Paleo Dairy Free Cheesy Broccoli Casserole

Total time1 hr

Prep time20 min

Cook time40 min

Paleo Dairy Free Cheesy Broccoli Casserole

This creamy, dairy-free broccoli bake gets its rich, savory depth from a blended cashew sauce brightened with lemon juice, Dijon mustard, and a hit of smoked paprika — no dairy required to get that deeply savory, cheesy flavor. Tender-crisp broccoli florets are blanched just until vibrant, then folded through the sauce along with a quick sauté of onion and garlic for extra depth in every bite. The whole thing bakes up bubbling at the edges with a deeply golden, crisp-crumbed top that shatters slightly with each spoonful. It's the kind of comforting, veggie-forward casserole you can pull together for a weeknight dinner or a holiday side without missing a beat. Nutritional yeast lends that savory, almost nutty backbone throughout, so every forkful feels indulgent even though it's built entirely from whole, simple ingredients. This one's a genuinely solid pick for a Paleo table — hearty, satisfying, and full of flavor.

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Ingredients

6 servings

For the cheese sauce

1 cup raw cashews, soaked in water for at least 2 hours, then drained
Alesto Selection Cashews President's Choice Unsalted Dry-Roasted Cashews Morrisons The Greengrocer's On Market Street Cashew Nuts IndiGo Nut Case Salted Cashew Nuts (Anacardium occidentale)
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1 ½ cups vegetable broth
3 tbsp nutritional yeast
1 tbsp lemon juice
1 tsp dijon mustard
½ tsp garlic powder
½ tsp onion powder
½ tsp smoked paprika
½ tsp salt
¼ tsp black pepper

For the casserole

2 lbs broccoli florets (about 8 cups), cut into bite-sized pieces
1 tbsp olive oil
1 medium yellow onion, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced

For the topping

1 cup panko breadcrumbs
Chef's tip
Regular bread crumbs are finer and less crunchy than panko. Use the same amount; coatings and toppings will be a bit denser and less crisp.
2 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp nutritional yeast
¼ tsp salt

Instructions

1
Soak the cashews in enough cold water to cover by 2 inches for at least 2 hours (or up to overnight), then drain and rinse well.
2
Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish with olive oil or cooking spray.

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