How to Roast Broccoli
Roasted Broccoli is a family favorite easy side dish and I’m going to show you how to cook it, so it turns out perfect every time. This 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 vegetable dish that pairs well with everything!
Roasted broccoli is the one veggie that my picky kiddos happily enjoy, and this simple recipe is my favorite way to cook it! It’s tasty with the perfect texture that’s nice and crisp, but tender too, and deliciously seasoned.
Once you learn how to roast broccoli, you’ll have an easy-to-make side that requires minimal ingredients and very little hands-on time. As an added plus, it’s SUPER nutritious and it pairs well with almost anything, including grilled salmon, baked chicken, and so much more!
Reasons you will love this recipe
- Minimal ingredients needed. All you need is 5 simple ingredients (including salt & pepper) that you most likely already have in your kitchen. Just grab the broccoli the next time you’re at the store.
- Healthy. Only clean and healthy ingredients needed to make this recipe. Broccoli is a nutritional powerhouse full of vitamins, minerals, fiber and antioxidants. Read all about the nutrition in broccoli.
- Easy to make. With 5 minutes of prep time and 20-25 minutes of roasting in the oven, this broccoli side dish recipe will be ready in no time.
Ingredients needed
This oven roasted broccoli is made with just 5 basic ingredients (including salt and pepper)! Here’s everything 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 make this recipe
This oven-roasted broccoli recipe is super easy to make. Here’s the simple process:
- Preheat the oven. The first step for roasting vegetables 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. Cover a sheet pan in parchment paper or spray it with nonstick cooking spray; set aside.
- Make the spice mixture. Stir together the spices in a small bowl. Combining the spices separate from the broccoli will ensure they evenly coat the broccoli florets. Set aside to use later.
- Toss broccoli in olive oil. Combine the florets and extra virgin olive oil in a large bowl. Stir well so the olive oil completely coats all of the pieces.
- Add spice mixture. Once it is evenly coated with olive oil, sprinkle in half of the spice mixture, stir and sprinkle the other half in and stir again until all the broccoli pieces are evenly coated.
- Roast. Evenly spread florets on pan. Place the cookie sheet into your preheated oven for about 25 minutes. Cook until the edges of the florets are slightly charred and crispy.
- 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 cook for about 1-2 minutes more. Watch it very closely, so it doesn’t get too crispy!
- Serve. For best results, serve immediately. Give it a taste and add extra salt and pepper and a squeeze of lemon juice, as desired.
Variations
This easy 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 and a bit of lemon zest 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 this as a side to pizza or another Italian dish, I like to add Italian seasoning to the seasoning mix.
- Herbs. Fresh or dried parsley, thyme or basil would add new flavors.
Expert tips
- Fresh broccoli cooks up the best, in my opinion, but frozen broccoli will totally work. To cook from frozen, 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 it. 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.
- 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.
- Not only is this delicious served as a simple side to so many different meals, but you can add it 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.
Frequently asked questions
There is less nutritional loss if broccoli is eaten raw or steamed, but roasted broccoli is still very healthy. This green veggie is packed with fiber, protein, and vitamins. Plus, it’s low in calories and fat compared to many other side dishes.
Yes! Be sure to wash it and dry it very thoroughly. Don’t skip drying — it’s important. You can use a salad spinner if you have one, or just shake all the water out and then pat dry with a towel.
The oven temp is most likely too low. We’re recommending an oven temperature or 425 degrees Fahrenheit, which will ensure your broccoli is perfectly crisp-tender and not soggy.
Storage recommendations
If you happen to have leftovers, store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for about 3 to 4 days.
Two options to reheat or make it into something new:
- 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 leftovers 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 side dish recipes
If you try this 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. 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!