A warm, comforting dish packed with fluffy baked potatoes, creamy cheddar sauce, and tender broccoli.

🎉 Introduction

These Broccoli Cheddar Potatoes are everything you love about cozy, cheesy comfort food. Imagine perfectly baked russet potatoes with soft, fluffy centers, smothered in a rich, creamy cheddar cheese sauce and loaded with tender broccoli florets. This dish is simple, satisfying, and feels like a warm hug on a plate.

Whether you’re serving it as a hearty side dish, a vegetarian main, or a comforting lunch, this recipe brings together classic flavors—sharp cheddar, soft potatoes, garlic, broccoli, and a creamy sauce that melts beautifully over every bite. It’s wholesome, filling, and guaranteed to become a family favorite.

🧰 Equipment Needed

• Baking sheet
• Aluminum foil (optional)
• Medium saucepan
• Whisk
• Sharp knife
• Cutting board
• Microwave or steamer (for broccoli)
• Cheese grater

🛒 Ingredients

Potatoes

• 4 large russet potatoes
• Olive oil
• Salt & pepper

Cheddar Broccoli Sauce

• ¼ cup butter (unsalted)
• ¼ cup all-purpose flour
• 2 cups whole milk
• 2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
• 1–2 cups broccoli florets, steamed or lightly cooked
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder
• ½ teaspoon onion powder
• Salt and pepper, to taste

👩‍🍳 Directions

Step 1 — Bake the Potatoes

1. Preheat oven to 425°F (220°C).
2. Wash and dry the russet potatoes.
3. Pierce each potato with a fork several times.
4. Rub with olive oil and sprinkle with salt.
5. Place directly on oven rack or on a baking sheet.
6. Bake 45–60 minutes, until soft when squeezed gently.

Step 2 — Steam or Par-Cook Broccoli

1. Chop broccoli into small bite-size florets.
2. Steam for 3–4 minutes until bright green and slightly tender.
3. Set aside.

Step 3 — Make the Cheddar Sauce

1. In a saucepan, melt butter over medium heat.
2. Whisk in the flour to form a roux and cook 1 minute.
3. Slowly pour in the whole milk while whisking continuously.
4. Add garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper.
5. Cook until sauce thickens and coats the back of a spoon.
6. Remove from heat and stir in cheddar cheese until melted and creamy.
7. Fold in broccoli florets.

Step 4 — Assemble the Potatoes

1. Slice each baked potato open (lengthwise).
2. Fluff the inside gently with a fork.
3. Spoon the hot broccoli cheddar sauce over each potato generously.
4. Add more cheddar on top if you want a melty finish.

🍽️ Servings & Timing

• Servings: 4
• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 50 minutes
• Total Time: ~1 hour

🧊 Storage & Reheating

Refrigerator

• Store potatoes and sauce separately for 3 days.

Freezer

• The cheese sauce does not freeze well. Only the baked potatoes can freeze.

Reheating

• Reheat potatoes in oven or air fryer.
• Warm sauce in a saucepan and add a splash of milk if too thick.

🥄 Variations

• Extra cheesy: Add Monterey Jack or mozzarella.
• Spicy: Add chili flakes or jalapeños.
• Loaded style: Add crispy chicken pieces (no pork).
• Creamier: Add a spoon of cream cheese to the sauce.
• High-protein: Add shredded chicken or tuna.

❓ 10 FAQs

1. Can I microwave the potatoes?
   Yes—8–10 minutes, flipping halfway.
2. Do I need to peel the potatoes?
   No, baked russet skins add flavor and texture.
3. Can I use frozen broccoli?
   Yes, thaw and drain well.
4. How do I prevent cheese sauce from getting grainy?
   Remove from heat before adding cheese.
5. Can I use low-fat milk?
   Yes, but the sauce will be thinner.
6. Can I add mushrooms?
   Absolutely—sauté them first.
7. Can I make the sauce ahead?
   Yes, reheat gently with a splash of milk.
8. What cheese melts best?
   Freshly shredded cheddar melts smoother than pre-shredded.
9. Are russet potatoes required?
   They give the fluffiest texture but any baking potato works.
10. Can I turn this into a casserole?
    Yes—slice potatoes, layer with sauce, and bake until bubbly.

🏁 Conclusion

These Broccoli Cheddar Potatoes deliver the perfect blend of creamy cheese sauce, tender broccoli, and fluffy baked potatoes. Comforting, wholesome, and incredibly satisfying, this recipe turns simple ingredients into a warm and indulgent meal.

Whether for a cozy weeknight dinner, a comforting lunch, or a side dish for guests, every bite brings delicious creamy-cheesy goodness that everyone will love.

Adam

Broccoli Cheddar Potatoes – Creamy, Cheesy & Comforting Loaded Baked Potatoes!

These Broccoli Cheddar Potatoes are everything you love about cozy, cheesy comfort food. Imagine perfectly baked russet potatoes with soft, fluffy centers, smothered in a rich, creamy cheddar cheese sauce and loaded with tender broccoli florets. This dish is simple, satisfying, and feels like a warm hug on a plate. Whether you’re serving it as a hearty side dish, a vegetarian main, or a comforting lunch, this recipe brings together classic flavors—sharp cheddar, soft potatoes, garlic, broccoli, and a creamy sauce that melts beautifully over every bite. It’s wholesome, filling, and guaranteed to become a family favorite.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 50 minutes mins

Total Time 1 hour hr

Servings: 4 servings

Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients

  

Potatoes

• 4 large russet potatoes
• Olive oil

Salt & pepper

• Cheddar Broccoli Sauce
• ¼ cup butter unsalted
• ¼ cup all-purpose flour
• 2 cups whole milk
• 2 cups sharp cheddar cheese shredded
• 1 –2 cups broccoli florets steamed or lightly cooked
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder
• ½ teaspoon onion powder
• Salt and pepper to taste

Equipment

• Baking sheet
• Aluminum foil (optional)
• Medium saucepan
• Whisk
• Sharp knife
• Cutting board
• Microwave or steamer (for broccoli)
• Cheese grater

Method

 

Step 1 — Bake the Potatoes

1. Preheat oven to 425°F (220°C).
2. Wash and dry the russet potatoes.
3. Pierce each potato with a fork several times.
4. Rub with olive oil and sprinkle with salt.
5. Place directly on oven rack or on a baking sheet.
6. Bake 45–60 minutes, until soft when squeezed gently.

Step 2 — Steam or Par-Cook Broccoli

1. Chop broccoli into small bite-size florets.
2. Steam for 3–4 minutes until bright green and slightly tender.
3. Set aside.

Step 3 — Make the Cheddar Sauce

1. In a saucepan, melt butter over medium heat.
2. Whisk in the flour to form a roux and cook 1 minute.
3. Slowly pour in the whole milk while whisking continuously.
4. Add garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper.
5. Cook until sauce thickens and coats the back of a spoon.
6. Remove from heat and stir in cheddar cheese until melted and creamy.
7. Fold in broccoli florets.

Step 4 — Assemble the Potatoes

1. Slice each baked potato open (lengthwise).
2. Fluff the inside gently with a fork.
3. Spoon the hot broccoli cheddar sauce over each potato generously.
4. Add more cheddar on top if you want a melty finish.

Notes

🧊 Storage & Reheating
Refrigerator

Store potatoes and sauce separately for 3 days.

Freezer

The cheese sauce does not freeze well. Only the baked potatoes can freeze.

Reheating

Reheat potatoes in oven or air fryer.

Warm sauce in a saucepan and add a splash of milk if too thick.

🥄 Variations

Extra cheesy: Add Monterey Jack or mozzarella.

Spicy: Add chili flakes or jalapeños.

Loaded style: Add crispy chicken pieces (no pork).

Creamier: Add a spoon of cream cheese to the sauce.

High-protein: Add shredded chicken or tuna.

❓ 10 FAQs

Can I microwave the potatoes?
Yes—8–10 minutes, flipping halfway.

Do I need to peel the potatoes?
No, baked russet skins add flavor and texture.

Can I use frozen broccoli?
Yes, thaw and drain well.

How do I prevent cheese sauce from getting grainy?
Remove from heat before adding cheese.

Can I use low-fat milk?
Yes, but the sauce will be thinner.

Can I add mushrooms?
Absolutely—sauté them first.

Can I make the sauce ahead?
Yes, reheat gently with a splash of milk.

What cheese melts best?
Freshly shredded cheddar melts smoother than pre-shredded.

Are russet potatoes required?
They give the fluffiest texture but any baking potato works.

Can I turn this into a casserole?
Yes—slice potatoes, layer with sauce, and bake until bubbly.

🏁 Conclusion

These Broccoli Cheddar Potatoes deliver the perfect blend of creamy cheese sauce, tender broccoli, and fluffy baked potatoes. Comforting, wholesome, and incredibly satisfying, this recipe turns simple ingredients into a warm and indulgent meal.

Whether for a cozy weeknight dinner, a comforting lunch, or a side dish for guests, every bite brings delicious creamy-cheesy goodness that everyone will love.