Top with the remaining 4 oz of shredded cheddar cheese.īake the casserole in a 400º oven for 15-20 minutes until the cheese on top has melted, browned and the edges are bubbling. Pour the cheese sauce evenly over the broccoli.Ĭoarsely crush the Ritz crackers and sprinkle over the top of the broccoli and cheese mixture. Give the cheese sauce a taste and season with more salt, pepper, and garlic powder if needed. The sauce will have thickened quite a bit, but will still be pourable (you can add a little more milk if the cheese sauce is too thick to pour). Once the 8 oz of cheese has been added, give a final whisk to make sure the sauce is completely smooth.
Whisk the cheese in slowly until just melted between each addition. Working in two batches, add in 8 oz of the cheddar cheese. Gently simmer for 45-60 seconds until slightly thickened, whisking continuously to prevent scorching. Turn the burner up to medium-high heat and add the garlic powder and a few cracks of pepper. As you add more milk, the mixture will turn into a paste, and then with the last addition of milk, turn into a smooth and silky sauce. Add a little bit at a time, and whisk continuously making sure the sauce is smooth after each addition of milk.Īt first, once the milk hits the roux, it will ball up like dough, that's what you want.
Whisk the butter and flour until combined and cook until the mixture smells nutty (about 1 minute). In a 2 quart or larger saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat and add the flour. Transfer the steamed broccoli to an 8" x 8" baking dish. Pour out any excess water that may be in the bowl after steaming. Try not to overcook your veggies at this stage, the broccoli will finish cooking during baking. Cover and microwave the broccoli for 4-5 minutes until bright green and gives a little resistance when pierced with a fork. Working in batches, add the broccoli florets to a microwave-safe bowl. Sprinkle the broccoli florets with a pinch of salt. Instructions: Prep the broccoli (this can be done several days ahead) 1 sleeve of Ritz crackers (about 30 crackers).12 oz extra sharp shredded cheddar cheese, divided.2 lbs fresh broccoli florets (about 3 large broccoli crowns).
I hope you're ready to fall in love, here's how we make it: How to make cheesy broccoli casserole with Ritz crackers: The best part is you can make this easy broccoli cheese casserole ahead of time, saving you time and stress in the kitchen. Lightly steamed broccoli is smothered in a rich and creamy cheddar cheese sauce and then topped with buttery Ritz crackers and even more cheddar cheese. I make this every year at Thanksgiving and it's always a hit with the family! Stay up to date with entry details by following and on Instagram.The holiday season is upon us and I can't wait to share with you my absolute favorite casserole for this time of year: Cheesy Broccoli Casserole with Ritz Crackers! Posting is optional and posted entries do not indicate the entry is a winner or favored in any way. While not required, competitors are encouraged to post a crave-worthy photo of their creation to their public Instagram account, showcasing RITZ Crushed Crackers and tagging #2022RITZCrushedCrackersContest. 2018: Crunchy Calzone: A twist on an Italian calzone created by chef Yoshiharu Sogi, a native of Japan who now runs two catering companies in Sonoma, CA.2019: Pork-U-Pie: A savory and sweet pork and Cheddar mock apple pie with a crisp and buttery RITZ Cracker crumb topping, developed by Kim Dalton of Texican in Chicago.2020: Fudgy Peanut Butter and Chocolate Truffle Ice Cream Pie, created by Eric Stein, international research and development chef for Church’s Chicken / Texas Chicken in Atlanta.RITZ Crushed Crackers are a welcomed ingredient in dishes from savory to sweet, and as a buttery substitute for breadcrumbs or pie crusts.įor inspiration, here are the previous Grand Prize-winning Recipes of the RITZ Crushed Crackers Recipe Contests: RITZ Crackers has a long history of being a versatile food that goes well with any occasion, and any topping-so naturally it is the cracker that welcomes anybody and everything to the table. Total average retail value of all prizes combined is $10,600.
One Culinary Student Winner will receive $500 and a custom blade from Meglio Knives.One Third Place Winner will receive $1,000, and a custom blade from Meglio Knives.One Second Place Winner will receive $1,500, and a custom blade from Meglio Knives.