Make this simple broccoli and cheese aspect dish with tender broccoli, carrots, and crispy bacon baked in a creamy, flavorful cheese sauce.
This tacky broccoli is intently associated to my broccoli cheese casserole and creamy Brussels sprouts with bacon, two extra “sneaky” veggie recipes packed filled with taste!
I’ve realized over time that if there’s one option to get youngsters, husbands, and choosy eaters to eat their veggies, it’s by smothering them in cheese. Simply ask my roasted eggplant or candy potato gratin. This broccoli and cheese recipe is one other prime instance: tender steamed broccoli and carrots get tossed with bacon and a creamy, bubbly cheese sauce. It’s a easy vegetable aspect dish that’s 100% irresistible!
Why I Love This Broccoli and Cheese Recipe
- Fast and simple. This cheese and broccoli aspect dish comes along with a handful of elements and little or no prep. It’s fast to throw collectively, however the taste trade-off is subsequent stage!
- Wealthy and tacky. I like a recipe that turns two of my favourite greens – carrots and broccoli – into pure, simple consolation meals. The sauce bakes up golden and bubbly across the veggies. I’ll even serve this broccoli with cheese sauce over rice for a lightweight and simple lunch!
- Any event. This broccoli and cheese recipe has me lined year-round. It’s a flexible aspect dish that goes with nearly any meal. Who can say no to a skillet of veggies and cheese?
What You’ll Want
Under is an inventory of the elements you’ll want, together with notes and attainable substitutions, to make this simple broccoli recipe and cheese sauce. Scroll all the way down to the printable recipe card for a whole checklist with recipe quantities.
- Broccoli – I exploit recent broccoli, chopped into florets (see beneath).
- Carrots – Thinly sliced.
- Bacon – Streaky, thick-cut, or again bacon, diced up in order that it cooks rapidly.
- Half-and-Half – You could possibly additionally use heavy cream for a richer sauce.
- Dijon Mustard – Yellow mustard works, too.
- Garlic – I like to make use of freshly minced garlic. You may substitute ¼-½ teaspoon of garlic powder per clove if wanted.
- Parmesan Cheese – Freshly grated is finest. Different good choices are pecorino, mozzarella, cheddar, and Gruyère.
- Nutmeg – Freshly grated or floor nutmeg, plus salt and pepper to season.
Contemporary vs. Frozen Greens
Contemporary or frozen broccoli and carrots work properly on this recipe. If you happen to’re utilizing frozen veggies, you may skip the steaming/par-boiling step within the recipe beneath. As a substitute, merely thaw them and drain off any extra liquid earlier than you begin. Chances are you’ll discover a barely totally different texture within the closing dish when utilizing frozen veggies.
Methods to Make Broccoli and Cheese
Other than rapidly steaming the veggies individually, the remainder of this broccoli aspect dish comes collectively in a single skillet. Observe the steps beneath to make the very best broccoli and cheese!
- Prepare dinner the broccoli and carrots. Whereas the oven preheats to a sizzling 400ºF, steam the carrots and broccoli in a shallow pot of water for 4-5 minutes. As soon as the veggies are tender, drain and set them apart.
- Prepare dinner the bacon. Fry the diced bacon in a skillet with slightly oil till it’s crispy. Alternatively, make a batch of air fryer bacon and cube it up afterward.
- Mix. Add the broccoli and carrots to the skillet with the bacon, and let that cook dinner by way of for a minute.
- In the meantime, make the sauce. Whisk half-and-half with Dijon, half the parmesan, garlic, salt, pepper, and nutmeg in a bowl.
- Assemble and bake. Pour the cheese sauce over the broccoli, and sprinkle the remaining parmesan on prime. Bake at 400ºF for 15-20 minutes, till the sauce is bubbly and the highest is evenly browned.
Suggestions and Variations
- Dry the broccoli properly. If you happen to’re utilizing recent broccoli, rinse and dry it properly earlier than you add it to the skillet. If there’s an excessive amount of liquid left over, the sauce will end up watery as soon as it’s added to the pan. Likewise, when you use frozen broccoli, ensure that to thaw and drain it.
- Don’t overbake. Take the broccoli and cheese out of the oven as soon as the cheese sauce begins to bubble and brown. Leaving it in too lengthy may cause the sauce to separate.
- Make it spicy. Give your cheese sauce some kick with crushed purple pepper flakes, diced jalapeños, cayenne pepper, or a touch of sizzling sauce.
- Extra veggies. Sautéed mushrooms, sliced onions, bell peppers, candy corn, peas, and spinach are all nice add-ins.
- Add a topping. Add a crunchy topping of Ritz crackers or breadcrumbs earlier than baking to show your broccoli and cheese into extra of a casserole-style dish. Merely combine breadcrumbs or crushed crackers with melted butter like I do in my Ritz rooster casserole and creamy veggie casserole.
Storing and Reheating Leftovers
- Refrigerate. Retailer leftover broccoli and cheese in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 4 days. I don’t suggest this recipe for freezing because the cheese sauce tends to separate when it’s thawed.
- Reheat. Heat the broccoli and cheese within the microwave or oven till it’s sizzling all through. You could possibly additionally use a skillet with a lid on the stovetop.
Extra Tacky Broccoli Recipes
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Prep. Preheat the oven to 400ºF.
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Parboil the broccoli. Place broccoli florets and carrots in a big saucepan with 1-inch water. Deliver it to a boil and canopy. Proceed to cook dinner for 4 to five minutes or till fork tender. Drain.
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Prepare dinner the bacon. Warmth olive oil in a big oven-safe skillet. Add bacon and cook dinner for 3 minutes or till crispy.
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Mix. Add the broccoli and carrots to the skillet with the bacon and proceed to cook dinner for 1 minute.
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Make the sauce. Within the meantime, put together the sauce by combining half & half, dijon mustard, half of the parmesan cheese, garlic, salt, pepper, and nutmeg in a mixing bowl. Combine till properly mixed.
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Put all of it collectively. Take away the skillet from the warmth. Pour the ready cream sauce over the broccoli and sprinkle the remaining parmesan cheese excessive.
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Bake. Bake for 15 to twenty minutes or till bubbly and the highest is golden brown. Take away the broccoli from the oven and let it relaxation for a couple of minutes earlier than serving.
Energy: 311kcal | Carbohydrates: 15g | Protein: 15g | Fats: 21g | Saturated Fats: 9g | Ldl cholesterol: 48mg | Sodium: 560mg | Potassium: 685mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 5250IU | Vitamin C: 137mg | Calcium: 308mg | Iron: 1.5mg
Dietary data is an estimate and supplied as courtesy. Values might differ based on the elements and instruments used. Please use your most popular dietary calculator for extra detailed data.
