I have written about this idea in the past but it bears repeating. When planning your menu, always develop your menu with your guests in mind. It took me a long time to figure this out. When I first started cooking, I always wanted to try new recipes and types of food I thought I would really like. Problem was that my guests, often, my parents, were not nearly as adventuresome with their palates as I am. When, I finally started making dinners that they would like, I kept getting the comment after the meal of “that is the best dinner you have made us.” This Broccoli Cheese Rice Casserole had my father’s name all over it.
How many times do you think I had to hear this comment before the lesson sunk into my thick skull. Too many! When I finally got it, the whole experience was great, not just the dinner. You see, so many of us Food Bloggers, are ultimately cooking for others. Our enjoyment comes from having other people enjoy what we create. Lightbulb! Make things that your audience will like. OK, I think I am getting it. I love the planning stage as much as I do the cooking. I love letting my imagination work to come up with ideas. I love exploring the internet for inspiration and insight into ideas I am developing. Then, after the meal, the validation of a job well done is reinforcement that it was the initial planning phase that was the secret to the success of the meal.
As for this recipe, it was developed for a dinner I made for my parents. My parents really enjoy comfort food and do not like food that is too spicy. So when I think about my meal plan for them, I try to keep it simpler but still tasty. There are certain steps or ingredients we add to recipes that we know will be a winner. Adding 2 types of cheese and baking the cheese on top is sure to please almost every palate. The flavor of this dish is deepened by the saute of the celery and onions. The broccoli adds good texture and the rice holds it all together. This Broccoli Rice Cheese Bake is as homey as it gets.
Celery and Onion Saute.
Cheese Added.
Broccoli Added.
Casserole Added to Baking Dish.
Plated.
The Recipe
Broccoli Cheese Rice Casserole
Ingredients
- 20 Ounces Chopped Frozen Broccoli Florets
- 3 Cups Instant Rice
- 10.75 Ounces Condensed Cream of Mushroom Soup
- 10.75 Ounces Condensed Cream of Chicken Soup
- 1 1/4 Cups Water
- 6 Slices American Cheese
- 1 Cup Cheddar Cheese, shredded
- 1 tbsp Butter
- 2 Stalks Celery, chopped
- 1 whole Large Onion, chopped
- 1 tsp Salt
- 1 tsp Pepper
- 1 tsp Cayenne Pepper
Instructions
- Cook broccoli and rice according to package directions.Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).Melt butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat, and saute celery and onion until soft.Melt the American cheese into the celery and onions.Pour all the remaining ingredients into the skillet and heat through.Pour into a baking dish and top with the sharp cheddar cheese.Bake in the preheated oven for 45 minutes, until bubbly and lightly brown.Serve and enjoy!
Recipe Notes
Responses
comments – I answer every one.
Looks delicious thanks for sharing with Hearth and soul blog hop. pinning
Your welcome and thx for stopping by.
I made a recipe like this for Thanksgiving dinner and my family loved it. Only difference is I used a ton of fresh grated cheese, no processed cheese AND I add a few tablespoons of habanero salsa. Yes we LOVE spice and it was delicious!
I love how you did your recipe. I really don’t like to use processed cheese but I knew it would melt really good in this dish. Next time, I am following your lead.
I am in desperate need of comfort food & this would fit the bill perfectly! Looks amazing 🙂
When it gets cold, pull out the comfort food.
Broccoli cheese rice is one of my favorite side dishes. This looks delicious!!
Such good flavors. What’s not to like?
What a great comfort food dish and perfect for a cold winter night!
Thx Linda. It sure is.
This more mild dish makes a great side dish for a more dominant main meat/chicken dish. Your comments are spot on. You do have to cook for your guests tastes and allergies. Sometimes all of that is a challenge.
You so speak the truth Carol.
This casserole sounds amazing, Peter! I bet your parents loved it 🙂
I got all the leftovers! Go me!
This casserole looks great Peter! Rice, cheese, broccoli…what’s not to enjoy! 🙂
Lori, you are exactly right. Start with good ingredients and you have a chance for a great result.
This is one of my favorite dishes. My mom used to make something similar and it was one of the first things I was able to make on my own. When I do mine I toss in some cooked chicken and call it a day. I love that you used both chicken and mushroom soups!
I saw a lot of these recipes now with the chicken added. Maybe next time. The soups made this very rich. Might also try to lighten this up a little.
I love to cook, but my family is definitely not as adventurous as I am. Some of our guests are but others aren’t. So it was good to read this.
Your recipe is definitely something my kids would like. My roommate used to make something similar in college..it was her specialty. You don’t even want to know what went in it. 🙂 Great recipe, Peter…I have pinned it, so I can make it for my own family.
Thx Michelle. I am not sure I wanted to know everything that went in this dish. Next time, I will try to lighten up some.