Once a hated vegetable, broccoli has made a comeback! Here are the best tasty broccoli recipes to eat more of this healthy veggie.
Are you a broccoli fan? This healthy veggie hasn’t always been the most popular. But today, just like Brussels sprouts and cauliflower, it’s made a major comeback into fresh and healthy meals! Alex and I never hated this vegetable growing up, but we most certainly weren’t eating it in ways that lived up to its delicious potential.
Here we’ve collected our best broccoli recipes that are the top ways to eat this super nutritious vegetable! From our 10-minute side dish to a cheesy broccoli casserole or creamy soup, there’s something for everyone in this list. Ready to learn how to cook broccoli?
And now, our top broccoli recipes!
Here’s one of our best go-to broccoli recipe secrets, and we make it almost every day. Try this Pan Fried Broccoli! It comes out perfectly crisp tender and full of savory flavor: and that’s not easy to do with broccoli. Home cooks often overcook broccoli or don’t season it enough, making a brown-ish green, lifeless mess. Here’s how to pan fry it so it’s the most delicious thing on your plate!
Here's another great broccoli recipe: easy stovetop broccoli! You'll steam the broccoli until it's bright green and crisp tender, then mix with olive oil, salt, and red onion slivers. Add a sprinkling of feta cheese to put it over the top! It takes only 10 minutes to make and it's a crowd pleaser. (Also try our Instant Pot Broccoli. And, did you know you can roast frozen broccoli?)
Want to make broccoli taste irresistible? Try this broccoli stir fry! This healthy green veggie is covered in a sauce that’s so flavorful, you’ll forget that it’s good for you. The broccoli is accessorized with bell pepper, mushrooms, garlic and ginger, and an incredibly savory sauce. There’s so much flavor going on, it’s one of the best ways to eat your colorful veggies. You can serve it two ways: as a side dish, or add a protein and serve with rice, and you’ve got dinner!
Roasting makes broccoli as irresistible as french fries! This is our favorite way to cook it if you have the time. Oven roasted broccoli comes out perfectly tender and charred, with crispy dark brown parts. It has a mild, almost sweet flavor. Stir in a little grated garlic, olive oil and lemon juice after roasting to make the flavor pop!
Also try: Perfect Roasted Broccolini or Roasted Broccoli and Carrots
Here’s a broccoli soup that will become an instant favorite. It’s impossibly creamy, whole food plant based (WFPB), and it tastes like the coziest bowl of comfort. This easy and healthy soup is vegan and gluten-free, so it works for a variety of diets. It tastes like that cozy and comforting broccoli cheese soup from a can...but 1000 times better!
Here’s a fresh spin on the classic broccoli slaw! And who knew it could be so irresistibly tasty? This recipe you can make with store-bought broccoli slaw bags or fresh broccoli and carrots. It’s got a creamy dressing that’s equal parts savory, tangy, and a little sweet. Try this stunner of a broccoli recipe…you won’t be disappointed.
There’s something about that classic American broccoli recipe: you know, the one with raisins and a mayo-based dressing? It’s a retro salad, where the florets are marinaded until they’re soft and savory sweet. It’s oddly satisfying and gives us all those nostalgic vibes. Here’s a new and improved version of to make it fresh and healthy: but it keeps all the character and deliciousness of the original. In fact: we think it’s even better.
Want to dress up broccoli to take it to irresistible status? Try this Parmesan broccoli recipe! It’s crispy, crunchy, and impossible not to take another bite. (We dare you.) Roasting broccoli brings a sweetness and lightly charred edges to this healthy green vegetable. Combine that with savory Parmesan cheese, and it’s got rock star status. The only problem with this recipe? It disappears really fast.
Looking for a healthy and easy weeknight meal? Try this shrimp and broccoli! The pair are cooked with soy sauce and and rice vinegar until bright and savory. The contrast of the crisp tender broccoli against the juicy shrimp is perfection. Serve it with rice or soba noodles to make it a complete meal that comes together quickly!
Here’s a modern spin on wild rice casserole that’s cozy and all about whole foods! Why relegate this healthy whole grain only to wild rice soup? There are plenty more ways to serve it, and this one is truly spectacular. It’s broccoli cheese flavor, flecked with savory bits of sauteed broccoli, gooey white cheddar, and a creamy easy-to-make filling. It's a crowd pleaser!
