Million Dollar Broccoli Bake
Y’all. Let me tell you something. We’ve been living our best lives this summer—half the week at the beach, half at the lake, and the whole time eating like a bunch of raccoons. You know what I mean: dessert, dessert, and a handful of boat snacks in between.
We spent time at beautiful Folly Beach, South Carolina and soaked up the sun at Lake Marion, just trying to squeeze every last drop of fun out of this South Carolina summer with the kids.
But after a week of sugar and sunshine, I needed to reel it in just a little bit. So when I got back in the kitchen today and whipped up my Million Dollar Spaghetti (y’all know the one), I made a second version just for me—with a little healthy twist.
Instead of noodles, I used broccoli. Yep, broccoli! And y’all, let me tell you—it was still creamy, cheesy, comforting, and every bit as Southern as the original. Even if you don’t come here for the healthy stuff (and I know most of you don’t), I promise this one’s worth a try.
So if you’ve been livin’ your best snack-cake-on-the-boat life and want something that still feels like a hug in a casserole dish—without all the carbs—this one’s for you.
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Yield: 4-6 servings
Ingredients:
1 24 oz jar spaghetti sauce
1 Tbsp olive oil
½ tsp Italian seasoning
¼ medium onion, chopped
1 small garlic clove, minced (or ½ large clove)
¼ tsp sea salt, plus more to taste
¼ tsp freshly ground black pepper, to taste
½ lb ground beef
½ lb Italian sausage
1 cup shredded mozzarella, divided
½ cup shredded Parmesan
8 oz block of cream cheese
4 cups chopped broccoli florets (about a medium head)
Instructions:
Preheat oven to 350 °F.
Sauté aromatics & meats: Heat olive oil in a large pan over medium. Add onion, garlic, salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning; cook until onion is soft. Add beef and sausage; cook until browned and cooked through.
Simmer sauce: Stir in the jar of spaghetti sauce. Lower heat and simmer until bubbly.
Melt cream cheese: Cube the cream cheese and add to sauce. Stir until fully incorporated for a creamy, cheesy sauce.
Prepare broccoli: Meanwhile, steam or blanch the broccoli until bright green and just tender (about 4–5 minutes). Drain thoroughly to remove excess water.
Combine & layer: Toss broccoli with half of the mozzarella and all the Parmesan. Transfer to a 9x13” baking dish. Spoon the meat sauce on top, then sprinkle with the remaining mozzarella.
Bake: Bake at 350 °F until cheese is melted and lightly browned on top, about 15–20 minutes.
Serve: Remove from oven and let rest a few minutes before serving. Great alongside a crisp salad or garlic bread.
