How to Roast Broccoli
Roasted broccoli is a family favorite easy side dish and I’m going to show you how to roast broccoli so that it cooks up perfect every time. This roasted broccoli recipe is made with just 5 simple ingredients and 5 minutes prep time. Bake it in a hot oven until it’s tender, crisp and golden brown. You’ll have a healthy side dish that pairs well with everything!
Broccoli is the one vegetable that my picky kiddos happily enjoy, and this oven-roasted broccoli recipe is my favorite way to cook it up! It results in broccoli that is tasty with a perfect texture that’s nice and crisp, but tender too, and perfectly seasoned.
Once you learn how to roast broccoli, you’ll have an easy to make side that only requires 5 ingredients and 5 minutes prep. As an added plus, broccoli is SUPER nutritious and it pairs well with almost everything, including this grilled salmon, baked chicken, and so much more!
Roasted Broccoli Recipe: Ingredients
This oven roasted broccoli is made with just 5 basic ingredients (including salt and pepper)!
You will need:
- Broccoli florets. Purchase a bright green head of broccoli with a stalk that is firm and strong. Cut off and discard the stalk. Then, cut the florets into bite-sized pieces. I like to halve the florets length-wise, so that the flat surface of the broccoli caramelizes on the bottom of the pan while roasting. You can also use frozen broccoli florets with great results!
- Olive oil. Use a high-quality olive oil for the best flavor. Try using infused olive oils to add extra flavor! Any neutral oil that you prefer will work; like avocado oil, canola oil, etc.
- Garlic powder. Powdered garlic is my go-to seasoning for pretty much any veggies I roast. Feel free to experiment with other seasonings and spices. You’ll find more ideas below.
- Sea salt. Any other seasoning salt, such as garlic salt, can be used in place of sea salt to change up the taste.
- Black pepper. I like to use freshly ground black pepper for even more flavor!
Plus, see below for some delicious variations and seasonings that you can add to the mix.
How to Roast Broccoli
This oven-roasted broccoli recipe is super easy to make, but I will take you through the steps and share with you my tips for broccoli-roasting success!
- Preheat the oven. The first step for roasting broccoli is to get your oven hot. The high heat of 425 degrees F. will get you those nice crispy edges without the stems getting too mushy.
- Make the spice mixture. The second step in this baked broccoli recipe is to stir together the spices. Combining the spices separate from the broccoli will ensure they evenly coat the broccoli florets. Set it aside to use later.
- Toss broccoli in olive oil. Next, combine the broccoli and olive oil in a large bowl. Stir well so the olive oil completely coats all of the broccoli pieces.
- Add spice mixture. Once the broccoli is evenly coated with olive oil, sprinkle half of the spice mixture over the broccoli, stir and sprinkle the other half over the broccoli and stir again until all the broccoli pieces are evenly coated.
- Roast broccoli. Place the broccoli into your preheated oven for about 25 minutes. Cook until the edges of the florets are slightly charred and crispy. Please be aware that all ovens bake differently, so make sure to check the broccoli at around 20 minutes. Also, depending on the size of the florets your baking time could be a little shorter or a little longer.
- Broil (if necessary). After 25 minutes of roasting, if the broccoli isn’t crisping up as you’d like, turn the oven to broil and continue to roast for about 1-2 minutes more. Watch the broccoli very closely, so it doesn’t get too crispy!
- Serve. For best results, serve this roasted broccoli immediately. Give the broccoli a taste and add extra salt and pepper as needed.
Variations
This roasted broccoli recipe can easily be changed up to include your favorite flavors. Try these fun and delicious ways to mix things up!
- Lemon. Add a drizzle of fresh lemon juice just before serving for a bit of a citrus flavor.
- Cheese. Immediately after you pull the broccoli out of the oven, add a sprinkling of Parmesan cheese. (my personal favorite variation!)
- Spicy. Heat things up by adding a dash of red pepper to the seasoning mix. You can also add red pepper flakes to the roasted broccoli before serving.
