Sausage, Broccoli, and Cheese Casserole

8 servings Total: 50 m Beginner
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From the author: “This is a dish that I make and I never have leftovers. It is a simple casserole dish with great flavor”—loaded with egg noodles, breakfast sausage, broccoli florets, cream of broccoli soup, and plenty of melted Kraft cheese. Comfort food at its finest.

Ingredients

8 servings
  • 1 bag egg noodles (medium size does best)
  • 2 cans cream of broccoli soup
  • 1 can cream of mushroom soup
  • 1 pound breakfast sausage
  • 4 cups Kraft cheese (Kraft is best because it does not get greasy)
  • 1 bag broccoli florets

Step-by-Step Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
  2. In a large pot, bring salted water to a boil. Add the egg noodles and broccoli florets and cook until the noodles are done, about 8-10 minutes.
  3. While the noodles are boiling, cook the breakfast sausage in a skillet over medium-high heat, breaking it up with a spoon, until browned and cooked through, about 8-10 minutes. Drain the fat and set aside.
  4. Once the noodles are done, drain and return the noodles and broccoli to the pot. Add the cooked sausage, the soups (undiluted), and 3 cups of the cheese. With a large spoon, stir until everything is well combined.
  5. Take a 3 quart casserole dish and spray with a light coat of nonstick spray. Spoon the mixture into the dish and bake for 25 minutes uncovered.
  6. After 25 minutes, pull the casserole out and spread the remaining 1 cup of cheese over top of the casserole, then put back in the oven for 5 more minutes to melt the cheese over the top. Pull out and let rest for 5 minutes before serving.
  7. Note: If you heat up the soups while the noodles and sausage are cooking, you can throw all the ingredients into the pot, stir really well, and it is great without having to be put in the oven if you want a quicker meal or side dish. Garlic bread goes very well with this.

Common Problems and Solutions

Q: Can I use fresh broccoli instead of frozen?

A: Yes! Use about 3-4 cups of fresh broccoli florets. Add them to the boiling water with the noodles and cook together. Fresh broccoli works perfectly.

Q: The casserole seems dry. What happened?

A: Make sure you're using the soups undiluted (don't add water or milk). If it still seems dry, you can add a splash of milk or chicken broth to the mixture before baking.

Tips and Techniques

The author notes that Kraft cheese is specifically recommended because it doesn’t get greasy when baked. For an even quicker weeknight version, skip the oven step entirely—just heat the soups before adding to the pot, stir everything together well, and serve hot. Pair with garlic bread for a complete meal.

Ingredient Substitutions

  • breakfast sausage: Italian sausage or ground turkey
  • cream of broccoli soup: additional cream of mushroom soup or cream of chicken soup
  • egg noodles: penne, rotini, or any pasta shape
  • Kraft cheese: any cheddar cheese blend

Equipment Needed

  • large pot for boiling
  • large skillet
  • 3 quart casserole dish
  • colander