Description
Comfort meets creativity in this mouthwatering Cheesy Broccoli Bake Delight, where crisp broccoli and creamy cheese blend into a irresistible harmony. Serve this golden-brown casserole straight from the oven, and savor each delectable, perfectly melted bite that brings warmth to your table.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1.5 pounds (680 grams) broccoli crowns or florets
- 4 ounces (113 grams) low-moisture mozzarella cheese, divided
- 16 ounces (454 grams) Alfredo sauce
- ½ cup (120 milliliters) whole or 2% milk, or water
Aromatic and Seasoning Ingredients:
- 1 small yellow onion
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt, plus more to taste
Dairy and Fat Ingredients:
- ½ ounce (14 grams) Parmesan cheese (about 2 tablespoons grated)
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, plus more for greasing
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F and coat a 2-quart baking dish with butter, positioning it on a baking sheet to catch potential overflow during cooking.
- Transform broccoli into bite-sized florets, discarding tough lower stalks, and finely mince the yellow onion to ensure uniform flavor distribution.
- Shred both mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses using different grater sizes to achieve varied cheese textures.
- Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat, incorporating diced onions and aromatic seasonings. Sauté until onions become translucent and fragrant, approximately 4-5 minutes.
- Introduce Alfredo sauce and liquid to the skillet, blending with half the mozzarella cheese. Simmer gently until the cheese melts completely, creating a smooth, creamy base.
- Fold broccoli into the sauce, ensuring each floret is thoroughly coated with the rich, creamy mixture.
- Transfer the sauced broccoli to the prepared baking dish, creating an even layer.
- Generously sprinkle remaining mozzarella and the entire portion of Parmesan cheese across the top, creating a golden, crispy cheese crust.
- Bake in the preheated oven until broccoli turns tender and the cheese topping transforms into a bubbling, golden-brown layer, approximately 25-30 minutes.
- Allow the dish to rest and cool for 8-10 minutes before serving, enabling the sauce to set and flavors to meld.
Notes
- Prep Ahead: Chop broccoli and grate cheeses in advance to streamline cooking process and reduce last-minute kitchen stress.
- Cheese Selection: Use freshly grated cheese for superior melting and more vibrant flavor compared to pre-packaged shredded varieties.
- Baking Tip: Placing the baking dish on a sheet pan prevents potential oven mess and makes handling the hot dish easier.
- Seasoning Hack: Adjust salt and pepper to taste, ensuring the creamy sauce complements the broccoli’s natural flavors.
- Serving Suggestion: Allow the dish to rest for 10 minutes after baking, which helps the sauce set and makes cutting and serving cleaner.
- Vegetable Flexibility: Feel free to swap broccoli with cauliflower or add extra vegetables like spinach for varied nutrition and taste.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 55 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 640mg
- Fat: 14g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 19g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 12g
- Cholesterol: 40mg