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Home » Side Dishes » Broccoli with Cheese Sauce

Published: April 3, 2018 Last Modified: March 23, 2019 By Sara 46 Comments

Broccoli with Cheese Sauce

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Broccoli with Cheese Sauce Recipe | Homemade Cheese Sauce | Broccoli Side Dish

Skip the freezer section and make homemade broccoli with cheese sauce instead! Steamed broccoli florets are smothered in an easy 3 ingredient cheese sauce for a delicious and kid friendly side dish.

Broccoli with cheese sauce has been a classic side dish for ages, when you make it fresh it’s SO much better than the frozen kind you grew up eating.

Broccoli with Cheese Sauce Recipe | Homemade Cheese Sauce | Broccoli Side Dish #broccoli #cheese #lowcarb #sidedish #dinneratthezoo

A pan of broccoli with cheese sauce that's full of steamed broccoli florets and homemade sauce.

Growing up, my mom used to always serve me broccoli with cheese melted on top. It’s a classic flavor combination that never goes out of style! This broccoli with cheese sauce recipe features fresh steamed broccoli and a homemade sauce. It’s the perfect easy side dish that goes great with almost any meal!

How do I make a cheese sauce?

This is pretty much the easiest cheese sauce ever. It’s a combination of shredded cheddar cheese, cornstarch and evaporated milk. That’s it!

Evaporated milk, shredded cheese and cornstarch in a skillet.

The cheese is tossed in the cornstarch, then added to the evaporated milk and melted until smooth. The end result is a smooth, creamy and flavorful cheese sauce that’s perfect for vegetables, potatoes, mac and cheese, nachos and more!

A pan of melted cheese sauce.

How to make broccoli with cheese sauce

I lightly steam my broccoli, season it with salt and pepper, and then pour the pan of cheese sauce over the top. It’s as simple as that!

A pan of steamed broccoli smothered in melted cheese sauce.

You want to be sure to use freshly shredded cheese here, the pre-grated stuff is coated with additives and won’t melt smooth. Also, since the ingredient list is so short here, the higher quality cheese you use, the better flavor you’ll end up with. I like to use a high quality medium cheddar cheese. You can also make this sauce with other cheeses like Monterey Jack!

A pan of broccoli topped with cheese sauce.

Broccoli with cheese sauce is best served immediately, while you can refrigerate and reheat the leftovers, the cheese sauce will be a bit grainier upon reheating.

My family adores this dish, I typically serve it alongside chicken, fish or steak. No one can resist all that cheese!

More fabulous side dishes

  • Bacon Wrapped Asparagus
  • Candied Carrots
  • Garlic Butter Mushrooms
  • Bacon Roasted Brussels Sprouts
  • Slow Cooker Creamed Corn
A pan of broccoli with cheese sauce that's full of steamed broccoli florets and homemade sauce.
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5 from 15 votes

Broccoli with Cheese Sauce

Skip the freezer section and make homemade broccoli with cheese sauce instead! Steamed broccoli florets are smothered in an easy 3 ingredient cheese sauce for a delicious and kid friendly side dish.
Course Side
Cuisine American
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Servings 4
Calories 223kcal
Author Sara Welch

Ingredients

  • 3 cups broccoli florets steamed
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 6 ounces shredded cheddar cheese use freshly grated cheese
  • 2 teaspoons corn starch
  • 3/4 cup evaporated milk

Instructions

  • Add the cheese and corn starch to a bowl and toss to combine. 
  • Place the cheese mixture and evaporated milk in a sauce pan over low heat. Cook, stirring occasionally, until cheese has melted and sauce is smooth and thick.
  • Add additional evaporated milk if needed to thin the sauce.
  • Season the broccoli with salt and pepper to taste. Pour the cheese sauce over the broccoli and serve.

Nutrition

Calories: 223kcal | Carbohydrates: 10g | Protein: 15g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Cholesterol: 58mg | Sodium: 337mg | Potassium: 402mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 965IU | Vitamin C: 61.8mg | Calcium: 464mg | Iron: 0.9mg
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Filed Under: Gluten Free, Side Dishes

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    Comments

    1. Sandy N Vyjay says

      April 6, 2018 at 5:11 am

      5 stars
      Cheese with Broccoli makes for a great side dish. also as Broccoli is healthy this is a great way to get kids eat broccoli layered with cheese.

