I am serving up comfort food realness today with a broccoli cheddar brown rice casserole. Comfort food because: hello, cheesy casserole! And realness because there are no cans of soup or blocks of faux cheese involved. It takes a little more time to make your own cheese sauce, but trust me, it's completely worth it.
This Broccoli Cheddar Brown Rice Casserole was not inspired by a casserole at all, but by Rice-A-Roni. Or maybe Uncle Ben's. I don't know! But growing up, my mom would always make broccoli cheese rice from a box. That was one of my favorite side dishes, even if the cheese was powdered and the broccoli was microscopic. I didn't care! I was making a cheese sauce for mac & cheese several weeks ago and started thinking about that rice and wondering if I could make my own version of that rice using a homemade cheese sauce. Although I took the extra step of baking it, you could also just serve it right out of the pot—that works too!
I hadn't really intended this to be a Thanksgiving post because I think most people have their menus planned by now, but if you're looking for an extra side dish, this one is definitely a crowd-pleaser. (And if you have French-fried onions left over from your green bean casserole you can use those on top instead of panko!) Because cheese sauce has a tendency to be temperamental, particularly when it's made with cheddar, I wouldn't risk making the whole casserole in advance—just cook the rice and broccoli, then make the cheese sauce and assemble the casserole on Thanksgiving day.
Recipe
Ingredients
- 3 cups broccoli florets
- ½ cup shredded carrots optional
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 small yellow onion chopped
- 1 clove garlic minced
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 2 cups milk whole is best, but reduced fat will do
- 1 ¼ cup shredded extra-sharp cheddar cheese divided
- ½ cup parmesan cheese
- ½ teaspoon mustard powder
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 cup brown rice cooked according to package instructions (when cooked, it should be between 3 and 4 cups)
- ¼ cup panko bread crumbs
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350ºF.
- Bring an inch of water to a boil in a medium saucepan fitted with a steamer basket. Place the broccoli and carrots in the basket, cover, and steam for 3-5 minutes, or until tender. Transfer the veggies to a large bowl, then drain and dry the saucepan.
- Return the saucepan to medium-low heat. Once the saucepan is warm, add the butter and let it melt, then stir in the onions and garlic. Cook for about 7 minutes, or until the onions are softened and translucent. Sprinkle the flour over the onions and cook 2-3 minutes more, stirring constantly, until flour is golden brown. Slowly pour the milk into the saucepan, whisking to incorporate it into the flour as you pour. Take your time with this step! Once all the milk is in the saucepan, bring the mixture to a simmer, continuing to whisk constantly. Continue to cook, whisking often, until the sauce is thickened and coats the back of a wooden spoon (about 5 minutes more). Remove from heat and whisk in 1 cup of the cheddar cheese, the parmesan cheese, mustard powder, and paprika. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
- Transfer the cooked rice to the bowl with the broccoli and carrots and pour the cheese sauce on top. Stir to incorporate; taste and add additional salt and pepper, if needed. Grease a square baking dish with butter or spray it with an oil mister (or cooking spray, if you don't have an oil mister); transfer the rice mixture to the baking dish and top with the remaining ¼ cup of cheddar cheese and the panko. Spray the top of the casserole with additional oil and bake for 25 minutes, then broil for about 3 minutes more, until the panko is lightly browned. Remove from oven and let the casserole sit for about 5 minutes before serving.
Dixya @ Food, Pleasure, and Health says
im all about comfort food these days so bring it on girl 🙂
Anele @ Success Along the Weigh says
I am so all over this. Diving in...head first...cheesy goodness in my hair, yo.
Oh yeah and as soon as you wrote "Rice a Roni", I was immediately taken back to my childhood love for the beef flavor RaR...with ketchup on top. Don't judge me.
Kiersten says
I vaguely remember the beef flavor. I don't think it actually tasted like beef though, did it? My mom used to make the Asian-y one too, which was pretty bad...
Stacie M. says
I saw this and was instantly brought back to the old rice in a box which I used to BEG my mom to make as a kid. Had to go out and buy cheddar cheese just so I can make it tonight! Can't wait!!!!!
Kiersten says
Wasn't that the best rice?! My mom made other flavors too, but they all paled in comparison to the broccoli cheese variety. 🙂
Erin | The Law Student's Wife says
Good bye can! I love classic recipes like this, but redone to be 100% homemade ingredients. Looks d-lish and so comforting.
Kiersten says
I have been trying to work through my family's casserole recipes and replacing the cans of soup with real ingredients--slowly but surely! 🙂
Tree Ethington says
Hey, any chance of making recipes in a "easy to print" format along with the articles? AND no matter what I am so making this!! Thanks!
