Vegan Broccoli Cheese Chickpea & Cauliflower Rice Casserole

Vegan Broccoli Cheese Chickpea & Cauliflower Rice Casserole is protein packed, nutrient rich, and incredibly delicious. It’s just about as effortless as it gets, as it’s made in one pot and done in under an hour. The perfect vegan casserole recipe to elevate your next weeknight meal.

This Vegan Broccoli Cheese Chickpea & Cauliflower Rice Casserole has a non-traditional delicious twist to it. Unlike the traditional broccoli cheese casserole, this vegan version uses chickpeas vs. chicken, cauliflower rice vs. regular rice, and cashew cheese vs. regular cheese. I know I changed practically everything, but hear me out…it’s insanely good.

We start by sautéing some onion and carrots, then we incorporate the remaining casserole ingredients. As that is cooking, we prepare our cashew cheese, but this isn’t like the other cashew cheese’s out there, this one is different. We add in a few ingredients that are not common in vegan cashew cheese recipes. Such as, sweet potato puree and smoked paprika. Sweet and smokey…it’s a game changer.

When the casserole is done cooking, we stir in half of the cashew cheese, then into the oven with the remaining cashew cheese. I will say this, if you want this to be a “real deal” casserole, transfer to a traditional casserole dish. Whatever suits your fancy.

This Vegan Broccoli Cheese Chickpea & Cauliflower Rice Casserole is so good and will have you in love by the first bite!

Why You’ll Love This Vegan Casserole

• Quick & Easy: This vegan casserole is only requires one pot and is on the table in less than an hour.
• Nutrient Packed: With the combination of plant protein from the chickpeas, vitamins found in the veggies, & the healthy fats from the cashews, this vegan broccoli casserole is a nutritious win.
• Perfect for Meal Prep: This dish stores well in the fridge, making it a great recipe to meal prep for easy dinners throughout the week.

Ingredients

• Organic Yellow Onion: Truly a staple to any dish. You can use whatever you’ve got though!
• Organic Carrots: Sliced or diced, we’ll be adding in a few carrots to compliment this vegan casserole recipe.
• Organic Garlic: Make sure to use fresh garlic and not garlic powder. This ingredient is crucial to build flavor.
• Organic Broccoli: Duh?! You can use fresh or frozen – both work great for this recipe.
• Organic Cauliflower Rice: We’ll be using cauliflower rice instead of regular rice. Cauliflower rice isn’t technically rice, but it looks like rice. You can find organic pre-made cauliflower rice at your local health foods store. 
• Organic Chickpeas: Also known as garbanzo beans, chickpeas add some plant protein and fiber to our vegan chickpea casserole.  
• Organic Low-Sodium Vegetable Broth: Any broth truly works and even water, if you’re in a pinch!
• Organic Cashew Cheese: To embody that classic broccoli casserole vibe, we’ll be adding in some homemade cashew cheese.
• Organic Spices: Dried thyme, garlic powder, smoked paprika, sea salt, and black pepper, are the spices used to season this vegan casserole recipe.

How To Make

1. Sauté. In a large sized skillet or pot, heat over medium heat, sauté the onion, carrots, and minced garlic for 5 minutes.
2. Boil & Simmer. Add the chickpeas, cauliflower rice, broccoli, herbs, and pour liquids over top, give a good stir. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes. 
3. Cashew Cheese. Incorporate all the cashew cheese ingredients to a high speed blender and blend until smooth. If the sauce is too thick, add a few more tablespoons of water.
4. Add Cheese. Once the casserole liquid has mostly absorbed, stir in the lemon and ½ of the cashew cheese. If needed, transfer to an oven-safe casserole dish. Pour/drizzle the remaining cheese over the casserole.
5. Bake & Serve. Bake at 375 degrees F for 15 minutes. Divide between bowls. Enjoy!

Tips for Making this Casserole Perfectly

• Organic Vegetables: Feel free to incorporate more veggies to this vegan chickpea casserole. I think organic zucchini or organic celery would be incredible!
• Soak Cashews: Be sure to soak your organic raw cashews in hot water for about 10 minutes to soften, before blending.
• Frozen Ingredients: If you don’t have fresh vegetables, you can certainly use frozen cauliflower rice and frozen broccoli florets.
• Baking: Either bake in your oven-safe pot or if you want this to be a “real deal” casserole, transfer to a traditional casserole dish.

Storing & Reheating 

As mentioned above, this recipe is perfect for leftovers & meal prep! Just be sure to let the casserole cool completely before transferring to an air-tight glass container. 

Fridge Storage. Transfer the casserole to an air-tight glass container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. 

Freezer Storage. For longer storage, you can store it in the freezer, in a freezer-safe glass container for up to 2 months. If freezing, make sure to thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating.

Reheating. To reheat, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Transfer casserole to an oven-safe bowl. Place in the oven for about 20 minutes, until warmed through

More Recipes You’ll Love

• Vegan Butternut Squash Skillet Lasagna 
• Hearty Vegan Lentil Soup
• Vegan Split Pea Carrot Soup
• Vegan Jackfruit Pot Roast
• Lentil Mushroom Stew over Cauliflower Mashed Potatoes

Sharing Is Caring!

If you make this recipe, please leave a review & rating below! I love hearing from you and it helps others learn more about the recipe too. Lastly, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Be sure to follow along on Pinterest, Instagram, & TikTok for even more deliciousness & wellness tips!

Xoxo.

Christin.

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