Cheesy Broccoli Rice Casserole (Dump-and-Bake)

This Cheesy Broccoli Rice Casserole is Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, and made with only 8 healthy ingredients! Simply add everything to a pan, bake, and enjoy.

The phrase “Cheesy Broccoli Rice Casserole” sounds delicious in and of itself, don’t get me wrong. But what if I told you that this casserole was also dump-and-bake, dairy-free, and made with only 8 healthy ingredients?

Now we’re talking, friends.

But how is this casserole Dairy-Free, you ask? Nutritional Yeast, of course! Nutritional Yeast (or “Nooch”) is a form of fortified yeast flakes that has a deep umami and “cheesy” flavor to it – without any cheese. Crazy, right?! It can be an acquired taste at first, but once you get familiar with it you’re going to put this ‘ish on everything.

We’re going to toast our Nutritional Yeast before we add it to the Vegetable Broth for some extra cheesy goodness and depth of flavor. It only takes about 2 or so minutes, but makes a huge difference in the final flavor.

All in all, this Cheesy Broccoli Rice Casserole is packed full of good stuff! There’s plenty of fiber, complex carbs, and plant-based protein thanks to the addition of Chickpeas.

Plus, it couldn’t be easier to make. Simply mix all of the Vegetable Broth ingredients together in a pot, bring it to a boil, and pour it into a Casserole dish with Broccoli, Chickpeas, and uncooked Brown Rice.

Yes, you heard me – uncooked! The Brown Rice will absorb the Vegetable Broth as it bakes in the oven and after only 1 hour you’ll have a fluffy, cheesy, and perfectly cooked casserole. How’s that for convenience?!

Once I found out that many restaurants actually cook their rice in the oven, I decided to put that to the test with this casserole. Well I sure am glad that I did, because this rice is SO dang fluffy. And I forsee a lot more casseroles of this nature coming to me in the future 😉

A Few Final Thoughts:

• I used fresh Broccoli Florets for this recipe, but Frozen will work as well – just add them to the casserole dish frozen and do not thaw!
• This recipe is great for Meal Prep or an Easy Dinner; leftovers will also stay good in the freezer for up to one month.
• You can swap out the Chickpeas and Broccoli for another bean/vegetable of choice, but you cannot substitute the Brown Rice. Each grain absorbs a different amount of liquid and has a different cook time, so the recipe will not come out the same.

If you’re looking for more easy Vegan Dinner recipes, you’ll also love this One Pot Vegan Mushroom Stroganoff and these Sheet Pan Fajitas!

Finally, if you make this recipe and decide to share it on Facebook or Instagram, don’t forget to tag me @FromMyBowl + #FromMyBowl! I love seeing your delicious recreations 🙂

Cheesy Broccoli Rice Casserole with Chickpeas

Print Recipe

Pin Recipe

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

4.8 from 59 reviews

This Cheesy Broccoli Rice Casserole is Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, and made with only 8 healthy ingredients! Simply add everything to a pan, bake, and enjoy.

• Author: Caitlin Shoemaker
• Prep Time: 15 Minutes
• Cook Time: 60 Minutes
• Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
• Yield: 4 Servings 1x
• Category: Main
• Method: Oven
• Cuisine: American

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 2 ½ cups Low-Sodium Vegetable Broth (bring to a boil)
• ¼ cup Nutritional Yeast
• ½ tsp Turmeric
• ½ tsp Garlic Powder
• ¼ tsp Paprika
• 2 cups Chickpeas, cooked*
• 2 cups Fresh Broccoli Florets
• 1 cup uncooked Brown Rice Rice

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 400F. Add the Nutritional Yeast to a medium pot and toast over medium heat for 2-3 minutes, stirring frequently. The yellow flakes will become darker and more fragrant.
2. Once toasted, add the Vegetable Broth, Turmeric, Garlic Powder, and Paprika to the pot; raise the heat to high and bring the mixture to a boil.
3. While the liquid is coming to a boil, pour the Chickpeas a 9×13″ pan or casserole dish. Sprinkle the Broccoli evenly over the Chickpeas, then sprinkle the uncooked Brown Rice over the top of the dish.
4. Whisk the Vegetable Broth well to evenly distribute the spices, then pour the boiling mixture over the casserole dish. If any spices “clump” in a particular area, stir them around a bit with a spatula. Cover the casserole with Aluminum Foil, then bake for 60 minutes.
5. Remove from the oven and serve as desired. Refrigerate leftovers in a sealed container for up to one week, or in the freezer for up to one month.

Notes

• If you are using canned Chickpeas, make sure you drain and rinse them thoroughly
• You can use Frozen Broccoli florets instead of fresh, but do not thaw them
• If you’d like the top of your casserole to be crispy, broil it uncovered in the oven on HI for 5-10 minutes after it finishes baking.

Want to save this Cheesy Broccoli Rice Casserole for later? Pin the recipe to your Pinterest boards: