I’m bringing you some major comfort food in the form of Broccoli Rice Casserole! It’s creamy, flavorful, and SO delicious! This side dish is an easy mix of broccoli and rice that gets tossed in a creamy Velveeta cheese sauce and topped with cheddar cheese and crispy fried onions. Bake to perfection for an absolutely irresistible side that everyone’s sure to love!

Serving of broccoli rice casserole on a small white plate with a fork.

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A Note from Kim

My Favorite Thanksgiving Side Dish 

I know there are a variety of different broccoli rice casserole recipes out there, but believe me when I say, this is truly the BEST you will ever taste. I’ve always loved my mom’s recipe, but I wanted to change things up a bit. Typical food blogger, always having to experiment with recipes!

This past Thanksgiving, I brought home a completely different kind of broccoli cheese casserole, loaded with Velveeta, cheddar, cream of chicken soup, and a crunchy layer of French’s fried onions. It may not be light, but WOW is it delicious. Truly worth every bite!

Perfect for any occasion, whether you’re winding down after a busy workday or gathering for Easter, Christmas, or Thanksgiving. With a simple make-ahead option, this broccoli cheese casserole is sure to become a family favorite in your home just like it is in ours!

With love (and lots of good eats), - Kim

It was awesome! I added celery, mushrooms, peppers and chicken. 10/10

— Kina
Broccoli cheese rice casserole on a small white plate.

Ingredients You’ll Need

The combination of creamy cheese sauce with fluffy rice and tender bite-sized pieces of broccoli is so incredibly delicious and major comfort food! And the best part, this broccoli rice casserole recipe is easy to make, and uses common ingredients that are easy to find. Here’s the lineup:

  • Cooked rice. We use instant rice to save on cooking time, but feel free to use any variety of rice that you have available.
  • Broccoli florets. For convenience, buy a 16-ounce package of frozen chopped broccoli. The broccoli does not need to be cooked before adding it to the casserole dish but it should be slightly thawed. Fresh broccoli florets work great too, just chop it into very small pieces.
  • Onion. Totally optional, but we really love the savory flavor it adds. Feel free to sauté it before adding the other ingredients.
  • Cream of chicken soup. This will add to the creaminess of the dish. You could use cream of mushroom soup, if preferred.
  • Milk. Any type of milk will work, but for maximum richness, use whole milk.
  • Velveeta. This type of cheese is a must. It melts wonderfully to make the most creamy sauce.
  • Salt + pepper. A bit of each to bring all of the flavors together.
  • Grated cheddar cheese. We like sharp cheddar cheese for topping the dish.
  • Fried onions. French’s brand is our go-to, and they add the perfect crispiness to this casserole.

Grocery Shopping Tip

Velveeta cheese is not located with other cheese products in the refrigerated section of the grocery store, instead it’s near shelf stable dips and spreads.

Customize This Recipe 

We love this broccoli rice casserole as written, but feel free to experiment and switch up some of the ingredients, depending on what you have on hand. Recipe variations:

  • Protein. To add a little protein to this side and make it a main entree, you could try mixing in some cooked shredded chicken or rotisserie chicken.
  • Vegetables. Instead of broccoli try another favorite veggie, such as zucchini, asparagus, mushrooms, cauliflower or green beans.
  • Cheese. While this is typically topped with shredded cheddar cheese, other options include Colby, American or Monterey Jack cheese. But I DO NOT recommend changing up the Velveeta to another type of cheese.
  • Topping. Instead of French’s fried onions for the topping, you could use crushed Ritz crackers or cheese crackers, or even Panko bread crumbs.
  • Seasonings. You can add any extra seasonings or spices that you’d like. Paprika and dry mustard are excellent additions. You can also try garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, or a pinch of cayenne for a subtle kick.
Serving of broccoli rice casserole on a small white plate with a fork.
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Broccoli Rice Casserole

Yield: 8 servings
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 35 minutes
Total Time: 50 minutes
Broccoli Rice Casserole is creamy, flavorful, and oh so delicious! This dish is an easy mix of broccoli and rice that gets tossed in a creamy Velveeta cheese sauce and topped with cheddar cheese and crispy fried onions. Bake to perfection for an absolutely irresistible side that everyone's sure to love!
Author: Kim

Ingredients

  • 3 cups cooked rice
  • 1 (16 ounce) package frozen chopped broccoli or broccoli florets*, slightly thawed, (fresh works fine too)
  • 1 small onion, finely chopped (optional)
  • 1 (10.5 ounce) can cream of chicken soup
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 4-6 ounces Velveeta
  • 1 teaspoon salt, or to taste, you may prefer 1 1/2 tsp
  • 1/2 teaspoon pepper
  • 2 cups grated cheddar cheese
  • French's fried onions for topping

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Instructions 

  • In a large pot over medium to medium-high heat, cook and stir together the diced 1 small onion (if using), 1 (10.5 ounce) can cream of chicken soup, 1/2 cup milk, 4-6 ounces Velveeta, 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper till warm and creamy.
  • Add the 3 cups cooked rice and 1 (16 ounce) package frozen chopped broccoli or broccoli florets* to the cheese sauce and stir to combine.
  • Pour the broccoli cheese mixture into a greased 9×13" glass baking dish. Top with 2 cups grated cheddar cheese and French's fried onions (use as much as you'd like).
  • Bake in a preheated oven at 350ºF for 35-40 minutes and until it’s hot and bubbly. If you notice the fried onions getting too brown, you can cover the dish lightly with foil. But you do want the onions to get crispy.
  • Once cooked, allow casserole to cool for about 5 minutes. Serve and enjoy!

