Experience the ultimate comfort food with our irresistible Southern Broccoli Rice Casserole. Creamy rice, tender broccoli, and melted cheese come together in every bite. Everyone will love the flavor of this easy side dish. Perfect for family gatherings any time of year.

This might be one of my favorite recipes. Not only does it make the perfect side dish in terms of flavor, but it's such an easy casserole to make as well. All you need are a few minutes of time and a casserole dish to hold all the simple ingredients, and you'll be well on your way to eating this dish in no time at all.

You can pair it with any main dish, as it's the perfect addition. The next time that you need to feed the whole family quickly, keep this classic recipe handy. It's also really good to take to a potluck dinner as it's always a total crowd pleaser. It's been our family favorite for years - and you're about to see why we're obsessed with this cheesy goodness.

This is also a great vegetarian main course. Serve with a big salad and this Luzianne Sweet Tea Recipe for a great meal.

Be sure to check out my Loaded Green Bean Casserole Recipe for another fun and simple way to use veggies.

Ingredients

Butter - I like to use salted butter for this recipe, but any will work.

Chopped onion - Vidalia onions or sweet onions add a really great flavoring.

Broccoli florets - Clean and wash well before adding.

Evaporated milk - Helps to add texture.

Cream of mushroom soup - This adds flavoring and thickness to the casserole. It will also thicken as it cools.

Sour cream - For texture and richness.

Shredded cheddar cheese - The star of the cheesy show.

Cooked rice - You can choose to use any type of cooked rice.

Salt & pepper - You can season to taste with salt and pepper.

How to make this Southern Broccoli Rice Casserole Recipe

Step One: Heat the oven to 350 degrees.

Step Two: Add the onion and the butter to the casserole dish. Cook for 15 minutes in the oven until softened.

Expert Tip: Alternatively, you can melt butter over medium heat in a large skillet and then saute then onions until golden brown.

Step Three: Mix the milk, soup, sour cream, cheese, and seasonings together in a large bowl.

Step Four: Fold in the broccoli, rice, and softened onion. Add more salt or pepper, if desired.

Step Five: Put the mixture back into the casserole dish.

Step Six: Bake for 30 minutes or until the casserole is hot and bubbly.

Variations

Add chicken broth - Adding a little bit of broth to this recipe can be a great way to add flavoring. Just don't add a ton as it can be too much liquid. You can also use cream of chicken soup for flavor.

Top with Ritz crackers - Putting crushed Ritz cracker on top of this casserole dish is a great way to add flavor and texture. Bread crumbs are also a fun idea, or you can even top with different types of cheese, too.

Add seasonings - Mixing in garlic powder, extra black pepper or kosher salt, and even a little bit of Parmesan cheese is a fun twist.

Common Questions

Should I use fresh broccoli or frozen broccoli for this recipe?

I highly recommend that you use fresh broccoli for this easy broccoli rice casserole. The texture of the fresh broccoli paired with the rice mixture makes it have a good texture that isn't too mushy.

If all that you have on hand is frozen broccoli, you can use it, but you do need to be sure to thaw it, drain it, and get out as much liquid as possible before adding it to the rest of the ingredients.

Can I use instant white rice?

As long as the rice is cooked, it should be fine to use. This is what makes this such a great casserole recipe - you have options on how to make this broccoli rice cheese casserole your own!

You can cook up long grain rice, brown rice, instant rice, or any other type of rice that you want to use.

Can I use other cheeses for this broccoli casserole?

You can. I love to use sharp cheddar cheese, but you can easily use any type of cheese or even a creamy cheese sauce for this dish. Great recipes like this can be versatile and prove why they're perfect for an easy weeknight dinner.

The best way to find out which type of cheese that you like best is to change the type used each time you make this recipe. Process of delicious elimination! You can even mix and match the types of cheese, too. Such a simple recipe.

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