• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
The Glowing Fridge
  • Home
  • Recipes
    • Cycle Phase Recipes
      • Menstrual Phase
      • Follicular Phase
      • Ovulatory Phase
      • Luteal Phase
    • Breakfast
    • Smoothies and Juices
    • Drinks
    • Salads
    • Main Dish
    • Glow Bowls
    • Soup
    • Sides
    • Sauces, Dressings and Dips
    • Snacks
    • Sweets
    • Mocktails & Cocktails
  • My Books
    • The Plant-Based Cookbook for Women
    • The Happy Hormone Tracker
    • The Happy Hormone Guide
  • Hormone Health
    • The Happy Hormone Tracker
    • The Happy Hormone Guide
    • Food Chart Download
    • Hormone Blog Posts
    • Cycle Phase Recipes
      • Menstrual Phase
      • Follicular Phase
      • Ovulatory Phase
      • Luteal Phase
  • Lifestyle
    • Beauty
    • Wellness
    • Hormone Health
    • Pregnancy
    • What I Ate
    • Why Vegan?
    • Vegan Starter Guide
    • 5-Day Cleanse
    • The Glow Down
    • Videos
  • KING COFFEE
    • 7-Day KING COFFEE Challenge
    • How to Buy King Coffee/Become a Distributor
    • About Reishi KING Coffee
    • FAQ About KING Coffee + Vegan Reishi Latte
  • Contact
    • Contact Me
    • About
      • About Me
      • My Vegan Story
  • Shop
    • Amazon Store
    • CODES
    • 7-Day KING COFFEE Challenge
    • How to Buy King Coffee
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • Home
  • Recipes
  • How to Buy King Coffee
  • Menstrual Phase Recipes
  • Follicular Phase Recipes
  • Ovulatory Phase Recipes
  • Luteal Phase Recipes
  • My Books
  • Wellness & Lifestyle
  • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Cheesy Vegan Broccoli Brown Rice Bake

    Dec 5, 2016 • Festive/Holidays, Follicular Phase, Main Dish, Menstrual Phase, Sides

    Jump to Recipe·Print Recipe

    Cheesy Vegan Broccoli Brown Rice Bake. Oil Free, Gluten Free, Nut Free, Dairy Free. This is plant based cold-weather comfort food, with literally the BEST savory cheese sauce, that's also high in plant protein. #vegan #cheesy #casserole

    Per your request for more dinner recipes, today’s cold-weather casserole is one for the books.

    Feast your eyes on this Cheesy Vegan Broccoli Brown Rice Bake because it is BOMB.

    Warming. Comforting. Nourishing. CHEESY.

    Is there anything better in the snowy winter months?

    After searching around strange corners of the internet, a comforting casserole recipe that made me happy was nowhere to be found. Many of them had fake vegan cheese and ingredients I wasn’t thrilled about, so I made my own TGF-approved comfort food, which meant is has to be:

    • oil-free
    • gluten-free
    • dairy-free & vegan
    • nut-free
    • high in plant protein
    • plenty of green veggies
    • tastes AMAZING

    YES. With a decadent “cheese” sauce similar to my ultimate vegan mac and cheese sauce, this cheesy recipe is higher in protein since I added white beans instead of sweet potato, along with a few ingredient swaps to make up for the change. Beans tend to add a distinctive taste, but I made sure that other ingredients overpower any hint of beans, so no worries there. The taste is a bit more savory and cheesy in my opinion, so I can’t wait to hear what you guys think! I just couldn’t use the word “casserole” in the title… it sounded too old school, which is why I used “bake” instead… I’m pretty sure it’s the same thing as a casserole though, LOL.

    One ingredient I ended up adding was this minute miso but don’t worry if you don’t have it. The miso isn’t totally necessary, but if you have it on hand, be sure to add two teaspoons! A little goes a long way and I love how it adds an extra layer of flavor, a certain savory-ness and richness that fires off all kinds of happiness to our tastebuds. If you don’t have miso, swap it for 1/2 teaspoon soy sauce and 1/2 teaspoon rice vinegar, which will add a similar flavor. I’ll be sure to put that in the notes section too. 

    Cheesy Vegan Broccoli Brown Rice Bake. Oil Free, Gluten Free, Nut Free, Dairy Free. This is plant based cold-weather comfort food, with literally the BEST savory cheese sauce, that's also high in plant protein. #vegan #cheesy #casserole

    While this may not be the quickest dinner recipe, there are a few hacks for making it quicker (like using pre-cooked brown rice and pre-cut frozen broccoli florets that you can steam in the microwave) and leftovers make life a LOT easier during the week, at least for me, so the extra cook time is worth it. Bake this on a frigid Sunday night and have comforting leftovers for the whole week! Tip: I froze half of this to have on hand for weeknights when I’m too lazy to cook.

