Lunch Lady Broccoli Cheese & Rice Casserole Recipe – quick and easy side dish that is a childhood school cafeteria favorite. Broccoli, cheddar cheese, rice, cream of mushroom, milk, onion, garlic, salt, pepper, oregano, butter, and bread crumbs. SO simple and super delicious. Ready to eat in 30 minutes. I am pretty sure my lunchroom never served something so yummy!
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Pin This RecipeSchool Cafeteria Cheesy Broccoli Rice Casserole
This Lunch Lady Broccoli Cheese & Rice casserole is a weeknight favorite at our house. I came across this recipe in my government school cafeteria cookbook and couldn’t resist giving it a try. Broccoli, cheese, rice, cream of mushroom soup, milk, onion, garlic, salt & pepper. SO simple and super delicious. I am pretty sure my lunchroom never served something so yummy!
How to Make Lunch Lady Broccoli Cheese & Rice Casserole
This casserole is very easy to make with only a few simple ingredients. In a large bowl, stir together cooked white rice, chopped broccoli, cream of mushroom soup, whole milk, cheddar cheese, onion, garlic powder, salt, black pepper, and oregano. Pour the mixture into a baking dish. Melt butter and combine with bread crumbs. Sprinkle over the casserole. Bake uncovered in the oven for 30 minutes.
Tips & Frequently Asked Questions
- You can use any type of cooked rice that you prefer. White rice, brown rice, basmati rice, instant rice, long grain rice.
- The recipe calls for thawed frozen chopped broccoli. You can substitute fresh broccoli florets if you prefer.
- You can use any flavor of cream of condensed soup. Cream of chicken soup, cream of celery soup or cream of broccoli soup all work great.
- Here is our recipe for Homemade Cream of Chicken Soup: https://www.plainchicken.com/homemade-cream-of-chicken-soup/
- You can use any cheese that you enjoy. I use cheddar cheese. This is also great with American cheese, Velveeta, Colby cheese, muenster cheese, or gouda.
- I topped the casserole with bread crumbs. You can substitute panko bread crumbs or crushed Ritz crackers if you prefer. You can also omit the topping.
- Can Broccoli Rice Casserole be made in advance? Yes! Assemble the casserole, cover it with plastic wrap, and place it in the refrigerator until ready to bake.
- Can Broccoli Rice Casserole be frozen? Yes! Assemble the casserole and let it cool completely. Cover the pan with plastic wrap and aluminum foil and place in the freezer. When ready to bake, thaw and bake as directed.
- Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
What to Serve with Broccoli Casserole
This side dish goes with everything! Pork chops, ham, turkey, chicken, steak, casseroles – anything! Feel free to add some cooked diced ham or cooked chicken to the broccoli mixture and turn this into an easy main dish! YUM! You must add this to your menu ASAP!
Here are a few of our favorite recipes to serve with this easy broccoli rice casserole:
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Lunch Lady Broccoli Cheese & Rice Casserole
Ingredients:
- 3 cups cooked white rice
- 2½ lb frozen chopped broccoli, thawed and drained
- 1 (10.5-oz) can Unsalted Cream of Mushroom Soup
- 1½ cups milk
- 3 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 2 Tbsp dried minced onion flakes
- ¾ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp pepper or to taste
- ¾ tsp salt or to taste
- ¾ tsp oregano
- 1 Tbsp melted butter
- 6 Tbsp Italian bread crumbs
Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 350ºF. Lightly spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with cooking spray and set aside.
- In a large bowl, combine rice, broccoli, soup, milk, cheese, onions, garlic powder, pepper, salt, and oregano.
- Pour the broccoli mixture into the prepared pan.
- Combine melted butter and bread crumbs. Sprinkle on top of the casserole.
- Bake uncovered for 30 minutes, or until warm and bubbly.
Notes:
- You can use any type of cooked rice that you prefer. White rice, brown rice, basmati rice, instant rice, long grain rice.
- The recipe calls for thawed frozen chopped broccoli. You can substitute fresh broccoli florets if you prefer.
- You can use any flavor of cream of condensed soup. Cream of chicken soup, cream of celery soup or cream of broccoli soup all work great.
- I suggest using Unsalted Cream of Mushroom Soup in this dish to control the sodium.
- You can buy it by the case at Amazon: https://amzn.to/3SkpNVv
- Need Gluten-free Cream of Mushroom Soup? You can buy it here: https://amzn.to/45WqyXY
- Here is our recipe for Homemade Cream of Chicken Soup: https://www.plainchicken.com/homemade-cream-of-chicken-soup/
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- Substitute mushroom bouillon to make cream of mushroom soup.
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- I suggest using Unsalted Cream of Mushroom Soup in this dish to control the sodium.
- You can use any cheese that you enjoy. I use cheddar cheese. This is also great with American cheese, Velveeta, Colby cheese, muenster cheese, or gouda.
- I topped the casserole with bread crumbs You can substitute panko bread crumbs or crushed Ritz crackers if you prefer. You can also omit the topping.
- Can Broccoli Rice Casserole be made in advance? Yes! Assemble the casserole, cover it with plastic wrap, and place it in the refrigerator until ready to bake.
- Can Broccoli Rice Casserole be frozen? Yes! Assemble the casserole and let it cool completely. Cover the pan with plastic wrap and aluminum foil and place in the freezer. When ready to bake, thaw and bake as directed.
- Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
Steph
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If I use fresh broccoli will I need to adjust the liquid or the cooking time any? This looks delish!
I want to use Velvetta instead of shredded cheddar. Do you know how much Velvetta I need to use and how much should I reduce the milk?
Thank you,
Brandy F.
What a great idea! But unfortunately, without further recipe testing, I cannot answer with certainty. As always, please use your best judgment regarding substitutions and modifications.
I used this recipe to cook this casserole for our Church’s Fall Bazaar. I made 7 pans of it. Each one sold. Every person who bought one called me to say how delicious it was and how it was the best cheesy broccoli and cheese casserole they’ve ever eaten. You can’t go wrong with this one! I added more soups and milk because i had to freeze them ahead of time, but i think that made them more flavorful! Highly recommend this!
I tried it on a whim…. literally one of the most tasty dishes I’ve made. My mom (who is the family cook) could not stop praising this dish. Thank you as this will be my new go to surprise!
Anyone add chicken to this?
You can add as much cooked chopped chicken as you would like. It would be delicious.
Do you know how to use frozen cauliflower rice in it? I can’t have any other kind.
Thank you
I’ve never made this with cauliflower. I would assume to use the same about of cauliflower as cooked rice.
Have u ever added chicken to this casserole?
I haven’t, but it would work great!
I use rotisserie chicken and top with French fried onions. Absolutely delicious!