Description
Creamy cheese and broccoli come together in Paula Deen’s irresistible broccoli bake, a comforting Southern-style casserole. Generous layers of tender vegetables blend with rich, melted cheese to create a satisfying side dish you’ll crave at every gathering.
Ingredients
Scale
- 5 cups (1.25 lbs/567 g) broccoli florets
- 1 ¾ cups non-fat milk
- ½ cup freshly grated extra sharp cheddar cheese
- ¼ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- ¾ cup panko breadcrumbs
- ¼ cup white whole wheat flour
- 3 tbsps (45 ml) unsalted butter, divided
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ¼ tsp kosher salt
- ¼ tsp dry mustard
- ¼ tsp freshly ground black pepper
- 1/8 tsp cayenne pepper (optional)
Instructions
- Oven Preparation: Preheat the oven to 200°C / 400°F and melt butter in a cast iron skillet. Combine melted butter with Panko breadcrumbs and Parmesan cheese, setting the mixture aside for topping.
- Broccoli Preparation: Blanch broccoli in boiling water for 3 minutes until crisp-tender, then drain completely. This step ensures optimal texture and removes excess moisture.
- Sauce Foundation: In the same skillet, create a roux by melting butter and whisking in flour until golden and fragrant. Gradually stream milk while continuously whisking to develop a smooth, lump-free sauce. Season with garlic powder, salt, dry mustard, black pepper, and cayenne pepper to build complex flavor layers.
- Cheese Integration: Remove sauce from heat and fold in cheddar cheese until the mixture becomes velvety and uniform. Gently incorporate blanched broccoli, ensuring each floret is thoroughly coated with the rich cheese sauce.
- Baking Process: Transfer the broccoli and cheese mixture to the skillet, spreading evenly. Sprinkle the reserved breadcrumb and Parmesan mixture across the top for a crisp, golden crust. Bake for 20-25 minutes until heated through, with an optional brief broiler finish for enhanced crispness.
- Serving Preparation: Rest the broccoli bake for 5 minutes to allow flavors to meld and sauce to slightly set before serving, ensuring the most enjoyable culinary experience.
Notes
- Optimize Broccoli Texture: Precisely cook broccoli for 3 minutes to achieve a crisp-tender consistency, preventing mushiness and maintaining nutritional integrity.
- Master Sauce Technique: Whisk flour and butter continuously for one minute to develop a golden roux, eliminating raw flour taste and creating a rich, nutty foundation.
- Control Cheese Melting: Remove skillet from heat when incorporating cheddar to prevent sauce separation and ensure a smooth, creamy texture.
- Perfect Crispy Topping: Monitor broiler closely when achieving golden-brown crust, rotating skillet if needed to prevent uneven browning or burning.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Side Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 204
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 291 mg
- Fat: 9 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 25 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 10 g
- Cholesterol: 22 mg