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The Melting Pot
Broccoli Rice Casserole hero image coming soon
1950s-present - Postwar American home cooks, soup-company test kitchens, and community cookbook contributors
Broccoli rice casserole is a classic convenience-era side dish. Frozen broccoli, quick rice, condensed soup, and processed cheese made it easy for home cooks to put a green vegetable, starch, and creamy sauce into one holiday or potluck pan.
Difficulty
Easy
Prep time
20 minutes
Cook time
35 minutes
Total time
55 minutes
Servings
8 servings
Region
Midwest and United States potluck tables
Era introduced
1950s-present
Introduced by
Postwar American home cooks, soup-company test kitchens, and community cookbook contributors
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The casserole belongs to the same world as green bean casserole: pantry shortcuts, freezer vegetables, and a holiday table that expects something creamy and bubbling. Some versions use cream of mushroom soup and Cheez Whiz; others use cheddar cheese soup and shredded cheddar. This version keeps the vintage profile while allowing either processed cheese spread or shredded cheddar.
Drafted with vintage Cheez Whiz casserole context from Cooking on the Ranch (https://highlandsranchfoodie.com/broccoli-cheez-whiz-rice-casserole/), condensed-soup method context from Campbell's (https://www.campbells.com/recipes/broccoli-rice-casserole/), and modern comparison context from Simply Recipes (https://www.simplyrecipes.com/campbells-vs-ree-drummond-chicken-broccoli-rice-casserole-11871040).
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