Vegetable Casserole Recipe
This comforting Vegetable Casserole is a creamy, cheesy medley of broccoli, mixed vegetables, and rice baked to golden perfection. Enhanced with savory seasonings and topped with a buttery Ritz cracker crust, it’s an easy, hearty dish perfect for family dinners or potlucks.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Casserole
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Vegetable Mixture
- 1 small yellow onion
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 10.5 oz cream of mushroom soup
- ½ cup milk
- ½ cup sour cream
- 2 heaping cups frozen broccoli
- 3 cups frozen mixed vegetables
- 8 oz shredded cheddar cheese, divided
- 2 large eggs, whisked
- 2 cups cooked rice
- ½ teaspoon garlic salt
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon mustard powder
- ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
Topping
- 1 cup crushed Ritz crackers
- 2 tablespoons melted butter
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) to prepare for baking the casserole.
- Sauté Onions: In a large pot over medium heat, melt 1 tablespoon of butter and sauté the small chopped yellow onion until softened and translucent, about 3-5 minutes.
- Mix Cream Base: Stir in the cream of mushroom soup, milk, sour cream, garlic salt, salt, mustard powder, Italian seasoning, and pepper until the mixture is smooth and well combined.
- Add Cheese: Add 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese to the pot and stir until the cheese is melted and incorporated into the creamy mixture.
- Combine Vegetables: Add the frozen broccoli and mixed vegetables to the pot. Stir and cook just until the vegetables are heated through to maintain some texture.
- Add Eggs and Rice: Incorporate the whisked eggs and cooked rice into the vegetable mixture, stirring thoroughly until everything is evenly combined.
- Transfer to Casserole Dish: Grease a casserole dish and pour the vegetable and rice mixture into it. Sprinkle the remaining 7 oz cheddar cheese evenly over the top.
- Bake Covered: Cover the casserole dish tightly with foil and bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes to set the casserole.
- Prepare Topping: While baking, mix the crushed Ritz crackers with the melted butter to create a buttery crunchy topping.
- Bake Uncovered: After 20 minutes, remove the foil, sprinkle the buttery cracker topping evenly over the casserole, and bake uncovered for an additional 10 minutes or until the topping becomes golden brown and crispy.
Notes
- Ensure the rice is fully cooked before adding to the mixture to avoid undercooked texture.
- Frozen vegetables should be thawed slightly or heated through to prevent excess water in the casserole.
- Use sharp cheddar cheese for a more pronounced flavor.
- For a gluten-free version, substitute Ritz crackers with gluten-free bread crumbs or crushed nuts.
- Covering the casserole during initial baking helps keep moisture in for a creamy texture.
- The cracker topping adds a nice crunchy contrast; don’t skip it!
Keywords: vegetable casserole, cheesy vegetable bake, broccoli casserole, rice casserole, comfort food, easy dinner, creamy vegetable dish
Find it online: https://kitchenbyrita.com/vegetable-casserole-recipe/
