How to make cheesy broccoli casserole

Broccoli is an incredibly underrated, undervalued ingredient on the dinner table. The longstanding myth that children dislike broccoli is just that: a myth. In fact, we've found that the little ones can enjoy their broccoli just as much as anyone, especially when it is cooked with care and served up with an incredible cheese sauce, as beautifully exemplified in this dreamy recipe for cheesy broccoli casserole.

In the recipe below, we mix roughly chopped broccoli florets with Swiss cheese, flour, milk and seasonings. This creates a simple but oh-so-tasty cheese sauce while it bakes. About 15 minutes before baking is finished, we sprinkle buttery breadcrumbs over the casserole, then return it to the oven for a deliciously crispy finish.

2½ quarts fresh broccoli florets, roughly chopped
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 cups shredded Swiss cheese
⅓ cup flour
½ cup milk
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon pepper
½ teaspoon paprika
1 cup coarse breadcrumbs
4 tablespoons butter, melted

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Lightly grease a baking dish.

2. In a large bowl, mix broccoli, olive oil, Swiss cheese, flour, milk, salt, pepper and paprika. Be sure everything is well incorporated. Transfer into the greased baking dish.

3. Bake in oven for 40 minutes.

4. While broccoli is in the oven, use a small bowl to combine breadcrumbs with melted butter. After 40 minutes of baking time, sprinkle the breadcrumb mixture on top of the broccoli casserole. Return to oven for another 15 minutes, or until the breadcrumbs are crispy and golden brown.

Tip: You can easily replace the broccoli with cauliflower if you're looking for variety in your vegetables!

Tip 2: Try adding chopped ham, bacon bits or leftover cooked chicken to the broccoli to create a complete meal.