Broccoli - Cheese Casserole

I have a recipe from my husbands side of the family that we've used since the early 1990's and apparently his Mom had made for years when my husband and his siblings were growing up.  I absolutely love it - and don't care if it's healthy or not because it's so good!  It involves broccoli, cream of mushroom soup, mayonnaise, an egg, cheese... and crackers smashed on the top for a golden, buttery topping.  Yum.  But since we typically eat lower carb, we don't have mushroom soup, nor crackers in the house.

This recipe is an alternative when I'm craving that recipe but want to stick to the lower carb version.  It's basically just a broccoli with my cheesy white sauce - but the addition of the mayonnaise and sour cream gives it that tang of the older family broccoli recipe we love so much.

I use Thick-It-Up Low Carb Food Thickener by Dixie Carb Counters in place of using flour as a thickener.  You absolutely can use flour if you don't count carbs.  It doesn't use all that much.  But if you have this on hand anyway, it works like a charm.

Broccoli Cheese Casserole 
   - with Lower Carb Alternatives

A casserole dish full of fresh chopped broccoli (about 8 cups?)
1 stick butter
1 t Thick It Up low carb thickener or about 1/2 cup flour if not
2 c heavy cream for low carb, milk or half and half in not
3 oz. cream cheese
1 c mozzarella cheese
1/4 c cheddar cheese plus 1 cup more later
salt and pepper to taste (about 1/2 teaspoon each)
Dash of cayenne pepper
1/2 c mayonnaise
1/2 c sour cream

Cook your broccoli for about 7 minutes in the microwave to soften. While the broccoli is cooking, melt the stick of butter in a pan on the stove over medium heat.  Whisk the thickener into a cup of cream (or milk).  

Add the second cup to the container and whisk all into the melted butter.  Add the seasonings and as it starts to thicken, add the mozzarella cheese and about 1/4 cup cheddar.  (You can use whatever cheeses you have on hand - use what your family likes best).  

Turn the heat off or remove from heat when nice and thick and smooth.  Add the mayonnaise and sour cream. Drain the broccoli and return it to your casserole dish.  Pour the sauce over.  Mix in about 1/2 cup of the cheddar cheese.  Top with the remaining bit of cheese.  

Bake in a preheated oven at 350 for 35 minutes or so until heated through and golden brown.  Let set for 5-10 minutes to set up for easy scooping up and serving.



Adding some cheese to the white sauce....

Smooth and thick

Pour over the broccoli and add a bit of cheddar for the taste and the coloring throughout the casserole.

Popping it into the oven to bake at 350 for about 35 minutes or so.

Hot, cheesy and oh-so-good.