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    Home » Side Dishes » Broccoli and Cheese Casserole with Buttery Cracker Topping

    Published: Aug 18, 2020 · Modified: Feb 26, 2022 by Nancy · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Broccoli and Cheese Casserole with Buttery Cracker Topping

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    This broccoli and cheese casserole is big and gooey and everyone's favorite way to eat broccoli. It's the perfect side dish for big family gatherings or holiday parties.

    This broccoli and cheese casserole features melted cheesy Velveeta with buttery cracker crumbs on top.

    Cooking up a romance

    When I was in high school in the 1970's, my mom had a part time job in the credit department at Sears. There was a 16-year old boy that worked in her department after school, and she was determined to fix me up with him. You can imagine how excited I was about that. Who wants to go out with someone their mother wants to fix them up with? I flatly refused to even meet him.

    One day she asked me to pick her up at Sears at 3:00 with the promise of going clothes shopping in the mall after her shift. Asking a teen girl if she wants to shop for clothes is like asking an addict if they want crack. It was not possible to say no! At 3:00 I parked the car in front of her door and waited, but she didn't come out. We didn't have cell phones, so I finally went in to look for her. "You're early," she said. "No, you told me 3:00." "Did I? I don't get off until 4:00 today. Come in and sit at this desk while I finish working. By the way, John, meet my daughter, Nancy." Oh boy, I fell hook, line and sinker into her trap!

    Guess who's coming to dinner?

    Much to my surprise, my mom's sneaky plan worked. He asked me out and we ended up dating for about a year until we went away to college. We both had World War II era parents, and they were very traditional. When John's mom found out he was dating the daughter of a lady he worked with, she went into Sears and asked to see my mother. They talked briefly, and she invited my parents and me to dinner at their house. This would never happen now, and was even a bit old-fashioned for the 1970's. Most of my friends never meet the parents of their children's boyfriends/girlfriends. Even when they get married, most families now meet for the first time at the rehearsal.

    The next weekend we went to John's parents house where his mom had obviously spent the day cooking up a feast. She served appetizers, cocktails, a beef roast, potatoes, and this broccoli and cheese casserole. My mother loved it and asked her to write down the recipe. The handwritten card we took home that night is in the photo here with the ingredients.

    Is it really cheese in that broccoli?

    Now before we go on, full disclosure: the cheese in the recipe is Velveeta, which is labeled "pasteurized cheese product" consisting primarily of whey and milk protein concentrate (in other words, not really cheese.) As much as people like to poo-poo Velveeta, it is a hugely popular product. A shortage nearly caused pandemonium just prior to the 2014 Super Bowl because it is used in so many Super Bowl snacks. Velveeta was invented in 1918 by Swiss immigrant Emil Frey when working for the Monroe Cheese Company in New York. Kraft Foods bought Velveeta in 1927, and they developed their own recipe for it rather than using Frey's. Velveeta is popular in chip dips, cheese soup recipes, and grilled cheese sandwiches, among other things. One of those other things is broccoli and cheese casserole, which I'm writing about today.

    Easy Preparation Steps

    There are only a few ingredients needed for broccoli and cheese casserole. Use fresh broccoli, butter, crackers and Velveeta 'cheese' for a tasty side dish.

    I love this recipe first because it is delicious, and second because it takes minutes to prepare but tastes like it takes much longer.

    1. First, simply cut the florets off of the fresh broccoli stems, then steam them over boiling water for about 12 minutes just until they start getting soft and turning bright green. Don't boil them directly in the water or steam them for too long or they will turn mushy. We obviously want to avoid mushy broccoli. In my experience frozen broccoli florets do not work well in this recipe, so invest the couple of minutes it takes to cut them fresh.
    2. When steaming is complete, arrange them in the casserole dish.
    3. Using a rolling cheese slicer, slice Velveeta in long strips and place over the broccoli in the casserole dish.
    4. Cover the Velveeta with a sleeve of crushed Townhouse crackers.
    5. Last, melt a stick of butter in the microwave and drizzle over the casserole. Pop in the oven and twenty minutes later you're ready to eat!
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    Preparation Steps for Broccoli and Cheese Casserole with Buttery Cracker Topping

    Broccoli and Cheese Casserole with Buttery Cracker Topping

    Nancy Blackstone
    This buttery, cheesy, crumb topped broccoli casserole is melt-in-your-mouth delicious. It will make you forget you're eating your vegetables!
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 15 mins
    Cook Time 20 mins
    Total Time 35 mins
    Course Side Dish
    Cuisine American
    Servings 6 -12 servings
    Calories 270 kcal

    Ingredients
     
     

    • 2 pounds fresh broccoli cut into florets and steamed
    • Velveeta Cheese cut into long thin strips
    • 1 sleeve Townhouse Crackers crushed
    • 8 tablespoons melted butter

    Instructions
     

    • Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9 X 13 casserole with non stick spray.
    • Cut tips off of a head of broccoli; steam over boiling water for about 12 minutes, just until it starts to soften and color is bright green. Arrange over the bottom of the greased casserole dish.
    • Using a cheese slicer, slice long thin strips of Velveeta and place over the broccoli. Sprinkle crushed Townhouse crackers over the top of the casserole.
    • Melt 1 stick of butter and pour evenly over the top of the cracker crumbs. Bake at 350 degrees 20 minutes, until cheese is melted and cracker crumbs are toasted.

    Notes

    Can be made up to a day ahead and stored in the refrigerator. If you do that, top with crackers and butter right before putting it in the oven.
    In my experience frozen broccoli florets do not work well in this recipe, so invest the few minutes it takes to cut them fresh.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 270kcalCarbohydrates: 15gProtein: 12gFat: 20gSaturated Fat: 12gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 56mgSodium: 784mgPotassium: 613mgFiber: 4gSugar: 6gVitamin A: 1780IUVitamin C: 135mgCalcium: 293mgIron: 1mg
    Keyword Broccoli, broccoli casserole, Cheese, cheesy broccoli, Holiday, Velveeta
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

    Looking for a summertime broccoli dish? Try our Fresh Broccoli and Cauliflower Summer Salad

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    Nancy and Bentley

    Hi, I'm Nancy! Welcome to Flourchild where I share classic mid-century recipes from the 1940's - 1970's. I feature many vintage handwritten recipes, and provide modern shortcuts and a variety of healthy and special diet-friendly versions whenever possible. Join me in exploring the delicious flavors and from-scratch cooking techniques of our past!

    More about me →

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