Broccoli Cheese Gratin for a Crowd. Great recipe for Broccoli Cheese Gratin for a Crowd. Cheesy and tasty, and more than enough to go around. Perfect for any holiday get together with the family.
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. You can cook Broccoli Cheese Gratin for a Crowd using 10 ingredients and 7 steps. Here is how you achieve that.
Ingredients of Broccoli Cheese Gratin for a Crowd
- It's 4 lbs of fresh broccoli - cut to bite size florets.
- It's 1/2 cup of Panko breadcrumbs.
- Prepare 6 tbs of unsalted butter - softened, divided.
- It's 2 tbs of flour.
- You need 2 cups of milk (anything but skim).
- It's 4 oz of full fat cream cheese - softened, cubed.
- You need 1 1/2 cup of triple cheddar blend shredded cheese.
- You need 1 tsp of salt.
- You need 1/2 tsp of pepper.
- You need 1 pinch of cayenne.
A little sage adds a lovely herbal complexity that really elevates the dish. Perfect for any holiday get together with the family. This is my twist on the traditional gratin by adding cream cheese. Made the smoothest cheese sauce I've ever eaten.
Broccoli Cheese Gratin for a Crowd instructions
- Preheat oven to 450°F. Grease the bottom and sides of a 9x13 baking dish with 1 tbs of the butter. Set aside..
- Place a steamer basket in a large pot filled with just enough water to almost touch the bottom of the basket. Add broccoli and steam until crisp tender. About 8 minutes. (Note on the broccoli, I do not use the big, stalks parts of the stems).
- When broccoli is finished. Remove lid and carefully transfer broccoli to casserole dish, spread out evenly. Sprinkle with 1/2 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp pepper..
- While broccoli steams, you can begin the sauce. Melt 4 tbs butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add flour. Cook for 1 minute, wisking constantly..
- Wisk in milk. Cook until sauce begins to bubble and thicken. About 5 minutes. Reduce heat to low. Add a small pinch of cayenne and remaining pepper. Stir in cream cheese until melted..
- Stir in shredded cheese until sauce is smooth. Taste for seasoning adding up to remaining 1/2 tsp salt if desired. Pour in an even layer over broccoli in dish..
- Melt remaining 1 tbs butter in microwave for 20-30 seconds. Stir into bread crumbs. Sprinkle mixture evenly over cheese. Bake uncovered until topping is golden brown. About 10-15 minutes. Dish up hot. Enjoy!.
In a large heavy bottomed soup pot or Dutch oven, melt the butter over medium heat. Arrange cauliflower and broccoli in the prepared dish. Melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. This is the best broccoli cheese casserole I have ever tasted. My husbands family is big on broccoli cheese casserole, but this beat their usual great tasting casserole.
