The Copycat Longhorn Broccoli Recipe brings the beloved steakhouse side dish right into your kitchen, offering a delicious, creamy, and cheesy way to enjoy your vegetables that’s incredibly simple to prepare. This recipe is a weeknight lifesaver and a crowd-pleaser, perfect for transforming humble broccoli into an irresistible indulgence.
Key Ingredients for Copycat Longhorn Broccoli
- 1.5 pounds fresh broccoli florets (about 1 large head or 2 small heads)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil or butter
- 1/4 cup finely chopped yellow onion
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 1/2 cups milk (whole milk recommended for creaminess)
- 4 ounces cream cheese, cut into cubes
- 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese (sharp or medium)
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/4 teaspoon salt, or to taste
- 1/8 teaspoon black pepper, or to taste
- Optional Toppings: crumbled bacon, extra shredded cheddar cheese, breadcrumbs
How to Make Copycat Longhorn Broccoli
This Copycat Longhorn Broccoli Recipe is a culinary dream come true. In under 30 minutes, you can whip up a side dish so incredibly delicious, it rivals any steakhouse. Imagine tender, vibrant broccoli enveloped in a velvety, cheesy sauce – it’s pure comfort food that’s surprisingly easy to achieve, even for beginners.
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Prepare the Broccoli: Wash the broccoli thoroughly. Cut the large head into bite-sized florets. If the stems are tender, you can peel and slice them thinly to use as well.
- Blanch the Broccoli (Optional but Recommended): Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the broccoli florets and blanch for 2-3 minutes until they are bright green and slightly tender-crisp. Immediately drain and plunge them into an ice bath to stop the cooking process. Drain well again. This step helps maintain the vibrant color and prevents the broccoli from becoming mushy in the sauce. If you prefer softer broccoli, you can skip blanching and move straight to steaming or boiling until tender.
- Sauté the Aromatics: While the broccoli is blanching or preparing, heat the olive oil or butter in a large skillet or saucepan over medium heat. Add the finely chopped onion and cook for 3-4 minutes until softened and translucent. Add the minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant, being careful not to burn it.
- Make the Cheese Sauce: Pour the milk into the skillet with the sautéed onions and garlic. Bring the milk to a gentle simmer, stirring occasionally.
- Melt the Cream Cheese: Add the cubed cream cheese to the simmering milk. Whisk constantly until the cream cheese is completely melted and the sauce is smooth and creamy.
- Incorporate the Cheeses: Reduce the heat to low. Gradually stir in the shredded cheddar cheese and grated Parmesan cheese until they are fully melted and the sauce is velvety.
- Season the Sauce: Stir in the salt and black pepper. Taste the sauce and adjust seasonings as needed.
- Combine Broccoli and Sauce: Add the blanched and drained broccoli florets to the cheese sauce. Gently toss the broccoli to coat it evenly with the sauce.
- Simmer Briefly: Let the broccoli and sauce simmer together over low heat for 3-5 minutes, or until the broccoli is heated through and tender-crisp. Avoid overcooking, as you want the broccoli to retain some bite.
- Serve: Ladle the Copycat Longhorn Broccoli into a serving dish. Garnish generously with optional toppings like crumbled bacon, extra shredded cheddar cheese, or a sprinkle of seasoned breadcrumbs for added texture and flavor. Serve hot immediately.
Why You’ll Love This Copycat Longhorn Broccoli
Prepare to fall head over heels for this Copycat Longhorn Broccoli Recipe! Its star appeal lies in the luxuriously creamy, decadent cheese sauce that perfectly hugs each vibrant green floret, transforming a simple vegetable into pure indulgence. You’ll love the incredible cost-saving benefit of recreating this steakhouse favorite in your own kitchen, far more economically than dining out.
The rich blend of cheddar and Parmesan, coupled with the smooth cream cheese base, creates a flavor profile that’s utterly irresistible. It’s the perfect balance of savory and comforting, a truly fantastic alternative if you’re craving something similar but more budget-friendly than a restaurant’s loaded mashed potatoes. Don’t wait – bring this restaurant-quality side dish to your dinner table tonight and experience the delicious difference homemade can make!
Storing and Reheating Tips
- Refrigeration: Allow any leftover Copycat Longhorn Broccoli to cool completely. Transfer the leftovers to an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
- Reheating:
- Stovetop: For the best results, gently reheat the broccoli in a saucepan over low heat. Add a splash of milk or a teaspoon of butter if the sauce seems a bit thick. Stir frequently until heated through and the sauce is creamy again.
- Microwave: Place the desired portion in a microwave-safe dish, cover loosely, and reheat at 50% power in 30-second intervals, stirring in between, until heated through. Be cautious not to overcook, as the broccoli can become mushy.
- Freezing: While freezing is possible, the texture of the broccoli may change slightly upon thawing. If you wish to freeze, cool completely, portion into freezer-safe containers or bags, and freeze for up to 1-2 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight before reheating using the stovetop method.
Final Thoughts
This Copycat Longhorn Broccoli Recipe is a testament to how simple ingredients can create something truly extraordinary. It’s a delicious, budget-friendly way to elevate your meals and a guaranteed hit for family dinners. Give it a try tonight – you won’t be disappointed!
Copycat Longhorn Broccoli
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Wash the broccoli thoroughly. Cut the large head into bite-sized florets. If the stems are tender, you can peel and slice them thinly to use as well.1.5 pounds fresh broccoli florets
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the broccoli florets and blanch for 2-3 minutes until they are bright green and slightly tender-crisp. Immediately drain and plunge them into an ice bath to stop the cooking process. Drain well again. This step helps maintain the vibrant color and prevents the broccoli from becoming mushy in the sauce. If you prefer softer broccoli, you can skip blanching and move straight to steaming or boiling until tender.1.5 pounds fresh broccoli florets
- While the broccoli is blanching or preparing, heat the olive oil or butter in a large skillet or saucepan over medium heat. Add the finely chopped onion and cook for 3-4 minutes until softened and translucent. Add the minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant, being careful not to burn it.1 tablespoon olive oil or butter, 1/4 cup finely chopped yellow onion, 2 cloves garlic, minced
- Pour the milk into the skillet with the sautéed onions and garlic. Bring the milk to a gentle simmer, stirring occasionally.1.5 cups milk, 1/4 cup finely chopped yellow onion, 2 cloves garlic, minced
- Add the cubed cream cheese to the simmering milk. Whisk constantly until the cream cheese is completely melted and the sauce is smooth and creamy.4 ounces cream cheese, cut into cubes, 1.5 cups milk
- Reduce the heat to low. Gradually stir in the shredded cheddar cheese and grated Parmesan cheese until they are fully melted and the sauce is velvety.1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese, 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Stir in the salt and black pepper. Taste the sauce and adjust seasonings as needed.1/4 teaspoon salt, 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
- Add the blanched and drained broccoli florets to the cheese sauce. Gently toss the broccoli to coat it evenly with the sauce.1.5 pounds fresh broccoli florets
- Let the broccoli and sauce simmer together over low heat for 3-5 minutes, or until the broccoli is heated through and tender-crisp. Avoid overcooking, as you want the broccoli to retain some bite.1.5 pounds fresh broccoli florets
- Ladle the Copycat Longhorn Broccoli into a serving dish. Garnish generously with optional toppings like crumbled bacon, extra shredded cheddar cheese, or a sprinkle of seasoned breadcrumbs for added texture and flavor. Serve hot immediately.N/A N/A crumbled bacon, N/A N/A extra shredded cheddar cheese, N/A N/A breadcrumbs