    Also, I used a hand immersion blender to blend the cheese sauce in the pot, which makes things easier and I highly recommend, but if you don’t have one, a food processor or high-speed blender will work fine. Just blend it up until super smooth and creamy. 

    I hope you guys LOVE this cheesy cold-weather recipe as much as I do. Leave me a comment below if you try it!

     

    Cheesy Vegan Broccoli Brown Rice Bake. Oil Free, Gluten Free, Nut Free, Dairy Free. This is plant based cold-weather comfort food, with literally the BEST savory cheese sauce, that's also high in plant protein. #vegan #cheesy #casserole

    Cheesy Vegan Broccoli Brown Rice Bake. Oil Free, Gluten Free, Nut Free, Dairy Free. This is plant based cold-weather comfort food, with literally the BEST savory cheese sauce, that's also high in plant protein. #vegan #cheesy #casserole

    Cheesy Vegan Broccoli Brown Rice Bake. Oil Free, Gluten Free, Nut Free, Dairy Free. This is plant based cold-weather comfort food, with literally the BEST savory cheese sauce, that's also high in plant protein. #vegan #cheesy #casserole

    Cheesy Vegan Broccoli Brown Rice Bake. Oil Free, Gluten Free, Nut Free, Dairy Free. This is plant based cold-weather comfort food, with literally the BEST savory cheese sauce, that's also high in plant protein. #vegan #cheesy #casserole

    Side note: Can we just talk about how amazing you guys are for filling out the Reader Realness survey I asked about last week?!

    ALL OF THE FEELS ♥ 

    You can still fill it out if you have 3 extra minutes, but some of your answers had me all emotional (in the best of ways!). No surprise there because my emotions run wild (just ask my boyfriend LOL), but I had no idea how you would react. In my mind, I was hoping/praying you wouldn’t be annoyed because online surveys can be a bit annoying? (What if no one fills it out? What if I lose a bunch of subscribers?) But NOPE, you guys are so supportive, like always. Why was I even worried?! 

    I promise, I’m putting your answers to use. I hear you loud and clear and feel super inspired 🙂

    The free program only allowed me to ask 10 questions so I had to be choosy, although after the fact, I wish I could have asked 100 questions (!!). I had to upgrade anyway to see all of answers… and some of them truly surprised me. I’ll share the information with you soon (and answer some of the anonymous questions) but I mean, all I have to say is WOW and THANK YOU. 

    Now, go make this ASAP 🙂

    Print

    clock clock iconcutlery cutlery iconflag flag iconfolder folder iconinstagram instagram iconpinterest pinterest iconfacebook facebook iconprint print iconsquares squares iconheart heart iconheart solid heart solid icon

    Cheesy Vegan Broccoli Brown Rice Bake

    ★★★★★ 4.5 from 2 reviews
    • Prep Time: 30
    • Cook Time: 30
    • Total Time: 60
    Print Recipe
    Pin Recipe

    Ingredients

    Scale
    • 3 cups short grain brown rice, cooked
    • 3 cups broccoli florets, steamed
    • 1/2 cup crushed crackers or bread crumbs, use gluten free if needed!

    Vegan Cheese Sauce

    • 1.5 cups low-sodium vegetable broth
    • 1/2 cup water
    • 1 cup baby carrots
    • 1 small shallot, diced
    • 1 15 oz. can white cannelinni beans, drained and rinsed
    • 1/2 cup unsweetened plain almond milk (or any plain plant milk)
    • 3/4 cup nutritional yeast
    • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
    • 2 teaspoons miso sauce (see notes for swaps)
    • 1 teaspoon dijon mustard
    • 1 teaspoon yellow mustard
    • 1/2 teaspoon minced garlic (or more, to taste)
    • 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
    • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
    • 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper, or more to taste (optional)

