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Cheesy Broccoli Rice

[heart_this] · Mar 7, 2009 · 52 Comments

Cheesy Broccoli Rice

I had recently seen a recipe for a cheese and broccoli soup that had been on my mind. I had some broccoli in the fridge and I was trying to come up with a way to turn it into a side dish for my maple and mustard glazed chicken dinner. Then I thought about a cheesy broccoli rice which sounded good. There were several ways that I could approach a cheesy broccoli rice and I decided keep it simple and I went with mixing some cooked rice into a bechamel sauce along with some gruyere and parmigiano reggiano cheeses. I was also thinking that a risotto would be nice and creamy and good but a bit more work. As another alternative I was thinking that cheddar cheese would have been good, though it will have to wait for another time. I like to try to use brown rice whenever I can and this was a perfect time to do so. The cheesy broccoli rice was really simple to make and it turned out great! It was nice and creamy and cheesy and good. I was thinking that next time it might be nice to throw it into a baking dish and bake it until the cheese on top turned a nice golden brown.

Cheesy Broccoli Rice

Cheesy Broccoli Rice

Cook Time: 30 minutes Total Time: 30 minutes Servings: 4
ingredients
  • 1 cup rice
  • 2 cups water
  • 1 batch bechamel sauce
  • 1/4 cup parmigiano reggiano (grated)
  • 1/4 cup gruyere (grated)
  • 2 cups broccoli (steamed and chopped)
directions
  1. Simmer the rice in the water, covered, until the water is absorbed and the rice is tender, about 20 minutes.
  2. Make or heat the bechamel sauce.
  3. Stir in the cheeses and let them melt.
  4. Stir in the broccoli and cook until warmed.
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Food, Recipe, Rice, Side Dish, Vegetable, Vegetarian

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Jess says

    March 7, 2009 at 11:47 pm

    This looks like it would be nice and cozy on the tongue. Baking it sounds like a great idea. I bet the corner pieces would be wonderful. Mmmm…

    Reply
  2. pepsakoy says

    March 7, 2009 at 11:49 pm

    It makes the meal perfect ! The rice looks great and chicken made me drool !! ..lol

    Reply
  3. Lorraine @NotQuiteNigella says

    March 8, 2009 at 12:09 am

    Mmm as comforting as a risotto-delicious Kevin! 🙂

    Reply
  4. James says

    March 8, 2009 at 12:21 am

    I used to do this stuffed in peppers and baked in the oven – and when I didn’t have the peppers just made the rice on it’s own. The cheese wins the day really.

    Reply
  5. Greg says

    March 8, 2009 at 12:41 am

    That looks really delicious! So creamy.

    Reply
  6. Robin says

    March 8, 2009 at 1:03 am

    We always have a broccoli cheese casserole for Thanksgiving. When I was younger I thought it was fabulous but now I don’t like it. I even suggested to my Mom that we replace it with something next year. The reason being is that we make a really cheap, easy version by melting Velveeta onto the broccoli and rice. Yuck. But I am definitely going to try your cheesy broccoli rice. It’s a grown up, sophisticated version of that cheap Thanksgiving staple. Maybe we can replace the bad with the good this year.

    Reply
  7. Ranjani says

    March 8, 2009 at 2:13 am

    that looks good!wonder if you could make it with arborio rice?

    Reply
  8. Sharon says

    March 8, 2009 at 2:21 am

    Oh wow, looks delicious Kevin!

    Reply
  9. tigerfish says

    March 8, 2009 at 2:47 am

    Oh-so-cheesy! Makes a one-dish meal!

    Reply
  10. Heather says

    March 8, 2009 at 2:58 am

    mmm. that looks like something my mom always made – chicken divan. it sounds delicious. cheese and broccoli are definitely two of my favorite things!

    Reply
  11. Helene says

    March 8, 2009 at 3:02 am

    This reminds me of childhood meals. Made your glazed maple carrots tonights. So good.

    Reply
  12. Manger La Ville says

    March 8, 2009 at 4:22 am

    This sounds delicious, indulgent and pretty easy. I have never heard up cooking rice in beschamel sauce and I must try it.

    Reply
  13. Nina Timm says

    March 8, 2009 at 4:53 am

    This should be a meal all on its own, Kevin!!! Great flavor combo!!!

    Reply
  14. Beachlover says

    March 8, 2009 at 5:26 am

    this rice is a really comfort food!! look great!

    Reply
  15. Donna-FFW says

    March 8, 2009 at 5:31 am

    What a fantastic side dish. I always enjoy finding new uses for broccoli.

    Reply
  16. Sean says

    March 8, 2009 at 5:38 am

    I was wondering what this was this whole week when I saw the chicken recipe! Sounds delicious!

    Reply
  17. Indonesia-Eats says

    March 8, 2009 at 7:32 am

    Gruyere yummyyy

    Reply
  18. Jan says

    March 8, 2009 at 8:06 am

    I have just made a rice pudding so I’m sure your cheesy broccoli rice would work great baked in the oven.
    Although I must say, it sounds lovely as is.

    Reply
  19. pigpigscorner says

    March 8, 2009 at 10:32 am

    The love to drown my rice in a pool of yummy sauce.Looks really delicious!

    Reply
  20. Jennifer says

    March 8, 2009 at 10:51 am

    This reminds me of my childhood, although when my father “cooked” it was instant from a bag! Beautitful Kevin!

