Description

This Easy Broccoli Casserole with Ritz Cracker is a creamy, cheesy, and comforting vegetable side dish that’s perfect for family dinners or holiday gatherings. Featuring tender steamed broccoli in a rich blend of cream cheese, ranch seasoning, and parmesan, topped with crunchy crushed Ritz crackers and melted mozzarella, this casserole offers a delightful contrast of textures and flavors with minimal effort.

Ingredients

Scale

Vegetables

2 lbs Broccoli (cut into florets)
Water (for steaming broccoli)

Cheese Sauce

8 oz Cream Cheese
¼ cup Heavy Cream
⅓ cup Parmesan Cheese (grated)
1 tbsp Dijon Mustard
1 tbsp Ranch Seasoning
1 tbsp Minced Garlic (or 1 teaspoon garlic powder)
1 tbsp Italian Seasoning
1 large Egg (at room temperature)
½ cup Mozzarella Cheese (divided)
½ cup Mayonnaise
Pepper (to taste)

Topping

1 sleeve Ritz Crackers (crushed)

Instructions

Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Liberally grease a 9×13-inch baking dish with cooking spray to prevent sticking and set it aside.
Steam the Broccoli: Place the cut broccoli florets in a microwave-safe bowl, add a small amount of water, and cover with a lid. Microwave on high power for 2 to 3 minutes until just tender. Drain any excess water thoroughly and transfer the broccoli to a serving dish.
Make the Creamy Cheese Sauce: In a medium-sized mixing bowl, combine the cream cheese, heavy cream, grated parmesan, dijon mustard, ranch seasoning, minced garlic, italian seasoning, egg, half of the mozzarella cheese, mayonnaise, and pepper. Mix everything well until the mixture becomes light and creamy.
Assemble the Casserole Base: Pour the creamy cheese sauce evenly into the prepared 9×13-inch baking dish. Reserve 2 to 3 tablespoons of the sauce for topping.
Add Broccoli: Distribute the steamed broccoli florets evenly over the cheese sauce layer in the baking dish.
Top with Sauce and Crackers: Spread the reserved cheese sauce over the broccoli to help bind the topping. Then sprinkle the crushed Ritz crackers evenly on top.
Add Final Cheese and Bake: Sprinkle the remaining mozzarella cheese over the cracker topping. Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake for about 20 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbly and lightly browned on top.

Notes

For extra flavor, you can add cooked bacon bits or caramelized onions to the cheese sauce.
Make sure to drain the broccoli well after steaming to avoid a watery casserole.
If you prefer a crispier topping, broil the casserole for the last 2-3 minutes, watching carefully to prevent burning.
Can be prepared a day ahead and refrigerated; bake directly from chilled, adding a few extra minutes to the baking time.
Use gluten-free crackers instead of Ritz to make this casserole gluten-free.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Category: Casserole
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American

Keywords: broccoli casserole, easy broccoli recipe, cheesy broccoli bake, Ritz cracker casserole, vegetable side dish, creamy broccoli casserole