I have a pan of comfort food for you today in the form of Broccoli Rice Casserole! It’s fully loaded with all the best parts of the original recipe—the creamy, cheesy inside, the scrumptious mix of veggies and rice, and the irresistibly buttery, crispy topping—but is made from scratch with simple, healthy ingredients!

Why You’ll Love This Easy Casserole Recipe

• Family-Friendly. Broccoli, rice, and cheese are three easy favorites. This homey recipe is a hit with kiddos and grown-ups alike. (Check out this Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole for a main dish version with meat.)
• Healthy Ingredients. Forget the “cream-of” soups, soup mixes, and processed cheese. This easy casserole uses simple, feel-good ingredients, and you can taste the love.
• The Crispy Topping. Those buttery breadcrumbs (or crushed Ritz crackers if that’s your gospel) are basically a mandatory part of any casserole recipe.
• Feeds a Crowd. Casseroles are easy to make ahead and scale, making them ideal for holiday gatherings like Christmas, Thanksgiving, and Easter.
• Goes-with-Anything. Since it combines whole grains and veggies into one dish, it’s a perfect side for any protein, from Baked Salmon, to Grilled Chicken Breast, to Crockpot Pork Chops.

How to Make Broccoli Rice Casserole from Scratch

The Ingredients

• Instant Brown Rice. Saves time (and dishes). Instant rice cuts nearly 40 minutes out of the cook time and steams together with the broccoli right in the same pot. I opt for instant brown rice since it is higher in nutrients and fiber than its white rice counterpart. I especially love its chewy texture in casseroles too.
• Broccoli. The star veggie in this casserole (and Broccoli Cheddar Soup). It’s packed with fiber and vitamin C. Plus, it’s begging to be coated in the cheesy flavors.
• Carrots. In addition to broccoli, I supplemented the casserole with carrots. Another kid-friendly favorite, carrots provide color and texture, and they are a natural pairing with broccoli.
• Flour. A little all-purpose flour helps make a thick, velvety sauce (as seen on this healthy Asparagus Casserole).
• Butter. This healthy broccoli casserole with rice does need some richness, so I added just enough butter to do the job without weighing it down with excess fat.
• Milk. You can use any milk you have on hand.
• Dijon Mustard. A subtle addition that makes the cheesy flavors pop.
• Greek Yogurt. Skip the canned soup. This fantastic ingredient is perfect for making creamy casserole sauces (ahem, Turkey Tetrazzini) that typically call for cream of mushroom or cream of chicken soup.
• Cheddar Cheese. Once you try this recipe (or Instant Pot Mac and Cheese) with freshly grated cheese, you’ll swear off Velveeta broccoli rice casserole. I prefer sharp cheddar cheese. Not only does it melt like a dream, it is more fully flavored than mild cheddar.
• Panko + Parmesan Cheese. Is it actually a casserole without the topping? I think not. I like the larger-sized Panko breadcrumbs here because they make the topping especially crunchy (just like on my favorite Pineapple Casserole).

The Directions

1. Boil Water and Add the Rice. Make sure you have extra room in the pot.

2. Add the Broccoli. Cover and the broccoli will steam right on top. Easy!

3. Saute. Do this in a big pot.

4. Sprinkle in the Flour. This will thicken the sauce.

5. Add Milk and Simmer. Once it’s thickened, whisk in the yogurt and shredded cheddar cheese.

6. Stir Everything Together. Then pile the mixture into a greased baking dish.

7. Top with Breadcrumbs. It will look like a lot, but it’s perfect.
8. Cover and Bake. This will make sure the filling gets hot and bubbly.
9. Uncover and Bake a Little Longer. This is to make the breadcrumbs golden. In total, broccoli rice casserole bakes for 25 to 35 minutes at 375 degrees F. ENJOY!

Recipe Variations

• Add Protein. To turn this casserole into a main, you can take a note from this Ground Beef Casserole and add ground beef or stir in shredded chicken or diced ham. To keep the recipe vegetarian, add white beans like in this Broccoli Quinoa Casserole.
• Change Up the Topping. Swap the panko for crushed buttery crackers, crushed cornflakes (like in Hash Brown Casserole), or take a note from Chicken Bacon Ranch Casserole and add a handful of chopped Baked Bacon.
• Add More Fresh Veggies. Feel free to experiment with other vegetables you enjoy and are seasonally available. Cauliflower or grated parsnips would be great variations to consider since their taste, texture, and water content is similar to broccoli and carrots.
• Or Swap Frozen Veggies. This Chicken and Rice Casserole uses a bag of frozen veggies in place of fresh to make it even easier to prepare. The same would work here.
• Skip the Rice. For a low-carb version of this recipe, see my Broccoli Bake, which is similar to a broccoli gratin and does not have rice.

Storage Tips

• To Store. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
• To Reheat. Reheat gently in the microwave or in a casserole dish in the oven at 350 degrees F. If using the oven, loosely tent the casserole pan with foil and place the pan on the center rack for 15 to 25 minutes, until warmed through (the larger the serving, the longer you will need).
• To Freeze. Place leftovers in an airtight, freezer-safe storage container in the freezer for up to 3 months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.

What to Serve with Broccoli Rice Casserole

This easy broccoli rice casserole goes with any of your favorite mains!

• Chicken. See How to Bake Juicy Chicken Breast or elevate your meal with Smoked Chicken Breast.
• Salmon. Salmon is delicious with rice-based sides. Try Baked Salmon, Grilled Salmon, or Instant Pot Salmon.
• Pork Chops. For classic comfort, make Breaded Pork Chops, or get outside with Grilled Pork Chops.
• Turkey. This is a great holiday side for your Roasted Thanksgiving Turkey.
• Veggie-Mains. Serve this vegetarian broccoli rice casserole with the best Vegan Burger or hearty Grilled Portobello Mushrooms for a filling meatless meal.

Recommended Tools to Make this Recipe

• Baking Dish. This one is beautiful!
• Dutch Oven. Perfect for preparing the casserole ingredients.
• Cheese Grater. You can use a microplane grater or a box grater for this recipe.

Recipe Tips and Tricks

• Use Instant Brown Rice. If you’d like to follow the recipe as written, you need to use instant (that is quick-cooking, 10-minute) brown rice. If you’d like to swap in different rice, I recommend cooking it separately, steaming the broccoli separately, then stirring everything together in the pot as directed. Wild rice would be a fun twist; or see How to Cook Brown Rice or How to Cook White Rice for long grain options.
• Dice the Carrots Small. This will ensure they soften completely in the oven.
• Wait to Add the Greek Yogurt. Letting the casserole mixture cool for a bit before you add it deters curdling. If you don’t keep Greek yogurt on hand in your kitchen, you can swap it for light sour cream with equally creamy results.

• Ingredients

  1x2x3x
  • 1 can low-sodium chicken broth or low-sodium vegetable broth (14.5-ounces)
  • 2 cups instant brown rice if you use white rice or non-instant rice, the cooking time and amount of liquid needed will differ
  • 1 pound broccoli florets chopped into bite-sized pieces (about 8 cups)
  • 4 tablespoons butter divided
  • 1 small yellow onion diced
  • 4 medium carrots peeled and cut into 1/4-inch dice (about 1/2 pound)
  • ¾ teaspoon kosher salt divided
  • ¾ teaspoon garlic powder divided
  • ½ teaspoon ground black pepper divided
  • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 2 ½ cups milk (I used skim)
  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
  • ¾ cup nonfat plain Greek yogurt
  • 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese (about 4 ounces)
  • ½ cup panko bread crumbs
  • 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan