This is a throw back to my days before I adopted a whole food plant based lifestyle. I do like a good casserole – there is something comforting about them. For this one I use leftover brown rice, steamed broccoli and my Chipotle Nacho Cheese sauce made with butternut squash. The squash makes it a little sweeter and more creamy. I like it creamy for this recipe.
Simple but delicious.
A big salad with Vegan Ranch Dressing would be perfect with this casserole meal.
You could double the recipe and make it in a 9 x 13 pan to feed a family or to have leftovers.
I made it in an 8 inch square and split it with Tom. I should have made a double batch.
You can even make a single serving with 1 cup rice, 1 cup broccoli and cheese sauce to taste. Yum! It doesn’t have to have a topping – you decide.
The Vegify Cauliflower Crumbles works well for a little topping in place of bread crumbs for a gluten free option. You really don’t need a topping – you could just add a layer of cheese sauce on top, that would work too.
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Here is a little video showing you how to make the cheese sauce and the casserole!
Cheesy Broccolli Rice Casserole – Vegan
Equipment
- Vitamix Blender, Oven
Ingredients
- 3 cups cooked rice
- 3 cups broccoli florets, lightly steamed
- 1/4 cup green onions, sliced, including the green tops
- 2-3 cups Chiptole Nacho Cheese Sauce
Topping – Optional
- Vegify Cauliflower Crumbles or bread crumbs
- sweet paprika
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350℉
- Make a batch of Chipotle Nacho Cheese Sauce using butternut squash in stead of the potatoes – see recipe below
- In a large bowl mix together the broccoli, rice and 2-3 cups of the cheese sauce.
- Spoon mixture into an 8 inch baking pan.
- Sprinkle with Vegify Crumbles or bread crumbs, dust with sweet paprika over the top for a little color.
- Bake uncovered for 20-25 mintues or until hot.
- Serve with a little extra cheese sauce on top.
For the casserole I suggest using butternut squash in place of the potatoes. It is less starchy and stays creamier when it cools. It is also a little sweeter which works well in this recipe. You can cut the recipe in half if you wish if you only want it for making the casserole recipe.
If you make the full cheese recipe you will have leftovers. They are perfect for dipping oil free air fried corn tortilla chips. Or try my Ponachos recipe – it is scrumptious.
Chipotle Nacho Cheese Sauce
Equipment
- High Powered Blender
Ingredients
- 2 cups Cooked potatoes (peeled or unpeeled) OR butternut squash – peeled, microwaved, boiled or steamed
- 1 cup Cooked carrots – peeled – microwaved, boiled or steamed
- ½ cup nutritional yeast
- 2 cups water
- ½ cup rolled oats
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon chipotle chili powder – or to taste – cut back if you don't like spicy
- ½ teaspoon chili powder
- ½ teaspoon ground cumin
- ¼ teaspoon jalapeno powder or to taste or use a fresh jalapeno optional
Optional
- 1 tsp mild miso – a rounded teaspoon full
- 3 Tbls canned mild green chilies
Instructions
- Put all ingredients in a high powered blender and blend for 2-3 minutes or until smooth and creamy. If you blend it long enough in a Vitamix or Blendtec blender it will get nice and hot!
- If using the optional miso paste – add it to the blender, After blending add the optional canned green chilies and just stir them in.
- This sauce does firm up when refrigerated and if it gets too thick thin it with some unsweetened plant milk or water when reheating to make it pourable again.
- Keep it refrigerated – it will last for 5-6 days. The sauce does get thicker when refrigerated so when reheating you can add a little water or unsweetened plant milk and heat it up in the microwave on 50% power to heat it up gently. Or put it in a small saucepan over low heat, stirring while it heats up. Use a wire whisk to help make it smooth and creamy.I haven't tried freezing it myself but subscribers tell us they have frozen it with it success. If it separates when thawed just put it in the blender to make it all smooth and creamy again.
Notes
Get Healthy 
Stay Healthy One Meal At A Time
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