    Instructions

    1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 9×10 baking dish (or something similar in size) with non-stick spray. Add in cooked brown rice and set aside.
    2. Steam broccoli over the stove in a pot with 1/2 cup water, for 5 minutes, covered and turn off heat (or steam in a microwave-safe bowl). Drain and add broccoli over the brown rice. Set aside.
    3. In a medium-sized pot, bring 1.5 cups vegetable broth +1/2 cup water to a boil. Add in baby carrots and cook on medium-high heat for about 10 minutes. Add in chopped shallot and white beans, then reduce heat to simmer for 10-12 minutes, or until carrots and beans are soft. Turn off heat. Into the pot, add in all ingredients for Vegan Cheese Sauce. Using a hand immersion blender (see notes for other options) blend until sauce is smooth and creamy. Taste test and adjust/add salt if needed. If the taste is too “lemony” add 1 teaspoon maple syrup to balance out the acidity, but only if needed!
    4. Pour cheese sauce over the brown rice and broccoli, then give it a good mix until sauce is evenly dispersed throughout. Top with a layer or crushed crackers or bread crumbs!
    5. Bake for 25-30 minutes, until edges are slightly golden.
    6. Serve immediately.
    7. Enjoy!
    8. Store leftovers covered in the refrigerator up to 4 days, or in the freezer up to 1 month. Reheat in the oven at 350 degrees F until warmed through.

    Notes

    • Cook your brown rice in low-sodium vegetable broth, instead of water, for extra flavor!
    • To save time: use pre-cooked brown rice and pre-cut (or frozen) broccoli.
    • The canned beans are cooked, but we are simmering them to make them even softer and more digestible.
    • If you don’t have miso: add 1/2 teaspoon soy sauce + 1/2 teaspoon rice vinegar instead, which will add a similar flavor.
    • If you don’t have a hand immersion blender, you could also blend the cheese sauce in a food processor or high-speed blender until smooth and creamy.
    • Leftovers refrigerate well. Store leftovers covered in the refrigerator up to 4 days, or in the freezer up to 1 month. Reheat in the oven at 350 degrees F until warmed through.

    Nutrition

    • Serving Size: 4

    Did you make this recipe?

    Tag @theglowingfridge on Instagram and hashtag it #theglowingfridge

    Recipe Card powered byTasty Recipes

     

     

    You Might Like These too:

    • Vegan Tofu Ricotta LasagnaVegan Tofu Ricotta Lasagna
    • The Ultimate Vegan Mac and CheeseThe Ultimate Vegan Mac and Cheese
    • Cauliflower Bolognese Vegan Zucchini Noodle BowlsCauliflower Bolognese Vegan Zucchini Noodle Bowls
    • Swift Sweet Potato Coconut CurrySwift Sweet Potato Coconut Curry
    • 5-Ingredient Vegan White Queso5-Ingredient Vegan White Queso
    • Vegan White Bean Cheezy ChiliVegan White Bean Cheezy Chili
    « Reader Realness {Questions for you}
    What I Ate Wednesday »

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Kaitlin

      January 27, 2020 at 6:40 pm

      As a cheese lover I can not believe how impressed I am with this recipe! This is worth making and will be a staple for my dinners from now on! Thank you for making healthy living more do-able!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    2. Jennifer Parsley

      April 28, 2019 at 1:24 pm

      My husband & I made a slightly modified version of this and really enjoyed it. Leftovers are great too. I made a video on my Jennifer Parsley Wellness YouTube channel of us making this for a weeknight dinner. Thank you so much for sharing the recipe!

      ★★★★

      Reply
    3. Mina

      June 29, 2018 at 8:24 pm

      I’m impressed with how much flavour the cheese sauce has. I didn’t expect it to look like the picture but after I blended everything, to my surprise I was pleased to see it looked like it. I didn’t have a shallot so I used half of a small onion and added an extra Tbsp of lemon juice, other than that I didn’t change anything. All in all this is a tasty recipe and I can see why one commenter worships it.

      Reply
    4. Margy Legg

      June 12, 2018 at 1:36 pm

      This recipe looks really good. The “miso sauce” called for in the recipe also shows “minute miso”. Can mellow white miso paste be used instead? I have never seen or even looked for “minute miso” before, but I have used certified gf mellow white miso paste in several receipes.

      Reply
    5. Marina

      February 08, 2018 at 6:14 pm

      Flavor was amazing, my cheese sauce came out as cheese soup…. I’ll have to play around with it.thank you.

      Reply
    6. Michelle

      August 15, 2017 at 10:55 am

      Yes, I was wondering the same – can oats be subbed for bread crumbs?

      Reply
      • Shannon Leparski

        August 15, 2017 at 11:45 am

        Hi Michelle, absolutely!

        Reply
    7. katie

      July 16, 2017 at 7:34 pm

      how strong is the mustard taste in this? i HATE mustard so i’m worried i’ll be able to taste it. or is it not really necessary for this recipe??

      Reply
      • Kaitlin

        January 27, 2020 at 6:41 pm

        It does not taste like mustard. Worth making!

        Reply
    8. Linsy

      February 01, 2017 at 9:39 am

      Is the 3 cups of rice measured before or after cooking?

      Reply
      • Shannon Leparski

        February 04, 2017 at 1:55 pm

        Hi Linsy, it’s measured after cooking!

        Reply
    9. Valerie F

      January 02, 2017 at 2:47 pm

      I worship this dish. I will probably make it weekly for life. LOVE. Thank you so much! I used coked frozen brown rice from Trader Joe’s and steamed the broccoli in the microwave to speed up the process.

      Reply
      • Valerie Frank

        January 02, 2017 at 2:48 pm

        Omg not “coked”, “cooked”… hahaha

        Reply
    10. Lizeth

      December 05, 2016 at 4:22 pm

      Sounds amazing. Can’t wait to try it! Can I substitute the bread crumbs with gluten free oats?

      Thanks

      Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe rating ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆

    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube

    SHANNON Leparski

    SHANNON Leparski

    Hi! I'm Shannon, a Certified Hormone Specialist and plant based blogger living in Chicago. I help women heal their bodies bodies from the inside out and balance their hormones naturally through a plant based diet and lifestyle. Let me guide you through it, so you can glow from within and feel the best you've ever felt!

    MY NEW COOKBOOK!

    Fertility Prep eBook!

    Fertility Prep eBook!

    The Happy Hormone Tracker

    The Happy Hormone Tracker

    My Book >> The Happy Hormone Guide!

    A look inside The Happy Hormone Guide. The first ever plant-based vegan book for balancing hormones, increasing energy and reducing PMS symptoms. With recipes and lifestyle tips for each phase of your menstrual cycle. #cyclesycning

    BECOME A PRACTITIONER

    HOW TO DETOX FROM BIRTH CONTROL

    HOW TO DETOX FROM BIRTH CONTROL

    NATURAL BIRTH CONTROL

    NATURAL BIRTH CONTROL

    Want to know the best foods to eat for each phase of your menstrual cycle?

    sign up to start eating in sync with your cycle!

    Footer

    shannon.leparski

    Wellness, Motherhood, Holistic Nutrition, Gut Health
    • Root Cause Practitioner
    • Author of The Happy Hormone Guide
    💌 shannon@theglowingfridge.com

    SHANNON // Hair Growth Tips
    WHY I’M SO GLAD I SAID YES 🦄 • I get to so WHY I’M SO GLAD I SAID YES 🦄

• I get to solve hair problems for people help them have more confidence
• I get to make an income from wifi
• I’m apart of an inclusive community of driven women that have turned into real friends whom I hope to meet one day!

Before I started my business, I wasn’t sure what direction my life was headed. I was lost for an entire year prior, completely engulfed in motherhood which was fine because I wanted motherhood to take over. I wanted to lose myself in my baby and felt lucky to be able to do that. But then at one point, I wanted to get back to “me” too. I wanted to feel like myself again. I wanted MORE. 

If you’re looking for more income, more community, more flexibility, more confidence, more friendships, more guidance, more support, more financial freedom, more passion in your life… this business can be the vehicle. 

I joined the BEST community of women who have encouraged me every step of the way and led me down the right path. It’s not intimidating at all because everyone wants you to succeed. 

Type BIZ and I will contact you with more information, or fill out my opportunity form 🌸💛⚡️🦄🩷🙏🏼💅🏻👑🛍️

#hairgoals #hairinspo #hairinspiration #healthyhair #healthyhairjourney #hairgrowth #hairgrowthtips
#hairoil #scalphealth #shinyhairgoals #oilyhairproblems #oilyhairtips #dryshampooislife #healthydryshampoo #dryshampoomonat #blondehair #naturalblonde #healthyhairjourney #timefreedom #financialfreedom
    I’d never thought about scalp health before star I’d never thought about scalp health before starting weekly oil treatments 🤯 but your scalp is an extension of your skin and needs to be nourished and taken care of.
 
Figuring out the right custom plan for you is key. The right products are key. A good shower filter is key to prevent your scalp from from drying out. The right shampoo and conditioner is key! I want to help customize a plan for you because everyone should experience these results! Let your hair do the talking 🗣️👑⚡️🌸💛🧴🦄 

#hairoil #scalphealth #shinyhairgoals #oilyhairproblems #oilyhairtips #dryshampooislife #healthydryshampoo #dryshampoomonat #blondehair #naturalblonde #healthyhairjourney #timefreedom #financialfreedom
    MULTIPURPOSE MAGIC OIL 🪄 One of the only oils MULTIPURPOSE MAGIC OIL 🪄 

One of the only oils on the market with a small enough molecular structure to penetrate all 3 layers of the hair and actually HEAL from the inside out. It’s liquid vitamins for your scalp, hair, skin, nails and lips! And one sells every 30 seconds 😱🥵

It deeply penetrates with restorative nutrients, antioxidants and omega-fatty acids that are essential for creating a healthy hair and skin environment. 

