Cheesy Broccoli Rice Casserole makes a filling and satisfying accompaniment to any meal, especially around the holidays. It’s always a family favorite and super easy to make thanks to Minute® Rice. It cooks up so wonderfully cheesy!
There’s so much to do in the weeks leading up to Christmas, it can be hard to catch your breath, let alone make a family meal. Especially if you are like me and tend to procrastinate with your shopping and decorating. I still have a few presents to buy, but as of last night the tree is decorated.
A box of Minute Rice® in your pantry will help you put a meal on the table when time is short and the hunger pangs are getting louder.
With Minute® White Rice, you can have fluffy rice in only 5 minutes. It’s like magic!
Broccoli Rice Casserole Recipe
This casserole is one of the very first things I learned to cook (many, many years ago!). Every time I make it I think back to when it was just me and my husband living in a little bungalow. Even though I had spent lots of time in the kitchen as a child, it was always making fun things. When it came to putting a meal on the table every night, I had no idea what to do. This casserole saved me again and again because it is so easy, so economical, and it will feed a crowd – or a couple for a whole week!
If you grew up in the south like I did, you probably have a grandmother who made this recipe or one very similar to it.
This casserole is incredibly cheesy. Who doesn’t love broccoli and cheese? But the best thing about this casserole is thanks to Minute® Rice, there’s no need to cook the rice first. That’s time saved and fewer dishes to wash!
Easy To Make
This recipe uses lots of convenience items like Minute Rice, condensed soup, and Velveeta cheese. Want to make a from-scratch Broccoli Casserole? Try this Cheesy Broccoli and Rice Casserole Recipe.
I cook some onion and celery in a Dutch oven, then add the processed cheese and let it melt. I go ahead and add all the other ingredients to the Dutch oven so I have as few dishes to wash as possible. Mix it really well, spoon it into a casserole dish, and pop it in the oven. Easy as can be.
Recipe Tips
- You can add a cup and a half of diced cooked chicken or ham to this recipe to make it a full meal.
- Prep ahead of time and refrigerate until you are ready to bake it.
Use Instant Rice
Do NOT use regular rice for this recipe. It will not fully cook. You must use instant rice which has a much shorter cooking time.
Storage
Leftovers will keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 4 days and can be reheated in a microwave.
More Awesome Casserole Recipes
- Pineapple Casserole– another great retro recipe.
- Black-Eyed Pea Casserole– another great southern casserole.
- Vidalia Onion Casserole– a great casserole to make in the Spring!
- Lima Bean Casserole– surprisingly delicious!
- Yellow Squash Casserole– a favorite at my house.
Watch the short video below to see how easy this recipe is to make!
Broccoli Rice Casserole
Equipment
- 9×13-inch casserole dish
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 2 ribs celery, chopped
- 1 teaspoon seasoned salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 (16-ounce) package processed American cheese (Velveeta), cut into cubes
- 1 can condensed cream of mushroom soup
- 1 can condensed cream of chicken soup
- 2 1/2 cups Minute rice, uncooked
- 3/4 cup milk
- 1/4 cup sour cream
- 2 (10-ounce) packages frozen chopped broccoli, defrosted
- 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease a casserole dish (9X13-inch).
- Melt butter in a Dutch oven over medium heat and add onion and celery. Cook 5 minutes.
- Add cubes of processed cheese and stir until mostly melted.–
- Add remaining ingredients, except shredded cheddar. Mix well.–
- Spoon into prepared dish, cover with aluminum foil. (Spray foil with cooking spray so it doesn’t stick to the food.)
- Place in oven for 30 minutes.
- Remove foil, sprinkle cheddar cheese on top and leave in oven for another 10-15 minutes.–
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Minute® Rice.
Can you use fresh broccoli?
Yes, but I would cook it until crisp-tender before adding it.
I made this with fresh broccoli, par boiled, sliced waterchestnuts and sauteed sweet roasted red peppers and added sauteed crunched club crackers approximately1-1 1/2 cups and 2-3 Tablespoons on the top and I cut up skinless boneless chicken breasts, diced up and seasoned with poultry seasoning and garlic powder and paprika . YUMMY!!
it was delicious!
Paula, did you cook the chicken before adding it in? Or did you add it in raw to be cooked? Also, did you have to adjust the cooking time? Sounds delicious with chicken and the crackers on it!
Cook the chicken first
This is a great recipe! I made this and took it for our Easter celebration last week at my parent’s house and everybody loved it. Definitely use the chopped broccoli like the recipe called for. My grocery store didn’t have chopped so I used cut broccoli and a few pieces were super hard.
Thank you!!!
Buy the kraft slices stack them and cut into cubes. And chop the broccoli by hand.
What ounce can of mushroom and chicken should be used
This broccoli casserole was absolutely amazing and super easy. I used a pound of land o lakes white American and a triple cheddar blend on the top. Thank you for the recipe.
So glad you enjoyed it Lindsay!
I bought the jar cheese whiz will this work instead of the block cheese?
I’ve never tried it with the cheese whiz, but I think it will be good. If I remember correctly though (haven’t eaten cheese whiz in forever) it has a stronger flavor than block cheese so you might not want to overdue it with the cheese whiz.
Thank you and Happy Thanksgiving !!
I have always used cheese wiz in mine. I put half the jar in the mixture and then drizzle the other half over it before putting it in the oven.
My mom uses cheese whiz and it delicious. The only difference is cheese whiz has a slightly stronger cheese flavor.
Yes, you can absolutely make with cheese whiz, this is how my mom has made it for years. The only time of year I eat cheese whiz!
I always use a jar of cheese whiz.
Yes the original reipes for This casserole was using cheese Whiz or Velveeta cheese jarred cheese spread. It always came out great
I’m gonna add some rotisserie chicken to it the morning of Thanksgiving and thank you for this recipe ,looks amazing !!!! I have an amazing cheesy ham green bean casserole recipe that I’m making as well
Could you put ground beef in it?
Yes, I think you could add some cooked ground beef.
Can I make this the night before and put in oven next day?
I haven’t tried that Kacey and I’m not sure how it would effect the texture of the rice.
I do it all the time. You might have to bake longer..make sure you set the casserole dish out so it gets to room temperature.
So you don’t cook the rice prior to putting it in the oven?
Not if you are using Minute rice.
I have also used Mexican velvetta cheese if you like it spicy.
That sounds wonderful!!
Do you think I could add chicken to it? Like cooked rotisserie chicken?
I have a question re: package processed American cheese. Is it Velveta cheese you cubed or just regular sliced cheese? Looking forward to making this casserole. Thank you.
I used Velveeta cheese 🙂