Cheesy Cauliflower and Broccoli Casserole - A cheesy cauliflower and broccoli casserole with buttery and golden Ritz cracker crumbs sprinkled over the top.
Want to Save This Recipe?
Enter your email below & we'll send it to your inbox. Plus get great new recipes from us every week!
I've been in Atlanta all week for a conference so I apologize for being a bit MIA around here. The past few days have just flown by. Easter happened and then I was on a plane the next day. Easter was filled with lots of family time and wonderful food. I hope yours was, too.
For our Easter celebration on my husband's side I was tasked with bringing punch, hot veggies and dessert. I decided to take this Cheesy Cauliflower and Broccoli Casserole because I could boil the veggies beforehand and take along the other ingredients and heat the whole thing when I got to my in-laws' house.
When I took this to the Easter celebration, I actually doubled the recipe and put it in a 13x9 inch aluminum foil pan. If you're just feeding four people who are eating this alongside a main dish, you could get away with the recipe as it's posted in the recipe card.
The secret to boiling the vegetables is to boil them just so they soften - you don't want them to turn to mush. If you have a steamer, you could steam them instead of boiling them. It's totally up to you. The whole point is not to cook them too long because they still need to go in the oven!
I'd have to say that my favorite part of the dish is the buttery Ritz cracker topping. With the cheese and Ritz crackers, you really don't need to flavor the vegetables with anything else. If it's just in your blood that you NEED to salt and pepper them a little, then do it. I want you happy, not miserable. 🙂
The cracker topping gets nice and brown, the cheese oozes around the vegetables and the finished dish is pretty decadent. Did I just say decadent when referring to cauliflower and broccoli? Yes, yes I did. If you're more of a parmesan fan, you could also try this veggie casserole recipe. They're both very good.
And by the way, casseroles are A-okay to eat in the spring and summer. I promise. Unlike my pants and sweaters, I just can't seem to put casserole recipes away, even in the warmer months. Enjoy!
Cheesy Cauliflower and Broccoli Casserole
Ingredients
- 10 ounces broccoli florets
- 10 ounces cauliflower florets
- ½ stick (4 tablespoons butter, melted (divided))
- 4 ounces Velveeta cheese (cubed)
- ½ sleeve Ritz crackers
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- In a large saucepan, bring water to boiling on the stove.
- Add cauliflower to boiling water and set timer for 5 minutes. Add broccoli to the pan when there are 2 minutes left on timer.
- Drain when vegetables are tender.
- Arrange broccoli and cauliflower in 9x9 inch pan.
- Pour half of the melted butter over vegetables.
- Sprinkle the cheese cubes over the top.
- Roll out Ritz crackers and place the crumbs into a bowl; mixing the crumbs with the remaining melted butter.
- Sprinkle the crushed crackers over the casserole.
- Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.
Notes
- Uniform Cooking: To ensure even cooking, it's important to cut the cauliflower and broccoli florets into similar sizes. This ensures that they cook at the same rate, resulting in tender and evenly cooked vegetables throughout the casserole.
- Enhance Flavor: While Velveeta cheese provides a creamy and cheesy base for the casserole, feel free to add additional seasonings or mix-ins to enhance the flavor. Consider incorporating minced garlic, chopped onions, or a sprinkle of paprika for extra depth of flavor.
- Texture Variation: For a more varied texture, consider adding additional toppings or mix-ins. Chopped bacon, toasted breadcrumbs, or shredded cheese can be sprinkled on top before baking to add crunch and flavor contrast to the creamy casserole base.
Leave a Reply