This Easy Broccoli, Bacon and Cheese Casserole Recipe has tender broccoli, crispy bacon and seasoned Italian bread crumbs with crunchy, cheesy edges.
It’s made with simple ingredients and is a perfect side dish for any meal but, especially your holiday meal because you can make it ahead.
This easy broccoli casserole recipe is made with fresh ingredients rather than canned cream of mushroom soup or cream of chicken soup. Side dishes made with condensed soup can be heavy, especially for big holiday meals.
This recipe is very similar to my Broccoli and Cheese with Bread Crumb Topping except that this recipe has bacon too. Put bacon on anything and it’s better!
It’s made with fresh broccoli florets, sharp cheddar cheese, bacon, seasoned Italian bread crumbs, olive oil and garlic powder. I often use garlic powder because it coats well rather than using minced garlic.
Some of the melted cheese on the sides of the casserole dish become crispy. Oh that cheesy goodness!
It’s an easy broccoli cheese casserole you can use when you need an easy side dish but, also a delicious side dish.
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Easy Broccoli, Bacon and Cheese Casserole Recipe
*The full printable recipe is at the bottom of this post in the recipe card.
Ingredients
- fresh broccoli florets
- bacon strips
- shredded sharp cheddar cheese or colby cheese
- EVOO
- Italian seasoned bread crumbs
- garlic powder
- salt and black pepper to taste
First, preheat the oven to 375F.
Meanwhile, cook the broccoli on the stovetop (do not overcook.) Place the cooked broccoli in an oil sprayed 13″ x 9″ x 3″ inch baking dish.
Then, when the oven has reached 375F, place the bacon strips on a baking sheet and bake for 20 minutes or until crispy. When cool, cut into one-inch pieces.
Next, add the oil and seasonings.
Then, put half of the cheese on it followed by the bacon pieces and then top with the remaining cheese.
Next, sprinkle the seasoned bread crumbs evenly on top.
Then, bake the broccoli mixture uncovered for 20-25 minutes until golden brown.
Make Ahead Instructions
First, make this simple broccoli casserole ahead of time without the bread crumbs the day before you want to serve it.
Then, put aluminum foil on the casserole dish and place it in your refrigerator.
Next, before you want to serve it, put the casserole dish in the oven at 375F for about 15 minutes to warm it up.
Next, put the seasoned bread crumbs on it and continue to bake if for another 15 minutes to melt the cheese and brown the bread crumbs.
It’s a perfect side dish for big family holiday meals, like Thanksgiving, because it’s not as heavy as a creamy casserole.
Bring this cheesy broccoli casserole to your dinner table when you want a tasty side dish for chicken, pork chops, ham or a beef roast main dish. The whole family will like it. Even your picky eaters will like this broccoli cheese casserole recipe.
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Easy Broccoli, Bacon and Cheese Casserole Recipe
Ingredients
- 8 cups broccoli florets or one large broccoli crown
- 1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese or Colby cheese
- 6 strips bacon
- 1/4 cup Italian seasoned bread crumbs
- 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 1/8 tsp garlic powder
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- First, preheat oven to 375F.
- Meanwhile, cook broccoli florets (8 cups) on high heat, in a medium sauce pan covered with an inch of water for about 5-10 minutes until tender. Drain water.
- Next, when oven has reached 375F, place bacon strips (6) on a baking sheet and put in oven for 20-25 minutes until crispy. Place cooked bacon on a plate with paper towels to drain fat.
- Then, when the bacon is cooled, cut bacon into one inch pieces.
- Next, oil spray a 13" x 9" x 3" casserole dish.
- Then, put the broccoli florets in the casserole dish.
- Next, pour olive oil (2 tbsp) on the broccoli followed by garlic powder (1/8 tsp,) salt and pepper to taste.
- Then, put half of the shredded cheese (3/4 cup) on top of the broccoli followed by the bacon pieces and the rest of the shredded cheese (3/4 cup.)
- Next, sprinkle the Italian seasoned bread crumbs on top of the broccoli. Bake at 375F for 20-25 minutes.
