Daddy’s Comfort Casserole–an easy broccoli cream cheese casserole with buttery panko breadcrumbs. It can be made in the Instant Pot or oven. Comfort food to the max!
Daddy’s Comfort Casserole
Today’s recipe is an Instant Pot adaptation from a casserole on All Recipes. The original author said, “[Dad] kept it super simple and made comforting dishes I still crave today. Among them, there’s one that I think about (and crave) the most—and occasionally make when I’m feeling particularly homesick. It’s a comforting casserole that’s unlike anything else we grew up eating, yet so good.”
This casserole has a creamy and crunchy element. It’s beyond comforting! The combination of broccoli and cream cheese is a winner and the toasted butter panko finishes off the dish perfectly.
This recipe can be prepared in your Instant Pot with an air fryer lid* or you can make it with your stove top and oven. Either way it’s a winning dish! I practically ate half of it all by myself…oopsie!
Ingredients/Substitution Ideas
- Fresh broccoli florets
- Cream cheese
- Milk
- Nutmeg
- Kosher salt
- Fresh ground pepper
- Lemon juice
- Panko bread crumbs
- Butter
Steps
Add 1 ½ cups of water into Instant Pot and turn it to saute while you prepare the broccoli.
Add broccoli florets into steamer basket and place the cream cheese on top of the broccoli (this will soften the cream cheese while the broccoli cooks). Place the basket into the bottom of the Instant Pot.
Turn off saute setting. Cover Instant Pot and secure the lid. Make sure valve is set to sealing. Set the manual/pressure cook button to 1 minute on low pressure. When time is up move valve to venting and remove the lid.
Carefully remove steamer basket. Discard the water and dry out the pot. Scoop the cream cheese into the Instant Pot. Stir in the milk, nutmeg, lemon juice, kosher salt and a few cracks of fresh ground pepper. Stir well.
Fold in the broccoli so that it is coated in the sauce.
Sprinkle the panko on top and drizzle the butter on top of the panko.
Cover Instant Pot with air fryer lid and bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes, or until topping has browned.
Serve and enjoy!
Notes/Tips
- Serve this broccoli side alongside chicken or pasta This would also make a great Thanksgiving side dish.
- I used my Duo Crisp 6 quart Instant Pot*.
- I used my Avokado silicone steamer basket*.
- Love cauliflower? Use cauliflower florets instead of broccoli florets.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container* in the refrigerator. This dish is best the first day because the toasted panko breadcrumbs get soggy if left in the fridge.
- Other recipes you can make with cream cheese are Chick-Fil-A Sauce Casserole and Instant Pot Creamy Chicken.
More Instant Pot Side Dishes…
Instant Pot Buttered Cabbage
An easy side dish recipe with only 3 main ingredients. Buttered cabbage is just what it sounds like! Braised cabbage with butter. It’s delightful and even if you’re not a cabbage lover you might be surprised at how tasty this cabbage is!
Easter Potatoes
Instant Pot or Crockpot Easter Potatoes are a perfect side dish for your turkey, ham or chicken Easter dinner. With only 5 main ingredients these potatoes are prepped in just a few minutes. Everyone loves these potatoes!
Grandpa Jim’s Potatoes
Instant Pot or Crockpot potatoes with ranch, cheese and bacon. A delicious and easy side dish!
Country Roads Casserole
Sweet potato casserole with a brown sugar and pecan topping made in your Instant Pot, Crockpot or oven.
Instant Pot Popeye’s Cajun Rice
Ground beef, green pepper and rice with Cajun seasonings. An easy copycat recipe that you can make at home in your Instant Pot.
Did you know you can filter the recipes on my website to search by meat type, IP or Crockpot, low carb, gluten free, etc.? Use the filter to find exactly what you are looking for.
Daddy’s Comfort Casserole
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
Description
An easy broccoli cream cheese casserole with buttery panko breadcrumbs. It can be made in the Instant Pot or oven. Comfort food to the max!
Ingredients
- 20 ounces (1 1/4 pounds) fresh broccoli florets
- 4 ounces cream cheese
- 2 Tbsp milk
- 1 pinch ground nutmeg
- 3/4 tsp kosher salt
- Fresh ground pepper
- 1 Tbsp lemon juice
- 1/2 cup panko bread crumbs
- 2 Tbsp melted butter
Instructions
Instant Pot with Air Fryer Lid Instructions:
- Add 1 ½ cups of water into Instant Pot and turn it to saute while you prepare the broccoli.
- Add broccoli florets into steamer basket and place the cream cheese on top of the broccoli (this will soften the cream cheese while the broccoli cooks). Place the basket into the bottom of the Instant Pot.
- Turn off saute setting. Cover Instant Pot and secure the lid. Make sure valve is set to sealing. Set the manual/pressure cook button to 1 minute on low pressure. When time is up move valve to venting and remove the lid.
- Carefully remove steamer basket. Discard the water and dry out the pot. Scoop the cream cheese into the Instant Pot. Stir in the milk, nutmeg, lemon juice, kosher salt and a few cracks of fresh ground pepper. Stir well.
- Fold in the broccoli so that it is coated in the sauce.
- Sprinkle the panko on top and drizzle the butter on top of the panko.
- Cover Instant Pot with air fryer lid and bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes, or until topping has browned.
- Serve and enjoy!
Stove/Oven Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9×9 inch baking dish with non-stick cooking spray.
- Steam the broccoli until tender.
- Soften the cream cheese. In a bowl whisk it together with the milk, nutmeg, lemon juice, kosher salt and a few cracks of fresh ground pepper.
- Fold in the broccoli so that it is coated in the sauce. Spread the mixture in the 9×9 inch pan.
- Sprinkle the panko on top and drizzle the butter on top of the panko.
- Bake until golden brown about 25 minutes.
- Category: Side
- Method: Instant Pot/Air Fryer Lid or Oven
*Karen Petersen is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.
It had good flavor. I actually liked it better before adding the bread crumbs and butter, so will continue to do it that way. Saves calories and an extra step.
Yeah, I think it’s good either way but if you like it just the same might as well save yourself a step!