Of course! “Vegetable Casserole” is a wonderfully broad term, so I’ll give you a classic, crowd-pleasing recipe that is both versatile and delicious. This one features a creamy, cheesy sauce and a crispy topping—a combination that’s always a winner.
Classic Cheesy Vegetable Casserole
This recipe is a fantastic template. You can easily swap out the vegetables based on what you have on hand or what’s in season.
Yields: 6-8 servings as a side
Prep time: 20 minutes
Cook time: 30-35 minutes
Ingredients
For the Vegetable Base:
· 4 cups of mixed vegetables, chopped into bite-sized pieces.
· Great combinations:
· Classic: Broccoli & Cauliflower
· Harvest: Zucchini, Yellow Squash, Carrots & Onion
· Festive: Green Beans, Corn & Red Bell Pepper
· 1 tbsp olive oil
· Salt and black pepper to taste
For the Creamy Sauce:
· 2 tbsp unsalted butter
· 1 small onion, finely diced
· 2 cloves garlic, minced
· 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
· 1 ½ cups whole milk or half-and-half
· 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
· ½ cup sour cream or plain Greek yogurt
· ½ tsp garlic powder
· ½ tsp onion powder
· ¼ tsp smoked paprika (optional, for depth)
For the Topping:
· 1 cup crispy fried onions (the classic French’s kind)
· OR ½ cup Panko breadcrumbs mixed with 2 tbsp melted butter and ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Prep and Cook Vegetables: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). If using hard vegetables like carrots or broccoli, you may want to blanch them first: steam or boil for 3-4 minutes until just tender-crisp. Drain well. Toss all your vegetables with olive oil, salt, and pepper and spread them in a 9×13 inch or 2-quart baking dish.
- Make the Creamy Sauce: In a medium saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the diced onion and cook until soft and translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the minced garlic and cook for 1 more minute.
· Sprinkle the flour over the onions and garlic and whisk constantly for 1-2 minutes to cook out the raw flour taste. This is your “roux.”
· Slowly pour in the milk while whisking constantly to avoid lumps. Continue to cook and whisk until the sauce thickens and comes to a gentle simmer.
· Remove from heat. Stir in the cheddar cheese, sour cream, garlic powder, onion powder, and smoked paprika until the cheese is melted and the sauce is smooth. Season with salt and pepper to taste. - Combine: Pour the creamy cheese sauce over the vegetables in the baking dish and stir gently to coat everything evenly.
- Add the Topping: Sprinkle the crispy fried onions (or the Panko-Parmesan mixture) evenly over the top.
- Bake: Bake, uncovered, for 25-30 minutes, or until the casserole is bubbly around the edges and the topping is golden brown.
- Rest and Serve: Let the casserole sit for 5-10 minutes before serving. This allows the sauce to thicken up slightly.
🌟 Pro Tips for Success
· Avoid Sogginess: The key to a great veggie casserole is to not have watery vegetables. Blanching hard veggies and thoroughly draining anything canned or frozen is essential. You can even pat them dry with a paper towel.
· Customize It:
· Protein: Add 2 cups of diced, cooked chicken, ham, or turkey to make it a main dish.
· Cheese: Swap the cheddar for Gruyère, Monterey Jack, or Gouda.
· Healthy Twist: Use a roux made with whole wheat flour and substitute the sour cream with plain Greek yogurt.
· Make-Ahead: You can assemble the entire casserole (without the topping) up to a day in advance. Cover and refrigerate. Add the topping just before baking, and you may need to add 5-10 minutes to the bake time since it will be cold.
🍂 Popular Vegetable Casserole Variations
- Green Bean Casserole: The ultimate classic! Use 4 cups of blanched green beans, a sauce made with cream of mushroom soup (or a homemade mushroom sauce), and top with crispy fried onions.
- Broccoli Rice Casserole: Mix 3 cups of cooked rice and 3 cups of broccoli florets with the cheese sauce. Top with buttered breadcrumbs and bake.
- Sweet Potato Casserole: A sweeter side! Use 4 cups of mashed sweet potatoes mixed with butter, brown sugar, milk, and cinnamon. Top with a pecan streusel topping or marshmallows.
No matter which version you choose, a vegetable casserole is the perfect comforting side dish for any family dinner or holiday gathering