Ready in 15 minutes, this totally tasty Broccoli Cheese Sauce is a must make! It’s great over baked potatoes, roasted veggies, chicken, and even as a sauce for mac and cheese!
Broccoli Cheese Sauce
Some days I’ll chop up raw broccoli to toss in a salad, other days I’ll roast a big pan with salt and pepper and a pinch of garlic powder, and then some days (like today) I want my broccoli straight up swimming in cheese sauce.
If you’re also a fan of a good melty cheese sauce studded with broccoli then you clearly need this recipe in your life!
Ingredients Needed
- butter
- flour
- milk (whole or 2%)
- garlic powder
- ground cayenne pepper
- medium cheddar cheese (freshly grated off the block)
- fresh chopped broccoli florets
- salt and pepper
Serving Suggestions for Broccoli Cheese Sauce
Now that you have this dreamy, creamy broc and cheese sauce in your life, you’re probably wondering what else you can put it on? Here’s my list of favorites!
As a topping on baked potatoes
A broccoli cheese baked potato is a thing of beauty! First, preheat the oven to 425℉. Wash and scrub desired amount of potatoes and poke each in a few different spots with a fork. Brush the skin with olive oil and sprinkle with kosher salt.
Bake on a sheet pan for 50-60 minutes (this varies based on spud size typically) until the interior is fork-tender. Cool on the pan for a few minutes then slice lengthwise. Fluff the insides with a fork and pour broccoli cheese sauce on top.
You can also top Roasted Spaghetti Squash with this sauce — I did this recently and it was SO GOOD!
As a side dish with extra broccoli and cauliflower
So hear me out, make the broccoli cheese sauce as written in the recipe card below to serve over a pan of roasted broccoli and cauliflower florets. It’s positively DELISH and full of flavor and the most amazing textures.
T-Rex readers can even serve this scrumptious sauce over chicken too. It’s amazing!
As a speedy broccoli mac and cheese sauce
Boil your 6 ounces of elbow macaroni or small shell pasta until al dente then drain. Add to the pot with the broccoli studded cheese sauce and mix well. For a little something extra, toast panko breadcrumbs in a skillet until golden, season with salt, pepper and garlic powder, then sprinkle on top.
With a fresh baguette for dunking
Need I say more?
I could go on, but I know y’all need this recipe in your faces, stat! Here’s the printable recipe card with all the easy cheesy details:
Broccoli Cheese Sauce
Ingredients
- 2 TBSP unsalted butter
- 2 TBSP all purpose flour
- 1 cup milk (whole or 2%)
- ¼ tsp ground cayenne pepper
- ⅛-¼ tsp garlic powder
- ⅛-¼ tsp salt
- 5.5 ounces freshly grated medium cheddar cheese (not bagged)
- 2 cups finely chopped broccoli florets
Instructions
- Coarsely grate the cheddar. Bagged cheese doesn't work here because of the caking agents added. I use approx. 2/3 of an 8 ounce block of cheddar.
- Finely chop the broccoli and measure out remaining ingredients. It's much easier when they're all ready to go as this sauce comes together fast!
- In a small saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Once butter has melted add flour and whisk non-stop with a metal whisk as the mixture bubbles and darkens slightly in color.
- Next slowly add the milk while whisking.
- Add spices and continue to cook over medium until the sauce begins to thicken and simmer.
- Reduce heat to lowest setting and slowly add cheese one handful at at time, whisking fully between each handful. Do this for each portion of cheese until your sauce is perfectly smooth and melty.
- Mix in the broccoli and remove from heat.
- You now have a creamy, dreamy broccoli cheese sauce to pour over anything and everything your heart desires! I love it over baked potatoes, roasted veggies, or with a fresh baguette for dunking.
Notes
Nutrition
More Baller Broccoli Recipes
- NEW! Cheesy Broccoli Spaghetti Squash
- Creamy Broccoli Tortellini Pasta Bake
- Broccoli Kale Salad with Lemon Dressing
- BBQ Broccoli Tacos via Rabbit and Wolves
- Roasted Broccoli Chickpea Arugula Salad
If you get a chance to try this cheesy broccoli sauce, let me know! Leave me a comment here (LOVE checking those daily!) or tag @PEASandCRAYONS on Instagram so I can happy dance over your tasty creations.
I’ll try to update this post with process shots next time I make it if you find those helpful? Just keep me posted if that’s something y’all need! xoxo
Questions & Reviews
Super good! We poured if over our chicken, broccoli and rice and it was perfect!
Could you keep this warm in a crockpot for a crowd event? Thanks!
Hi Jodie! I haven’t had a chance to test it myself but it sounds like a great idea!
What a creamy and delicious sauce this is!! So easy to make, also!
I had to make a few changes but it was still perfect. I used mostly Velveeta because that’s what I had on hand. Had to substitute onion powder for garlic powder, and I also added some smoked paprika because I love that flavor. I served it over baked potatoes and it was really good!!
The broccoli goes in raw?
Hi Joni! It does! Since the broccoli is chopped up so teeny tiny, the sauce warms and tenderizes the broccoli. If you would like to use larger pieces of broccoli you can steam or saute it first so it cooks through. Hope this helps! xo