This ultra-easy casserole recipe uses all the shortcuts the author could work in. It takes just ten min-utes or less to put together. And it’s still the ‘belle of the ball’ at Festive Feasts. Even among folks who thought they didn’t like Broccoli!
I like to share the recipe nuggets I un-cover while ‘prospecting’ online. And today’s is one of the best examples I’ve seen in ages of a dish that checks all the boxes: flavour, texture, engaging visuals, quick and easy to make, and relatively inexpensive…
But on top of all that, it’s a Broccoli re-cipe everyone should love – even folks who insist they don’t like Broccoli.
And it’s totally ‘make-ahead-able’!
Author says…
“Depending on whether you buy store-brand or name-brand labels, the total cost of ingredients ranges from $5 to $10, with the most expensive ingredient being the Cheese Whiz,” notes recipe creator (pictured with her cassereole, left). “It takes about 10 minutes to assemble and can be made a day or more in advance.”
What you need
You may already have some of the ingredients in the house:
1 package (20 oz.) frozen broccoli florets, thawed and drained
1 can (10¾ oz.) condensed cream of mushroom soup
1 cup Cheez Whiz Cheese Dip
1 box (6 oz.) Stove Top Stuffing Mix for Chicken
Note: All the ingredients that might have required excessive time and effort to prepare are purchased from the supermarket, ready-prepped!
What you do
“Mix the first three ingredients (broccoli, cheese, and soup) in the baking dish.” Rudzinsky says. “If you are saving it to cook for another day, this is the point where you’d cover it with foil and store it in the fridge or freezer. The Stove Top stuffing mix should only be added just before baking, so it stays crisp.”
And there’s an important tip to ensure an optimum crispy finish on the stuffing topping:
‘For the perfect crispy top, pour the stuffing mix into a bowl. Melt five tablespoons of butter in the microwave and drizzle it over the crumbs. Give it a good stir so everything gets nicely coated, and then spread it evenly over the top of your casserole.”
Bake at 350 – 375 F for 30 minutes or until the topping turns golden brown. Makes 6-8 servings.
My take
This basic recipe can be repurposed very easily to feature other ‘star’ veggies – most obviously, cau-liflower. And it makes an irresistible main with the addition of shredded Rotisserie Chicken (from the supermarket), Turkey leftovers or leftover Ham cubes. And don’t overlook the potential to create an upgraded vegetarian version made simply by adding medium-diced complementary root veggies.
Let your imagination loose and try this primo casserole. You family and guests will love it – and think you spent all day making it!
~ Maggie J.