- Italian. If I’m serving my roasted broccoli as a side to pizza or another Italian dish, I like to add Italian seasoning to the seasoning mix.
Tips
- Fresh broccoli cooks up the best, in my opinion, but frozen broccoli will totally work. For frozen broccoli, follow the recipe as written and broil at the end to achieve the best texture!
- When placing the broccoli on the sheet pan, don’t overcrowd the broccoli. If the florets are placed too close together, they will produce so much steam that they’ll never turn crisp on the edges. Use two pans as needed.
- Not only is this roasted broccoli delicious served as a simple side to so many different meals, but you can add the oven-roasted broccoli to other dishes. Use it in quiches, pasta dishes, as a pizza topping, stuff some in a grilled cheese sandwich, make veggie tacos, and add it to salads. So many options!
- Make it often! Broccoli is known as a superfood and a great source of fiber, vitamin K, vitamin C, folic acid, and potassium.
Storing Leftover Roasted Broccoli
If you happen to have leftover roasted broccoli, store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for about 3 to 4 days.
Two options to reheat roasted broccoli:
- Warm it in the microwave for about 30-45 seconds. This method will heat it up but will not re-crisp it.
- Reheat in the oven at 375 degrees F for about 4-5 minutes. If you have the time, the oven is the best reheating option, as the broccoli will crisp up again.
- Cook it up with other foods. I love to add leftover roasted broccoli to omelets or scrambled eggs. You can even top your homemade pizza with some of the florets or stir it into mac and cheese.
More Favorite Sides
If you try this roasted broccoli recipe, let me know! Leave a comment and if your family loves it as much as mine does, be sure to give it a five star ⭐️ rating! Also, tag @kimscravings on Instagram with a picture of your creation. It’s so fun to see what you’re cooking! Be sure to subscribe to our mailing list to receive more healthy delicious recipes straight to your inbox.
Perfect Roasted Broccoli
Ingredients
- 1 head broccoli (about 1.5 pounds), cut off florets into bite-sized pieces
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 2-3 tablespoons olive or avocado oil
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425ºF. Cover baking sheet pan with parchment paper or spray it with nonstick cooking spray; set aside.
- In a small bowl mix together garlic powder, sea salt, and black pepper; set aside.
- In a large bowl, stir broccoli florets with olive oil to evenly coat.
- Sprinkle half of the seasoning mix over the broccoli, stir and then add the second half of seasoning mix. Stir until broccoli is well coated in seasoning.
- Evenly spread broccoli florets on pan. Roast for 25 minutes or until edges are nicely browned. Be aware that the size of florets will effect the baking time. Smaller florets may not need to roast the full 25 minutes and larger florets may need to be broiled for the last minute or so to achieve that perfect crispiness on the edges.
Notes
- Warm it in the microwave for about 30-45 seconds. This method will heat it up but will not re-crisp it.
- Reheat in the oven at 375 degrees F for about 4-5 minutes. If you have the time, the oven is the best reheating option, as the broccoli will crisp up again.
Did you make this recipe?
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Served this with dinner last night and it was a hit all around the table! Even my picky eaters loved it!
This broccoli sounds fantastic. I like how easy it is to male too.
I can see why this is a family favorite! So easy too! I love that beautiful color after roasting.
We love roasting broccoli in our house! I tried broiling it at the end, and that really helped crisp it up! Great tip!
I love roasted this broccoli. The browned edges taste so good and I like the contrasting texture it brings. Yum!
We love roasted broccoli in our home and your recipe is just perfect. I will be making this very soon for my family. Thanks for sharing this easy side dish.
I’ve always wondered how to perfectly roast broccoli – I’ll definitely be giving this recipe a go 🙂
I’ve never thought of roasting broccoli before and I don’t know why… I sure will now! Can’t wait to try it!
This was so helpful and made it so easy! I can’t wait to make this!
Love this post! All the information you need in one place. Roasted broccoli is one of my favorites but it took me some time to learn how to make it right so this post is really helpful!