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    Home » Recipes » Side Dishes

    Angela @ BakeItWithLove.com · Leave a Comment

    Broccoli And Cheese

    Jump to Recipe
    Pin image with text showing broccoli and cheese.

    Broccoli and cheese is a quick and tasty side dish that pairs together two well-loved and amazing flavors! Not only is the cheese sauce easy to make, but it is so good that even the pickiest eaters will want to try it! It is warm, cheesy, and ready in just 15 minutes.

    Quick Broccoli & Cheese Recipe

    Cheese makes everything better, right? Well, this tasty melted cheese sauce takes your standard broccoli and elevates it to make an extra yummy side dish that everyone will enjoy!

    Not to mention, adding a rich cheese sauce is a great way to get the kiddos to want to try out some broccoli. And adding the cheese does not take away the health benefits of the broccoli, so it is still completely nutritious!

    Square image showing broccoli and cheese.
    Broccoli and cheese is a kid-friendly side dish that is both quick and simple to make!
    Jump to:
    • Quick Broccoli & Cheese Recipe
    • 🥘 Broccoli And Cheese Ingredients
    • 🔪 How To Make Stovetop Broccoli & Cheese
    • 💭 Angela's Tips & Recipe Notes
    • 🥡 Storing & Reheating
    • ❓ FAQ
    • 🥦 Easy Vegetable Side Dishes
    • 📋 Recipe

    For some more easy and delicious recipes, take a look at all of my favorite vegetable side dishes!

    🥘 Broccoli And Cheese Ingredients

    For this easy side, you'll just need some broccoli, cheese, milk, cornstarch, and some seasonings. I recommend grating your own cheese as it melts better than prepackaged shredded cheese!

    Tall image showing broccoli and cheese ingredients.
    • Broccoli - 4 cups of broccoli, plus water for steaming. I used fresh broccoli, but you could also easily make this recipe using frozen broccoli!
    • Whole Milk - 1 cup of whole milk (or half & half, or heavy cream).
    • Cornstarch - 1 tablespoon of cornstarch or a cornstarch substitute.
    • Garlic Powder - ¼ teaspoon of garlic powder.
    • Salt & Pepper - ⅛ teaspoon of both salt & pepper (to taste).
    • Cheddar Cheese - 1 cup of freshly grated cheddar cheese.
    • Parmesan Cheese - 2 tablespoons of freshly grated Parmesan cheese.

    *Be sure to see the free printable recipe card below for ingredients, exact amounts & instructions with tips!*

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    🔪 How To Make Stovetop Broccoli & Cheese

    This dish is so easy, you just have to steam the broccoli and then make the sauce! You will need a saucepan, a cheese grater, and a whisk.

    This recipe will make enough broccoli and cheese for 4 servings.

    Process image 1 showing cream in saucepan.
    Process image 2 showing whisking cream in saucepan.
    Process image 3 showing added seasoning.
    Process image 4 showing added cheese.
    Process image 5 showing melted cheese.
    1. Cook the broccoli. Wash and trim 4 cups of broccoli, then place florets into either:
      1) A microwave-safe dish with ¼ cup cold water. Cover and steam in the microwave until fork tender, about 6-8 minutes.
      2) A saucepan with a steamer basket insert and 1 cup water, bring to a boil, then reduce heat to simmer and steam, about 5-6 minutes.
      3) A skillet with 1 cup water, simmer over medium heat, covered. Cook for about 4-5 minutes or until fork tender.
    2. Drain. Once the broccoli is cooked, remove it from the heat and drain the water as needed. Cover and keep warm while the sauce finishes.
    3. Thicken. Add 1 cup of whole milk and 1 tablespoon of cornstarch to a saucepan and whisk to combine. Heat at medium, occasionally whisking, until thickened.
    4. Melt the cheese. Remove from heat and whisk in the seasoning (¼ teaspoon of garlic powder and ⅛ teaspoon of both salt and ground black pepper), then add 1 cup of cheddar and 2 tablespoons of Parmesan cheese. Stir until melted.
    5. Serve. Serve immediately over the broccoli.