Notes

*I like the chopped broccoli best because it is smaller pieces. If you have broccoli florets, I recommend chopping them up smaller before adding them to the cheese sauce.
  • Storing leftovers. Place any leftovers in an airtight storage container in the refrigerator for up to about 4 to 5 days.
  • To reheat. Pop individual servings in the microwave and cook for 30 second intervals until it’s warm. You can also place the entire dish in the oven at 350ºF. If using the oven, loosely cover with foil and place the dish on the center rack for 15 to 25 minutes, until warmed through (the larger the serving, the longer the cook time).
  • Freezing. Place leftovers in an airtight freezer-safe storage container or a freezer-safe baggie in the freezer for up to 3 months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
This recipe was first published January 2021, and was republished October 2023 and again November 2025.
photos from molly at yes to yolks
Author: Kim
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Serving: 1serving, Calories: 250kcal, Carbohydrates: 24g, Protein: 13g, Fat: 11g, Saturated Fat: 7g, Cholesterol: 36mg, Sodium: 722mg, Potassium: 308mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 3g, Vitamin A: 798IU, Vitamin C: 55mg, Calcium: 322mg, Iron: 1mg

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How to Make Broccoli Rice Casserole

I know there are tons of broccoli cheese rice casserole recipes, but this one’s the BEST! It’s also super easy! You’ll just want to make sure you cook your rice getting started. Here’s the rundown of how to make this casserole:

Using a spatula to mix cheese sauce with rice and broccoli in a large pot.

Step 1: Make the cheese sauce and combine. In a large pot over medium heat to medium-high heat, whisk together the onions, soup, milk, Velveeta, salt, and pepper until smooth and creamy. Once the sauce is silky, stir in the cooked rice and broccoli until everything is evenly coated.

Mixture of rice, cheese sauce and broccoli in a casserole dish.

Step 2: Transfer to baking dish. Pour the broccoli and cheese mixture into a 9×13-inch baking dish greased with butter or nonstick spray.

Cheddar cheese sprinkled over the top of a broccoli casserole.

Step 3: Add the cheese. Evenly sprinkle the top of the casserole with cheddar cheese.

Fried onions and cheese over a casserole in a white baking dish.

Step 4: Add the crispy onions. Now, evenly sprinkle the French’s fried onions over the top of the cheese layer. Go light or generous, your call. I like a lot of crunch!

Baked broccoli rice casserole in a white baking dish.

Step 5: Cook casserole. Place in a preheated oven and bake at 350 degrees f for 35-40 minutes and until it is hot and bubbly and broccoli has a nice and tender texture.

Servings of broccoli rice casserole topped with cheese on white plates.

Step 6: Cool and serve. Allow casserole to cool for about 5 minutes before serving. Enjoy!

Kim’s Recipe Tips

  • Freshly grated cheese is best: For the cheese topping, freshly grated cheese melts more smoothly than pre-shredded cheese, which often contains anti-caking agents.
  • Make-ahead option: Assemble the casserole up to 12 hours before baking. Cover and refrigerate, then remove about 30 minutes before baking. Add the fried onions just before it goes into the oven.
  • Bite-sized broccoli: If you prefer smaller broccoli pieces, use pre-chopped broccoli or chop florets into bite-sized pieces before adding them to the cheese sauce.
  • Keep onions crispy: If the fried onions start to brown too quickly while baking, loosely cover the casserole with foil. You still want them to get crispy at the end.
  • Rice flexibility: You can use instant, long-grain, or regular brown or white rice. Just note that cooking times and liquid amounts may vary depending on the type of rice used.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make this vegetarian?

Absolutely! Substitute the cream of chicken soup with cream of mushroom or another vegetable-based soup.

Does rice need to be cooked before adding to casserole?

All broccoli rice casserole recipes are different, but for this specific recipe, you will need to cook the instant rice before adding it to the cheese sauce mixture.

Do you put eggs in broccoli casserole?

This recipe does not include eggs. Some recipes do call for eggs, typically to bind ingredients and add moisture. Because we are using Velveeta cheese, which is very saucy, there is no need for eggs.

Can you use fresh broccoli instead of frozen in casserole?

We typically use frozen broccoli for convenience, but fresh broccoli will definitely work in this easy broccoli rice casserole.

Serving Suggestions

For the holidays, we serve this cheesy broccoli dish along with our feast of dressing, sweet potato casserole, green bean casserole, dinner rolls, mashed potatoes and gravy, turkey and pumpkin pie! But it’s great served anytime of the year. My kids love it and it brings the best rich flavors to a variety of dinners. Here are some entrée pairing suggestions:

Storing and Freezing

  • Storing leftovers. Place any leftover broccoli rice casserole in an airtight storage container in the refrigerator for up to about 4 to 5 days.
  • To reheat. Pop individual servings in the microwave and cook for 30 second intervals until it’s warm. You can also place the entire dish in the oven at 350ºF. If using the oven, loosely cover with foil and place the dish on the center rack for 15 to 25 minutes, until warmed through (the larger the serving, the longer the cook time).
  • Freezing. Place leftovers in a freezer-safe airtight container or a freezer-safe baggie in the freezer for up to 3 months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
Serving broccoli rice casserole out of a baking dish.

More Great Side Dishes to Try

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Turkey Dressing Recipe
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Baked Mac and Cheese
Creamy sweet potatoes topped with butter and garnished with chopped parsley.

Mashed Sweet Potatoes
Creamed corn topped with crumbled bacon on a plate with a fork.

Bacon Creamed Corn

If you try this recipe, let me know! Leave a comment and if your family loves it as much as mine does, be sure to give it a five star ⭐️ rating! Also, tag @kimscravings on Instagram with a picture of your creation. Be sure to subscribe to our mailing list to receive more healthy delicious recipes straight to your inbox.