Even the pickiest eaters who claim not to like broccoli will be begging you to cook this time and time again. It’s a hearty, filling cheesy broccoli dish that will feed 8 people. If you want it to be even more filling, then add cooked, chopped chicken breast to the baking dish before baking. If you are hoping for fewer carbs, only use one cup of noodles which reduce the carbohydrates. My toddler and I loved every bite of this cheesy goodness! Covered in noodles and cheese, the broccoli was hardly noticeable to her. Anything with noodles or pasta in it always attracts my kid’s attention. If you like this, then you’ll love my Broccoli Cheese Cups, Mashed Potato Casserole, Macaroni and Cheese Casserole, and Easy Mac N’ Cheese Cups!
This casserole recipe only calls for 7 ingredients and is done in under one hour, making it the perfect dish to prep on a Sunday so that you’ll have extra food for the upcoming busy week. My easy dish calls for egg noodles, condensed cream of celery soup, sour cream, cheddar, broccoli florets, pepper, and breadcrumbs.
How to make the best Broccoli Cheese Casserole
STEP 1: Preheat your oven and coat a 9×13-inch baking dish with cooking spray.
STEP 2: In a large pot, combine the cooked noodles, soup, sour cream, 1 cup cheddar, broccoli, and pepper, and heat over medium. Stir the mixture until it’s blended. Pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish. Evenly spread the breadcrumbs on top and sprinkle the remaining 2 cups cheddar on top.
STEP 3: Bake uncovered until bubbly and cooked through—about 30 minutes.
Benefits of Broccoli
Broccoli is a cruciferous vegetable and is a nutritional powerhouse packed with vitamins, minerals, fiber, and antioxidants. Healthline’s article reports that broccoli contains potent antioxidants that offer health-protective effects. Antioxidants are molecules that inhibit or neutralize cell damage caused by free radicals.
Broccoli contains high levels of glucoraphanin, which is a compound that is converted into a potent antioxidant known as sulforaphane during the digestive process. Test-tube and animal studies indicate that sulforaphane may offer many health benefits, including reduced blood glucose, cholesterol levels, oxidative stress, and chronic disease development.
The cruciferous tree-looking vegetable also contains measurable quantities of the antioxidants lutein and zeaxanthin, which may prevent oxidative stress and cellular damage in the eyes. Additionally, broccoli contains various bioactive compounds that have been shown to reduce inflammation in the body’s tissues.
Multiple small studies have shown that eating cruciferous vegetables may protect against certain types of cancer, particularly:
- Breast
- Prostate
- Gastric/stomach
- Colorectal
- Renal/kidney
- Bladder
Interestingly, a small human study in tobacco smokers showed that eating broccoli led to a significant reduction in markers of inflammation.
More vegetarian dishes you’ll love!
Cheese on a Stick (Hot Dog on a Stick Copycat Recipe)
Final Thoughts
Finally, if you make this Broccoli Cheese Casserole, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! I love to hear from everyone who makes this recipe and always try my best to respond to all comments.
If you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag #elisemccollister on Instagram! It makes me so happy to see your recipe photos!
Broccoli Cheese Casserole
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 c cooked egg noodles
- 1 (10.5 oz.) condensed cream of celery soup undiluted
- 1 c sour cream
- 3 c cheddar cheese freshly grated
- 3 c broccoli florets
- pepper
- 1/2 c breadcrumbs
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 ° F. Coat a 9×13-inch baking dish with cooking spray.
- In a large saucepan, combine the cooked noodles, soup, sour cream, 1 cup cheddar, broccoli, and pepper, and heat over medium. Stir the mixture until it’s blended—about 5 minutes. Pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish. Evenly spread the breadcrumbs on top. Sprinkle the remaining 2 cups cheddar on top.
- Bake uncovered until bubbly and cooked through—about 30 minutes.
- If you make this, don't forget to leave a rating and comment!
Notes
- If you’re looking to add protein, add some cooked, chopped chicken breast or turkey to the mixture before adding the broccoli.
- Many types of noodles can be used in lieu of egg noodles, although I wouldn’t use spaghetti, fettucine, linguine, or lasagna noodles. Small or medium shells would work as well as rotini noodles.
- You can use one 16 oz. bag of frozen broccoli, just make sure to defrost it or microwave it before adding it to the saucepan on the stove.
- Frozen broccoli can be used, but if you do, make sure to add 10 more minutes of cook time.
Nutrition (per serving)
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