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    Hungry Healthy Happy » Recipes » Side Dishes

    Broccoli Cheese

    Published: Dec 5, 2020 · Modified: Sep 27, 2021 by Dannii · This post may contain affiliate links · 15 Comments

    121 shares
    • 72
    Jump to Recipe
    Diet: Vegetarian
    Broccoli Cheese with a text title overlay.

    Broccoli Cheese is a delicious and comforting make-ahead side dish that even the biggest vegetable dodgers will love. It's creamy and indulgent, and the best way to enjoy broccoli. Move over cauliflower cheese, there is a new cheesy vegetable side in town!

    A plate of broccoli in a cheese sauce next to a baking pan of more broccoli in cheese.

    We are always looking for new ways to enjoy vegetables, and smothering them in a homemade cheese sauce is definitely the way to go. If you love cauliflower cheese, but are looking for something a little different then broccoli cheese is the way to go.

    A creamy side dish that is a must with a roast dinner. If you are looking for some more side dishes to try, then why not try our Garlic Spring Greens, Roasted Tenderstem Broccoli, Hasselback Potatoes or Roasted Butternut Squash?

    Jump to:
    • Why you will love it
    • Ingredients needed
    • How to make Broccoli Cheese - Step by step
    • Health benefits of broccoli
    • Cheese sauce for broccoli
    • Variations
    • What to serve with Broccoli Cheese
    • FAQs
    • Extra tips
    • More broccoli recipes
    • Recipe
    • Feedback

    Why you will love it

    • The best way to enjoy broccoli - We love roasted broccoli, but this might just be our favourite way to eat it. Everything is better with cheese sauce, right? This is like a broccoli cheese bake and it's SO good.
    • Creamy and comforting - A delicious and easy homemade cheese sauce is what smothers the broccoli.
    • Can be made in advance - You can prepare it all in advance and then just put the cheesy broccoli in the oven when you are ready to cook it.
    • A inexpensive side dish - Broccoli is fairly cheap to buy and if making your own cheese sauce too, this is an inexpensive side dish, but seriously impressive.
    • Kids love it - If you struggle to get your kids to eat broccoli, then this will definitely convince them.
    • Great for feeding a crowd - You can easily double or triple this recipe, making it great for feeding a crowd.

    Ingredients needed

    All the ingredients needed for this recipe on a wooden surface with text overlay labels.
    • Broccoli - This is the star of the dish. You could use frozen and then defrosted broccoli, but we always like to use fresh. You could even do half and half with cauliflower.
    • Cheese sauce - You could use a store bought cheese sauce, but it is so easy to make your own with butter, flour, milk and cheese. We added cheddar, however you could add a mixture of cheese that melts well.
    • Mustard - This adds a really nice flavour to the cheese sauce, however you can leave it out if your prefer. We used dijon, but you could swap it for English mustard of wholegrain.

    A full ingredients list with measurements is in the recipe card below.

    How to make Broccoli Cheese - Step by step

    One: Put the broccoli in a pan of boiling water and simmer for 5 minutes. Drain and put in a large baking dish.

    A pan of broccoli florets.

    Two: Make the cheese sauce by putting the milk, flour and butter in a sauce pan on a gentle heat. Whisk as the butter melts and the sauce starts to thicken. This will take 3-4 minutes. Add the cheese and mustard and whisk until melted. Take a look at our cheese sauce recipe.

    A pan of cheese sauce with a whisk in it.

    Three: Pour the cheese sauce on the broccoli and mix well. Put in a preheated oven at 190°C/375°F/Gas 5 for 30 minutes.

    A rectangular baking dish full of broccoli florets covered in cheese sauce.

    Health benefits of broccoli

    Superfood is a bit of a buzz food that is thrown around, but there is no denying that broccoli is nutrient dense. It's a great source of vitamins A, B1, B2, B3, B6 and K, as well as iron, zinc and fibre, which can support digestive health.

    Did you know that broccoli is also a good source of protein, although an incomplete one.

    Cheese sauce for broccoli

    This cheese sauce is SO easy to make. Like, so easy to make that you will be wondering why you have ever bought it. It is just butter, flour and milk whisked together until thickened and then melt some cheese in to it. You can then add a little mustard to give it some extra flavour.

    Once you have the recipe for the perfect cheese sauce, it has so many uses. You can use it to make an epic macaroni cheese.

    A saucepan containing a cheese sauce and a wooden spatula.

