When you want a tasty casserole dish to offer your large family, this Freezer-Friendly Make-Ahead Broccoli Cheese Rice Casserole is one recipe you need to try. It is easy to prepare and provides plenty of food to go around.
Freezer-Friendly Make-Ahead Broccoli Cheese Rice Casserole
As someone with a large family, you may find yourself making casseroles more often than anything because these meals and sides are typically easier to make. The great news about this one is that you can make it ahead of time
.This makes it a great holiday meal or side because the holidays are so busy, but now you can make your meals ahead of time to save your sanity!
If you need a new recipe that will undoubtedly satisfy everyone in your family, including the picky eaters, try this Freezer Friendly Make-Ahead Broccoli Cheese Rice Casserole. The cheesy flavor pairs well with the fresh pieces of broccoli and rice added to this meal. You might also try pairing with a side like Garlicky green beans and tomatoes.
How to Make-Ahead Broccoli Cheese Rice Casserole and Store it
The best part about this recipe is that you can make it in advance just like our Twice Baked Potatoes for the freezer and our Homemade Mashed Potatoes for the freezer.
You can prepare this Broccoli Cheese Rice Casserole the night before a busy day and still make sure that you have a delicious, nutritious, and fulfilling meal available for the family to eat that night.
Make-Ahead Broccoli Cheese Rice Casserole Freeze Meal Directions
To make this ahead and freeze, just make it when it suits you, then cover tightly and store in the refrigerator for up to three days or freeze it for up to six months.
Allow it to thaw in the refrigerator overnight prior to baking, then uncover and proceed according to directions.
Ingredients to Use to Prepare the Make-Ahead Broccoli Cheese Rice Casserole
When you have the right ingredients, you can make the Make-Ahead Broccoli Cheese Rice Casserole in no time. Make sure you have these ingredients:
- Broccoli Florets. You will need a lot of broccoli to prepare this dish! Make sure you have at least 12 cups of it, but you can add more if you absolutely love the crunch and flavor of broccoli.
- Cooked White Rice. Make around six cups of white rice to add to this casserole dish.
- Chopped Onion. Give your meal more flavor and texture with some chopped pieces of onion.
- Butter. The extra butter gives this casserole more flavor than you can imagine.
- Cream Cheese. Using cream cheese is the perfect way to make this dish incredibly cheesy and flavorful.
- Shredded Cheddar Cheese. Of course, you can never have too much cheese, so make sure to pile on the shredded cheddar cheese to complete this dish.
Besides these ingredients, you will need a few other ingredients, such as paprika, salt, pepper, milk, and dry mustard powder.
How to Make the Make-Ahead Broccoli Cheese Rice Casserole
Start this recipe by sautéing your onions in butter in a skillet. Add some flour to the skillet, pour in some milk, and then add your cream cheese and shredded cheddar cheese to the skillet.
In the meantime, you should have your prepared rice ready to add to the casserole dish. Mix your sauce, rice, and broccoli in a casserole dish before placing it in the oven and cooking it at 350F for up to 50 minutes.
How to Keep Your Make-Ahead Broccoli Cheese Rice Casserole Fresh
After you have baked the Make-Ahead Broccoli Cheese Casserole, keep it fresh by storing it in the fridge until you are ready to eat it with the family. You can keep it in the casserole dish and cover it with foil or a lid.
If you are going to freeze it, put the casserole into a large food storage container to keep it fresh. Even if you put your casserole in the fridge or freezer to preserve it, the dish will still taste amazing when reheated.
Do you have more casserole recipes?
If you enjoyed my recipe for Broccoli Cheese Rice Casserole and you’re looking for more yummy casserole recipes, I have so many more casseroles that you will love in my shop.
Check out my Classic Casserole Dinners & Freezer Meals Cookbook One for Now, One for Later! It includes 10 delicious, classic casserole recipes that will make two 9×13 casseroles each–one to eat right away, and one to put in your freezer for a later date. It’s an easy and quick way to build a freezer stash.
Here are more dishes your family will enjoy!
- Cheesy asparagus
- Twice Baked Sweet Potato Casserole with Bacon
- Healthy squash, zucchini, and tomato bake
- Marinated Cucumber salad
- Grilled chicken berry blue salad
Freezer-Friendly Make-Ahead Broccoli Cheese Rice Casserole Recipe
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Freezer-Friendly Make-Ahead Broccoli Cheese Rice Casserole | Large Family Make-Ahead Meals
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Prep Time: 25 Minutes -
Cook Time: 50 Minutes
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Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
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Yield: 2 9×13 Casserole Dishes -
Category: Side Dish -
Method: Oven
Description
When you want a tasty casserole dish to offer your large family, this Freezer-Friendly Make-Ahead Broccoli Cheese Rice Casserole is one recipe you need to try. It is easy to prepare and provides plenty of food to go around. This recipe is also a freezer meal, too!
Ingredients
- 12 cups frozen broccoli florets
- 4 cups cooked white rice
- 6 tablespoons butter
- 1 ½ cup onion, diced
- 1 teaspoon dry mustard powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon garlic
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- Salt, to taste
- 4 cups milk
- 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese
- 4 cups shredded cheddar cheese, divided
Instructions
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Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Prepare two 9×13 casserole dishes with nonstick cooking spray.
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In a large (12 inch) skillet over medium-low heat, melt the butter and add the onions. Cook the onions until tender, about 5 minutes. Stir in the flour and seasonings, cook for an additional 2 minutes.
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Gradually add in the milk, whisking until thick and bubbly.
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Remove the skillet from heat. Stir in the cream cheese and half of the cheddar cheese until melted.
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In a 30 quart bowl, combine the rice, broccoli, and cheese sauce. Divide the mixture between the prepared casserole dishes.
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Sprinkle the remaining cheese over the top.
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Bake the casseroles for 45 to 50 minutes or until the edges are bubbling.
To make ahead and make a freezer meal:
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Prepare casseroles as directed.
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Cover tightly and store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 6 months.
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Allow to thawe in the refrigerator overnight prior to baking.
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Uncover and proceed according to directions.
Keywords: Make-Ahead Broccoli Cheese Rice Casserole
This casserole is the prefect side dish for a holiday or a great way to feed your large family. It’s also an easy dish to make for a pot luck. Be sure to give it a try soon!
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