• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Restless Chipotle

  • Home
  • Recipe Index
  • Start Here
    • Ingredients Substitutions
    • Tips for Measuring Ingredients Accurately
  • About
  • Shop
  • Your Recipe Box
  • Meal Plans
menu icon
go to homepage
  • About
  • Recipes
  • My Recipes
  • Meal Plans
  • Start Here!
  • Videos
  • Blog
  • Shop
  • Recipe Box
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • About
  • Recipes
  • My Recipes
  • Meal Plans
  • Start Here!
  • Videos
  • Blog
  • Shop
  • Recipe Box
×

Home » Recipes » Side Dish Recipes

Broccoli Casserole with Ritz Crackers

Published: Apr 5, 2021 Last Updated: Aug 2, 2021 by Marye 989 words. | About 5 minutes to read this article.

Broccoli casserole with Ritz crackers is a creamy combination of broccoli, cheese, and Ranch seasoning with a buttery cracker topping. It's a delicious side dish or add cooked chicken to make it an irresistible main dish casserole!
Total time 35 minutes
Jump to Recipe
Overhead view of broccoli cheese casserole with a serving spoon on top.Text overlay for Pinterest.
A baking dish full of broccoli casserole with Ritz cracker crumb topping. A serving has been removed. Text overlay for Pinterest.

Even your pickiest eaters will love broccoli when it comes to the table in the form of this easy recipe!

Looking for another side dish? This summer squash casserole is one of our favorites!

Overhead view of the casserole with title text overlay.
Broccoli and cheese casserole with a creamy Ranch sauce and buttery Ritz cracker topping? Yes please!!
Jump to:
  • ❤️ Why you'll love it
  • 🧾 Ingredients
  • 🔪 Instructions
  • 🥫 Storage
  • 💭 Tips
  • 👩‍🍳 FAQs
  • Related recipes
  • 📞 The last word
  • 📖 Recipe
  • 💬 Comments

❤️ Why you'll love it

  • You can assemble this broccoli casserole recipe up to 2 days ahead of time and refrigerate. Add the cracker crumbs, and bake when ready to serve.
  • It only takes 10 minutes to prep - and even less if you use frozen broccoli - but beware, frozen broccoli must be drained throughly or it will make the dish water.
  • Add diced cooked chicken and it becomes a main dish!

Gooey, cheesy broccoli in a rich sauce that's seasoned with Ranch mix and then topped with buttery, crispy cracker crumbs is out of this world delicious!

Add this broccoli cheese casserole as a side dish and watch it disappear!

🧾 Ingredients

Ingredients for the broccoli cheese casserole.
Broccoli casserole with Ritz crackers is easy to make with common ingredients.

You can use either fresh or frozen broccoli florets for this yummy side dish.

🔪 Instructions

Step by step images for mixing the cheese sauce for the casserole.
  1. Mix the cooked broccoli and pimentos.
  2. Soften the cream cheese and whisk it together with the milk and Ranch seasoning.
  3. Stir in the grated Cheddar.
  4. Pour the mixture over the broccoli and stir to coat.
Steps for putting the topping on the casserole.
  1. Spoon the mixture into a greased casserole dish.
  2. Crumble the crackers and stir in the butter.
  3. Sprinkle over the casserole.
  4. Bake until golden - about 20 minutes.

🥫 Storage

You can assemble this broccoli casserole and store in the refrigerator for up to 2 days before baking. Don't add the crumbs until you're ready to bake.

Leftovers should be covered with plastic wrap and stored in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

You can freeze the unbaked casserole without the crumb topping but the topping doesn't freeze well at all - it gets soggy.

Casserole with a serving removed.
Cheesy broccoli casserole with a creamy Ranch sauce is the BEST picky eater bait!

💭 Tips

Expert Tip: This is also good when made with asparagus, green beans, or cauliflower.

  • Use bacon grease instead of butter to stir into the cracker crumbs. YUM!
  • Sharp Cheddar is delicious in this recipe but use whatever you like.
  • If you are using frozen broccoli you won't need to cook it but you will need to thaw it first. You can do this by leaving it in the refrigerator overnight or putting it in a colander and pouring hot water over it a few times.
  • If you use frozen broccoli make sure to drain it very well and pat it dry so it doesn't make your casserole watery.
  • Add a can of condensed cream of mushroom soup or cream of chicken soup to make it even creamier.
Woman carrying a casserole dish on a clickable image. Takes you to Amazon store.

👩‍🍳 FAQs

Here are the questions I am most frequently asked about this recipe.

Do you cook broccoli before putting in the casserole?

Yes. You'll want to cook the broccoli until just tender but not mushy. It will continue to cook in the oven.

How long does broccoli cheese casserole last in the fridge?

It will be fine for up to 4 days as long as it's tightly covered.

How long to cook a casserole that has been refrigerated?

If a casserole has been assembled ahead of time and refrigerated you'll probably need to add about 10 minutes to the total baking time to ensure that it's heated all the way through.

Overhead shot of a serving of broccoli cheese casserole on a white plate.
Broccoli casserole with Ritz crackers is delicious enough for holidays but easy enough for weekdays!

Related recipes

  • 50 Best Side Dish Recipes on the Internet is full of ideas and inspiration for side dishes you may not have tried before.
  • Southern Pineapple Casserole Recipe is a classic for Easter and other holidays but it's SO good any time!
  • Onion Bacon Jam works well on crackers as an appetizer or spread on your burgers.
  • Asparagus Casserole with Ritz Crackers is a creamy, cheesy side dish that's got the same crunchy ritz cracker topping.