Here's another 10-minute broccoli recipe: this time, it's sauteed! Now, it sounds basic. But you’ll be surprised at the amount of flavor it’s possible to get from perfectly cooking this healthy veggie. Broccoli is often overcooked, leaving it soggy and without flavor. Here's how to cook it so it’s lightly browned but perfectly crisp tender and flavorful!
Have you tried the revelation that is grilled broccoli? This is one of our very favorite grilled vegetables. The grill transforms this tasty veggie to be crisp tender and charred, with a hint of smoke. Cook it simply with olive oil, salt, and lemon juice, and it’s a fantastic side for any grilled dinner.
Here's our favorite broccoli main dish recipe: this cheesy roasted broccoli casserole! Instead of the broccoli casseroles of the 1950's, this one has a modern spin. It stars whole grain millet, a stand-in for rice that gives a fluffy texture. Then it's got a savory cheese sauce flavored with thyme, and charred roasted broccoli bits throughout. It's always a hit with everyone around the table!
The perfect pairing? Broccoli cheese sauce and a baked sweet potato! The creamy, savory sauce is a fantastic match for the lightly sweet potato. The sauce has a healthy spin, made creamy by a little bit of cheese and a bit of white beans whizzed together in a food processor. White beans bring lots of creaminess and plant based protein to this tasty main course.
Continuing the green theme, here's a broccoli recipe that's a bowl full of health! It features quinoa and sauteed broccoli that are topped with a zingy lemon yogurt sauce. If you'd like, you can use broccolini for beautiful long-stemmed look. Add crunchy pepitas and it's tasty bowl meal dinner!
Broccoli nutrition
Broccoli is one of the healthiest vegetables you can eat! It’s a cruciferous vegetable (a what?). That simply means it’s part of a vegetable family that includes cauliflower, cabbage, Brussels sprouts and kale. Here’s what’s great about broccoli:
- It’s a great source of fiber. 1 cup of raw broccoli has 2.3 grams of fiber, or about 5 to 10% of your daily need. (Source)
- It’s also high in protein for a green vegetable. 1 cup has 3 grams protein. (Source) That’s a similar level to asparagus and potatoes.
- It’s very high in Vitamin C. 1/2 cup has 70% your daily value of Vitamin C! (Source)
Enough about broccoli. What is broccolini?
What’s broccolini? While it looks like baby broccoli, it’s actually not! Broccolini is a cross between broccoli and Chinese broccoli. The cross combines the long stems of Chinese broccoli with the florets of broccoli, and has a milder flavor than broccoli.
Fun fact: Did you know broccolini was invented in 1993? While it sounds like an Italian ingredient with hundreds of years of history, it’s not even 20 years old. Look for it next to the broccoli in your local grocery store. Try our Perfect Roasted Broccolini: it’s a quick way to make this unique vegetable taste incredible.
Don’t confuse broccolini with broccoli rabe! Broccoli rabe is a bitter green that’s more closely related to a turnip than broccoli.
PrintEasy Pan Fried Broccoli (& More Recipes!)
- Prep Time: 3 minutes
- Cook Time: 7 minutes
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 4 1x
- Diet: Vegan
Description
Here’s our go-to pan fried broccoli to make on the regular! This basic method is ultra versatile and makes flavorful, crisp tender veggies.
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 pounds fresh broccoli, stem on (about 3 large heads or 6 heaping cups florets)
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/4 teaspoon dry mustard powder (optional)
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
Instructions
- Chop the broccoli into medium sized florets (leave a good amount of the stem for a nice shape; see the photo or How to Cut Broccoli).
- In small bowl, mix together 1/4 cup water with garlic powder, onion powder and mustard powder.
- Add the olive oil to a large skillet and heat it on medium high heat. Add broccoli and salt. Cook 2 to 3 minutes until starting to brown, stirring occasionally.
- Reduce heat to medium, and add the water and spices. Cook an additional 4 to 5 minutes until fork tender, stirring occasionally. Taste and add additional salt and black pepper as necessary. Serve immediately.
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Vegan
Keywords: Broccoli Recipes, Broccoli Side Dish
More delicious vegetable recipes
Broccoli is one of the 20 best vegetables you can eat! And there are so many tasty vegetable recipes for getting more vegetables on your plate. Here are our top favorites:
- Roasted Sweet Potatoes
- Lemony Steamed Green Beans
- Best Brussels Sprouts Recipe
- Crispy Breaded Cauliflower
- Best Vegetable Side Dishes
- 25+ Favorite Side Dish Recipes
Last updated: December 2020
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