Easy Broccoli Cheese Casserole with Ritz Crackers

Name: Easy Broccoli Cheese Casserole Recipe with Ritz Crackers
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 35 min
Total time: 50 min
Ingredients: 6 cups broccoli florets, (about three stalks, or a 15-ounce bag of frozen broccoli); ½ cup sour cream; ½ cup mayonnaise, (I like Dukes); 10.5 ounces cream of mushroom soup, (1 can); 1⅓ cups grated sharp cheddar cheese, (divided); 1 teaspoon garlic powder; 1 teaspoon kosher salt; ½ teaspoon ground black pepper; ½ cup crushed Ritz crackers, (about 10-15 crackers); 2 tablespoons unsalted butter (melted)

Modified: Sep 30, 2026 · by Sharon Rigsby · 100 Comments

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Broccoli Cheese Casserole with Ritz Crackers is a creamy, cheesy Southern side dish, and like my Old-Fashioned Baked Mac and Cheese, it’s topped with buttery Ritz crackers for plenty of crunch. Made with fresh or frozen broccoli, sharp cheddar cheese, sour cream, mayonnaise, and cream of mushroom soup, it’s easy to prepare and perfect for holiday dinners.

I’ve been making this broccoli cheese casserole for over 50 years, and I can’t remember a Thanksgiving or Christmas when it wasn’t on our dinner table. It’s my son’s favorite holiday side dish, and I wouldn’t dream of serving a holiday dinner without it.

Broccoli cheese casserole with a golden Ritz cracker topping served on a white plate.

Quick Look: Broccoli Cheese Casserole with Ritz Crackers

Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 40 minutes
Total time: 50 minutes
Serves: 6
Difficulty: Easy
Best for: Thanksgiving, Christmas, and other holiday dinners
Make-ahead: Yes
Taste & texture: Creamy, cheesy broccoli with a buttery, crunchy Ritz cracker topping
Equipment: 2-quart baking dish
What makes it different: This extra-creamy broccoli casserole has been on my family’s Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner tables for over 50 years. Sharp cheddar, mayonnaise, sour cream, and cream of mushroom soup keep it creamy, while buttery Ritz crackers add the perfect crunch.

Broccoli Cheese Casserole with Ritz Crackers is an easy Southern side dish with a creamy, cheesy filling and a buttery cracker topping. You can use fresh or frozen broccoli, assemble the casserole ahead of time, and bake it just before serving.

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Quick Look: Broccoli Cheese Casserole with Ritz Crackers
Featured Comment
Key Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
Recipe Variations
How to Make Broccoli Cheese Casserole with Ritz Crackers
Serving and Menu Suggestions
How to Make this Casserole Ahead of Time
How to Store and Reheat Leftovers
Broccoli Cheese Casserole FAQs
Need a Little Help with This Recipe?
Sharon’s Tips for the Best Broccoli Cheese Casserole
Join the Conversation
More Holiday Side Dishes You’ll Love
Final Thoughts
Recipe:

Featured Comment

We just had our family Christmas and I made this! Crowd FAV!!! There was one spoonful left out of a 9×13 dish! THANK YOU for sharing your recipe! Easy to make ahead of time and have topping prepared separately ready to assemble when necessary and bake. Will def make this again! – Kim

Key Ingredient Notes and Substitutions

Let's talk ingredients: what you need, what you can swap, and how to make it work with what's in your pantry. These are the main ingredients; the full list with measurements is waiting down in the recipe card.

Ingredients for broccoli cheese casserole with Ritz crackers arranged on a countertop.

Fresh or frozen broccoli florets - Either works beautifully in this broccoli casserole. Fresh broccoli has a slightly firmer texture, while frozen broccoli makes the recipe especially convenient. See my FAQs below for tips on preparing each.
Sour cream - Adds richness, creaminess, and a subtle tang to the cheese sauce. I recommend full-fat sour cream for the best texture.
Mayonnaise - Combines with the sour cream and condensed soup to give this broccoli casserole its rich, creamy texture. If you’re skeptical about mayonnaise in a broccoli casserole, don’t worry-you won’t taste it separately once everything is baked together.
Cream of mushroom soup - The classic casserole shortcut! Condensed cream of mushroom soup helps bind everything together and creates a creamy sauce without making one from scratch.
Sharp cheddar cheese - I like sharp cheddar because its stronger flavor stands up to the other creamy ingredients. I usually use pre-shredded cheese in this casserole, and it melts beautifully, so feel free to save yourself a step.
Garlic powder, kosher salt, and ground black pepper - Simple seasonings that enhance the broccoli and cheesy sauce without overpowering them.
Ritz crackers - Crushed Ritz crackers make the buttery, crispy topping that sets this broccoli cheese casserole apart. Their salty crunch is the perfect contrast to the creamy filling.
Unsalted butter - Mixed with the crushed Ritz crackers to create that golden, buttery topping.

Recipe Variations

Want to change things up a bit?

Make it a main dish: Add about one cup of cooked, chopped chicken.
Make broccoli rice casserole: Stir in about two cups of cooked white or brown rice. You can also use cooked orzo.
Add cauliflower: Replace up to half of the broccoli with cauliflower florets.
Add more cheese: Sprinkle Parmesan cheese over the Ritz cracker topping before baking.

How to Make Broccoli Cheese Casserole with Ritz Crackers

When ready to start, gather your ingredients and preheat the oven to 350°F.
Combine the sour cream, mayonnaise, cream of mushroom soup, garlic powder, salt, pepper, and one cup of grated cheese in a large bowl.