📞 The last word

Comfort food should be cheesy, creamy, or both. This broccoli casserole gives you the gooey cheese, the creamy sauce, and then takes it a step further with the buttery Ritz crackers on top.

It's the perfect side dish anytime but it's a family favorite during the holiday season.

📖 Recipe

Closeup of the broccoli cheese casserole showing the texture of the topping.
4.59 from 12 votes

Broccoli Casserole with Ritz Crackers

Print Pin Recipe Save Go to Collections
Prevent your screen from going dark
Broccoli casserole with Ritz crackers is a creamy combination of broccoli, cheese, and Ranch seasoning with a buttery cracker topping. It's a delicious side dish or add cooked chicken to make it an irresistible main dish casserole!
Course Side Dish
Cuisine American
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes
Servings:6
Calories:390
Author:Marye Audet-White
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Equipment Needed

  • Casserole Dish

Ingredients

  • 1 pound broccoli
  • 4 ounces pimentos
  • 8 ounces cream cheese
  • ½ cup milk
  • 1 ounce ranch salad dressing & seasoning mix
  • 2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese
  • 15 Ritz crackers, about 1 sleeve, crumbled
  • 1 tablespoon butter, melted

Instructions

  • Heat oven to 350°F.
  • Grease a 2 quart casserole dish.
  • Cook the broccoli in salted water until tender but not mushy.
  • Drain.
  • Place cream cheese and milk in a microwave safe glass bowl.
  • Microwave on high about 30 seconds, or just until the cream cheese is softened.
  • Add the packet of Ranch dressing and whisk until smooth.
  • Stir in the Cheddar cheese.
  • Mix the cooked, drained broccoli with the pimentos in a large bowl.
  • Pour the cheese mixture over the broccoli and mix gently.
  • Spoon into the prepared casserole dish.
  • Pour the melted butter into the cracker crumbs and mix.
  • Sprinkle over the broccoli mixture.
  • Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until hot and bubbly.

Notes

Expert Tip: This is also good when made with asparagus, green beans, or cauliflower.
  • Use bacon grease instead of butter to stir into the cracker crumbs. YUM!
  • Sharp Cheddar is delicious in this recipe but use whatever you like.
  • If you are using frozen broccoli you won't need to cook it but you will need to thaw it first. You can do this by leaving it in the refrigerator overnight or putting it in a colander and pouring hot water over it a few times.
  • If you use frozen broccoli make sure to drain it very well and pat it dry so it doesn't make your casserole watery.

Nutrition Facts

Calories: 390kcal | Carbohydrates: 16g | Protein: 15g | Fat: 30g | Saturated Fat: 17g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 88mg | Sodium: 829mg | Potassium: 394mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 1949IU | Vitamin C: 83mg | Calcium: 380mg | Iron: 2mg

Sign up for the emails and never miss another recipe!!

    We'll never share your email or send you spam. Pinkie swear.
    « Boston Cream Poke Cake
    Summer Cocktail Recipes »
    • Facebook
    • Twitter

    About Marye

    With a 40 year focus on the importance of family and a passion for southern comfort food, Marye Audet-White is an expert in melding the two together effortlessly. Marye's a NY Times Bestselling author with 10 cookbooks under her belt and her recipes have been featured in Good Housekeeping, Country Living, Today, House Beautiful, Texas Living, Food & Wine, and many more.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Doris Giddens

      April 09, 2021 at 8:02 am

      5 stars
      I'm proud of the recipes and going to try them

      Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Love it? Give it 5 stars!




    Primary Sidebar

    Marye Audet-White, founder of Restless Chipotle Media

    Hey Y'all, I'm Marye.

    NY Times bestselling author. Written over 10 cookbooks. Mom of 8 kids. Homeschooling mom for 22 years. Army veteran. Nothing fazes me & together we're going to get the kind of meals on your table that you (and your family) have been dreaming of. 

    More about me →

    Summer Fun

    • Patriotic Fruit Salad
    • Patriotic Jello Poke Cake
    • Plain Cheesecake Recipe- No Fail NY Style
    • How to Make a Watermelon Basket

    Newest Meal Plan

    • Meal Plan 29: July 9 - 15

    Popular Recipes

    • Crockpot Ranch Chicken (Easy Weeknight Recipe)
    • Southern Chicken Spaghetti with RoTel
    • Crispy Fried Potatoes
    • Sex in the Driveway: Bright Blue Cocktail
    • Saltine Cracker Recipe (Soda Crackers)
    • Copycat Red Robin Campfire Sauce Recipe
    • Chicken Casserole with Stovetop Stuffing
    • No Bake Lemon Icebox Pie: Grandma's Favorite

    Easy Breakfast Ideas for the 4th of July

    Easy 4th of July Breakfast Ideas

    Footer

    ^ back to top

    About

    • About Marye Audet-White
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms & Conditions
    • Accessibility Policy
    MaryeAudet Whiteandherchildren Dec

    Featured in:

    Companies that Marye Audet-White and Restless Chipotle have been affiliated with.

    Contact Marye

    • Contact
    Marye Audet-White, founder of Restless Chipotle Media

    Copyright ©2021 Restless Chipotle Media, LLC