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Home » Side Dish » Vegetables » Broccoli Pearl Onion Casserole

Broccoli Pearl Onion Casserole

By Valerie · December 8, 2020 Leave a Comment

SD Side Dish H Holidays
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A spoon scoops Broccoli Pearl Onion Casserole with text overlay.

A creamy broccoli and pearl onion mixture topped with toasted soft Parmesan bread crumbs and baked until golden brown. This Broccoli Pearl Onion Casserole is a unique and comforting side dish choice.

A fork breaks into a serving of Broccoli Pearl Onion Casserole on a white plate.

For so long I’ve wanted to include a pearl onion recipe on this blog and friends, I’ve got one for you today that is pretty spectacular. If you’re looking for a new veggie side dish for your holiday menu, this Broccoli Pearl Onion Casserole is an awesome choice.

Tender pearl onions and a lightened up cream cheese white sauce set this recipe apart from your run of the mill broccoli casseroles. And, instead of being topped with dry bread crumbs, this delicious dish has a soft Parmesan bread crumb topping that is the greatest thing since sliced bread. It also happens to be made from simple sliced bread that you may very well have sitting in your pantry right now.

A close up of a spoon resting in a dish full of Broccoli Pearl Onion Casserole.

Family friendly and truly special. My family devoured this on one recent weeknight and there were rave reviews all around. I would absolutely include this on any holiday menu all through the year from Easter to Thanksgiving to Christmas.

Ingredients

The ingredients required to make Broccoli Pearl Onion Casserole with text overlay.
  • I highly recommend using fresh broccoli florets for the best result. You can purchase the convenient bags of florets that are already cut and weighed for you to make it easy. I sliced 4 small broccoli crowns and used my kitchen scale to be sure I had the 1 1/4 pounds florets required for the recipe.
  • Look for bagged pearl onions in the frozen vegetable section of the grocery store. You want to thaw them in the refrigerator before starting the recipe. Frozen pearl onions come pre-peeled which saves you a bunch of time. Try them!
  • A little cream cheese goes a long way in making the creamy white sauce even more delicious. I use Neufchatel 1/3 less fat cream cheese to lighten the dish up.
  • You’ll need three slices of bread for the soft bread crumbs. For delicious crumbs with a wonderful texture go with a soft white bread like Oroweat Buttermilk or Potato Bread.

Instructions

Broccoli florets and pearl onions are boiled in a pot of water.
  • The first step is to partially cook the broccoli florets in a pot of boiling water until they are just barely tender when pierced with the tip of sharp knife. Drain them well and then transfer them to a 13- x 9-inch baking dish that you’ve coated with nonstick cooking spray.
  • Add the thawed pearl onions to the same water and cook until slightly tender. Drain well and transfer them to the baking dish with the broccoli.

Cream Cheese White Sauce

A white sauce with cream cheese cooks in a saucepan.
  1. Melt butter in a large saucepan over medium-low heat. Whisk in the flour, garlic powder, salt and pepper until smooth.
  2. Gradually whisk in the milk. Increase heat as needed to bring to a boil and cook, stirring, until thickened, about 1 to 2 minutes.
  3. Reduce heat to MEDIUM-LOW and stir in the cream cheese.
  4. Cook, stirring, until smooth.

Soft Parmesan Bread Crumbs

Slices of bread in a food processor and combined with Parmesan and melted butter.
  1. Tear the slices of bread into pieces and place them in the bowl of a food processor.
  2. Process until they are the consistency of soft bread crumbs. You should have 2 cups of crumbs.
  3. Transfer to a small bowl and toss with the Parmesan.
  4. Add melted butter and toss to combine.

Assemble the Casserole

Broccoli and pearl onions mixed with a white sauce and topped with soft bread crumbs in a casserole dish.
  1. Transfer the broccoli and pearl onions to a 13- x 9-inch baking dish that you’ve coated with nonstick cooking spray. Pour the cream cheese white sauce over the top and stir gently to coat.
  2. Sprinkle with the cheddar cheese.
  3. Top with the soft Parmesan bread crumbs.
  4. Bake until cooked through and golden brown.
Broccoli Pearl Onion Casserole topped with browned bread crumbs shot from over the top.

This Broccoli Pearl Onion Casserole smells amazing as it bakes and the browned topping is as pretty as it is delicious.

A spoon scoops up some broccoli and pearl onion casserole from a baking dish.

Make Ahead Instructions

Assemble the casserole as directed but don’t top with the bread crumbs. Cover the casserole dish tightly with plastic wrap or foil and transfer it to the refrigerator for up to 24 hours. When ready to bake, remove the dish from the fridge and allow it to sit on your kitchen counter for 30 minutes to an hour. Top with the bread crumbs and bake as directed. Please note that it may take a little longer to cook through if the dish is cold when it goes in the oven. If the bread crumbs are getting too brown before the dish is cooked through, lay a sheet of foil lightly over the top towards the end of the baking time.

An over the top shot of a Broccoli Pearl Onion Casserole with a spoon resting in the baking dish.

Serving Suggestions

This is a delicious vegetable side dish choice for ham, beef, turkey, or chicken. It’s a super versatile choice that fits well on a holiday menu or any special menu all year long. Here are some of my main dish favorites that would be a perfect choice to serve with this Broccoli Pearl Onion Casserole.

  • Slow Cooker Ham with Peach Thyme Glaze
  • Roasted Beef Tenderloin
  • Dry Brine Turkey with Garlic Butter Rub
  • Air Fryer Fried Chicken

A fork breaks into a serving of Broccoli Pearl Onion Casserole on a white plate.

Broccoli Pearl Onion Casserole

A creamy broccoli and pearl onion mixture topped with toasted soft Parmesan bread crumbs and baked until golden brown. This Broccoli Pearl Onion Casserole is a unique and comforting side dish choice.
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Course: Side Dish, Vegetable
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour
Servings: 8
Calories: 259kcal
Author: Valerie Brunmeier

Ingredients

  • 1 ¼ pounds fresh broccoli florets cut into bite size pieces
  • 14.4 ounces frozen pearl onions thawed (like Bird's Eye)
  • 3 tablespoons butter
  • 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • ¾ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ⅛ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 2 cups 2% milk
  • 4 ounces Neufcahtel cream cheese 1/3 less fat, cubed
  • 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese

For the Soft Parmesan Bread Crumbs

  • 3 slices sandwich bread like Oroweat Buttermilk or as many slices as needed to yield 2 cups crumbs
  • ¼ cup shredded Parmesan
  • 2 tablespoons butter melted

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
  • Bring a large pot of water to boil and add the broccoli. Cook for 4 to 5 minutes, or just until barely tender when pierced with the tip of a sharp knife. Use a slotted spoon to transfer the broccoli to a colander to drain and then transfer it to the prepared baking dish.
  • Return the same pot to the heat (no need to change water) and return the water to a boil. Add the pearl onions and cook for 3 to 4 minutes, or until just tender. Drain and transfer to the baking dish with the broccoli.
  • Melt 3 tablespoons butter in a large saucepan over MEDIUM-LOW heat. Whisk in the flour, garlic powder, salt and pepper until smooth. Gradually whisk in the milk. Increase heat as needed to bring to a boil and cook, stirring, until thickened, about 1 to 2 minutes. Reduce heat to MEDIUM-LOW and stir in the cream cheese until smooth. Pour the mixture over the broccoli and onions in the baking dish and stir gently to coat. Sprinkle with cheddar cheese.
  • Tear the slices of bread into pieces and place them in the bowl of a food processor. Process until they are the consistency of bread crumbs. You should have 2 cups of crumbs. Transfer to a small bowl and toss with the Parmesan. Add 2 tablespoons melted butter and toss to combine. Sprinkle the soft bread crumbs evenly over the casserole.
  • Bake, uncovered, until the topping is golden brown, about 25 to 30 minutes.

Video

Notes

Ingredient Tips
I highly recommend using fresh broccoli florets for the best result. You can purchase the convenient bags of florets that are already cut and weighed for you to make it easy. I sliced 4 small broccoli crowns and used my kitchen scale to be sure I had the 1 1/4 pounds florets required for the recipe.
Look for bagged pearl onions in the frozen vegetable section of the grocery store. You want to thaw them in the refrigerator before starting the recipe. Frozen pearl onions come pre-peeled which saves you a bunch of time. Try them!
A little cream cheese goes a long way in making the creamy white sauce even more delicious. I use Neufchatel 1/3 less fat cream cheese to lighten the dish up.
You’ll need three slices of bread for the soft bread crumbs. For delicious crumbs with a wonderful texture go with a soft white bread like Oroweat Buttermilk or Potato Bread.
Make Ahead Instructions
Assemble the casserole as directed but don’t top with the bread crumbs. Cover the casserole dish tightly with plastic wrap or foil and transfer it to the refrigerator for up to 24 hours. When ready to bake, remove the dish from the fridge and allow it to sit on your kitchen counter for 30 minutes to an hour. Top with the bread crumbs and bake as directed. Please note that it may take a little longer to cook through if the dish is cold when it goes in the oven. If the bread crumbs are getting too brown before the dish is cooked through, lay a sheet of foil lightly over the top towards the end of the baking time.

Nutrition

Calories: 259kcal | Carbohydrates: 15g | Protein: 11g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Cholesterol: 52mg | Sodium: 561mg | Potassium: 353mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 1008IU | Vitamin C: 63mg | Calcium: 283mg | Iron: 1mg
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Hello and welcome to my online kitchen! My focus here is to provide simple, seasonal meal solutions for busy households. I hope you find some inspiration while you’re here and visit again soon!

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