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Home recipes Dinner

Cheesy Broccoli

20 minutes
broccoligarlic
Posted:10/15/21
Updated:4/22/22
Jump to Recipe

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.

wooden spoon filled with broccoli with cheese in pan.

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!

closeup of cheesy broccoli.

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:

  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. 
  2. Add the broccoli florets, turn down the heat, and cook until it’s fork tender.
  3. Drain and set the broccoli aside. 
broccoli cooked in strainer.

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.

spoon stirring cheese sauce.

Add the cooked broccoli florets into the cheese sauce and stir to fully coat. Serve and enjoy! 

spoon stirring broccoli and cheese in white pan on table.

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.
spoon stirring broccoli with cheese sauce.

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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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.
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4.73 from 11 votes

Cheesy Broccoli

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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.
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
serves 8

Ingredients

  • 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!
Course:Side Dish
Cuisine:American
Keyword:cheesy broccoli
Did you make this?I love seeing what you’ve made! Tag me on Instagram at @BrooklynFarmGirl and don’t forget to leave a comment & rating below.

Similar Recipes

  • Baked Broccoli and Cheese Sticks
  • Broccoli Grilled Cheese Sandwich
  • Creamy Broccoli Cheese Soup
  • Baked Broccoli Mac and Cheese

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  1. Courtney says

    February 1, 2023 at 7:16 pm

    Does the broccoli supposed to be half raw?

    Reply
    • Pamela says

      February 2, 2023 at 9:50 am

      The broccoli should be tender after you boil it, a fork should easily be able to slide in.

      Reply
  2. Sarah says

    August 28, 2022 at 8:34 pm

    My family loved it! Next time I will double the broccoli. The cheese sauce part went a long way.

    Reply
  3. Faith says

    July 12, 2022 at 1:11 am

    Super simple and came out awesome!

    Reply
  4. Daniel M Winyard says

    June 6, 2022 at 12:12 pm

    My Wife and kids loved this recipe thank you!!!!

    Reply
    • Pamela says

      June 8, 2022 at 9:59 am

      So happy to hear that, thanks for commenting Daniel! 🙂

      Reply
  5. Andi Fitts says

    May 10, 2022 at 7:19 pm

    this recipe was delicious and my whole family liked it, it was gone within 5 seconds! Everyone asked for more!

    Reply
  6. Holly says

    May 5, 2022 at 11:16 pm

    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

    Reply
  7. Smorty says

    March 16, 2022 at 8:53 pm

    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.

    Reply

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Hi! I'm Pamela, an artist Mom who shares family recipes. My farm is a 1,000 sq ft apartment in NYC. Let's make dinner together.

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