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Sauteed broccolini is one of the fastest, tastiest side dishes there is! Cook it up in 5 minutes with garlic and lemon.

Sauteed broccolini
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When it comes to quick and impressive side dishes, this one might be tops: sauteed broccolini! The elegantly long stems of this green veggie make it look fancy, but here’s a secret. You can cook it up in just 5 minutes in a hot skillet, making it one of Alex and my favorite sides for an impressive meal.

Add a bit of garlic and lemon, and you won’t be able to stop eating these irresistibly large spears. Here’s how to make it in a flash: and a bit more about this unique vegetable.

How to make sauteed broccolini: some tips

Sauteed broccolini is quick and simple: the cooking goes fast! Once you’ve tried it once, you won’t need to follow a recipe. But for the first time, here are some tips for cooking and seasoning it to perfection:

  • Chop off the tough lower portions of the stems. Slice any very large florets in half lengthwise, which makes them easier to eat.
  • Sauté the broccolini 3 to 4 minutes in olive oil. Stir occasionally and cook until just starting to brown at the edges. At this point, the pan will be starting to get dry.
  • Add a bit of water, salt and garlic powder and cook 2 to 3 minutes. This last part of cooking gently steams the broccolini (it’s a technique we use for broccoli as well). It cooks it the rest of the way so that it’s bright green and tender.
  • Add any remaining seasonings. We like to add lemon juice at the end for a little brightness, but it’s not required!
Sauteed broccolini

What is broccolini, anyway?

Broccolini might look like baby broccoli: and it’s sometimes labeled that way in the produce aisle! But it’s not technically an immature version of the real thing.

Broccolini is a cross between standard broccoli and Chinese broccoli, with the long stems of Chinese broccoli and the florets of the standard variety. Broccolini has a milder, sweeter flavor than the standard, and the long stems give it an elegant look on the plate.

Interestingly, broccolini was invented in 1993, so there’s a reason that it’s new to the scene! It’s becoming easier to find at standard grocery stores, usually next to the standard broccoli. Look for small bunches of broccoli with long stems.

Ways to serve sauteed broccolini

Sautéed broccolini is the ideal quick side dish for fast meals! We love to pair it with easy main dishes to make for a quick weeknight meals. But of course it’s also great for entertaining because it comes together so easily. It’s especially nice to pair with main dishes you make in the oven, since the stovetop is free. Here’s how we’d pair it:

Sauteed broccolini

Dietary notes

This sauteed broccolini recipe is vegetarian, vegan, plant-based, dairy-free and gluten-free.

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Sauteed Broccolini

Sauteed broccolini
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5 from 2 reviews

Sauteed broccolini is one of the fastest, tastiest side dishes there is! Cook it up in 5 minutes with garlic and lemon.

  • Author: Sonja Overhiser
  • Prep Time: 3 minutes
  • Cook Time: 5 minutes
  • Total Time: 8 minutes
  • Yield: 4 1x
  • Category: Side dish
  • Method: Sauteed
  • Cuisine: Vegetables
  • Diet: Vegan

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 bunches (14 ounces) broccolini
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice (optional)
  • Fresh ground black pepper

Instructions

  1. Cut off tough lower portions of the stems, leaving about 3 to 4 inches attached. Slice large pieces in half lengthwise through the entire stem.  
  2. In a medium skillet, heat the olive oil over medium high heat. Add the broccolini and cook, stirring occasionally until bright green and starting to brown at the edges, 3 to 4 minutes. Sprinkle with the kosher salt and garlic powder and add ¼ cup water to the pan. Continue cooking until the stems are bright green and just tender, 2 to 3 minutes.
  3. Stir in the lemon juice and black pepper. Add salt if desired and serve hot. 

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More broccolini recipes

Love broccolini? This unique vegetable is ideal for cooking in many different ways! Try simple roasted broccolini, fire up the grill for grilled broccolini, or go raw with a broccolini salad.

About the authors

Alex & Sonja

Hi! We’re Alex & Sonja Overhiser, authors of the acclaimed cookbooks A Couple Cooks and Pretty Simple Cooking—and a real life couple who cooks together. We founded the A Couple Cooks website in 2010 to share seasonal recipes and the joy of home cooking. Now, we’ve got over 3,000 well-tested recipes, including Mediterranean diet, vegan, vegetarian, pescatarian, smoothies, cocktails, and more!

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3 Comments

  1. D Erlich says:

    Fast and tasty way to cook broccolini

  2. Isabel Rodenas says:

    Love this veggie! And actually I didn’t even know how it was called. This recipe will be on my weekly rota for sure!






  3. Sonja Overhiser says:

    Let us know if you have any questions!