Looking for the best kid-friendly side dish? This Cheesy Broccoli recipe takes minutes to put together and is a delicious way to eat your veggies! After all, everything is better when it’s covered in cheese sauce.
The best broccoli and cheese recipe
Cheese and broccoli were practically made for each other! Bringing the two together in baked veggie sticks and a grilled cheese sandwich can make the flavor actually appealing to picky eaters and is the best way to sneak veggies into family meals.
If you’re desperate to serve your kids something healthy and nutritious, this Cheesy Broccoli recipe has your back. Simple blanched broccoli is mixed into a homemade easy cheese sauce to transform a regularly boring side into something irresistible!
The kids won’t be able to resist this quick broccoli and cheese side dish. If they really love it, then you’ll definitely have to try my Cheesy Cauliflower, Cheesy Brussels Sprouts, Cheesy Green Beans and Cabbage, and Cheesy Cauliflower!
How to boil broccoli
First, we have to cook the broccoli. This can always be done later on if you prefer to cook the cheese sauce ahead of time.
To boil the broccoli:
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
- Add the broccoli florets, turn down the heat, and cook until it’s fork tender.
- Drain and set the broccoli aside.
How to make homemade cheese sauce
Now comes the fun part! Making homemade cheese sauce on the stove is super easy and always turns out amazing. It’s ready to eat in just a few minutes:
Melt the butter in a large saucepan over medium heat and add the garlic.
Stir in the flour, salt, and pepper.
Pour the milk into the pan and whisk until smooth.
To finish, add the shredded cheese and stir until it melts and the mixture is creamy.
Add the cooked broccoli florets into the cheese sauce and stir to fully coat. Serve and enjoy!
Tips and substitutions
- Instead of boiling – The broccoli can be steamed, sauteed, or roasted instead of boiled if you prefer.
- Cheese – Shredded cheddar cheese is best when making cheese sauce but you can also use white cheddar or mozzarella if you want to make a white cheese sauce.
- No fresh broccoli at home? Frozen broccoli works just as well!
- Add more veggies – Add all the veggies you like to the broccoli, like carrots, cauliflower, green beans, corn, or brussels sprouts.
- Toppings – Make this broccoli cheese recipe extra flavorful with fun toppings, like crumbled bacon, shaved parmesan cheese, crushed almonds, or chopped green onions.
- Storing – The leftovers will keep in your fridge for 2 or 3 days. Heat them up in the microwave or a saucepan on the stove.
Serving suggestions
For the ultimate family-friendly meal, serve the broccoli and cheese sauce next to rice, noodles, oven baked burgers, sloppy joes, or cheesy meatloaf. It’s always welcome next to more kid-friendly side dishes too, like mashed potatoes and roasted corn!
Hungry for more delicious broccoli recipes?
- Scalloped Potatoes with Broccoli
- Broccoli Mac and Cheese
- Chinese Chicken and Broccoli
- Cream of Broccoli Soup
- Crustless Broccoli Quiche
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Cheesy Broccoli
PrintIngredients
- 2 large heads broccoli chopped up into florets, about 7 cups
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 1 1/4 cup milk
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add broccoli florets, reduce heat to medium and boil for 8 minutes, or until softened. Drain broccoli.
- In a large saucepan over medium heat melt butter with garlic. Stir in flour, salt and pepper and mix for 1 minute. Add milk in and whisk until smooth. Add shredded cheese and mix until cheese is completely melted and creamy, about 3-4 minutes.
- Add broccoli florets into cheese sauce and stir to fully coat. Cook for 2 more minutes. Serve and enjoy!
Denise says
Great recipe. I left out the salt bc my little one isn’t into too much salt or flavor and I added pasta to make it as close to mac & cheese as possible. I did have a hard time with the smoothness bc of the flour. What can you do to minimize the graininess from the flour? I mixed it according to the instructions but it still wasn’t smooth enough. Still yummy, tho. Thanks!
Courtney says
Does the broccoli supposed to be half raw?
Pamela says
The broccoli should be tender after you boil it, a fork should easily be able to slide in.
Sarah says
My family loved it! Next time I will double the broccoli. The cheese sauce part went a long way.
Faith says
Super simple and came out awesome!
Daniel M Winyard says
My Wife and kids loved this recipe thank you!!!!
Pamela says
So happy to hear that, thanks for commenting Daniel! 🙂
Andi Fitts says
this recipe was delicious and my whole family liked it, it was gone within 5 seconds! Everyone asked for more!
Holly says
Consistency was good for the cheese but I feel like it needed more flavor. Next time I think I will season with Tony’s for more flavor. Good recipe, thanks for sharing
Smorty says
This was so easy and delicious. I used frozen broccoli. I soaked it for 5 min in water, drained it, then added it to the cheese sauce and heated it through.