Description
A creamy and cheesy broccoli cauliflower casserole featuring a rich sauce and crunchy breadcrumb topping, perfect for a comforting side dish that serves a crowd.
Ingredients
Scale
Vegetables
- 4 cups broccoli, washed and cut into 1 inch pieces
- 3 cups cauliflower, washed and cut into 1 inch pieces
Cream Sauce
- ¼ cup butter
- 1 cup onion, diced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- ¼ cup all purpose flour
- 2 cups milk
- 1 tbsp thyme, fresh
- 2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
- ⅓ cup parmesan cheese, shredded
Crumb Topping
- 1½ cups plain bread crumbs
- 2 tsp garlic powder
- 2 tbsp butter, melted
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Vegetables: Preheat oven to 350° Fahrenheit and heat a large pot of water. Boil or steam the broccoli and cauliflower pieces for 4-5 minutes until they are semi-tender. Drain and place them in a lightly greased 9×13 inch baking pan.
- Make Cream Sauce: In a large skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the diced onion and minced garlic, cooking until tender and fragrant, about 4-5 minutes. Whisk in the flour and cook until thickened. Gradually whisk in the milk, stirring continuously until the mixture is smooth and creamy. Season with salt, black pepper, and fresh thyme.
- Combine and Add Cheese: Pour the creamy sauce evenly over the broccoli and cauliflower pieces in the baking pan. Sprinkle shredded sharp cheddar cheese and parmesan cheese on top.
- Prepare and Add Crumb Topping: In a small bowl, mix the plain bread crumbs with garlic powder and melted butter. Spread this crumb mixture evenly over the casserole.
- Bake the Casserole: Bake the casserole at 350° Fahrenheit for 20 minutes until the topping is golden brown and the vegetables are tender. Remove from oven and let rest briefly before serving.
Notes
- Use fresh broccoli and cauliflower for the best texture and flavor.
- This casserole can be prepared up to 48 hours ahead of time and refrigerated; bake until bubbly in the center before serving.
- The original recipe included chicken broth in the cream sauce, but it was removed to create a thicker sauce. If your sauce is too thick, add a little more milk to reach your desired consistency.
- For a crispier topping, you can toast the bread crumbs lightly before mixing with butter and garlic powder.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 220 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 480 mg
- Fat: 14 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 14 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 9 g
- Cholesterol: 40 mg
