SHARP CHEDDAR BROCCOLI CASSEROLE

SHARP CHEDDAR BROCCOLI CASSEROLE

An easy stand-by broccoli casserole that is full of sharp Cheddar goodness. The ultimate comfort food side dish! This recipe uses simple ingredients to make an outstanding casserole that you will want to make again and again.

I boiled my broccoli; however, you could also steam the broccoli, if desired.

The tender broccoli is smothered in a rich and creamy cheese sauce, topped with a little additional shredded Cheddar cheese, and the best part is the crispy, cheesy topping, that I often like to top casseroles with for a delicious result, as well as for making the casserole look fabulous. They say we eat with our eyes first.

Having some lovely vegetable sides go a long way to making a meal memorable, especially when low-carbing, as the vegetables fill in for our lack of starches on the plate.

The crispy, crunchy topping is so good that you will have to refrain from wanting to eat it before it makes it to the top of the broccoli casserole.

This is a very cheesy casserole and using sharp Cheddar cheese is fabulous in this dish.

This casserole is very easy to make and quite quick as well. This recipe is perfect for everyday or for one of the sides at a holiday gathering or it could also be taken to a potluck get-together.

The flavors of this casserole are creamy and cheesy. If you like, you could add cooked onion to this dish. I placed the broccoli in a glass baking dish. The mixture fit just great in a smaller casserole dish. This broccoli cheese casserole is simple but sometimes those are the very best. There are other casseroles out there that add mushrooms or mayonnaise or use fresh broccoli. There are so many variations possible, of course. Keep the casserole in the refrigerator.

This broccoli casserole recipe is one you will love, and I hope you will try it. If you are feeding several people, it is doubtful that there will be any leftovers. Instead of the usual buttery crackers, I use a crispy and cheesy topping that is so simple - cheese and my bake mix or almond flour and melted butter. It is wonderful to use instead of breadcrumbs. If you do have leftovers, keep them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for the best storage. These veggies are filled with wonderful nutrition. Make sure to cut the broccoli florets into bite-sized pieces. You can use fresh broccoli florets, too, if desired. The creamy sauce filled with cheese makes this a rich, memorable side perfect for formal or informal gatherings. If desired, you could add a bit of garlic powder to the sauce.

INGREDIENTS:

1¹/₂lbs frozen broccoli (680 g)

Cheese Sauce:

4 oz cream cheese (125 g)

3 tbsp butter (45 mL)

¹/₃cup any kind of milk, OR (75 mL)

heavy cream

1 tsp salt (5 mL)

¹/₄tsp black pepper (1 mL)

²/₃cup shredded sharp Cheddar cheese (150 mL)

¹/₄cup shredded sharp Cheddar cheese (60 mL)

Crispy Topping:

¹/₂cup shredded sharp Cheddar cheese (125 mL)

¹/₄cup Gluten-Free Bake Mix 2, OR almond flour (60 mL)

2 tbsp butter, melted (30 mL)

INSTRUCTIONS:

Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C).

In pot of boiling salted water, cook broccoli until just tender. This goes quickly, so check after 6 minutes. Drain in a colander and run cold tap water over broccoli to stop the cooking and to keep the broccoli bright green in color. Place in a 1 qt (1 L) casserole dish.

Cheese Sauce: In saucepan over medium heat, cook cream cheese, butter, milk, salt, black pepper until cream cheese has melted. Add ²/₃cup (150 mL) sharp Cheddar cheese. Whisk from time to time until the cheese melts and a lovely thick, cheesy sauce is formed. Pour over the broccoli in the dish. Sprinkle with ¹/₄cup (60 mL) shredded Cheddar cheese.

Crispy Topping: In small bowl, combine sharp Cheddar cheese, Gluten-Free Bake Mix 2, OR almond flour and melted butter. Stir until it is moist throughout and press out to fill the circumference of a glass pie dish. Bake in oven 20 to 25 minutes or until golden brown. Allow to cool slightly and break it up with a fork. Sprinkle the Crispy Topping over the broccoli. Place broccoli dish in the oven about 5 minutes to heat the broccoli casserole.

Yield: 8 servings

1 serving

238.9 calories

10.3 g protein

19.9 g fat

2.3 g fiber

4.8 g net carbs

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