Creamy Cheesy Broccoli Cauliflower Casserole
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“Eat your veggies” won’t be a fight with a Cheesy Broccoli Cauliflower Casserole! Creamy cauliflower and broccoli in a savory cheese sauce, crowned with crunchy buttery Parm topping, and baked until golden bubbly. So yummy; it’s a win-win for the whole fam!
We love broccoli around here! Some of our other favorites that will make your family want seconds include; Broccoli Cheddar Soup, Broccoli Cauliflower Salad, and Easy Broccoli Cheddar Quiche.
Table of Contents
Why We Love Broccoli Cauliflower Casserole With Cream Cheese
- Easy to make and only needs simple ingredients and seasonings.
- An excellent make-ahead side dish for a busy weeknight meal or weekend get-together.
- Adding a cooked protein turns this casserole from a side dish to a satisfying main dish.
- Made with wholesome fresh ingredients without the extra sodium, additives, and preservatives in canned soup.
- This cheesy cauliflower and broccoli with a Parmesan crust is a crowd-pleaser and goes over big at potlucks and get-togethers.
Ingredients For A Cheesy Cauliflower And Broccoli Bake
This creamy, cheesy broccoli cauliflower casserole is the perfect way to get your veggies. Simple ingredients and minimal prep time is a bonus!
For specific amounts, please refer to the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post.
Fresh Broccoli & Cauliflower – washed, cleaned, and cut into bite-sized florets. Trim leaves and any dark, bruised, or yellow marks.
Creamy Casserole Cheese Sauce
- Onion – chopped. Gently sauteed onion adds a depth of flavor, savoriness, and sweetness to a vegetable bake.
- Butter – a small amount is needed to saute the onion. You can also use olive oil or your choice of fat.
- Flour – used as a thickener to create a satisfying cream cheese sauce.
- Salt & Pepper – adjust as needed.
- Garlic Powder – enhances the casserole with a savory, pungent flavor that pairs well with onion and cream sauce.
- Dried Basil – crushed. Dried basil has minty, slightly sweet licorice notes that are stronger and more intense than fresh.
- Milk – is the liquid base for the creamy cheese sauce.
- Cream Cheese – cut into cubes for a smooth creamy mixture.
Crunchy Casserole Topping:
- Dry Bread Crumbs – For a fluffier, lighter crumb, you can use panko bread crumbs or make your own by grinding up croutons.
- Parmesan Cheese* – freshly grated Parm will give the crunchy broccoli casserole topping the best flavor.
- Butter – melted. It is the binder for the crunchy bread crumb topping and provides a savory browned butter flavor.
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How To Make Creamy Cheesy Broccoli Cauliflower Casserole
Cheesy broccoli cauliflower casserole bakes up golden brown and bubbly and is sure to please the whole crowd! Gather a large pot, saucepan, spatula, and wooded spoon. Crank the oven to 350° F and prepare a 9×13” casserole dish with cooking spray. Now let’s make some creamy veggie magic!
*When you are making this recipe, you’ll want to use the full recipe at the bottom of the page.
- Boil broccoli and cauliflower florets for 2-3 minutes, drain, and set aside.
- Saute onion in butter, then add flour, seasonings, and milk; thicken over medium heat until bubbly.
- Stir and melt cream cheese, then add broccoli and cauliflower before pouring into the casserole dish.
- Mix and sprinkle the breadcrumb topping over the broccoli casserole and bake until thoroughly heated.
Recipe Notes & Tips
- Cut the florets into bite-sized pieces so that you can have both broccoli and cauliflower in every bite.
- To have a similar texture as broccoli in a vegetable bake, boil the cauliflower first. As soon as the water returns to a boil, add the broccoli and cook for 2 more minutes.
- To prevent fresh broccoli and cauliflower from overcooking, stop cooking after boiling by placing them in a cool water bath. When ready, add to the cream sauce and bake.
- Cube cream cheese blocks while cold. Cream cheese cuts smoothly and evenly when very cold. Try chilling it in the freezer for 10 minutes if it is smooshy while cutting.
How To Store Cheesy Broccoli Casserole
You can store an unbaked broccoli cauliflower casserole in the fridge for up to 2 days tightly wrapped. I don’t recommend assembling the cheesy bread crumb topping until ready to bake.