Kiersten says
If you click on the little printer icon in the recipe box, it will link over to a printable version of the recipe. 🙂
dishing up the dirt says
Bring on the comfort food recipes. This sounds delicious!
Arthur in the Garden! says
Yummy!
Alissa N (Girl Makes Food) says
Casseroles are my favorite thing ever. And broccoli, cheese, and rice in a casserole might mean eternal love for me. This would be a really awesome Thanksgiving side dish, except that then I might just not eat anything else at the table because it looks that good!!
Kiersten says
I have such a weakness for casseroles too. Especially cheesy ones. 🙂
Lindsay says
I ate that uncle bens broccoli cheese rice all the time as a kid ( and as a college student he he)!!! When I started on a healthier diet and realized I couldn't eat that boxed rice because of the chemicals in it I was very upset! I'll be trying this recipe ASAP!
Kiersten says
I moved onto boxed quinoa and couscous dinners when I was in college. 😉 I ate sooooo many of those!
Becca @ Amuse Your Bouche says
Oooh this looks yummy! I'm not actually sure if I've ever had broccoli rice casserole before but this is definitely going on my 'to-make' list 🙂
Kiersten says
I hope you like it if you make it! 🙂
Mallory @ Because I Like Chocolate says
Oh the things you can do with béchamel! I love the versatility of simple cheese sauce!
Laura says
I have been looking for a vegetable (no meat) casserole that uses brown rice FOREVER! I'm so excited to try this recipe tomorrow for dinner!! Thank you!
Kiersten says
Yay, I hope you like it! 🙂
Laura says
Made it tonight and it was a HUGE hit! Hubby even went back for 3rds! This will be in my rotation for now on! Thank you for the delishness!!
Kiersten says
I'm so glad you (and your husband!) enjoyed it! 🙂
Cassie says
I have always loved broccoli and cheddar and I am totally digging this casserole.
Joanne says
I totally used to put broccoli in my Kraft mac and cheese in college. But I think it fares much better in this casserole. Love that it's all natural!
Kiersten says
I did that too! True story, whenever I go grocery shopping, I get the impulse to grab a box of Kraft mac & cheese and throw it in my cart. I know I shouldn't and I don't, but man, I really miss it sometimes...
mjskit says
This is definitely comfort food! I grew up eating the more unhealthy version that used lots of cheese Campbell's Cream of Mushroom soup. I like your version MUCH better!
Kiersten says
That cream of mushroom soup has so many uses, doesn't it?! 🙂
Angie@Angie's Recipes says
Such a warming, comforting and delicious meal!
sowmya says
This looks fantastic! Definitely on my must make list.
Beautiful clicks 🙂
Kiersten says
Thank you!
ana says
Yum! I'm a sucker for broccoli. So much that you'll see one tattooed on my right wrist 😉
Kiersten says
Best! Tattoo! Ever! 🙂
Marta @ What Should I eat for breakfast today says
Do you think it will be ok if I cook broccoli and carrots? I have basket at home but not in Barcelona and I'd prefer not to buy one just for a month 🙂 I love this recipe and would like to make it for tomorrow lunch. And I had no idea that powdered cheese exists 🙂
Kiersten says
You could roast them instead of steaming! I think that would be really tasty. 🙂 Yes, powdered cheese exists. That is such an American thing, right?! The spice shop that I goes to sells it in big bottles. I have no idea what people would do with it.
Eleanore says
Hi, me and my two girls had this for dinner last night and it was scrumptious! The sauce didn't go gluey and it was a new thing to put smoked paprika in (but yummy!).
Kiersten says
I'm so glad it was a hit! 🙂
Elizabeth (Rock-A-Bye Parents) says
Oh this sounds so good! I love broccoli with stuff on it.
Tamara says
Mmm... this looks so good! You know, since I found out I was pregnant I have been experiencing an aversion toward greenish veggies like broccoli or kale but you said the magic word (that is, obviously, cheese!) and I am starting to see them more appealing in here 🙂
Kiersten says
That's how parents get kids to eat veggies too, right? Lots of cheese!
Ramona says
Made it right now for my father-in-law. I forgot to cook the rice ! Had to stir the cheese sauce till rice was cooked:(
Kiersten says
Oh no! I do things like that all the time too. :/
Paula – bell’alimento says
This looks so good! Any recipe that I can include veggies in is a winner in my book!
Jeanette | Jeanette's Healthy Living says
Kiersten, this is SO much better than Rice-a-Roni. I remember the first time I tried Rice-a-Roni years ago - the commercial still rings in my head. I was sorely disappointed. I think my kids would gobble this up and I would be all the happier since it's got veggies and whole grains all in one dish.
Kiersten says
Rice-a-Roni, the San Francisco treat! I am going to have that jingle stuck in my head now. 🙂