Broccoli, cheese, and rice casserole — a close contender to my beloved tater tot casserole — is one of my favorite comfort dishes. This version is rich, creamy, and cheesy, finished with a crunchy topping of crushed Ritz crackers.
I have a soft spot for Ritz crackers — they show up in everything from snacks with sunflower seed butter to chocolate-dipped treats, but my favorite use is as a buttery, crunchy topping for casseroles. That crisp finish takes a cozy, cheesy bake up a notch.
I first tasted the idea of a vegetable casserole topped with buttery crackers in a green bean and corn dish and was surprised at how comforting and flavorful it was. That inspired me to put crackers on top of my broccoli, cheese, and rice casserole as well.
Variations on broccoli cheese and rice casserole:
This recipe is a versatile base: use cooked chicken or rice — or both — depending on what you have on hand. A half cup of leftover wild rice works beautifully, and extra cheese helps bind the filling if you add chicken. Think of this as a small, customizable casserole for two; add whatever mix-ins your family loved as a child: shredded chicken, plain white rice, extra cheese, or just the broccoli and sauce.
If you made my small-batch Tater Tot Casserole, you might recognize the homemade condensed mushroom soup used here. You can substitute a can of store-bought condensed soup if you prefer; the homemade version yields about the same volume (roughly 10 ounces) and gives a thicker, creamier texture that I love.
I use raw broccoli chopped into small florets so the vegetable retains some bite after baking. If you prefer a softer, more classic casserole filling, lightly steam the broccoli before mixing it into the dish.
For the photos shown I used two 10-ounce ramekins to make individual servings, but any small baking dish that holds about two cups will work. Ten-ounce ramekins are also great if you have individual soufflé dishes in your kitchen.
I hope this broccoli, cheese, and rice casserole for two brings you comfort and flavor. If you make it, please leave a comment and tell me how you customized it.
Dinner for Two: Broccoli Casserole
An easy-to-make chicken and broccoli casserole for two, rich and creamy with a crunchy cracker topping.
20 minutes
30 minutes
50 minutes
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 5 ounces sliced mushrooms
- 1 small white onion, diced
- 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- Pinch of freshly ground black pepper
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1/4 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1 1/2 cups grated cheddar cheese
- 1 cup chopped fresh broccoli (small florets)
- 1/2 cup chopped cooked chicken (or cooked rice)
- ~10 Ritz crackers, crushed
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F and prepare two 10-ounce ramekins or a small casserole dish that holds about 2 cups.
- Make the condensed mushroom-style sauce: in a skillet over medium heat, melt 2 tablespoons of butter and sauté the mushrooms, onion, and thyme until the onions begin to soften, about 8–10 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
- Sprinkle the flour over the vegetables, stir, and cook 1–2 minutes to remove the raw flour taste.
- Add the milk and cream, bring the mixture to a simmer, stirring frequently until it thickens slightly.
- Remove the sauce from the heat.
- In a bowl, combine the grated cheddar, chopped raw broccoli florets, and cooked chicken or rice.
- Stir the sauce into the broccoli-cheese mixture, then divide the filling between the prepared ramekins.
- Melt the remaining tablespoon of butter and toss with the crushed Ritz crackers. Sprinkle the cracker mixture evenly over each ramekin.
- Bake for 15–20 minutes, until the casserole is hot and bubbling around the edges and the cracker topping is golden.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
2
Serving Size:
1
Amount Per Serving:
Calories: 800
Total Fat: 63g
Saturated Fat: 36g
Trans Fat: 1g
Unsaturated Fat: 22g
Cholesterol: 200mg
Sodium: 1462mg
Carbohydrates: 26g
Fiber: 5g
Sugar: 6g
Protein: 35g
Did you make this recipe?
Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Instagram if you try it.