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Avatar photoEmily Garcia

Creamy Winter Vegetable Casserole

Creamy Winter Vegetable Casserole is a comforting and effortless vegetarian dish featuring tender-crisp winter vegetables in a velvety, thyme-infused, cheesy cream of mushroom sauce, topped with a crunchy breadcrumb crust. Ready in 45 minutes, it serves as an excellent vegetarian centerpiece or rich side dish.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Casserole, Side Dish, Vegetarian
Cuisine: American
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 2 cups mixed winter vegetables (diced carrots, parsnips, cauliflower, broccoli, or Brussels sprouts)
  • 1 can (10.5 oz) low-fat cream of mushroom soup
  • 0.5 cup whole milk or unsweetened plant-based milk
  • 0.5 cup shredded cheddar or Gruyère cheese
  • 0.25 cup breadcrumbs (regular or panko style)
  • 1 tbsp melted butter
  • 0.5 tsp dried thyme
  • 0.25 tsp garlic powder
  • salt, to taste
  • freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Equipment

  • medium baking dish lightly greased
  • large mixing bowl
  • steamer or pot for pre-cooking vegetables

Method
 

  1. Preheat your oven to $375^{circ}text{F}$ ($190^{circ}text{C}$). Lightly grease a medium baking dish.
  2. If using fresh vegetables, cut them into evenly sized pieces and steam or blanch them for 3 to 4 minutes until they are just tender. Drain them well. If using frozen vegetables, thaw them completely and pat them dry to remove excess moisture.
  3. In a large mixing bowl, combine the prepared vegetables, low-fat cream of mushroom soup, milk, shredded cheese, dried thyme, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper. Stir thoroughly until all the vegetables are evenly coated.
  4. Transfer the vegetable mixture to the prepared baking dish and spread it into an even layer using a spoon or spatula.
  5. In a small bowl, mix the breadcrumbs with the melted butter until well combined. Sprinkle this breadcrumb mixture evenly on top of the casserole.
  6. Bake uncovered for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and the filling is bubbling around the edges.
  7. Allow the baked casserole to rest for 5 minutes before serving warm.

Notes

Pre-cooking (blanching or steaming) the hard winter vegetables for 3-4 minutes until tender-crisp is essential for proper texture. Shredding your own cheese is recommended for the creamiest sauce. This dish keeps well in the refrigerator for up to four days. To reheat, cover tightly with foil and bake at $350^{circ}text{F}$ ($175^{circ}text{C}$) until hot and bubbly.