    Variations

    We love any dish that is easy to adapt and this broccoli cheese recipe is definitely one of them. If you can't decide between broccoli cheese and cauliflower cheese, then why not combine them! If can also make it an all-rounder side dish by par-boiling some diced potatoes and mixing it in to the cheese sauce with the broccoli.

    Want to make it more indulgent? Then some cooked chopped bacon is the way to go.

    We used a mature cheddar, however you can use parmesan, mozzarella or gruyere too. It needs to be a strong flavour cheese, unless you want the broccoli to be the main flavour.

    What to serve with Broccoli Cheese

    This is a must with any roast dinner. However, we also love it on a crispy baked potato, or you can stir it through some cooked spaghetti. If you are having it with a roast dinner though, here are our favourite roast dinner recipes:

    • Perfect Roast Chicken
    • Garlic and Parsley Roasted Carrots
    • Vegetable Mash
    • Slow Cooker Roast Beef
    • Roasted Brussel Sprouts
    • Mustard and Honey Roasted Parsnips
    • The BEST Creamy Mashed Potatoes
    • Slow Cooker Red Cabbage
    • Easy Cauliflower Cheese
    • Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes
    • Balsamic and Garlic Roasted Cauliflower
    A full roast dinner spread with roast beef, potatoes, Yorkshire puddings. mashed potatoes and horseradish sauce.

    FAQs

    Is broccoli cheese healthy?

    There are lots of health benefits of broccoli, as mentioned above. However, we have then covered it in a fairly calorific cheese sauce. It's homemade, so we have controlled exactly what has gone in it and know that there are no hidden nasties. However, it is high in calories and fat, so make sure you exercise portion control.

    How to thicken broccoli cheese

    You will know if it is too thin once you have made the cheese sauce, and that is the point where you want to thicken it. Add a little bit more flour, a little at a time and whisk it well until you have the desired thickness.

    Can you make broccoli cheese in advance?

    Yes, this is a great side dish to make in advance, making it perfect for Christmas Day when you have enough to be getting on with. Cook the broccoli and then mix it with the cheese sauce in a baking dish. Then, allow to cool fully and cover it in cling film and then put it in the fridge for up to 24 hours. Then you can remove it from the fridge and put it in the oven. It may take a little while longer to cook as it has come out of the fridge.

    How to store Broccoli Cheese

    Once it is fully cooled, you can transfer it to air tight containers and then it will store in the fridge for up to 3 days. You can reheat it in the oven or microwave.

    heart icon

    Extra tips

    • You can use dijon, wholegrain or English mustard in the cheese sauce, or just leave it out.
    • Add a crispy topping to this side, by sprinkling it with parmesan before putting it in the oven.
    • You could even mix some panko breadcrumbs in to the Parmesan before sprinkling on top, to make it really crispy.
    • Why not swap half the broccoli for cauliflower?

    More broccoli recipes

    • Broccoli Salad on a wooden serving plate next to a yellow towel.
      Broccoli Salad
    • Quick Broccoli Pasta on a large plate next to a purple towel.
      Quick Broccoli Pasta
    • Microwave broccoli in a bowl with a spoon.
      Microwave Broccoli
    • A bowl of creamy broccoli soup topped with grated cheese and a drizzle of oil.
      Creamy Broccoli Soup

    If you’ve tried this broccoli cheese bake recipe, let us know how you got on in the comments below.
    Tag us in your creations on Instagram @hungryhealthyhappy - Use the hashtag #hungryhealthyhappy too.

    Recipe

    A plate of broccoli cheese next to roast potatoes and Yorkshire puddings

    Broccoli Cheese

    By: Dannii
    Broccoli Cheese is a delicious and comforting make-ahead side dish that even the biggest vegetable dodgers will love. It's creamy and indulgent, and the best way to enjoy broccoli.
    An illustration of a v-shaped plant.
    Vegetarian
    5 from 5 votes
    Pin Print Save recipe Recipe saved!
    Course: Side Dish
    Cuisine: British
    Prep: 10 minutes mins
    Cook: 30 minutes mins
    Total: 40 minutes mins
    Servings: 8 servings
    Calories: 200kcal
    Allergens:
    An illustration of a carton of milk.
    Dairy
    An illustration of two ears of wheat.
    Gluten
    An illustration of a mustard bottle.
    Mustard
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Ingredients

