Wholesome Broccoli Casserole – Slender Kitchen

This scrumptious, lightened-up Broccoli Casserole is a mash-up of broccoli and inexperienced bean casserole you’ll instantly love. It is made with tender-crisp broccoli tossed in a selfmade mushroom gravy (no canned soup!) and topped with cheddar cheese and crispy onions. 

Rising up, my Mother made this superb broccoli casserole that was mainly a mix of frozen chopped broccoli, cheddar cheese, mayonnaise, and cream of mushroom soup, all coated in breadcrumbs. It was surprisingly scrumptious (provided that ingredient listing), however clearly, it is not the healthiest and freshest recipe.

I knew I needed to create a more healthy model of this dish this vacation season. Normally, I’d begin from scratch to make this recipe, however let’s take a shortcut and get some inspiration from my absolute favourite: Healthy Green Bean Casserole.

I’ve been making this recipe for years, and it’s critically the perfect lightened-up casserole recipe. Nevertheless, I needed to vary just a few issues to include the cheddar cheese sometimes present in broccoli casserole.

It begins with recent broccoli as a substitute of frozen to retain as a lot crunch and texture as potential. That will get tossed with a creamy cheddar cheese sauce full of mushrooms and loads of garlic. Lastly, every thing is completed with one other layer of cheddar cheese and tons of crispy purple onions. So so good! Nobody will ever imagine this tasty broccoli casserole is definitely wholesome.

I am additionally dropping my recipes for Broccoli Macaroni and Cheese, Healthy Broccoli Cheese Soup, and Cheesy Broccoli Stuffed Chicken Breasts right here as a result of cheese + veggies are so good collectively!

Why You’ll Love Wholesome Broccoli Casserole

• Make Forward for Holidays: Assemble your broccoli casserole the evening earlier than and bake it the subsequent day. This can take one dish off your cooking to-do listing.
• No canned or frozen substances: We’re making every thing from scratch, from the thick cheese sauce to the fried onions and mushroom gravy. Nevertheless, be at liberty to make this wholesome broccoli casserole with cream of mushroom soup as a substitute if that is extra handy for you.
• Crowd-friendly: This broccoli casserole is at all times the primary to go throughout potlucks and gatherings. Even children go for seconds!

In search of extra wholesome vacation or Thanksgiving veggie side dishes? Do not miss this Whole Roasted Butternut Squash, Crispy Balsamic Brussels Sprouts, or Shaved Brussels Sprout Salad.

Components and Straightforward Swaps

Right here is every thing it’s worthwhile to make this lightened-up broccoli cheese casserole:

• Broccoli: Not like most broccoli casseroles, this recipe makes use of recent broccoli florets so the ultimate dish has some texture and crunch. No mushy casserole right here. For extra distinction, swap in some recent cauliflower florets for a number of the broccoli.
• Purple onion: Purple onion is milder than white or yellow onions. It additionally has a stupendous colour. Be at liberty to swap in shallots, candy Vidalia onions, or conventional yellow onions.
• Panko breadcrumbs: For the crunchy topping, Panko breadcrumbs are the right choice. Use common or entire wheat. Common breadcrumbs or Ritz crackers additionally work, they only will not be fairly as crisp. Gluten-free breadcrumbs or sliced almonds may be used.
• Child Bella mushrooms: Recent mushrooms substitute the condensed mushroom soup often used on this casserole. Any mushroom can be utilized. That is nice with button mushrooms, portobello, or a range.
• Garlic: The garlic provides a pleasant punch of taste to the dish. Recent garlic is greatest however minced garlic or garlic powder can be utilized.
• Cheddar Cheese sauce: The cheese sauce on this recipe is made with entire wheat flour, rooster broth, milk, and cheddar cheese. Vegetable broth can be utilized for a vegetarian model.

Make Wholesome Broccoli Casserole

It ought to go with out saying, that that is the right dish for Thanksgiving or any vacation serving. Right here’s learn how to whip up a wholesome model that also feels festive and indulgent:

1. Blanch the broccoli: Begin by blanching the broccoli florets in boiling water for 3-4 minutes till they’re vivid inexperienced and simply starting to melt. Instantly take away them from the boiling water and place them in an ice tub to cease them from cooking. The broccoli will not cook dinner utterly within the casserole so this step ensures it’s utterly cooked within the ultimate product.
2. Make crispy onion topping: Probably the greatest components of this casserole is the crispy onion topping. Begin by cooking the purple onions in butter till they’re tender however nonetheless have a little bit of texture. Then cook dinner the breadcrumbs in butter till they’re properly browned. Combine the browned, toasted breadcrumbs with the onions to make the topping.
3. Make the mushroom sauce: Begin by sauteing the mushrooms in butter and garlic. As soon as they’re tender, add the flour and cook dinner for one minute. This helps to thicken the sauce. Then add the rooster broth and stir till the flour dissolves. Be sure that it totally dissolves for a easy sauce. Add the milk and half the cheddar cheese. Simmer gently, stirring usually, till it thickens. Style and season with salt and pepper as wanted.
4. Assemble the casserole: Add the broccoli florets to a ready casserole dish. Pour the mushroom sauce on prime and stir to coat the broccoli within the sauce. Then add a layer of cheddar cheese and the crispy onions and breadcrumbs.
5. Bake: Bake the casserole at 375 levels till the perimeters are effervescent and the onions are properly browned. If wanted, broil it for the final 2-3 minutes to get the highest properly browned.

Recipe Concepts

There are many methods to make this broccoli casserole distinctive and precisely what your loved ones will love.

• Strive a special cheese: Though I am unable to get sufficient of sharp cheddar cheese and broccoli, this can even work nice with Parmesan cheese, pepper jack (for one thing spicy), Swiss, or another cheese that melts effectively. You too can use a mix of cheeses. Principally, something that may work in macaroni and cheese is ideal right here.
• Add herbs or spices: Recent herbs are an awesome addition to this dish. Dried herbs work nice as effectively. Take into account including some thyme, rosemary, or Italian seasoning. You could possibly additionally add some warmth with purple pepper flakes, smokiness with cumin, or additional taste with onion or garlic powder. I discover this works greatest once you add the herbs and spices to the mushroom sauce.
• Use a special vegetable: In case you aren’t feeling the broccoli, you may make this with cauliflower, inexperienced beans, and even butternut squash. Simply be sure that to par-cook any vegetable you utilize.
• Make it gluten-free: Simply substitute gluten-free flour and breadcrumbs.
• With out onions: In case you aren’t an enormous onion individual, simply depart them out. High the casserole with a layer of cheddar cheese and toasted breadcrumbs.

Can I exploit frozen broccoli?

Frozen broccoli can be utilized as a substitute of recent, however the texture will probably be barely totally different and a bit mushy. Begin by cooking the frozen broccoli till simply cooked. Instantly run it underneath chilly water to cease the cooking. Dry it effectively to make sure your casserole is not watery. Then use it as you’d the recent.

Can I add rice or pasta? What about rooster?

You possibly can add some cooked rice, pasta, or rooster to show this right into a important course. In case you plan to do that, double or triple the mushroom sauce. Then, fold the cooked pasta (cooked till al dente) or rice with the broccoli. In case you like, you can even add cooked rooster.

What to Serve with Broccoli Casserole

This wholesome broccoli casserole recipe will match proper into any vacation unfold. It looks like a vacation meal however is straightforward sufficient for weeknight dinners. We like pairing it with these dishes particularly:

Storage and Reheating

Broccoli casserole is a dish that may be prepped the day earlier than to make vacation meal prep simpler. However leftovers additionally style nice the subsequent day so long as you retailer and heat it up correctly:

• To retailer: Cool your leftovers then switch into an hermetic container. It is going to maintain for as much as 3-4 days, however attempt to end it earlier than then for the perfect texture.
• To reheat: You possibly can heat up your broccoli casserole within the oven or microwave. Cowl with foil and bake at 350°F for 10–quarter-hour, or microwave in 30-second bursts till scorching.
• Make it prematurely: Assemble the casserole and canopy it with foil or plastic wrap and retailer it within the fridge. If potential, take away it from the oven 30-45 minutes earlier than cooking to take away the coolness. If not, simply add 5-10 minutes to the baking time.