      Reply
    2. chubskulit rose says

      April 6, 2018 at 4:27 am

      That’s how I like my broccoli to be cooked. I never prepared it this way though , I will have to try that,.

      Reply
    3. Carol Cassara says

      April 6, 2018 at 4:15 am

      5 stars
      You’re right about the cheese being irresistible! I think this dish is a must try especially since it looks so amazing and it’s easy to make. I love the flavor combination too.

      Reply
    4. Adrienne says

      April 6, 2018 at 3:59 am

      5 stars
      This seriously looks so easy to make. I love broccoli and cheese everything, I would definitely make this.

      Reply
    5. Sue Reddel says

      April 5, 2018 at 8:21 pm

      5 stars
      First off everything tastes better with cheese. Broccoli and cheese is a winning combination that just about everyone likes. Thanks for sharing your recipe.

      Reply
    6. Heather says

      April 5, 2018 at 5:27 pm

      We love steamed broccoli but this cheese sauce? It makes the broccoli look so much tastier. Yum!

      Reply
    7. Heather says

      April 5, 2018 at 1:51 pm

      Yum! I agree its a wonderful side dish. I like buying fresh broccoli and packing it in with my kid’s lunches. Never thought to add a cheese topic with it as a side dish.

      Reply
    8. Emily says

      April 5, 2018 at 1:20 pm

      5 stars
      I have never made broccoli this way before, I know my kids would love it! I feel like I get in a rut with meals so this would be a yummy way to shake up dinner.

      Reply
    9. Tasheena says

      April 5, 2018 at 12:55 pm

      5 stars
      My family is a huge fan of broccoli with cheese sauce. It’s so yummy! I have to try making this recipe. The kiddos would love it.

      Reply
    10. Tomi C says

      April 5, 2018 at 11:50 am

      Not a fan of cheese sauce on my broccoli but I do love it on cauliflower. Now my family, omg they are all about some broccoli with cheese sauce so I know they’d love this recipe.

      Reply
    11. Jeanette says

      April 5, 2018 at 8:57 am

      I absolutely love that this is homemade. Anything homemade is so much better for you than store-bought. I have not been broccoli and cheese in years and I know my family would love it. I definitely think I need to make it.

      Reply
    12. Terri Beavers says

      April 5, 2018 at 7:44 am

      5 stars
      I could eat broccoli every single meal. I love it raw, I love it steamed, I love it fried and even baked. And to pair it with cheese is just all the more appealing. Even the kids will love your recipe. They don’t share my love of broccoli, lol.

      Reply
    13. Rhonda Brown says

      April 5, 2018 at 7:41 am

      5 stars
      Broccoli with cheese sauce is such a great comfort food! So easy to make too. I like your recipe!

      Reply
    14. Ashley says

      April 5, 2018 at 7:05 am

      These is one of my favorite sides to make with dinner. In fact I could eat this by itself and be happy!

      Reply
    15. Candy says

      April 5, 2018 at 6:34 am

      Nice tip about tossing the cheese in with the cheese. Had never thought to do this. Easy side dish. Everything taste better covers in cheese.

      Reply
    16. Amber Myers says

      April 5, 2018 at 5:11 am

      5 stars
      I know I’d love this! I’ve always been a fan of broccoli and cheese sauce. I normally buy it already made, but this would be so much better.

      Reply
    17. Doria says

      April 5, 2018 at 4:47 am

      5 stars
      Yummmm! Is it strange this was my favorite thing as a kid and to this day I still eat it for dinner on busy days? 😀

      Reply
    18. Lauren @ Lemon & Mocha says

      April 4, 2018 at 9:57 am

      I grew up eating cheese sauce on everything and this looks incredible! Can’t wait to try it!

      Reply
    19. Karly says

      April 4, 2018 at 8:08 am

      My kids would love this! Cheese sauce makes everything taste better!

      Reply
    20. Albert Bevia says

      April 4, 2018 at 3:33 am

      Yeah my kids would be all over this, they love broccoli already, but with that simple cheese sauce….this dish won´t last long on the table!!

      Reply
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