    Reply
  21. Darius T. Williams says

    March 8, 2009 at 12:59 pm

    100% – gets my vote and looks fantastic.

    Reply
  22. Anonymous says

    March 8, 2009 at 1:10 pm

    Yummy Yum..

    Reply
  23. Netts Nook says

    March 8, 2009 at 1:36 pm

    Kevin this looks great I love broccoli I can’t wait to mix it up a little. What a great idea. Thanks

    Reply
  24. katie says

    March 8, 2009 at 2:34 pm

    Good idea! I am going to try making a broccoli and cheddar risotto.

    Reply
  25. Pam says

    March 8, 2009 at 2:44 pm

    Oh Kevin – this looks creamy and so good. I like broccoli and cheese together. I love that you used brown rice.

    Reply
  26. SusanQ says

    March 8, 2009 at 3:12 pm

    That sounds delicious with your choice of cheeses!

    Reply
  27. Cheryl says

    March 8, 2009 at 3:24 pm

    That is my most favorite rice, I buy it in a box, but now I dont have to!

    Reply
  28. Jeena says

    March 8, 2009 at 3:26 pm

    Cheese and broccoli are great together, this looks so good Kevin!

    Reply
  29. Anonymous says

    March 8, 2009 at 4:18 pm

    I bet that would be good with brown rice. I love the nutty flavor of brown rice and I think it would compliment the cheesy sauce well. Thanks for posting the recipe!

    Reply
  30. Kelly says

    March 8, 2009 at 4:19 pm

    Yummm! That looks so good!

    Reply
  31. Leslie says

    March 8, 2009 at 4:37 pm

    mmm..this sound wonderfully rich and yummy

    Reply
  32. Elra says

    March 8, 2009 at 5:01 pm

    Sounds so good Kevin, very unusual.
    Cheers,
    elra

    Reply
  33. The American Homemaker says

    March 8, 2009 at 5:27 pm

    I make a cheesy broccoli rice, but it’s not near as fancy 🙂

    Reply
  34. Bob says

    March 8, 2009 at 5:45 pm

    Looks great, although I think browning up the cheese would be a nice touch.

    Reply
  35. Not Another Omnivore says

    March 8, 2009 at 5:46 pm

    That sounds really great!

    NAOmni

    Reply
  36. Joanne says

    March 8, 2009 at 5:48 pm

    This looks great! A more sophisticated version of the campbell’s cream of broccoli soup version. I will definitely be making this for my parents when I got home for spring break…they are big fans of broccoli and cheese.

    Reply
  37. Kerstin says

    March 8, 2009 at 5:57 pm

    You can’t go wrong with parmigiano reggiano and gruyere – looks delicious! I’ve really enjoyed checking out your archived recipes!

    Reply
  38. Natashya says

    March 8, 2009 at 6:53 pm

    Your rice sounds so warm and soothing and delicious!

    Reply
  39. Bridgett says

    March 8, 2009 at 7:55 pm

    Now this is definitely decadent!

    Reply
  40. Karen says

    March 8, 2009 at 7:59 pm

    Great idea… it sounds rich and delicious.

    Reply
  41. Gloria says

    March 8, 2009 at 9:59 pm

    Oh Kevin this look absolutely yummy and tasty!!! xGloria

    Reply
  42. Melissa says

    March 8, 2009 at 10:42 pm

    That looks great! I don’t like broccoli by itself so this sounds great!

    Reply
  43. Maya says

    March 9, 2009 at 12:02 pm

    I could be happy with a bowl of this!

    Reply
  44. Anonymous says

    March 9, 2009 at 7:38 pm

    Béchamel + (white) cheeses = Mornay Sauce = YUM!

    Reply
  45. noobcook says

    March 10, 2009 at 8:50 am

    I luv the look of the melted cheese. Simple and delicious recipe 😀

    Reply
  46. Anonymous says

    March 12, 2009 at 9:50 am

    Looks like a comfort food!

    Reply
  47. Sojourner says

    March 13, 2009 at 3:12 am

    I liked this – subbed in sharp cheddar for gruyere and roasted the broccoli because I don’t have a steamer – but 1 cup was WAY too much rice. I added cheese though, and everything was better.

    Reply
  48. Anonymous says

    August 31, 2009 at 11:04 pm

    Looks like something my dog threw up in the back yard.
    Makes me kind of nauseated just looking at it.

    Reply
  49. r^2 says

    October 21, 2011 at 12:58 am

    Just made this and it tasted delicious! I did add a few extra ingredients to make the dish a full meal. I sautéed some garlic, onions, and shrimp. Oh I also added slices of cayenne pepper. Then I mixed this with the cheesy broccoli rice. Very comforting meal 🙂

    Reply
  50. Kevin says

    October 21, 2011 at 8:51 am

    r^2: Adding shrimp to make it a meal sounds good!

    Reply
  51. Anonymous says

    March 29, 2013 at 4:53 pm

    Looks so delicous. where is the recipe??

    Reply
  52. Roshni Parate says

    March 22, 2019 at 2:51 pm

    Broccoli cheese rice is my favourite!!!! Can’t wait to try this lightened up version. Thanks for sharing the amazing recipe.

    Reply

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Kevin: I came to realize that my meals were boring and that I had been eating the same few dishes over and over again for years. It was time for a change! I now spend my free time searching for, creating and trying tasty new recipes in my closet sized kitchen.
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