This easy Slow Cooker Velveeta Broccoli Rice Casserole Recipe is a holiday must-make side dish in my house! It’s a supremely cheesy broccoli casserole that, thanks to the Crockpot, frees up some oven space on busy days like Thanksgiving and Christmas.
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What’s in Velveeta Broccoli Rice Casserole
On a crazy busy holiday, it pays to have an easy Crockpot recipe like this one that calls for such simple ingredients!
- Minute Rice: No need to cook it before it goes in the Crockpot.
- Velveeta Cheese: American cheese is the closest substitute, but Velveeta really is the best.
- Frozen Broccoli: No need to defrost!
- Onion Flakes: You can use minced onion instead if preferred.
- Water Chestnuts: They’ll need to be fully drained and diced into smaller pieces.
- Cream of Mushroom Soup: Make it from scratch or use a store-bought can. Both options are just fine!
- Chicken Broth: Beef broth also works well.
- Milk: Whole milk helps to create the best thick consistency.
- White Wine: Learn all about the best wines to cook with HERE!
- Black Pepper: Freshly cracked black pepper creates the best flavor.
Pro Tip: You can make a crushed cracker topping to add some extra texture into the mix too. All you need is melted butter and Ritz crackers.
Can I use fresh broccoli?
Absolutely! And you shouldn’t need to change the cook time, either. Just make sure the broccoli is tender and cooked before serving.
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It depends if you are wanting your dish ready 2 hours (high) or 4 hours (low)!
You sure can! But if you do go that route, I recommend just making chicken broccoli cheese casserole.
Absolutely! Just do a quick taste test before serving to make sure it’s cooked all the way through.
How to Store and Reheat
In an airtight container in the fridge, Crockpot broccoli and rice casserole will stay fresh for about 3-4 days. Reheat for 30 seconds at a time in the microwave until warmed all the way through.
How to Freeze
You can freeze this cheesy broccoli casserole for up to 3 months. Just make sure it’s fully cooled to room temperature prior to storing in a freezer-safe container. I recommend letting it slowly thaw in the fridge prior to reheating.
Serving Suggestions
Happy Thanksgiving! Celebrate the holiday with more of the very best side dish recipes like sweet potato mash, dinner rolls and homemade stuffing.
5-Star Review
“This recipe was so easy and delicious!” – Kath B.
Slow Cooker Velveeta Broccoli Rice Casserole
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Ingredients
- 1½ cup Minute Rice
- ¾ lb. Velveeta Cheese, cut into ½ inch cubes
- 14.4 ounces frozen broccoli chopped
- 1 teaspoon onion flakes or ¼ cup onion minced
- 1 can water chestnuts drained and diced, 8 oz.
- 10.5 ounces Cream of Mushroom Soup use canned or click for homemade recipe
- 1 can unsalted chicken broth OR beef broth, 10½ oz.
- 1 cup milk
- ¼ cup white wine opt.
- ½ teaspoon black pepper ground
- Optional topping:
- 1 cup crushed Ritz crackers.
- ¼ cup butter melted
Instructions
- Turn slow cooker to desired temperature.
- Spray slow cooker with nonstick cooking spray.
- Combine all ingredients in slow cooker and stir thoroughly.
- Cover and cook on HIGH 2 hours or LOW 4 hours.
- If desired (and if your crock pot has removable crock), combine crushed crackers and melted butter. Sprinkle the cracker/butter mixture over cooked casserole and place under oven broiler to brown. It can burn quickly, so watch closely.
- Enjoy!
Last step! Don’t forget to show me a pic of what you made! Upload an image or tag me @thecookierookie on Instagram!
Nutrition Information
Is there an option to do this in the oven?
How many servings is your recipe for? I am making broccoli casserole for work Thanksgiving. Your recipe sounded awesome. I am cooking for 20 people.
The serving size for this recipe is around 6 people. But I know during Thanksgiving there are so many sides to choose from our portion sizes are a little smaller to fit everything on our plate!
Do you have to have the water chestnuts or are they optional?
Completely optional!
I see this question has been asked a couple of times and has gone unanswered. I would like to make this for Thanksgiving and want to double the recipe. I assume I will need to cook it longer but how long?
Step 1 says turn crockpot to desired temp. how am I suppose to know the desired temp if it does not say????
It depends if you are wanting your dish ready 2 hours (high) or 4 hours (low)!
Can you use fresh broccoli? Will the cooking time need to change?
Absolutely! I don’t think you would need to change the cooking time, just make sure the broccoli is fully cooked!
After getting the amount of Velveeta straight (3/4 pound), I made this but had no Minute Rice on hand so used long grain white rice and added additional broth and wine to compensate. Unfortunately, the rice still wasn’t cooked after 4 hours on low, so I put it into a casserole, topped with Ritz crackers and butter and baked at 350 for a half hour. After that, it turned out very well!
That sounds super yummy!! I’m glad you enjoyed it!
I had asked this question about a week ago, but it seems to have disappeared so will ask again: Could you please verify the amount of Velveeta required? 3/4 pound (12 ounces) is clear, but do you mean in addition 3 marked sections of a block (about an inch long each), which would total 6 ounces? So 12 ounces plus 6 ounces, or 1 pound two ounces? I’d like to make this but am really unclear about the measurements!
Hi Helen- Thanks for your question. I emailed you back and fixed the recipe. Sorry that was unclear!
Questions: Not sure of the velveeta amount. Is it 3/4 pound plus 3 ounces? Or do you mean that 3/4 pound equates to 3 inches of the velveeta block? Also I’m not clear on the the Cream of mushroom soup ingredient –I will not be making the soup, but will use prepared condensed soup in 10.5 oz can, should it be “prepared” by mixing a can of water with it first and then add that entire amount to the recipe? Seems like that would be too much liquid since the recipe also calls for a can of broth and a cup of milk. Also can this be held in the crockpot on warm for several hours without getting mushy? Thanks!
I love slow cooker recipe! Thank you so much for sharing!! perfect recipe for lazy days.