10 Crowd-Pleasing Broccoli Cheese Recipes

Broccoli mac and cheese — The Spruce / Diana Rattray

Peanut butter and jelly. Bread and butter. Milk and cookies. Some foods pair together so naturally, you can hardly imagine eating them any other way. Add broccoli and cheese to that list of heavenly matches. Whether as a tasty side by itself or added to carbs and meat as a delicious main, you'll want to try all of the recipes on this list. Fresh or frozen broccoli works in most of these preparations, but you have better control over the texture if you use fresh florets.

This Is the Correct Way to Store Broccoli

Broccoli Recipes - How to make broccoli recipes

01 of 10

Basic Broccoli and Cheese Sauce

The Spruce / Chosen Posture

Dress up the humble crucifer with a velvety cheese sauce that will have even picky eaters running for seconds. American cheese melts down nice and creamy, so don't substitute other cheeses if you want to replicate the texture. A dash of cayenne pepper gives it a little kick.
02 of 10

Chicken Broccoli Ziti Alfredo Bake

The Spruce / Debbie Wolfe

Warm, comforting chicken ziti Alfredo comes together quickly when you use jarred alfredo sauce, frozen broccoli florets, and a rotisserie chicken. Leftover chicken would also work well or you can substitute other types of protein if you prefer. Ziti soaks up the sauce best, but other shapes will also work in a pinch.
03 of 10

Ham and Broccoli Casserole

The Spruce / Diana Rattray

A buttery, crumb-topped casserole makes excellent use of leftover ham. You can also use purchased deli ham, if you don't have any to use. A creamy cheese sauce holds it all together and panko breadcrumb topping gives it a nice crunch.
04 of 10

Easy One-Pan Broccoli Macaroni and Cheese

The Spruce / Diana Rattray

Turn macaroni and cheese into a main meal by adding broccoli. While this recipe calls for frozen broccoli, fresh also works well. Just steam the broccoli until crisp-tender before adding it to the dish since it won't cook fully in this preparation.

Continue to 5 of 10 below.
05 of 10

Slow Cooker Broccoli and Cheese Soup

The Spruce / Diana Rattray

This simple slow cooker soup only calls for four ingredients so you can put it together in a snap. Cheez Whiz has the perfect texture and it's all made creamier thanks to a can of cream of celery. You can use cream of mushroom for added cheesiness, too. When blending the soup, never fill the blender more than halfway, so it doesn't overflow and scald you.
06 of 10

French Broccoli Gratin

Getty Images / Fotosearch

In France, a gratin features a sturdy vegetable baked with a light cheese and breadcrumb covering. Broccoli works well in a classic gratin because it holds up well when baking. Cantal cheese gives this dish a nice nutty flavor, but cheddar can be subbed in, too. A little sage adds a lovely herbal complexity.
07 of 10

Creamy Broccoli Pasta

The Spruce / Diana Rattray

Grated Parmesan cheese, butter, and heavy cream give this pesto-like broccoli pasta a rich consistency with a delightfully fresh flavor that's perfect for springtime. Fresh basil tastes best, but you can also use dried. Try adding a clove or two of garlic for a little more zest.
08 of 10

Broccoli Quiche

Getty Images / Mladenovic

Like most quiches, this broccoli and cheese version lends itself well to experimentation. It tastes great with Swiss or cheddar, but would work with any variety you prefer. Mushrooms give it a nice earthiness, but diced ham, bacon, or crumbled sausage would add a meaty element. Use either a homemade fresh pastry shell or a frozen one, depending on how much time you have.

Continue to 9 of 10 below.
09 of 10

Broccoli Cheese Dip

Getty Images / Paul Poplis

Break out the crackers or toast up some crostini for this simple and addictive slow cooker broccoli and cheese dip. Serve it right out of the slow cooker at a game-day party or movie night to keep it warm and gooey. It tastes very similar to classic broccoli and cheese soup but in dip form. Note that this recipe makes a large batch; cut it in half for a smaller get-together.
10 of 10

Grilled Broccoli and Parmesan

The Spruce / Katie Workman

Grilling broccoli brings out its natural sweetness, so even those who profess not to like the vegetable will come around. Let the broccoli sit in the pan or on the grill until it gets a little charred, making sure to use a grill basket if the florets are small so they don't fall through. A garlic and lemon juice marinade gives it a delicious zip and nutty Parmesan cheese rounds it all out.