Refrigerate/Leftovers
Leftover broccoli and cauliflower casserole will keep in the fridge for up to 4 days if tightly wrapped.
Reheat – Pull the veggie casserole out of the fridge 30 minutes before reheating. Heat in a 350° F oven until heated through, or pop it in the micro and heat for 5-6 minutes, checking the broccoli bake halfway through.
Recipe FAQs
A casserole recipe is a main course or side dish usually baked and served in a deep baking dish. It has a layered or mixed filling of various ingredients, such as meat, vegetables, cheese, and starchy binders. Many casserole recipes can be made ahead of time and frozen, then baked in an oven until the ingredients are cooked through.
Yes, fresh cauliflower typically takes more than twice the cook time of broccoli. Cauliflower had densely structured, tightly packed, and solid florets. Broccoli florets are less tightly packed, with fluffy green buds that have yet to flower.
Absolutely! You can substitute frozen broccoli for fresh broccoli in a veggie casserole. Frozen broccoli will cook faster, so cut the cooking time in half when boiling or steaming. This happens because the cell walls weaken when the water inside them expands as it freezes. When overcooked, broccoli will turn soft, mushy, and brown when cooked more in the casserole.
Recipe Variations And Additions
- You can add other vegetables like carrots, kale, Brussels sprouts, zucchini, or green beans.
- Add extra cheese to the cream cheese sauce, such as cheddar, pepper jack, a Mexican blend, or even Velveta.
- Proteins like ham, bacon, and grilled chicken convert a broccoli cauliflower casserole into a satisfying main dish.
- If you want to reduce your dairy intake, you can substitute bone broth or any plain nut milk for the milk.
- Feel free to use crushed buttery crackers, pretzels, or plain crushed cornflakes for an extra twist instead of breadcrumbs.
Serving Suggestions
A cheesy cauliflower and broccoli casserole can hang as a tasty side dish with just about anything. Here are some recipes ideas to assemble a great meal!
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Creamy Cheesy Broccoli Cauliflower Casserole
Delicious Cheesy Broccoli Cauliflower Casserole! Creamy veggies in savory cheese sauce, topped with buttery Parmesan crunch. A family-friendly winner.
Ingredients
- 1 pound fresh broccoli florets (4 cups)
- 1 pound fresh cauliflower florets (3 cups)
- 1 cup chopped onion
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 tablespoons flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon dried basil, crushed
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- 1 ¼ cups milk
- 6 ounces cream cheese, cut up
- ¾ cup dry bread crumbs
- 3 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 tablespoons melted butter
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add the broccoli and cauliflower florets and cook, uncovered, until tender, 2 to 3 minutes depending on the size of the florets. Drain well and set aside.
- Preheat oven to 350° F and spray a 9x13 casserole dish with cooking spray.
- Meanwhile, in a saucepan cook onion in 2 tablespoons butter until tender but not brown. Stir in flour, salt, garlic powder, basil, and pepper. Add milk. Cook over medium heat and stir until thickened and bubbly.
- Add cream cheese. Stir until the cheese melts. Add to the broccoli and cauliflower. Place in prepared casserole dish.
- In a small bowl, toss together bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese, and melted butter; sprinkle over casserole. Bake, uncovered for 45 minutes or until heated thoroughly.
Notes
You can store an unbaked broccoli cauliflower casserole in the fridge for up to 2 days tightly wrapped. I don’t recommend assembling the cheesy bread crumb topping until ready to bake.
Refrigerate - Leftover broccoli and cauliflower casserole will keep in the fridge for up to 4 days if tightly wrapped.
Reheat - Pull the veggie casserole out of the fridge 30 minutes before reheating. Heat in a 350° F oven until heated through, or pop it in the micro and heat for 5-6 minutes, checking the broccoli bake halfway through.
Hi there, I'm Cheryl!
As a wife, mom, and caffeine enthusiast, my journey has taken me from bustling mornings with my family to sharing delicious recipes, home care tips, and heartfelt decorating insights with wonderful readers like you. My love for baking, photography, and tidiness shines through every post I craft. Dive into my world and discover the art of homemaking, one tidy moment at a time. Read more...
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