casserole but in case you do, let’s cover how you can store this recipe.

• In the refrigerator – this will store in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
• In the freezer – store in an airtight container for up to 3 months.

Frequently Asked Questions about Broccoli Rice Cheese Casserole Recipe

Favorite Casserole Recipes

• Baked Spaghetti Casserole
• Instant Potato Casserole
• Hamburger Tater Tot Casserole
• Hamburger Green Bean Casserole
• Hash Brown Casserole Cracker Barrel
• Scallop Casserole
• Leftover Chicken Casserole Recipes

More Rice Side Dishes

• Cajun Rice
• French Onion Rice
• Spanish Rice Casserole
• Chipotle Cilantro Lime Rice
• Easy Rice Pilaf Recipe
• Thai Fried Rice Recipe

Be sure to check many other great rice side dish recipes and easy casserole recipes here on CopyKat.com.

Broccoli Rice and Cheese Casserole

Quick and Easy Broccoli Cheese Rice Casserole is the perfect side dish everyone will love.

4.75 from 8 votes

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Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Broccoli Cheese Rice Casserole, Broccoli Rice Casserole, Quick and Easy Broccoli Rice Casserole

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes

Servings: 8

Calories: 179kcal

Author: Stephanie Manley

Ingredients

• 16 ounces chopped broccoli fresh or frozen
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 1/2 cup chopped onion
• 1 cup Velveeta cheese diced
• 10.75 ounces cream of chicken soup 1 can
• 2 cups cooked white rice

Instructions

• Place the broccoli into a steamer and steam for 5 to 7 minutes, until it turns bright green.
• In a medium saucepan, melt the butter. Add the chopped onion and sauté until the onion becomes translucent.
• Add the cheese, cream of chicken soup, broccoli, and rice and stir until the cheese is melted and the mixture is heated through.
• You can serve this dish now, or you can put it in an 8-inch square baking pan, cover, and refrigerate. When you are ready to serve, uncover and reheat in a 350°F oven for about 20 minutes, until hot and bubbly.

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 179kcal | Carbohydrates: 19g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 23mg | Sodium: 535mg | Potassium: 309mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 775IU | Vitamin C: 51.3mg | Calcium: 204mg | Iron: 0.5mg