Broccoli Cheese Bake
A cheesy broccoli casserole — par-cooked broccoli baked in a creamy cheese sauce, topped with crispy breadcrumbs. The side dish that turns vegetable-resistant kids and adults into broccoli eaters. Comfort food disguised as a vegetable dish.
Prep Time
12 min
Cook Time
12 min
Servings
4
Calories
395 cal
🛠 Interactive Recipe Tools — Use them right here on this page
Smart Servings Scaler
- Broccoli2 cups
- Cheese1 cup
- Garlic3 cloves
- Salt1 tsp
- Black Pepper½ tsp
- Cooking Oil1
All quantities scaled automatically from 4 servings.
Ingredients
Makes 4 servings · Use the Servings Scaler above to adjust
- Broccoli2 cups
- Cheese1 cup
- Garlic3 cloves
- Salt1 tsp
- Black Pepper0.5 tsp
- Cooking Oil1
Instructions
- 1
Heat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Cut 2 large heads of broccoli into bite-sized florets (about 8 cups). Blanch in salted boiling water for 2 minutes — they should turn bright green and still be crisp. Drain and shock in ice water. Drain again.
- 2
Make the cheese sauce: in a saucepan, melt 4 tablespoons of butter over medium-low heat. Whisk in 4 tablespoons of flour, cook 1 minute. Gradually whisk in 2 cups of whole milk and 1 cup of heavy cream. Bring to a simmer; cook 4-5 minutes until thickened.
- 3
Off heat, whisk in 3 cups of shredded sharp cheddar (saving 1 cup for topping), 1 teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon black pepper, ½ teaspoon mustard powder, ¼ teaspoon nutmeg.
- 4
Combine the drained broccoli with the cheese sauce in a 9×13 baking dish. Stir to coat evenly.
- 5
Top with the remaining cheese and a breadcrumb mixture: 1 cup panko + 3 tablespoons melted butter + ¼ cup grated Parmesan + 1 teaspoon paprika.
- 6
Bake 20-25 minutes until the cheese is bubbly and the topping is deep golden brown. Rest 5 minutes before serving — the cheese sauce is volcanic out of the oven.
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💡 Expert Tips
- 1.Blanch the broccoli. The pre-cooking ensures it's tender after baking. Skipping = raw crunchy broccoli in cheese sauce.
- 2.Off-heat for the cheese. Adding cheese to a hot pot causes it to split. Always off the heat.
- 3.Sharp cheddar for flavor. Mild cheddar disappears. Sharp gives noticeable cheese taste.
- 4.Panko + butter topping. The combination is what gives the crispy golden crust. Plain breadcrumbs don't crisp as well.
🔬 Why It Works
Broccoli cheese bake works because the broccoli is properly pre-cooked (blanched and shocked) so the texture is right after baking, the cheese sauce is properly made (roux-based, off-heat cheese addition for smoothness), and the breadcrumb topping provides crispy textural contrast. Sharp cheddar provides the assertive cheese flavor; mustard powder adds savory depth without being detectable.
Frequently Asked Questions
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4.9
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Nutrition Facts
Per serving (recipe makes 4 servings)
* Percent Daily Values based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Values are estimates.
Nutrition Facts
Per serving (recipe makes 4 servings)
* Percent Daily Values based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Values are estimates.
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