    Serve your broccoli and cheese alongside some rice, baked cheeseburgers, or stovetop meatloaf! Pair it with some of your kid's other favorite sides, like yellow mashed potatoes or creamed corn! Enjoy!

    💭 Angela's Tips & Recipe Notes

    • You will need water for steaming the broccoli, from ¼ cup for microwave steaming to 1 cup for basket steaming on the stovetop.
    • I prefer to toss the cooked broccoli in the cheese sauce for an even coating. Optionally, additional shredded cheese could be sprinkled over the broccoli with cheese at serving.
    • You can easily mix up the seasonings to suit your tastes. I like to add in some Cajun seasoning for a kick!
    • For a tangier and creamier sauce, mix in ¼ cup of sour cream after the cheese has melted.
    Wide image showing broccoli and cheese.

    🥡 Storing & Reheating

    Transfer the cooled leftovers to an airtight storage container and refrigerate for up to 3-4 days. I don't suggest freezing the cooked broccoli and cheese as the sauce does not stand up to freezing well and will separate.

    Reheating Broccoli And Cheese

    Heat in the microwave covered with a damp paper towel. Use short 30-second increments on high power, stirring in between, until warmed to your satisfaction. Alternatively, you can return the broccoli and cheese to a saucepan over medium-low heat to cook until heated through.

    >>>>See all of my recipes HERE<<<<

    ❓ FAQ

    What Is The Best Cooking Method For Broccoli?

    Broccoli can be cooked in a variety of different ways. It can be boiled, steamed, pan-fried, roasted, or sauteed. For this recipe, I recommend steaming it. However, use the method that works best for you!

    What Cheese Melts The Best For Cheese Sauce?

    Cheddar, fontina, havarti, and gruyere are all types of cheese that melt really well! I use cheddar in this recipe, but you can easily switch it up with another type of cheese. For more information, I have an entire post about the best cheeses for melting!

    Why Is My Cheese Sauce Lumpy?

    If your cooking over a heat that is too hot, the water could separate from the cheese and cause the protein to turn into curds. If you noticed that your sauce looks lumpy, remove it from the heat, add a few drops of milk, and then whisk quickly for about 10 seconds.

    Tall image showing broccoli and cheese.

    🥦 Easy Vegetable Side Dishes

    • Baked Cauliflower With Cheese - If you prefer cauliflower, try out this cauliflower and cheese side dish!
    • Air Fryer Baby Potatoes - Bite-sized potatoes are crisp on the outside and fluffy on the inside!
    • Baked Buttercup Squash - A sweet and savory side dish that is both nutritious and delicious!
    • Mashed Sweet Potatoes - An easy and quick recipe for enjoying some sweet potatoes!
    • Roasted Yellow Squash - Yellow squash rounds are drizzled with olive oil, cheese, and seasoning before being baked in the oven!
    • Sauteed Green Beans - Green beans are sauteed until tender with some salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder!

    Do you love a recipe you tried? Please leave a 5-star 🌟rating in the recipe card below and/or a review in the comments section further down the page.
    Stay in touch with me through social media @ Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter! Don't forget to tag me when you try one of my recipes!

    📋 Recipe

    Wide image showing broccoli and cheese.
    Print Recipe Leave A Comment
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    5 from 2 reviews

    Broccoli And Cheese

    Broccoli and cheese is a quick and tasty side dish that pairs together two well-loved and amazing flavors! Not only is the cheese sauce easy to make, but it is so good that even the pickiest eaters will want to try it! It is warm, cheesy, and ready in just 15 minutes.
    Author | Angela
    Servings: 4 servings
    Calories: 201kcal
    Prep 5 minutes
    Cooking 10 minutes
    Total Time 15 minutes
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    Ingredients
     