Creamy mayonnaise and mushroom soup mixture for broccoli cheese casserole in a glass bowl.

Mix well, then fold the broccoli into the cheese mixture.

Broccoli florets folded into the creamy cheese mixture in a glass bowl.

Place the crackers in a food processor fitted with the steel blade and process. Add the melted butter to the crushed crackers and pulse a few times to combine. Or, you can crush the Ritz crackers by hand and mix them with the melted butter.

Ritz crackers being crushed in a food processor for the casserole topping.

Liberally spray a 2-quart casserole dish with a non-stick cooking spray. Add the broccoli mixture to the prepared baking dish and spread it evenly.

Broccoli cheese casserole mixture spread evenly in an oval baking dish.

Top with the Ritz cracker crumbs and the rest of the shredded cheese.

Broccoli cheese casserole topped with crushed Ritz crackers in an oval baking dish, ready to bake.

Bake uncovered for 30-35 minutes, or until the casserole is bubbly and the Ritz cracker topping is golden brown. Let it rest for about five minutes before serving.

Baked broccoli cheese casserole with a golden Ritz cracker topping in a white baking dish.

Serving and Menu Suggestions

This cheesy broccoli casserole is a natural fit for holiday dinners. I usually serve it with Baked Ham with Pineapple and Cherries or Green Egg Smoked Turkey.

For a complete holiday menu, pair it with Twice Baked Mashed Potatoes, Old Fashioned Cornbread Dressing, Bourbon Sweet Potato Casserole, or Southern Cornbread Pudding.

How to Make this Casserole Ahead of Time

To make this casserole ahead, assemble it as directed, but leave off the Ritz cracker topping to keep it crisp. Cover and refrigerate for up to 24 hours. Add the topping just before baking.

To freeze, make the casserole as directed, but do not bake it. Cover tightly with plastic wrap and then aluminum foil. It can be stored in the freezer for up to three months. Allow the casserole to thaw overnight in the refrigerator before baking it.

If baking the casserole straight from the refrigerator, plan to add about 10-15 minutes to the baking time.

How to Store and Reheat Leftovers

To store: Cover the casserole dish or transfer leftovers to an airtight container and refrigerate for 3-4 days. You can also freeze leftovers for up to 2-3 months. Thaw frozen leftovers overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
To reheat in the oven: Cover with foil and reheat at 350°F for about 15-20 minutes, or until heated through. Remove the foil for the last few minutes if you’d like to help crisp the cracker topping.
To reheat in the microwave: Place an individual serving on a microwave-safe plate and heat for 30-45 seconds. Continue heating in 30-second intervals until warmed through.

Broccoli Cheese Casserole FAQs

Is it better to use fresh or frozen broccoli in this broccoli cheese casserole?

You can use either fresh or frozen broccoli in this casserole. I use three stalks of fresh broccoli or one 15-ounce bag of frozen broccoli. Fresh broccoli will have a slightly firmer texture, while frozen broccoli is a convenient shortcut. Both work beautifully.

Do you have to cook the broccoli before adding it to this broccoli casserole?

I don’t usually blanch fresh broccoli first because I prefer it crisp-tender. However, if you like softer broccoli, blanch it briefly before adding it to the casserole. Remember that it will continue cooking in the oven.

How to blanch fresh broccoli?

Place the broccoli in a microwave-safe bowl with one tablespoon of water. Cover with a plate and microwave for about two minutes, then drain well before adding it to the casserole.

Do you have to cook frozen broccoli before putting it in the casserole?

No. Frozen broccoli has already been blanched, so there’s no need to cook or thaw it before adding it to this casserole.

Need a Little Help with This Recipe?

Have a question about this recipe? Leave me a comment below-I'm always happy to help! If you're in a hurry or need an answer right away, try one of the helpful AI options below.

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Sharon’s Tips for the Best Broccoli Cheese Casserole

Don’t overcook the broccoli. After making this casserole for more than 50 years, my biggest tip is to leave the broccoli with a little texture because it continues cooking as the casserole bakes. If your family prefers softer broccoli, blanch fresh florets briefly before assembling the dish.
Check the stalk, not the floret, for doneness. The florets cook faster, so taste a small piece of the stalk to determine whether the broccoli is tender enough for you.
Keep the Ritz topping crisp. If you’re assembling the casserole ahead of time, wait to add the buttered cracker crumbs until just before baking.
No Ritz crackers? Another buttery cracker is the closest substitute. Panko breadcrumbs will also work, although the flavor and texture will be different.
You can substitute the soup. Cream of chicken or cream of celery soup can replace the cream of mushroom soup if that’s what you have on hand.
Feeding a larger crowd? Double the recipe and bake it in a 9×13-inch baking dish. Because the casserole may be slightly deeper, allow a little extra baking time if needed, and look for a hot, bubbly center and a golden-brown topping rather than relying only on the clock.

Join the Conversation

Have you made this broccoli cheese casserole? I’d love to hear how it turned out! Did you use fresh or frozen broccoli, or make any changes? Leave a comment below and, if you enjoyed the recipe, please give it a star rating. Your feedback helps other readers, too!

More Holiday Side Dishes You’ll Love

Planning a holiday dinner? Here are a few more of my favorite Southern side dishes to round out your menu:

Final Thoughts

Some recipes come and go, but this broccoli cheese casserole has earned a permanent place on our holiday table. After more than 50 years of making it for Thanksgiving and Christmas-and with my son still expecting to see it every year-I can’t imagine our holiday dinners without it.