Risotto Style Broccoli Cauliflower Casserole

This broccoli cauliflower casserole is an oven-baked version of classic risotto using riced veggies! Make it for a low carb side or main dish.

Here’s a kid-friendly way to add more veggies to your meal plan! Oh, and it’s quick to make; the healthy comfort food meal is ready to eat in just 35 minutes!

RISOTTO WOES

Risotto is a creamy, delicious rice dish, and it’s so versatile! It can be enjoyed as a side dish (obviously), but if you add in a bit of protein, it transforms into the perfect meatless dinner.

But, there are some negatives to traditional risotto.

1. Long cooking process.

For starters, making it is a major time investment… aka, risotto is needy. The traditional cooking process requires standing over the stove for almost 30 minutes, stirring broth slowly into the rice, ¼ cup at a time *YAWN*

2. Doesn’t hold well.

Another pain point is, risotto is practically impossible to keep warm without the dish becoming over cooked and mushy. As a result, traditional risotto really needs to be served immediately after you make it.

3. Not very nourishing.

Not that rice is the worst thing in the world for you. But, when you pair it with dairy products like heavy cream and cheese, it turns into a less than nourishing dish.

Well, my friend, I have a solution to the risotto woes, and it is so much easier! Plus, it has additional nutrients for your bod, and it’s delicious!

Risotto-style broccoli cauliflower casserole

This recipe is easier to make, freezer friendly and reheatable, and better for you!!

Swapping the stove top method to bake it in the oven means, you’ll be saving time. So, go ahead and fold a load of laundry while you wait, or read a few pages from that new book you’ve been wanting to read.

It’s also a wholesome dish, with riced broccoli and cauliflower rather than white rice, so it’s full of antioxidants and essential vitamins and minerals.

Recipe Nutrition

The oven baked version makes for a crispier texture, but the veggies are still creamy on the inside.

So you see, simple swaps are what make the dish low carb, grain and gluten-free, and kid-friendly.

It is packed with nourishment too.

• Vitamin C
• Fiber
• Healthy fats
• Antioxidants

Now the question remains….

How to make healthy risotto a balanced meal?

The dish gets another gold star for versatility!

Just pair this with the protein of your choice. Perhaps some baked fish or roasted chicken. We made this the other night with bacon and Italian chicken sausage. It ’twas divine!

Alright alright, let’s get to the real point here. Meal prepping tips, risotto ingredients, and more!

Ingredients in Cauliflower and Riced Broccoli Casserole

Here’s what you’ll need to make this wholesome side dish:

• Cauliflower or ready-to-use cauliflower rice
• Broccoli– you just need a few crowns. The majority of the veggie is cauliflower
• Bacon– Be sure to use uncured bacon. Of course, if you want a meatless meal, feel free to leave it out
• Shallot or red onion
• Garlic– I prefer to mince fresh cloves but the jarred variety is fine too
• Chopped asparagus (celery works as a substitute)
• Sea salt and black pepper
• Stock or broth– Vegetable or chicken broth or stock
• Thyme leaves– I love the flavor thyme adds to the dish! To take it up another notch, quick fry it in oil (instructions are in the recipe card)

Optional Toppings

• Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese– Omit for Whole30, vegan and paleo. Or, you can use nutritional yeast as a substitute
• Butter or olive oil
• Finely chopped fresh herbs
• Lemon slices
• Peppercorns

IGTV Recipe Video

Check out this Instagram video I made! It’ll show you exactly how to make this delicious risotto-style broccoli cauliflower casserole.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Lindsay Cotter | Gluten Free (@cottercrunch)

FAQ

Before we jump in to the recipe, let’s address some commonly asked questions:

• Can I freeze cauliflower casserole?

Oh, YES!

Both riced broccoli and cauliflower rice freeze really well. So, go ahead and make this dish part of your healthy meal prep for the week.

• How long does cauliflower rice last in the freezer?

The best way to freeze your cauliflower and riced broccoli casserole is to make sure that it is completely cool first.

Then, transfer it to Ziploc freezer bags and press out as much air as you can before closing the bag. Lay the bags flat in the freezer (to save space!) and the casserole should keep well for 3 to 4 months.

The day before you want to serve it, transfer the bag to your fridge so the casserole can thaw.

• How to reheat leftover broccoli and cauliflower casserole

You can reheat one of three ways:

1. In a covered dish, in a 350° F. oven, it should take about 20 minutes to reheat.
2. Reheat in a skillet or pan over medium heat, stirring gently until it warms through.
3. Microwave- Place the cauliflower rice risotto in a covered microwaveable container. Then, reheat on medium power in 3-minute intervals, stirring in between each one, until the dish warms through.

Mmm k, who’s hungry now?

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What’s YOUR favorite type of risotto?
Mine is this one (duh), or chili garlic cauliflower risotto bowls. YUM! 

Have you made anything spectacular lately with cauliflower rice or riced broccoli? PLEASE share in the comments!

Cheers,
LC