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Comforting Cheesy Veggie Bake

Featured in Vibrant Vegetarian Dishes That Satisfy.

A melty, cheesy veggie mix layered with rice and crispy crackers. Great for gatherings or weeknight dinners, it's a real crowd favorite!

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Updated on Tue, 08 Apr 2025 23:36:07 GMT
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Cheesy Veggie Bake | linacooks.com
A hearty Cheesy Veggie Casserole that'll warm your soul with its mix of veggies smothered in a rich, creamy cheese sauce. Topped with crispy butter crackers, it's the perfect dish for family meals or special get-togethers.

What You'll Need

  • Small Yellow Onion: 1, chopped fine, giving a tasty foundation.
  • Butter: 1 tbsp, for cooking down the onion, adding a nice buttery taste.
  • Mushroom Soup: 1 can (10.5 oz), makes the base super creamy.
  • Milk: ½ cup, thins out the sauce just right.
  • Sour Cream: ½ cup, gives a nice tang to the mix.
  • Cheddar Cheese: 8 oz split up, melts into the dish and tops it off too.
  • Frozen Broccoli: 2 big cups, adds nice green bits and good nutrients.
  • Mixed Frozen Veggies: 3 cups, brings color and variety.
  • Eggs: 2 large, beaten, helps everything stick together.
  • White Rice: 2 cups already cooked, makes the dish filling.
  • Garlic Salt: ½ tsp, punches up the flavor.
  • Regular Salt: ½ tsp, brings out all the tastes.
  • Dry Mustard: ½ tsp, adds a bit of zing.
  • Italian Herbs: ½ tsp, sprinkles in some herby goodness.
  • Black Pepper: ¼ tsp, gives just enough kick.
  • Butter Crackers: 1 cup smashed up, creates that yummy top layer.
  • Melted Butter: 2 tbsp, mixed with crackers for a golden finish.

How To Make It

Step 1: Get Your Oven Ready
Turn your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9 x 13-inch baking dish with cooking spray or a little butter.
Step 2: Cook Those Onions
Grab a big pot, melt your butter over medium heat. Toss in your diced onions and cook 'em for about 5 minutes until they're soft and smell good.
Step 3: Mix Up Your Sauce
Pour in the mushroom soup, milk, sour cream, garlic salt, regular salt, dry mustard, Italian herbs, and pepper. Stir it all together until it's nice and smooth.
Step 4: Mix In Cheese and Veggies
Add 1 cup of your cheddar cheese and stir until it's all melty. Then dump in your frozen broccoli and mixed veggies, mix until they're covered in sauce and warmed up. Take the pot off the heat and let it cool a bit.
Step 5: Add Eggs and Rice
Beat your eggs and pour them in, along with your cooked rice. Stir everything until it's all mixed up good.
Step 6: Put It All Together
Dump the whole mix into your greased dish and spread it flat. Sprinkle the rest of your cheddar on top.
Step 7: Make That Crunchy Top
Mix your crushed crackers with the melted butter in a small bowl. Sprinkle this all over the top of your casserole.
Step 8: Bake It Up
Cover the dish with foil and stick it in the oven for 20 minutes. Then take the foil off and bake another 10 minutes until the top's golden and everything's bubbling.
Step 9: Time to Eat
Pull it out and let it sit for a few minutes. Then dig in while it's still warm and enjoy all that cheesy, veggie goodness.

Serving Ideas and Storage

  • Dish this up hot with some roast meat, grilled chicken, or just on its own for a veggie meal.
  • Throw some chopped fresh parsley on top to make it pretty.
  • Pop leftovers in a sealed container in the fridge and eat within 3 days.
  • Warm it back up in a 350°F oven for 10-15 minutes or zap single portions in the microwave.

Quick Tips

  • Grate your own cheese for better melt and taste than the pre-shredded stuff.
  • Switch up the veggies with things like cauliflower, colored peppers, or zucchini if you want.
  • Try Greek yogurt instead of sour cream to make it a bit healthier.

Pro Cook Advice

  • Chef Tip: Sprinkle in a tiny bit of nutmeg to the sauce for extra warmth and depth that'll make people wonder what your secret is.
  • Chef Tip: Turn on the broiler for just a minute at the end to get that topping super crunchy.

Why This Dish Rocks

  • This dish mixes creamy cheese sauce with crunchy topping, making every bite awesome.
  • It goes well with almost any main course, so it's great for everyday dinners or holiday meals.
  • You can make it with stuff you probably already have, but it tastes like you spent all day on it.

Mix It Up

  • Throw in some cooked shredded chicken or turkey to make it more filling.
  • Try using panko breadcrumbs on top instead of crackers for a different kind of crunch.
  • Turn it into a complete meal by adding diced ham or cooked crumbled sausage.

Veggie Side Dish

Packed with veggies, cheese, and a buttery cracker crust, this bake is the perfect go-to for any meal.

Prep Time
15 Minutes
Cook Time
30 Minutes
Total Time
45 Minutes
By: Paolina

Category: Vegetarian

Difficulty: Easy

Cuisine: American

Yield: 8 Servings

Dietary: Vegetarian

Ingredients

01 1 tablespoon of butter.
02 1 small yellow onion, chopped finely.
03 1 can (10.5 oz) of cream of mushroom soup.
04 Half a cup of milk.
05 Half a cup of sour cream.
06 8 ounces of shredded cheddar cheese, split into two portions.
07 2 big cups of frozen broccoli florets.
08 3 cups of mixed frozen veggies.
09 2 large eggs, beaten.
10 2 cups of cooked white rice.
11 Half a teaspoon of garlic salt.
12 Half a teaspoon of plain salt.
13 Half a teaspoon of mustard powder.
14 Half a teaspoon of seasoning blend (Italian style).
15 A quarter teaspoon of ground black pepper.
16 1 cup of crushed Ritz crackers.
17 2 tablespoons melted butter for topping.

Instructions

Step 01

Turn your oven to 350°F (175°C) and let it heat up.

Step 02

In a big pot, melt butter over medium heat. Toss in the onions and cook them for around 5 minutes till soft.

Step 03

Add cream of mushroom soup, milk, sour cream, garlic salt, plain salt, mustard powder, Italian seasoning, and black pepper. Stir till everything’s blended.

Step 04

Mix 1 cup of cheddar cheese into the pot, stirring until melted through.

Step 05

Stir in the frozen broccoli and mixed veggies. Heat them up, then take the pot off the stove and let it cool just a bit.

Step 06

Blend in the beaten eggs and cooked rice, making sure it’s all mixed well. Spread the mix into a prepared 9x13 inch baking dish and sprinkle the rest of the cheese on top.

Step 07

Cover the dish with foil and bake for 20 minutes. While that’s baking, mix the cracker crumbs with melted butter.

Step 08

Pull the dish out of the oven, scatter the buttery cracker crumbs over the top, and return to the oven uncovered for another 10 minutes or until golden on top.

Step 09

Take it out of the oven and enjoy while it’s still warm.

Notes

  1. This cheesy, veggie-packed dish makes a great potluck or family meal.
  2. Super flexible—swap in any frozen vegetables you have available.
  3. Leftovers can be chilled in the fridge for up to three days in a sealed container.

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

It is important to consider this information as approximate and not to use it as definitive health advice.
  • Calories: 380
  • Total Fat: 24 g
  • Total Carbohydrate: 29 g
  • Protein: 11 g