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    Home » Recipes » Mains

    Cheesy Vegan Broccoli Rice Casserole [Oil Free]

    Published: Feb 5, 2020 · Modified: Nov 25, 2020 by Rosa · This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases, meaning if you click through and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you.

    1.4K shares
    JUMP TO RECIPE

    Vegan broccoli rice casserole is creamy, “cheesy” and oozing with delicious flavour. Rice and broccoli florets are smothered in a rich and velvety vegan cheese sauce and baked to bubbly perfection. There’s no better way to use up your leftover rice!

    broccoli rice and cheese casserole in glass dish that has been browned on top

    This recipe was originally published in June 2019. It has been updated for content and photos.

    This casserole is a simple one to prepare and an absolutely incredible recipe for leftover rice. But if you don’t have leftover rice, no worries. You can make some as you prepare the other ingredients.

    Why you’ll love this dish!

    • It’s super cheesy! It’s melty, it’s stretchy, and it’s absolutely addictive!
    • A vegan and vegetarian friendly casserole that’s naturally gluten free, soy free, and oil free too. (There’s a nut free option too, if needed.)
    • Made using wholesome, nutrient dense ingredients, like brown rice, broccoli florets, raw cashews and nutritional yeast.
    • This vegan broccoli rice casserole is also kid friendly and omnivore approved! I mean who doesn’t like a dreamy, stretchy, cheesy plate of deliciousness?
    spatula lifting a scoop of broccoli rice casserole from glass baking dish

    How to make it

    Preheat your oven and gather your ingredients. If you don’t already have cooked rice, get that going in your rice cooker, or on stove top.

    bowls of cashews, nutritional yeast, vinegar, spices, flour, milk, and water

    To make the vegan cheese sauce, add all its ingredients to a high speed blender and process until smooth. (photos 1-2)

    The sauce will be very runny, but don’t worry, it will thicken in the oven.

    NOTE: If you do not have a high speed blender, soak the cashews in boiling hot water for 30 minutes, then drain and add to your blender. This will soften them up, making it easier for your blender to process.

    blender with spices, water, cashews inside

    Now the cooked rice and raw broccoli florets to an oven safe dish. (Mine is 9×13, but any similar size will work.) Then pour the cheese sauce you just made on top. (photos 3-4)

    pouring vegan cheese sauce into dish with broccoli and rice

    Mix well to evenly coat and distribute the sauce between your broccoli and rice. (photo 5)

    Then bake your casserole for 20 minutes and remove from the oven. (photo 6)

    Optional: Broil the top for a couple of minutes for a crusty, bubbly texture, if desired.

    cheesy broccoli casserole in glass baking dish, before and after baking

    If you skip the broiling step, the broccoli casserole will be a little more creamy and gooey in texture.

    If you want a firmer, bubbly top, return to the oven on broil for a few minutes.

    creamy casserole with broccoli in glass dish with a section missing from tray

    Garnish your vegan broccoli rice casserole with parmesan cheese, chili flakes, or just enjoy as is. This dish is best enjoyed when freshly made, as the “cheese” will thicken and harden as it sits and cools.

    To return it to its creamy state, just pop it back in the oven and reheat.

    tray of broccoli rice casserole with spatula inside

    For more ways to use leftover rice, try these zucchini burrito boats, or these incredible vegan chicken burgers.

    How long does it keep?

    Your vegan broccoli rice casserole tastes best when freshly made. However, you may store leftovers in the refrigerator for 2-3 days.

    Remember, you’re using leftover rice here, so the storing time will also depend on when you first made your rice.

    How to reheat

    To reheat your leftovers, pop your dish back into the oven to return the cheese to a melty state. It will harden as it cools, so just heat until soft and creamy again.

    Can I make any substitutions?

    For nut free, you may sub the cashews with sunflower seeds, with similar results. I find cashews a little richer here, so unless you cannot eat cashews, I don’t recommend making the switch.