    • 4 cups broccoli (plus water for steaming)
    • 1 cup whole milk (or half & half, or heavy cream)
    • 1 tablespoon cornstarch
    • ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
    • ⅛ teaspoon each, salt & pepper (to taste)
    • 1 cup cheddar cheese (grated)
    • 2 tablespoon Parmesan cheese (grated)

    Instructions

    • Wash and trim the broccoli then place florets into either:
      1) A microwave-safe dish with ¼ cup cold water. Cover and steam in the microwave until fork tender, about 6-8 minutes.
      2) A saucepan with a steamer basket insert and 1 cup water, bring to a boil then reduce heat to simmer and steam, about 5-6 minutes.
      3) A skillet with 1 cup water, simmer over medium heat, covered. Cook for about 4-5 minutes or until fork tender.
      4 cups broccoli
    • Once the broccoli is cooked, remove from heat and drain water as needed. Cover and keep warm while the sauce finishes.
    • Add the milk and cornstarch to a saucepan and whisk to combine. Heat at medium, whisking occasionally, until thickened.
      1 cup whole milk, 1 tablespoon cornstarch
    • Remove from heat and whisk in the seasoning (garlic powder, salt, and ground black pepper) then add the cheddar and Parmesan cheese. Stir until melted.
      ¼ teaspoon garlic powder, ⅛ teaspoon each, salt & pepper, 1 cup cheddar cheese, 2 tablespoon Parmesan cheese
    • Serve immediately over the broccoli.

    Equipment You May Need

    Measuring Cups
    Grater Set
    Sauce Pan

    Notes

    • You will need water for steaming the broccoli, from ¼ cup for microwave steaming to 1 cup for basket steaming on the stovetop.
    • I prefer to toss the cooked broccoli in the cheese sauce for an even coating. Optionally, additional shredded cheese could be sprinkled over the broccoli with cheese at serving.
    • You can easily mix up the seasonings to suit your tastes. I like to add in some Cajun seasoning for a kick!
    • For a tangier and creamier sauce, mix in ¼ cup of sour cream after the cheese has melted.
    • To store: Transfer the cooled leftovers to an airtight storage container and refrigerate for up to 3-4 days. I don't suggest freezing the cooked broccoli and cheese as the sauce does not stand up to freezing well and will separate.
    • To reheat: Heat in the microwave covered with a damp paper towel. Use short 30-second increments on high power, stirring in between, until warmed to your satisfaction. Alternatively, you can return the broccoli and cheese to a saucepan over medium-low heat to cook until heated through.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 201kcal (10%) | Carbohydrates: 12g (4%) | Protein: 12g (24%) | Fat: 13g (20%) | Saturated Fat: 7g (44%) | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 37mg (12%) | Sodium: 351mg (15%) | Potassium: 405mg (12%) | Fiber: 2g (8%) | Sugar: 5g (6%) | Vitamin A: 968IU (19%) | Vitamin C: 81mg (98%) | Calcium: 347mg (35%) | Iron: 1mg (6%)
    Did you try this recipe? Rate it below!I can’t wait to see your results! Mention @bake_it_with_love or tag #bake_it_with_love!
    best broccoli cheese recipe, Broccoli And Cheese, broccoli and cheese ingredients, Cheese Sauce For Broccoli, cheesy sauce, easy cheese sauce, Homemade, how to make stovetop broccoli and cheese, quick broccoli and cheese
    Course Side Dish, vegetable side dish
    Cuisine American
    author profile photo
    Angela @ BakeItWithLove.com

    Angela is an at home chef that developed a passion for all things cooking and baking at a young age in her Grandma's kitchen. After many years in the food service industry, she now enjoys sharing all of her family favorite recipes and creating tasty dinner and amazing dessert recipes here at Bake It With Love!

    bakeitwithlove.com/about/
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    Hi there, I'm Angela! I am an avid vintage cookbook collector, recipe creator, animal lover, and total foodie. I love sharing recipes that are new, fun, and creative as well as great classic recipes just like my Grandma used to make!

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