This cheesy broccoli casserole is hearty home cooking with a healthy twist! It contains whole grain millet and roasted broccoli.
At A Couple Cooks, we all love comfort food, and this recipe is one of our coziest. It’s a cheesy, gooey broccoli casserole that has a secret healthy twist! Instead of canned mushroom soup and squishy broccoli, this casserole is made entirely with fresh, whole foods! Imagine: charred roasted broccoli, sharp cheddar cheese, creamy thyme sauce and a one-of-a-kind whole grain! Instead of rice or quinoa, this one contains millet, a very tasty gluten-free whole grain. Read on for the recipe!
What is millet?
So maybe you’re wondering what is millet Millet is a traditional grain. It’s gluten-free, like the most popular grain, quinoa, and high in protein. However, millet is not as sexy as its fashionable cousin. Get this: It’s also an ingredient in bird seed! But humans can eat it too: and should, because it’s so good!
You can use millet just like other whole grains like rice or quinoa. Use it in a bowl, in soups and stews, or even as a taco filling. This NPR story about Mil got us involved with this misfit. According to the article, “To really take off, grain needs adventurous chefs and flavor makers to nurture it.” We’ll take this as a challenge!
How to make a broccoli casserole
Millet is actually quite tasty! It’s slightly larger and chewy than quinoa, with a slightly nutty flavor. Here we paired it with roasted broccoli and cheddar cheese to make this hearty and comforting broccoli casserole. It’s a healthy version of the standard casserole and a nice gluten-free option. In addition to this preparation, millet is also a simple side dish. See the main recipe: perfect millet.
To prepare the roasted broccoli, brush lightly with olive oil and sprinkle with kosher salt and pepper. Then roast it in a very hot oven (450F) until lightly charred and tender. Roasted broccoli is a unique addition to broccoli casserole: the traditional version usually features soft or mushy broccoli.
To put it all together, make a cheese sauce with the cheddar using the milk, garlic, butter, and dried thyme. The taste that comes from these ingredients will surprise you! Cheese sauce adds savory flavors to millet and roasted broccoli. Then put in the oven and bake until the cheese melts. As simple as that!
And you, what are your favorite comfort foods?
What people are saying about this broccoli casserole
This broccoli casserole might have a healthy twist, but it’s an absolute crowd favorite! Here are some testimonials that prove it’s something the whole family will love:
- “I made this recipe just as it is written. It was wonderful and my 3 teenagers loved it!!! That’s a big deal because usually at least one of them doesn’t like a new dish. Thank you!” – Sarah
- “I made this for my gestational diabetes food juggling act, my fussy 2-year-old, and my meat-eating husband, and we all loved it!” -Kéri
- “It was wonderful!! My partner and I couldn’t stop eating it!” -Hanna
This cheesy broccoli casserole recipe is…
Vegetarian and gluten free.
The description
This Cheddar and Roasted Broccoli Casserole is comfort food with a healthy twist, featuring whole grain millet and roasted broccoli.
- 8 cups broccoli florets (4 small heads)
- 1½ tablespoons olive oil
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt, shared
- Ground fresh pepper
- 1½ cups millet
- 3 Garlic cloves
- 1 tbsp butter
- 1 cup milk
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 8 ounces (2 cups) grated cheddar cheese
- Preheat oven to 450°F.
- Wash broccoli and cut into small florets. In a bowl, mix the broccoli with the olive oil, ½ teaspoon kosher salt, and freshly ground pepper. Place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake for 20 minutes.
- Prepare the millet according to the main recipe: millet (takes about 20 minutes).
- Meanwhile chop the garlic. In a large skillet, heat the butter over medium-low heat. Add the garlic and sauté for about 1 minute. Add the milk, 1 teaspoon Kosher salt and dried thyme and bring to a boil. Stir in 1 ½ cups shredded cheddar cheese and stir until cheese melts and sauce thickens slightly (increase heat slightly if cheese doesn’t melt initially, but be careful not to overheat).
- When the broccoli, millet, and sauce are done, lower the oven temperature to 400F. Pour the millet into a large casserole dish (9″ x 13″ or 10″ x 12″) and sprinkle with ½ teaspoon kosher salt. Add the roasted broccoli and pour on the sauce. Mix well to combine all of the millet with the sauce and cheese. Sprinkle the remaining ½ cup cheese on top.
- Bake at 400°F for 15 minutes until warm.
Remarks
In a pinch, you can use frozen broccoli florets instead of roasting fresh broccoli. Choose good quality broccoli; Then, thaw and add ½ teaspoon Kosher salt, a few dashes of olive oil, and freshly ground pepper before stirring into the pan.
- Category: main course
- Method: Cooked
- Kitchen: American
Keywords: Broccoli Casserole, Roasted Broccoli, What is Millet, Millet Recipes, Vegetarian Dinner Ideas, Healthy Dinner Ideas, Gluten Free Recipes
Looking for more comfort food recipes?
Aside from this broccoli recipe, here are a few other home cooking recipes:
