Description
Chrissy Teigen’s broccoli cauliflower casserole delivers comforting cheesy goodness with crunchy breadcrumb topping. Simple ingredients combine for a hearty side dish that brings warmth to family dinners.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 head broccoli, broken into small florets
- 1 head cauliflower, broken into small florets
- 1 cup monterey jack cheese (or cheddar, cheddar-jack, parmesan)
- 4 oz (113 g) cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup seasoned breadcrumbs
- 1 cup chicken broth (low sodium)
- 1 onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- Butter for sautéing and melting over breadcrumbs
- Salt to taste
- Black pepper to taste
- Seasoned salt to taste
- Paprika to taste
Instructions
- Vegetable Preparation: Steam broccoli and cauliflower florets until vibrant and slightly tender, ensuring they maintain a crisp texture and bright color.
- Aromatic Base: In a skillet, sauté onions and garlic in butter until soft and translucent, releasing their rich, savory essence and creating a flavorful foundation for the sauce.
- Roux Development: Dust flour over the sautéed aromatics, stirring thoroughly to create a smooth base that will thicken the sauce and eliminate any raw flour taste.
- Sauce Building: Slowly incorporate chicken broth into the skillet, whisking continuously to prevent lumps and achieve a silky, consistent texture as the sauce gradually thickens.
- Creamy Transformation: Blend in room-temperature cream cheese until fully melted, creating a luxurious, velvety sauce. Season with salt, black pepper, seasoned salt, and a hint of paprika to enhance the overall flavor profile.
- Cheese and Topping Preparation: Grate Monterey Jack cheese and combine breadcrumbs with melted butter, ensuring an even coating that will create a crispy, golden topping.
- Layering Process: Assemble the casserole by alternating layers of steamed vegetables, creamy sauce, and grated cheese, building depth and complexity of flavor with each stratum.
- Baking Finale: Crown the casserole with buttered breadcrumbs and bake at 375°F (190°C) until the surface turns golden brown and the interior becomes bubbling and irresistibly aromatic.
Notes
- Steaming Secrets: Steam vegetables just until vibrant and slightly tender to maintain crisp texture and prevent mushiness, which preserves nutrients and prevents overcooking.
- Flour Power: Cooking flour with onions and garlic eliminates raw flour taste and creates a richer, more developed flavor base for the creamy sauce.
- Cheese Selection: Choose a cheese that melts smoothly like Monterey Jack or sharp cheddar to enhance the casserole’s creamy consistency and add depth of flavor.
- Breadcrumb Brilliance: Ensure breadcrumbs are evenly coated with melted butter for a golden, crispy topping that adds delightful crunch and texture to the casserole.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Side Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 22g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 10g
- Cholesterol: 30mg