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A spoonful being taken from a baked Cheesy Broccoli Rice Casserole topped with melted cheddar cheese and broccoli florets.

Cheesy Broccoli Rice Casserole

This recipe makes a simple, one-pot casserole featuring rice, broccoli, and melted cheddar cheese, finished under the broiler.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Resting Time 5 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: American
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1 yellow onion, finely chopped
  • 3 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
  • 1 large head broccoli, stem coarsely chopped, florets cut into 1-inch pieces
  • 1 cup long-grain white rice
  • 4 ounces grated, sharp Cheddar (1 cup)
  • 1.75 cups water
  • 1 teaspoon Diamond Crystal kosher salt for seasoning rice
  • Salt for initial vegetables
  • Hot sauce for serving, optional

Equipment

  • Large Dutch oven or oven-safe skillet with a lid

Method
 

  1. Melt the butter in a large Dutch oven or oven-safe skillet over medium heat. Add the onion, garlic, and chopped broccoli stem. Season with salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are soft but not browned, 5 to 7 minutes.
  2. Add the rice and 1¾ cups water. Season with about 1 teaspoon of kosher salt. Bring the mixture to a boil, then cover the pan, reduce the heat to low, and simmer for 10 minutes.
  3. After 10 minutes of rice cooking, quickly scatter the broccoli florets on top of the rice and season with a pinch of salt. Cover and cook until the rice is tender and the broccoli is bright green, about 8 to 10 more minutes. Turn off the heat and let the dish rest, covered, for about 5 minutes.
  4. While the rice rests, arrange a rack near the broiler and heat the broiler to high. Gently stir the broccoli and rice together, then sprinkle the cheese evenly over the top. Broil until the cheese is melted and golden in spots, 2 to 4 minutes. Serve with hot sauce if desired.

Notes

This recipe cooks the rice and broccoli in stages to achieve the correct texture for both components before the final cheese topping is melted.

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