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Broccoli Rice Casserole Recipe with Cheddar and Ritz Crisp Easy and Delicious

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A comforting broccoli rice casserole combining tender broccoli, fluffy rice, and sharp cheddar cheese topped with a buttery, crispy Ritz cracker crust. Perfect for quick weeknight dinners or potlucks.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 4 cups broccoli florets, fresh or frozen (thawed)
  • 2 cups cooked white or brown rice (about 1 cup uncooked)
  • 1½ cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
  • 1 cup crushed Ritz crackers (about 20 crackers)
  • 4 tablespoons butter, melted (divided)
  • 1 can (10.5 oz) condensed cream of mushroom soup
  • ¾ cup milk (180 ml)
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder (optional)
  • Salt and pepper to taste (start with ½ teaspoon salt)

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
  2. Prepare the broccoli: steam or blanch fresh florets for about 3 minutes until just tender and bright green. Drain well. If using thawed frozen broccoli, pat dry with paper towels.
  3. Cook the rice using your preferred method until fluffy and fully done. Let it cool slightly.
  4. In a medium bowl, combine the condensed cream of mushroom soup and milk. Stir in onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper until smooth.
  5. In a large bowl, gently fold together the cooked rice, broccoli, shredded cheddar (reserve ½ cup for topping), and the soup mixture until just combined.
  6. Crush the Ritz crackers into fine crumbs. Mix with 2 tablespoons melted butter and the reserved ½ cup cheddar cheese.
  7. Lightly butter a 9×13-inch baking dish. Spread the broccoli rice mixture evenly inside.
  8. Sprinkle the Ritz and cheddar topping evenly over the casserole, gently pressing down for good coverage.
  9. Bake for 25-30 minutes until edges are bubbly and topping is golden and crispy. If topping browns too quickly, loosely cover with foil.
  10. Let the casserole rest for about 5 minutes before serving.

Notes

Steam broccoli just until tender to avoid sogginess. Let rice cool slightly before mixing to prevent cheese from melting too early. Crush Ritz crackers into small crumbs, not powder, for best topping texture. If topping browns too fast, tent with foil. Let casserole rest before serving to set.

Nutrition

Keywords: broccoli rice casserole, cheddar cheese casserole, Ritz cracker topping, comfort food, easy casserole, quick dinner, cheesy broccoli rice

Find it online: https://tempotaste.com/broccoli-rice-casserole-recipe-with-cheddar-and-ritz-crisp-easy-and-delicious/