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A close-up of a vegan cheesy broccoli and rice casserole with a breadcrumb topping, sitting in a white dish with a spoon.

Vegan Cheesy Broccoli & Rice Casserole

This Vegan Cheesy Broccoli and Rice Casserole is super simple to make and perfect for everything from holiday dinners to busy weeknights. It’s a hearty, satisfying dish that everyone will enjoy—even the non-vegans at your table. You can prep it ahead, and it freezes beautifully, so it's great for meal planning or last-minute dinners. Whether you're cooking for a crowd or just want something easy and comforting, this casserole hits the spot.
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Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes
Course: Casserole, Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Vegan Broccoli and Rice Casserole
Servings: 6
Calories: 330kcal
Author: Mandy Applegate

Equipment

Ingredients

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • Preheat your oven to 200ºC (390°F).
  • In a blender, combine the cashews, cornstarch, nutritional yeast, almond milk, water, garlic powder, paprika, turmeric, salt, and pepper. Blend until the mixture is smooth and has a pourable consistency.
    1 cup raw cashews, ⅓ cup cornstarch, ¼ cup nutritional yeast, 1 cup unsweetened almond milk, 1 ½ cup water, ½ teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon paprika, ¼ teaspoon turmeric, Salt and pepper
  • In a 9x13" casserole dish, add the cooked brown rice and chopped broccoli florets. Pour the cheese sauce over the rice and broccoli, stirring everything together to ensure an even coating.
    2 cups cooked brown rice, 4 cups broccoli florets
  • In a small bowl, mix the panko breadcrumbs with paprika and melted vegan butter. Sprinkle the breadcrumb mixture evenly over the top of the casserole.
    ½ cup panko breadcrumbs, 1 teaspoon paprika powder, ¼ cup vegan butter
  • Cover the dish with foil and bake for 20 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for another 5 minutes or until the top turns golden brown. Serve hot and enjoy!

Notes

  • Soaking Cashews: Soak the cashews in warm water for at least 30 minutes (or up to 2 hours) before blending. This softens them and ensures your cheese sauce is extra smooth and creamy. If you’re short on time, you can soak them in boiling water for 15 minutes for a quicker option.
  • Don’t Skip Nutritional Yeast: This is what gives your sauce that cheesy flavor. You can even add more if you want an extra cheesy punch.
  • Perfect Broccoli: Chop your broccoli into smaller florets to ensure they cook evenly and don’t get mushy.
  • Rice Texture: Use freshly cooked rice or leftover rice that’s been reheated and fluffed up. Cold or clumped rice can make the casserole dense. If using day-old rice, warm it up a bit so it mixes well with the other ingredients and doesn’t stay stuck together.
  • Extra Crunch: For a more textured topping, toast the breadcrumbs in a skillet with a little oil or vegan butter before sprinkling them over the casserole. This will give you an even crispier and more golden crust.
  • Spice it Up: If you like a little heat, try adding a pinch of cayenne or smoked paprika to the cheese sauce. This will give the dish a smoky or spicy kick without overwhelming the flavors.

Nutrition

Calories: 330kcal | Carbohydrates: 37g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Trans Fat: 0.04g | Sodium: 179mg | Potassium: 455mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 1066IU | Vitamin C: 54mg | Calcium: 106mg | Iron: 3mg
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