My mom just brought back the old-school veggie casserole I didn’t realize I’d been missing
Just the nostalgic side dish to get me inspired to cook more in the new year.
This year, my husband and I are vowing to eat out less. As luck would have it, my mom was coming to town a few weeks ago, which usually involves a car full of food from her freezer. For us, that meant no eating out but also no cooking, a win-win. Along with a chicken pot pie and some leftover good luck soup from New Year’s Day, one of the dishes she had frozen was a Broccoli-Cheese Casserole. I couldn’t remember the last time I enjoyed a bite of Broccoli-Cheese Casserole, and it was a welcome comfort on a chilly January night.
Why I Love This Casserole
This Broccoli-Cheese Casserole is a quintessential Southern vegetable side dish. The buttery cracker topping alone transported me to a Thanksgiving meal at my grandmother’s house. It’s simple, cozy, and easy to make, too. It’s a go-with-anything side dish, so you can serve it with whatever main dish you have planned. I didn’t have the time or patience for cooking, so I actually picked up a rotisserie chicken to go with our Broccoli-Cheese Casserole. Not only does this dish freeze well after it’s been cooked, but you can also prep it, freeze it, and then bake it with beautiful results.
What You’ll Need
The ingredient list is full of kitchen staples you probably have already. Aside from fresh broccoli, you’ll need sharp Cheddar cheese (shred your own, folks!), a yellow onion, garlic, and fresh parsley. Everything else is likely in your pantry or fridge: butter, flour, milk, mayo, Dijon, salt, pepper, and buttery crackers. The Test Kitchen used Club Original Crackers, but if y’all know you can swap for Ritz if that’s your go-to.
How To Make It
This Broccoli-Cheese Casserole is easy enough for any novice cook to bring to the potluck and impress everyone. Simply make the cheese sauce on the stovetop (no cream-of soups in this from-scratch recipe), stir in steamed broccoli florets, add to a casserole dish, sprinkle your topping over it, and bake!
This Broccoli-Cheese Casserole was just the nostalgic side dish to get me inspired to cook more in the new year. And as I watched my toddler devour his serving, it reminded me that dinner doesn’t have to be fancy to be article-worthy.
