Deliciously creamy plant-based broccoli rice casserole that is packed with nutrients. This vegan recipe is a powerhouse of nutritious ingredients. It tastes like a traditional, extra cheesy broccoli casserole without the incredibly over-processed cheese sauce. Instead, this no-cheese cheese sauce is full of hidden vegetables and plant-based protein that pairs perfectly with broccoli and brown rice.
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A cheesy broccoli rice casserole that is completely plant-based, made with only whole foods and that is absolutely delicious! This recipe is perfect for trying to sneak in more vegetables at dinner time. The ‘cheese’ sauce is made using sweet potatoes which gives it that perfect golden-orange cheese color while also having an abundance of nutrients.
Unlike traditional broccoli and rice casserole, this recipe consists of only healthy ingredients. All of which are whole foods and straight form nature itself. Meaning no canned cheese or those that somehow last for years with a laundry list of illegible ingredients.
Cashews, broccoli and sweet potatoes are all excellent sources of protein. In addition, the sweet potatoes add fiber among various other vitamins and minerals such as vitamin B, C and antioxidants.
The brown rice provides a heart healthy whole grain that is also high in fiber. This healthy carbohydrate gives you a boost of energy and keeps you feeling fuller longer.
Furthermore, the onion and garlic cloves work provide various vitamins (B6, C) and minerals while working to help boost your immune system.
Try These Other Great Brown Rice Recipes
As if you needed any more reasons to try this recipe, it is absolutely delicious and super easy to make. It is also suitable for wfpb and is even gluten free.
Plant-Based Cheesy Broccoli Rice Casserole
Deliciously creamy plant-based broccoli rice casserole that is incredibly healthy. This recipe is a powerhouse of nutritious ingredients while also tasting like a traditional, cheesy broccoli casserole without the incredibly over-processed cheese sauce. Instead, this no-cheese cheese sauce is full of hidden vegetables and plant-based protein and pairs perfectly with the broccoli and brown rice.
Ingredients
- 1.5 lb broccoli
- 2 cups dry brown rice
- 2 sweet potatoes
- 1 large onion
- 5 garlic cloves
- 1/4 cup nutritional yeast
- 1/2 cup cashews
- 1/2 cup almond milk + more if needed
- 1 tsp paprika
- salt to taste
- sprinkle cayenne pepper *optional if you like some spice
Instructions
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Begin cooking brown rice. See instructions below.
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Making the 'cheese' sauce: Add cashews to a sauce pan. Fill with water and bring to a boil. Once the water is boiling, remove from heat and let sit, (10-15 minutes) while you prepare the rest of the ingredients. If you have a high powered blender like this vitamix, you can skip this step completely.
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Peel sweet potatoes and chop into small cubes. Add to a small pot over medium to high heat and cover with water.
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Once the water begins to boil, finely dice the onion and add to the pot with the sweet potato. Let boil for 25 minutes until soft.
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Once the sweet potato and onion are finished cooking, let cool. Add cashews, almond milk, (1/2 cup or more. Just make sure the cashews are covered,) nutritional yeast, salt, paprika and cayenne (optional) to blender. Blend until smooth. Then, add sweet potato and onion and blend until everything is combined. Set 'cheese' sauce aside.
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Next, steam broccoli for 3-5 minutes until soft or at desired texture.
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When everything has finished cooking, add brown rice, broccoli and 'cheese' sauce to large bowl. Stir until everything is well-incorporated.
How to Cook Brown Rice
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Put rice into a strainer and rinse thoroughly.
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Add rice to a pot on the stove and cover with water. You are going to be cooking the rice like you would pasta. This further removes any toxins from the rice and cooks it perfectly.
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Let boil on medium heat for 45 minutes or until the rice is at desired textured.
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Once it is finished cooking, drain the water and rinse the rice again with a strainer. Put the rice back in the pot and continue with recipe.
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What do you add the garlic?
Hi Cori!
Add the garlic to the sweet potato when you add in the diced onion!
– Alexis
I just made your Plant-Based Cheesy Broccoli Rice Casserole and it was delicious. (I did alter it a little by some adding some handy cannellini beans to the cheese sauce.). After that success, I’ll will definitely be exploring more of your recipes. Thank you!
Hi Carolyn!
So glad you liked it!! Cannellini beans do great in cheese sauce, so I could definitely see this being good!
Delicious recipe, great for weekly meal prep! I made everything in the instant pot in stages, and it turned out great. I noticed that you have garlic in the ingredients list but not in the instructions, I diced 3 cloves and steamed it with the broccoli, and added two to the “cheese” sauce. Reddit brought me to this post 🙂
I am so glad you enjoyed it! Thank you for pointing that out, I will make sure to edit it in.
– Alexis