Kitchen notes · a little help before you start
Cheesy Broccoli Quinoa Casserole
Cheesy broccoli and quinoa make a satisfying casserole to scoop into when dinner is ready. The grains catch the creamy sauce, with a melted cheddar top that is hard to pass up.
- Prep
- 40 min
- Cook
- 15 min
- Total
- 55 min
- Original yield
- Serves 10
- Ingredients
- 13 listed
Make it part of your week
Recipe categories & planning details
- Meal type
- Main course
- Cuisine
- American
- Cooking method
- Baking · Baked & roasted
- Preparation & total time
- Prep: over 30 minutes · Total: 31–60 minutes
- Dish type
- Casseroles
A few quick notes
1. Cook the quinoa separately
Prepare the quinoa in water or broth according to its package, then put the fluffy grains in the mixing bowl.
2. Keep broccoli crisp-tender
Steam the florets until bright green and crisp-tender before combining with quinoa and sauce for the short bake.
3. Whisk sauce as it thickens
Blend the milk mixture first, then whisk continuously as it simmers with softened onion and garlic until thickened.
Get to know the ingredients
Shred the cheddar block
Use a grater or food processor attachment to shred the cheese, keeping some for the top after making the sauce.
Flour choices
Oat flour or all-purpose flour is included for whisking into milk with seasonings before adding to the saucepan.
Chopped yellow onion
Cook the onion with minced garlic in butter until soft and fragrant before pouring in the whisked milk mixture.
Let’s make it
Choose your servings, then check things off as you go.
Original recipe: Serves 10. Original quantities shown.
Check ingredients as you prepare them. These checks stay on this page.
How to make it
0 of 9 steps completeMake room for Cheesy Broccoli Quinoa Casserole
Review ingredients in your pantry before anything is added. Meal plans use your household size; grocery-only additions use the servings selected above.
The last little job
Bake until heated through
Spread the sauced quinoa and broccoli in the prepared dish, add the remaining cheese and bake uncovered until hot and melted.
A little more help as you go
Melt cheese off the heat
Remove the thickened sauce from heat before whisking in the first cheddar portion until melted and smooth.
Coat the dish first
Lightly grease or spray the casserole dish before cooking the quinoa, so it is ready for the assembled mixture.
A few questions you might have
Does the broccoli cook inside the casserole from raw?
Steam it first until crisp-tender, then combine with cooked quinoa and cheese sauce before the short oven stage.
Is broth required for quinoa?
Water or low-sodium broth is included for the quinoa's separate cooking stage; follow its package directions with your choice.
Does all the cheese melt into the sauce?
Keep the remaining shredded cheese for the casserole top after the sauce has been mixed through quinoa and broccoli.
Can I use unsweetened almond milk?
Unsweetened almond milk is the milk example in the ingredient list, whisked with flour and seasoning for the sauce.
Should the casserole be covered?
Bake it uncovered until heated through and the cheese topping has melted, then serve warm from the dish.
Any more cooking tips?
Adapted from Whole Foods Broccoli, Rice and Cheese Casserole.
Storage & reheating safety
For cooked, perishable leftovers, refrigerate within 2 hours (1 hour above 90°F), using shallow containers for prompt cooling. Keep the refrigerator at 40°F or below, use refrigerated leftovers within 3–4 days, and reheat hot leftovers to 165°F, checked with a food thermometer. Follow any shorter package limit.
These are general safety limits, not a tested storage or freezing recommendation for this particular dish. USDA leftovers guidance · Safe cooking temperatures
Recipe source: eatingbirdfood.com. Ingredient names and quantities may be adapted for the pantry.
Preparation notes follow the recipe shown here.
