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“BROCCOLI & CHEESE CASSEROLE” IS IN:

BROCCOLI & CHEESE CASSEROLE 
1/2 lb. cold sliced chicken
1 lb. broccoli crowns
3 tbsp. freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
2 tbsp. unsalted butter plus 1 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
2 cloves finely minced garlic
1/2 cup Italian seasoned bread crumbs or crushed Ritz crackers
1/2 tsp. paprika
3 tbsp. fresh parsley, minced

Preheat oven to 350°F.

Steam or briefly boil broccoli for about 5 minutes (depends on maturity of the broccoli), or until almost, but not quite tender. Plunge into cold water to stop the cooking. The broccoli should be a bright green in color and should retain a crisp crunch.

In a 2 1/2 quart casserole, melt butter and olive oil in microwave with minced garlic until butter has melted and garlic is sizzling. Toss bread crumbs with the melted butter mixture, to coat; stir in parsley.

Scoop most of the bread crumb mixture onto a sheet of wax paper, and set aside (some bread crumbs may remain in casserole to make a base for the chicken).

Arrange cooked chicken slices in a layer along the bottom of the casserole and top with the steamed broccoli. Cover with sauce (below). Sprinkle with the buttered breadcrumbs or crushed Ritz crackers. Top with grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese. Sprinkle with paprika for extra color and a piquant flavor.

Brown on the top third shelf in a 350°F. oven for about 15 minutes or until nicely golden.

Variation: Cooked elbow macaroni and sliced mushrooms may be added before being topped with the sauce.

Sauce:

1 cup milk or cream
1/2 tsp. salt
2 tbsp. butter
2 tbsp. flour
1 egg yolk
1/2 cup Gruyere or sharp Cheddar cheese
1/2 tsp. Coleman's Mustard

In a microwavable bowl, melt butter; whisk in flour and when blended, slowly stir in milk. Heat for 3-5 minutes, stirring occasionally until mixture thickens. Beat a few tablespoons of the hot liquid into 1 egg yolk; then transfer the egg yolk back into the sauce, whisking quickly. Add Gruyere or sharp Cheddar cheese and dry mustard. Microwave for another 1 or 2 minutes or until cheese has melted.

To save on clean-up and extra preparation steps, (an important consideration in the Cooks.com Test Kitchen!) this sauce is easiest to prepare in a microwave, but may also be made in a double boiler, as is done traditionally.

Submitted by: CM

Since microwave ovens vary in power, you may need to adjust your cooking time.

recipe reviews
Broccoli & Cheese Casserole
 #6878
 Aimee says:
I found this website from a New York Times article I read today and I am so happy I did! This was the best broccoli casserole ever and my family devoured it and they will not even eat broccoli most of the time. I just wanted to say thank you for a wonderful recipe and a great site!
 #6880
 Jim T. says:
This was great. I've made it a few times. The sauce is simply tops. If time is an issue, cream of mushroom is good in this to skip the sauce step.
 #7941
 Miranda says:
Can I slice raw chicken to make this recipe?
 #7954
 Cooks.com replies:
Hi Miranda,

The recipe didn't specify raw chicken; in the additional time it would take for the chicken to cook, the broccoli (which is pre-cooked) would be overcooked. The 15 minute cooking time is enough to heat cold, cooked chicken and cooked broccoli.

The recipe calls for cold sliced chicken, meaning the kind you'd find in the deli or cold chicken sliced from a rotisserie chicken. Casseroles are a good way of using up leftovers, too.

Hope this helps!

-- CM
 #7971
 Keisha says:
Finally I made this meal for my family. My family loved my meal :)
 #20077
 Robert Shoemaker (Iowa) says:
I wonder how well this would turn out if you used cooked Italian Sausage instead of using the chicken?
   #57935
 Olivia (California) says:
Pretty darn good and easy to make! So tasty -- helps the broccoli go down ;)
   #58204
 Debbie (United States) says:
First of all I LOVE many of your recipes CM and this one is one of my very favorites! I have made this several times now. It has become a favorite for my family here in Washington and for my family in California as well. I wanted to thank you for this dish and the many other great recipes you share on here as well! You are a five star cook my friend!
 #188725
 Cooks.com replies:
Hi Debbie,

Thank you for letting me know - this recipe is one of my favorites, too!

-- CM
   #77892
 Tiffiny (North Carolina) says:
This is the best casserole I have made and I am a really good cook. So thanks for the inspiration!
   #182399
 Chris (Georgia) says:
Ritz crackers, how cheeky! Tasty though.

 

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