Southern Broccoli Casserole Recipe

Name: Southern Broccoli Casserole
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 60 min
Ingredients: 3 tablespoons butter; ½ cup onion (finely diced); 2 cloves garlic (minced); 6 cups broccoli florets (chopped or 2 (10 ounce) packages chopped frozen broccoli, thawed); 1 10.5 ounce can cream of mushroom soup; 1 ½ cups shredded sharp Cheddar cheese; ½ cup mayonnaise; ½ cup sour cream; 2 large eggs; 1 ½ teaspoons lemon juice; pinch kosher salt; ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper; 15-20 Ritz crackers (roughly crushed (use as many as you need to cover the top of the casserole)); 2 tablespoons butter (cubed)

Southern Broccoli Casserole is cheesy, creamy, and perfectly delicious. The buttery cracker topping is perfectly crunchy and balances out the soft broccoli and creamy sauce. It’s the perfect Southern side dish.

If there’s one thing I’ve learned from marrying a guy from Louisiana it’s that people in the South love two things – flavorful food and casseroles.

Growing up, Classic Green Bean Casserole was a favorite at both my house and my husband’s house, but this cheesy broccoli casserole is quickly becoming a favorite for both of us. It reminds me of those microwave broccoli and cheese packets that I used to love as a kid – only an adult version, with crunchy crackers on top.

Another favorite of mine is my chicken and broccoli noodle casserole – it is like a cheesy chicken tetrazzini, but you don’t need to run out to get any soups – it is all made from scratch.

A blue casserole dish filled with baked broccoli casserole topped with ritz crackers and a red tea towel.

Casseroles are so easy to make, and when made right, they can be so delicious. They are an easy way to hide vegetables under lots of cheese, and they are easy to transport to family gatherings or events.

We love to make a huge breakfast casserole or a side of cheesy hashbrown potato casserole when guests are coming over because you can feed a lot of people so easily.

Although this broccoli casserole is loaded with broccoli, and I’ve been told it’s a great way to get just about anyone to eat their green veggies, I wouldn’t go so far as to call it a healthy broccoli casserole. It is, however, a super delicious casserole, and it pairs really well with a Thanksgiving turkey. I love to serve it on special occasions, and it is worth every delicious bite.

This delicious side dish uses condensed soup, which I know some people hate, but it really helps this casserole come together. Combined with the cheesy goodness from the sharp cheddar cheese, the soft broccoli, and the crunchy topping from the buttery crackers – this casserole is sure to be a hit with even the pickiest eaters.

A blue casserole dish filled with baked broccoli casserole topped with ritz crackers with a white serving spoon scooping some out.

🥘 Ingredients Needed

The ingredients in broccoli casserole, laid out and labeled.

Butter
Onion
Fresh Garlic
Chopped, Fresh Broccoli Florets – You will need about 6 cups or about two heads of broccoli. (Or, two 10 ounces bags of frozen broccoli.) You can also add cauliflower to change things up!
Cream of Mushroom Soup – You can also use your favorite “cream of” soup; Cream of Chicken Soup, Cream of Celery, Cream of Cheddar, or Cream of Bacon Soup.
Mayonnaise – If you really just can’t get past the mayo, I can schedule a call for you with my father-in-law, and y’all can discuss your priorities in life. (Kidding.) You really should give it a try. Mix with your eyes closed, or have someone else mix it for you. You won’t even know that it is there. If it is really that bad, you can use all sour cream, or you can even try Greek yogurt to lighten it up.
Sour Cream
Eggs
Lemon Juice
Kosher Salt – We found that if we use salted butter, you don’t need to add much salt, just a pinch of salt is more than enough with the salty soup and salty crackers. If you use unsalted butter, you will need a little salt, but you still won’t want to add too much.
Ground Black Pepper
Freshly Grated Sharp Cheddar Cheese – Make sure to grate the cheese fresh, so it melts in the casserole. The bagged stuff has an anti-caking agent, so it doesn’t melt as well. (Some people also like to use Velveeta cheese because of how easily it melts – it makes the filling really smooth and creamy.)

🧈 Buttery Ritz Cracker Crunchy Topping

More Butter – Cut into Cubes
Ritz Crackers – You can also use bread crumbs (add them about halfway through baking), crispy fried onions, or another kind of cracker, but Ritz-style crackers work the best to get that buttery cracker crumb topping. (I’ve also seen people use cheese crackers as a topping… that sounds really good too!)

Broccoli casserole in a blue baking dish, covered in crushed ritz crackers.

🥦 Fresh or Frozen Broccoli?

I would recommend using fresh broccoli that is lightly steamed to add texture to this casserole. You can use frozen broccoli, but defrost it first and drain off all the liquid. Do not cook it, though, as it will already be mushy from being frozen.

🍽 Equipment Needed

A Casserole Dish – Mine is a random oval size from World Market, but I have made this in a 10. 5″ X 7. 5″ Staub baking dish and in an 8×8 square dish as well.

🥣 How to Make Cheesy Broccoli Casserole

This classic side dish is sure to be a crowd-pleaser. To make the best broccoli casserole, preheat your oven to 350°F.

While the oven is preheating, begin melting three tablespoons of butter in a frying pan or skillet over medium-low heat. Add the diced onion and slowly let it start softening. (Pictures 1-2)
While the onion softens, partially cook the broccoli by steaming it. (Picture 4)

You can do this either in the microwave or on the stove:

In the Microwave – place broccoli in a microwave-safe bowl with three tablespoons of water and cover with a plate, then microwave for four minutes.
On the Stove – Use a steamer basket – place broccoli in a steamer basket over simmering water, then cover for 5 minutes.

Once you get the broccoli going, add the diced garlic to the cooking onion, and cook it for just a minute or two until the garlic is fragrant. (Picture 3) Remove it from the heat. The broccoli should be just about done cooking now as well – let it cool. (Picture 5)
While you let the broccoli, butter, onions, and garlic cool a little, you can make the rest of the filling.

A collage of images showing how to make broccoli casserole, steps 1-5.

In a large bowl, combine the condensed soup, mayonnaise, sour cream, eggs, salt, and pepper. Mix until well combined. (Pictures 6-7)
Then fold in the broccoli, the onion mixture (including all the butter from the pan), and all the cheese. (Pictures 8-9)
Pour the filling mixture into your baking dish. You do not need to butter or spray the baking dish, but you can if you want to. (Picture 10)

A collage of images showing how to make broccoli casserole, steps 6-10.

Next, crush up the crackers. I like to use my hands and crush them up into pieces in a small bowl. You can use a food processor if you want to make even crumbs, but I think homeyness & a little chaos is key to a good casserole. (You can also put the crackers in a plastic bag and beat them with a rolling pin.)
Sprinkle the crushed crackers on top of the broccoli mixture, making sure to cover the whole top of the casserole. Then dot the crackers with the remaining cubes of butter.

A collage of images showing broccoli casserole in a baking dish, topped with crackers, then dotted with butter.

Bake for 45 minutes, then let the casserole sit for 10-15 minutes before serving – it will be very hot.

A collage of images showing broccoli casserole baking in the oven as the butter melts and the crackers toast.

Can You Make Broccoli Cheese Casserole Ahead of Time?

To prepare this casserole the day before, make the filling (everything but the cracker topping) and store it in a Tupperware container, but do NOT bake it. The day you’re ready to serve the casserole, dump it in your casserole dish, then crumble the crackers on top and top the crackers with butter. Then bake.

I prefer to do it this way instead of chilling a baking dish, and then putting that in the oven – I don’t like doing that to nice casserole dishes.

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Broccoli Casserole Variations & Substitutions

There are so many variations to this easy recipe.

Change up the Soup: You can use just about any cream of “something” soup in this recipe. Cream of Mushroom, Cream of Chicken, Cream of Cheddar, Cream of Celery, Cream of Onion, or Cream of Bacon. We happen to like Cream of Mushroom and Cream of Chicken – the taste is pretty similar in this recipe – but I have heard great reviews of the others.
Frozen Broccoli: You can use frozen broccoli, but defrost it first and drain off all the liquid. Do not cook it, as it will already be mushy from being frozen. You can also substitute or add cauliflower to the recipe.
Make this a main dish by mixing in cooked chicken and plain white rice. (Or cook some diced chicken with the onions and garlic.) The creamy cheese sauce makes almost a chicken divan kind of dish, and it is such a delicious and easy way to get a meal on the dinner table.
Double it Up: If you’re making this recipe for a large gathering, I highly recommend doubling the recipe and making it in the biggest baking dish that you can find. (A 9×13 dish or lasagna pan would fit double the recipe!)

A scoop of southern broccoli casserole held over a pan of broccoli casserole.

🙋‍♀️ Frequently Asked Questions

Does broccoli need to be cooked before it is added to the casserole?

Fresh broccoli does need to be cooked before it is added to broccoli casserole. Otherwise, it will be really crunchy. Frozen broccoli just needs to be defrosted and drained.

Do you put eggs in broccoli casserole?

Yes, eggs are a great addition to broccoli casserole – don’t skip them!

Can I substitute fresh broccoli for frozen in a casserole?

Yes! I always use fresh broccoli in casseroles. I find that it adds more texture than frozen broccoli. (Frozen broccoli has a tendency to get really mushy in broccoli casserole.) Just be sure to steam fresh broccoli for just a few minutes to partially cook it before adding it to the casserole.

A bite of broccoli casserole on a fork held over a dish of broccoli casserole.

How to Store Leftover Casserole

Once cooled, store the leftover casserole in an airtight container if possible, or cover your casserole dish with foil and try to fit it in the fridge somewhere. Leftovers will keep in the refrigerator for about four days.

Reheat it in the oven or heat individual servings in the microwave. We like to heat the casserole in the microwave on low power, then put it in the air fryer for about a minute to get the topping nice and crunchy again and warm it all the way through.

Helpful Tips

If you use frozen broccoli, be sure to defrost it and drain the liquid before preparing the casserole.
To prepare this casserole the day before, make the filling (everything but the cracker topping) and store it in a Tupperware container, but do NOT bake it. The day you’re ready to serve the casserole, dump it in your casserole dish, then crumble the crackers on top and top the crackers with butter. Then bake. (I prefer to do it this way instead of chilling a baking dish, and then putting that in the oven – I don’t like doing that to nice casserole dishes.)

Have You Tried This Recipe?

Please rate it and leave a comment below. I would love to hear what you think!

What to Serve with Broccoli Casserole

Broccoli Casserole can be served with just about any holiday dinner or any of your favorite Thanksgiving recipes. It’s also the perfect side dish for an easy weeknight dinner. We like to serve it with white rice and fried chicken tenders to make a full meal.

Crockpot Turkey Breast
Easy Oven Roasted Carrots
Sweet Potato Crunch Casserole
Glazed Ham (If you have leftover ham, you can mix it into this casserole as well – it is such a delicious way to use leftover ham!)

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