    • 2 head Broccoli
    • 500 ml (2 cups) Whole milk
    • 4 tablespoon Plain flour - all purpose
    • 50 g (0.25 cups) Butter
    • 1 teaspoon English mustard
    • 100 g (1 cups) Cheddar cheese

    Instructions

    • Preheat your oven to 190°C/170°C(fan)/375°F/Gas 5.
    • Put florets from 2 head Broccoli in a pan of boiling water and simmer for 5 minutes. Drain and put in a large baking dish.
    • Make the cheese sauce by putting 500 ml Whole milk, 4 tablespoon Plain flour and 50 g Butter into a sauce pan on a gentle heat. Whisk as the butter melts and the sauce starts to thicken. This will take 3-4 minutes. Add 100 g Cheddar cheese and 1 teaspoon English mustard and whisk until the cheese has melted.
    • Pour the cheese sauce on the broccoli and mix well. Put into the oven for 30 minutes.

    Notes

    • You can use dijon, wholegrain or English mustard in the cheese sauce, or just leave it out.
    • Add a crispy topping to this side, by sprinkling it with Parmesan before putting it in the oven.
    • You could even mix some panko breadcrumbs in to the parmesan before sprinkling on top, to make it really crispy.
    • Why not swap half the broccoli for cauliflower?

    Nutritional Information

    Serving: 1portion | Calories: 200kcal | Carbohydrates: 16g | Protein: 10g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 34mg | Sodium: 204mg | Potassium: 593mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 1333IU | Vitamin C: 136mg | Calcium: 242mg | Iron: 1mg
    DisclaimerThe nutritional information provided is approximate and is calculated using online tools. Information can vary depending on various factors, but we have endeavoured to be as accurate as possible.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Emily Liao

      December 06, 2020 at 6:15 pm

      5 stars
      This was such a delicious side dish! Perfectly cheesy and the kids loved it.

      Reply
    2. Tara

      December 06, 2020 at 5:57 pm

      5 stars
      Oh wow! That cheese sauce looks amazing. What an incredible side and I love that it can be made ahead of time.

      Reply
    3. Nart

      December 06, 2020 at 4:44 pm

      5 stars
      I love broccoli and I love cheese so this is definitely my kind of food! It's so addictive but like you said gotta control your portions.

      Reply
    4. Krissy Allori

      December 06, 2020 at 4:08 pm

      5 stars
      Heck yes! Such an easy recipe and the flavor is awesome.

      Reply
    5. saif

      December 06, 2020 at 4:02 pm

      5 stars
      I may not be fan of broccoli, but I love when you mix with the cheese. It is delicious and perfect side dish for my roasted chicken.

      Reply
    6. Kechi

      December 06, 2020 at 1:03 pm

      5 stars
      We love creamy broccoli recipes here. So I think this is a must-try for my family and I. Such a satisfying recipe; thanks for sharing!

      Reply
    7. Jacqueline Meldrum

      December 06, 2020 at 12:17 pm

      5 stars
      I always forget to make broccoli in cheese sauce. It's always cauliflower. Looks fab!

      Reply
    8. Michelle

      December 06, 2020 at 10:54 am

      5 stars
      We love broccoli cheese, it's such a great side dish for Sunday lunch.

      Reply
    9. Caitlyn Erhardt

      December 06, 2020 at 10:52 am

      5 stars
      This went perfect with our baked chicken. My husband loves broccoli and cheese anything, so knew this would be a hit!

      Reply
    10. Caroline

      December 06, 2020 at 10:42 am

      5 stars
      I haven't had this in so long, but this reminds me I should have it again soon. Looks great!

      Reply
    11. Toni

      December 05, 2020 at 6:09 pm

      5 stars
      This is so easy and delicious! The mustard makes all the difference. Yum.

      Reply
    12. Julia

      December 05, 2020 at 3:05 pm

      Delicious! I am so trying this with the crispy baked potato you mentioned :)

      Reply
    13. Bintu | Recipes From A Pantry

      December 05, 2020 at 3:00 pm

      5 stars
      One of my favourite side dishes - this is so delicious! So much better than cauliflower cheese in my opinion!

      Reply
    14. Sophie

      December 05, 2020 at 2:45 pm

      5 stars
      I love broccoli cheese soup and can totally guess this is so tasty. Thanks for the recipe.

      Reply
    15. Jen

      December 05, 2020 at 2:03 pm

      5 stars
      This is the easiest way to get your kids to eat their veggies without any nagging or bribing. Love the idea of sprinkling on panko too. Going to try that for next time.

      Reply

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