Cozy on up with this delicious Cheesy Carrot Casserole! Made with carrots, butter, onion, garlic, and more, it's a delicious side dish that pairs well with any main.
An easy carrot casserole with cheese
Nothing is cozier than a fresh-out-of-the-oven casserole. And when it's loaded with cheese? Extra cozy points!
This delicious cheesy carrot casserole is the perfect easy side dish. It's great any time of the year, but it seems to taste extra delicious in the fall and winter. Enjoy it as a side to any meal, or include it in your holiday meal roundup for an alternative to green bean casserole!
Ingredients in this cheesy carrot casserole recipe
Only 12 ingredients are needed for this cheesy carrot casserole recipe, including the spices! Below is everything you'll need:
- Carrots: First up is one 4lb bag of large carrots. They should be peeled, halved, and diced into 2 inch chunks.
- Butter: Next, ½ cup of butter is used to cook the onion.
- Onion: And as for the onion, use ½ of a yellow, minced.
- Garlic: Add flavor with 2 cloves of minced garlic. If powder is preferred, use ½ teaspoon ground garlic powder.
- Flour: Thicken up the casserole by adding ¼ cup of all purpose flour.
- Salt & pepper: Salt and pepper is a must. Use 1 teaspoon salt and ½ teaspoon of black pepper.
- Celery salt: Follow the salt and pepper with 2 teaspoon of celery salt.
- Brown mustard: Brown mustard adds a delicious touch of flavor to this recipe! Use 1 tbsp.
- Milk: 1 and ¾ cup of milk thickens up the casserole and makes it nice and creamy. I recommend using whole milk.
- Kraft Old English Cheese Spread: Finally, add the cheesiness with 2 5oz containers of Kraft Old English Cheese Spread.
- Breadcrumbs: Last but not least, finish off with 1 cup of breadcrumbs.
Tools used to make this cheesy carrot casserole recipe
To prepare this dish, you'll need a variety of kitchen tools and measuring cups sizes. Before you begin, gather a large pot, cutting board, cutting knife, saucepan, whisk, and a 9x13 baking dish (or slightly smaller).
For measuring ingredients, you will need ½ tsp, 1 tsp, 1 tbsp, ¼ cup, ½ cup, ¾ cup, and 1 cup sized measuring cups.
How to make cheesy carrot casserole
Ready to dive in? You can expect this recipe to require around 25 minutes of prep time and 25 minutes of baking time.
Begin by filling a large pot with water and bringing it to a boil. Once boiling, peel, halve, and slice the carrots into 2 inch chunks and then add them to the pot. Cook for 13-15 minutes, or until fork tender. Drain.
Then, set a saucepan or large skillet over medium heat and add the butter. Once mostly melted, add the onions and cook for 2-3 minutes, or until they begin to soften. Add the garlic and cook for 20 more seconds. Next, whisk in the flour, salt, pepper, and celery salt, and then mix in the brown mustard.
Pour the milk into the flour mixture and stir with a whisk until smooth. Bring to a low simmer and then add the Old English Cheese. Let the cheese melt and bring it to a light simmer, cooking for an additional 5 minutes until the sauce has thickened up.
Pour the tender carrots into a 9x13 inch casserole dish (or slightly smaller). Pour the cheese sauce on top and mix until the carrots are coated. Sprinkle the top with breadcrumbs and bake for 25 minutes at 350°F.
Finally, during the last few minutes, turn the oven to broil to make the breadcrumbs golden brown.
Let cool for at least 20 minutes before serving.
Storing leftovers
If you're left with casserole leftovers, transfer them to an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 2-3 days. Reheat in the oven or microwave. Adding a splash of milk may help restore some of the lost creaminess that happens during refrigeration.
Recipe Tips
What is in this casserole?
This particular cheesy casserole recipe uses carrots, butter, onion, garlic, flour, salt, pepper, celery salt, brown mustard, milk, Kraft Old English Cheese Spread, and breadcrumbs.
Can I add meat to this casserole?
Though I haven't tried it, I imagine that ground beef or turkey would work quite well to add extra protein to this casserole. If you try it out, let me know!
Do I have to use carrots?
You don't have to! If carrots aren't your thing but you'd still love to try this cheesy casserole, you can use sweet potatoes instead.
If you liked this recipe, you'll want to try these!
There are more cozy casseroles where this one came from! Below are some favorites, and here you can explore all casserole recipes!
- Cranberry Chicken Casserole
- Buffalo Chicken Sweet Potato Casserole
- Everything Bagel Breakfast Casserole
- Lemon Chicken Spaghetti Squash Casserole
Cheesy Carrot Casserole
Ingredients
Method
- Heat a large pot with water and bring to a boil. Once boiling, add peeled and chopped carrots to water and cook for 13-15 minutes or until fork tender. Drain.
- In a saucepan over medium heat, add butter. Once mostly melted, add in onions and cook for 2-3 minutes until beginning to soften. Add in garlic and cook for 20 more seconds. Whisk in flour, salt, pepper, and celery salt. Then mix in brown mustard.
- Pour milk into flour mixture and whisk until smooth. Bring to a low simmer and then add in Old English Cheese. Let cheese melt and bring to light simmer, cooking for an additional 5 minutes until sauce has thickened up.
- Pour carrots into 9x13 casserole dish (or slightly smaller). Pour cheese sauce on top and mix until carrots are coated. Sprinkle top with breadcrumb and bake for 25 minutes at 350F.
- Broil the last few minutes to make the breadcrumbs golden brown.
- Let cool at least 20 minutes before serving.
Emily B says
I made this for Thanksgiving last year and it was so good and different from your normal Thanksgiving sides that I can’t wait to make it again this year. Love this one!! Thanks for sharing a family recipe
Erin says
Hi Emily, so happy you all loved it! 🙂
Stephanie says
So comforting and delicious! I made this for two different Thanksgiving dinners and everyone raved about it!
Erin says
Hi Stephanie, so happy it was a hit both times!!