    That said, if you CAN have almonds, but not cashews, blanched almonds make a great sub here as well.

    If you don’t have fresh broccoli, you may sub for frozen.

    Adjust the seasoning to your taste, use more or less onion and garlic powder if preferred.

    Expert tips for success

    1. If you do not have a high speed blender, soak your cashews in boiling hot water for 30 minutes before making your cheese sauce. Then drain them and add to your blender with the remaining ingredients. This quick soak method will allow the cashews to expand and soften, making them easier to break down.
    2. If you still have loose bits of cashews once blended, you may strain them using a nut milk bag. (Affiliate link.) However, bits of cashews won’t affect the overall flavour of your broccoli casserole, so don’t stress.
    3. As your dish is baking, if the cheese gets too thick, you may thin it out with a splash or two of nut milk and mix together.
    4. Once cooled, the cheese will harden, but you can return your vegan broccoli rice casserole to its stretchy, gooey consistency by reheating, so just pop it back in the oven to heat through.

    More vegan “cheesy” recipes

    • Butternut Squash Mac & Cheese
    • Mexican Stuffed Peppers with Walnut Cheese Sauce
    • I Can’t Believe It’s Vegan Poutine
    • Cheesy Lentil Quinoa Casserole
    • Lasagna Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms

    If you tried this recipe, please let me know about it in the comments below. I always love hearing from you! Don’t forget to Subscribe to This Healthy Kitchen to be among the first to get my new recipes! You can also FOLLOW ME on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and Twitter to see more delicious food and get all the latest updates.

    Buon appetito,
    Rosa

    broccoli rice and cheese casserole in glass dish that has been browned on top

    Cheesy Vegan Broccoli Rice Casserole [Oil Free]

    Vegan broccoli rice casserole is creamy, "cheesy" and oozing with delicious flavour. Rice and broccoli florets are smothered in a rich and velvety vegan cheese sauce and baked to bubbly perfection.
    4.95 from 18 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Rate Recipe Add to Collection Go to Collections
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook Time: 20 minutes
    Total Time: 30 minutes
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: American, Canadian
    Servings: 4 Servings
    Calories: 321kcal

    Equipment

    Picture of blender on white background.
    Vitamix Blender
    8×12 Oven Safe Baking Dish (or similar)

    Ingredients

    • 2 cups leftover cooked brown rice if you don't have cooked rice, start cooking as you prepare the remaining ingredients
    • 3.5-4 cups broccoli florets approx 1 small head of broccoli cut into bite size florets

    For the Cheese

    • ¾ cup raw cashews
    • â…“ cup tapioca starch also known as tapioca flour
    • ¼ cup nutritional yeast
    • ½ cup unsweetened cashew milk or almond milk
    • 1.5 cup water
    • 1.5 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
    • 1 teaspoon sea salt or to taste
    • ½ teaspoon onion powder
    • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
    • 1 teaspoon chili powder for flavour, not heat
    • ¼ teaspoon turmeric
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions

    • Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F.
    • Add all the cheese ingredients to a high speed blender and process until smooth. It will be very runny.
    • Place the cooked rice and broccoli florets in an oven safe dish, measuring 8×12, or similar. Then pour the cheese sauce over the rice and broccoli, and mix well to evenly coat and distribute.
    • Bake for 20-25 minutes, mixing at the halfway point. Add a touch more milk if your cheese sauce gets too thick.
    • Optional but recommended: Broil your casserole for 2-3 minutes to brown the top.