Did you know Reguveniqe oil is Infused in 99% of our products?! That’s one reason this company stands out from the rest. The shine and health that the products add back in to nourish is just 💋 

Do you want to get your hands on Rejuveniqe oil?! We have a special on it right now, DM me oil or take my hair quiz linked in my bio for a free custom consult 💅🏻⚡️🩷🌸🦄💛🛍️

#hairgoals #hairinspo #hairinspiration #healthyhair #healthyhairjourney #hairgrowth #hairgrowthtips #hairgrowthoil #hairgrowthproducts #naturalblonde #hairoil #hairoiltreatment #oiltreatment #rejuveniqe #monatglobal
#monat #hairnourishment #hairvitamins #magichairoil
    FOR MY OILY GIRLS 🦄 These 3 tips have really FOR MY OILY GIRLS 🦄 

These 3 tips have really helped me combat the annoying oil to the point where now, I only have to wash twice a week. I’m sure you guys already know that washing LESS helps the scalp to stop overproducing so much oil. So washing less is the goal ⚡️ and I can help you get to this point because I know it’s scary/hard to do. But we also have to remember that oil after a couple days is completely normal, so there is a balance here.

Obviously these tips along with the right shampoo and conditioner for YOU is KEY. If you’d like a free custom consult you can DM me HAIR or take my Hair Quiz linked in my bio 🩷🙂🦄⚡️💅🏻👑🔥💛

#hairoil #scalphealth #shinyhairgoals #oilyhairproblems #oilyhairtips #dryshampooislife #healthydryshampoo #dryshampoomonat #blondehair #naturalblonde #healthyhairjourney #timefreedom #financialfreedom
    Have you checked the ingredients in your skin & ha Have you checked the ingredients in your skin & hair products lately? Your dry shampoo? 

The USA bans only 50 ingredients from cosmetics, 500 in Canada and 1300 in Europe! 😱😱 Did you know my products go be European standards? 

With the chemicals and environmental pollutants etc that we are exposed to daily that we can’t control, we can choose wisely the products we use and slather on our bodies/heads. Your skin absorbs EVERYTHING you put on it, your skin is your largest organ.

I’m sure you heard about the recall of millions of dry shampoos for containing BENZENE which is a cancer-causing ingredient that you are inhaling and spraying on your scalp multiple times per week. Many of them are STILL on the shelves! 😡 I have a better option for you that does not contain talc (an oil absorber also connected to cancer), propane or butane either, which are all connected to allergies and eye, lung and skin irritations.

Let’s do better for our hormones, skin, hair, health, kids health and environmental health. Let’s get you started on better products that you can trust.

Take my HAIR QUIZ linked in my bio or DM me HAIR and I can get you started 🧴🧴🧴🧴

#hairgoals #hairinspo #hairinspiration #healthyhair #healthyhairjourney #hairgrowth #hairgrowthtips #hairgrowthoil #hairgrowthproducts #naturalblonde #dysonhair #dysonblowdryer
    spiral curls for summer 🌀 I’ve always curle spiral curls for summer 🌀 

I’ve always curled my hair the same way until recently! Loving this look from our new spiral wand. This is apart of our curling wand that comes with 3 attachments 👀 there are some pieces of my hair that look crimpy so I need practice but it took the same amount of time as my normal curling wand.

PRODUCTS USED:
• anti-frizz blow out spray 
• the best ever dry shampoo
• texture spray for grit and hold
• flex control hairspray
• optional glossy shine mist 

Want to try my naturally-based products?! DM me PRODUCTS or take my hair quiz linked in my bio 🩷 

#hairgoals #hairinspo #hairinspiration #healthyhair #healthyhairjourney #hairgrowth #hairgrowthtips #hairgrowthoil #hairgrowthproducts #naturalblonde #curlingwandtutorial #curlingwandcurls

    Shannon is a health enthusiast and plant based nutrition advocate, living in Chicago. She studied Health and Fitness at Purdue University and loves everything about the plant based vegan lifestyle, especially creating colorful, nourishing, happy hormone recipes in her kitchen. Read More…

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Snapchat
    • Twitter
    • YouTube

    MENSTRUAL PHASE RECIPES

    Vegan Tortilla Mushroom and “Mozzarella Cream” Pizza

    Banana Breakfast Cookies (Vegan & Gluten Free)

    Vegan Crockpot Lentil Soup

    Simple Cucumber Salad (Vegan)

    Copyright © 2023 The Glowing Fridge on the Foodie Pro Theme