    Notes

    If you don’t have fresh broccoli, you may sub for frozen.
    For nut free, you may sub the cashews with sunflower seeds, with similar results. I find cashews a little richer here, so unless you cannot eat cashews, I don’t recommend making the switch.
    If you do not have a high speed blender, soak your cashews in boiling hot water and then drain, before adding to your blender. This will help them break down into a smoother consistency. Alternatively, you may strain your cheese sauce once blended, using a nut milk bag.
    Once blended, your cheese sauce will be very runny but it will thicken in the oven as it cooks.
    If your cheese is getting too thick in the oven, add a splash or two more of milk and mix well to get it creamy again.
    This dish is best enjoyed hot from the oven, as the cheese sauce will thicken as it starts to get cold.
    Leftovers keep refrigerated for 2-3 days. Reheat leftovers to return the cheese sauce to a creamier state.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 321kcal | Carbohydrates: 46g | Protein: 10g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Sodium: 645mg | Potassium: 553mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 644IU | Vitamin C: 71mg | Calcium: 59mg | Iron: 3mg
    DID YOU TRY THIS RECIPE?Mention @this.healthy.kitchen on IG and tag #thishealthykitchen!
    *Nutritional information is an estimate, calculated using online tools and does not include optional ingredients unless otherwise indicated.
    1.4K shares

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    1. Kathy Alexander

      November 07, 2022 at 12:29 pm

      5 stars
      I expected this to be good, as all your recipes I have tried have been delicious. I tasted this fresh from the oven and my husband caught me standing at the stove, eating this from the pan. It is so good.

      Reply
      • Rosa

        November 09, 2022 at 8:18 am

        Thanks so much for the fantastic review, Kathy. 🙂

        Reply
    2. Heather

      November 21, 2021 at 9:01 pm

      5 stars
      Made this for dinner tonight. Soooooo good. One of the best tasting cheese sauce we have tried. Will definitely make again.

      Reply
      • Rosa

        November 22, 2021 at 10:13 am

        Completely thrilled you enjoyed Heather. Thanks so much for leaving a review. 🙂

        Reply
    3. Maureen

      October 29, 2021 at 8:48 pm

      5 stars
      Easy, scrumptious!

      Reply
      • Rosa

        October 30, 2021 at 9:25 am

        Thanks Maureen!

        Reply
    4. P K

      October 24, 2021 at 1:32 pm

      5 stars
      Just made this. Husband and I ate the whole thing in one sitting. This is definitely a recipe to keep. It was so delicious. Thank you for it.

      Reply
      • P K

        October 24, 2021 at 1:34 pm

        I forgot to add that we only had almond or oat milk. I used oat milk. I would think any plant based milk would work.

        Reply
      • Rosa

        October 25, 2021 at 8:20 am

        Thrilled you both enjoyed, thank you so much for the kind review. 🙂

        Reply
    5. Maureen

      April 09, 2021 at 8:51 pm

      5 stars
      SCRUMPTIOUS! And easy to prepare!

      Reply
      • Rosa

        April 10, 2021 at 10:55 am

        Thanks Maureen! 🙂

        Reply
    6. Grace

      January 04, 2021 at 8:34 am

      Hi, would this recipe turn out okay if I used canned white beans in place of the cashews for the cheese sauce? I have never made cheese sauce before

      thanks

      Reply
      • Rosa

        January 04, 2021 at 8:57 am

        Hi Grace, that might work, but I haven’t tried it, so I can’t say for sure. Let me know if you give that a try. Enjoy!

        Reply
    7. Dee

      September 05, 2020 at 10:16 pm

      5 stars
      This dish was excellent!!

      Reply
      • Rosa

        September 06, 2020 at 8:21 am

        Glad you enjoyed Dee, thanks for sharing!

        Reply
    8. Jody

      April 20, 2020 at 5:14 pm

      Do you have to use the tapioca, or can you use corn starch?

      Reply
      • Rosa

        April 21, 2020 at 7:26 am

        Hi Jody, I haven’t tried with corn starch but it should work to thicken. However, tapioca is a unique ingredient in that it will make the cheesy sauce stretchy. Let me know if you try it with the corn starch.

        Reply

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    Hi, I'm Rosa! Welcome to This Healthy Kitchen where you'll find tasty and nutritious, plant-based recipes. I'm an avid home cook who believes food is medicine. Each recipe is made using wholesome ingredients, and under 400 calories per serving with several gluten-free and oil-free options! Occasional cheat days included. 😉

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