This recipe for Oven Roasted Broccoli is probably a favorite of most people, a very popular vegetable made with some spices, garlic and olive oil to make it such a delicious veggie! And don’t forget to throw some parmesan cheese on there to top it off!
Do you like broccoli? Some people do and some people don’t, but in this recipe, we are going to show you how to turn your “like” for broccoli into a “love” for broccoli by explaining to you how to make oven-roasted broccoli instead of steaming it.
When you roast your broccoli in the oven it takes on a different flavor and we will show you how to cook it. It’s easy to make and delicious to eat!
Is Roasted Broccoli Healthy?
To transform vegetables from ordinary into spectacular all you have to do is roast them. The process of roasting causes water to evaporate from sugar molecules which enhances the sweet flavor and at the same time causing the vegetables to have a beautiful brown exterior.
It’s also healthy to roast vegetables because when you roast the broccoli the nutrients stay in it more than if you cook it a different way like boiling or even steaming.
Eating veggies raw is the best but roasting comes in as a strong second.
Fyi, there are many good nutrients and fiber in broccoli, and rich in vitamins such as Vitamin A, Vitamin B, Vitamin C along with calcium, iron, and potassium.
What Ingredients are in Cheesy Roasted Broccoli?
Broccoli – Of course the main ingredient and I use broccoli crowns which have less thick stems and more florets.
Cheese -Parmesan is the cheese if you want to add cheese to your broccoli. If you are dairy-free then skip the cheese.
Garlic –You can use fresh chopped garlic or pre-chopped garlic in a jar that you keep in the refrigerator or garlic powder.
Dried Chopped Onion –This adds a lot of flavor to the broccoli.
Olive Oil -You can use the oil of your choice, our personal choice is extra virgin olive oil.
Salt and Pepper – To taste.
Frozen Broccoli vs Fresh Broccoli
You may wonder if you can use frozen broccoli over fresh broccoli. I buy frozen broccoli all the time to have on hand in the freezer for when my family wants broccoli and I don’t have time to run to the store to get fresh broccoli.
But at the same time, fresh broccoli is going to taste better 99% of the time. That’s why I like to buy fresh broccoli and have that in my refrigerator as much as possible.
If you use frozen broccoli you can buy it already cut into the same size pieces which are called florets. You need to thaw it out first and then pat it dry with a paper towel so that it doesn’t get mushy while it is cooking and it may take a little longer to roast it than it takes to roast fresh broccoli, but other than that you will follow the same steps for frozen that you do for fresh.
How Can I Make Broccoli Taste Better?
If your family/kids are picky eaters especially about vegetables try roasting your broccoli in the oven and top it with different things that may make it more palatable, things that make your oven-roasted broccoli more of a pleasure to eat such as lemon juice or pesto or some parmesan cheese.
Even your kids can’t resist cheesy broccoli and it hides the natural taste somewhat if they aren’t fans.
What Recipes Can I Use Roasted Broccoli In?
Broccoli is such a versatile vegetable and goes with so many different foods. Here is a list of things just to name a few things.
- Lemon Chicken with Broccoli
- Spicy Broccoli with tomatoes
- Chicken stir fry with Broccoli
- Fish with broccoli and lemon
- Pork chops with broccoli
- Cheddar Broccoli Soup
- Pepper Steak with Broccoli
What Seasoning is Good for Broccoli?
Our goal in roasting our broccoli is to make it yummy so that everyone in your family or anyone who happens to be a guest in your home for dinner will love it.
When we roast broccoli we make it with just a few main ingredients which are garlic, salt and pepper, and dried onion flakes. That way after that it will mix with a lot of things or just eat it this way on its own.
If you are a cheese lover and can eat cheese, then, of course, add Parmesan cheese to your Roasted Broccoli and give it that extra, yummy, cheesy taste. It will make broccoli better than you ever thought it could be!!
Best Temperature to Roast Broccoli
When you roast your broccoli you need to use a hot oven. For instance, if you roast your broccoli in the oven at 350 degrees it will bake your broccoli but not really roast it. Plus it will take a lot longer time to cook.
But instead, the best temperature to roast your broccoli at is a high temp, like 400 or 425 degrees because it carmelizes the broccoli making it have the best flavor. Just don’t cook it too much hotter than that or it will burn.
How Long to Roast Broccoli
Once you season your broccoli and the right temperature, it’s important to know how long it actually takes to roast it. Even though we cook it at a high temperature like 400 or 425, here is a chart that tells you how long it takes to roast broccoli in the oven at various temperatures:
350 Degrees -Bake for 35-40 minutes.
375 Degrees -Bake for 25-30 minutes.
400 Degrees -Bake for 20-25 minutes.
425 Degrees -Bake for about 15-20 minutes.
How to Cut Broccoli
Broccoli may look a little complicated to learn how to cut it in order to roast it, because after all, when you buy it fresh it comes in a large-sized bunch. It is actually easy to cut it into florets.
Here is what you need to do:
First of all when you are buying the broccoli buy what they call broccoli crowns which has a much smaller stem base, unlike a bunch of broccoli which has long and thick stems. That way the majority of what you buy is the floret part and not the stem part.
- Wash the broccoli and then pat dry.
- Remove the leaves and hard stem base as close to the crown as possible. Reserve the stem to cut up and use it in another recipe.
- With a small paring knife start to break the florets apart by slicing or breaking them off the stem.
- Try to cut the florets in the same basic size so that they will roast the same, bite-size pieces are the best.
How to Roast Broccoli
Ok, so how do you roast broccoli seriously? It’s really easy to do and we can show you how to.
The first thing you do is to rinse off your broccoli, pat dry and cut the florets into bite-size pieces, trying to keep your pieces around the same size.
Next lay the pieces out on a cookie sheet or baking dish, spacing them evenly on the tray. This is important because if you overcrowd the pan and stack them up on top of each other, they may not roast as good and even.
Then drizzle the broccoli with olive oil and sprinkle on the spices and garlic.
Make sure you mix up the oil and seasonings well so that all the pieces of broccoli are covered.
If you are going to add the parmesan cheese to your Oven-Roasted Broccoli, then now would also be a good time to add it and blend it well.
Bake at 400-425 degrees for about 20 minutes.
I usually stick a knife in it to see if it’s done, not too hard and not too soft, but you can decide when to take the broccoli out your. Plus you want it to get browned up on the florets but that’s also up to you how much you want it brown.
How to Prevent Burning Roasted Broccoli
The best way to avoid burning your broccoli boils down to a couple of things.
- Make sure not to roast your broccoli at a temperature that’s not too high, for instance, 450 degrees would be way too hot because it would burn your broccoli before it has a chance to cook through. Not only would it be burnt but it would still be hard too.
- Make sure to set the timer for the right amount of minutes needed for the amount of broccoli and the temperature that the oven is set for. Then make sure to watch your broccoli along the way to make sure that it’s not cooking faster than it should.
Best Tips for Roasting Broccoli
We like to share some tips with you so that we can make it easier for you to make your roasted broccoli come out yummy.
- If you cut your broccoli florets approximately the same size and then lay them out flat on a baking tray, that will make it much easier for the broccoli to cook evenly.
- Make sure to preheat your oven before putting your broccoli in to roast so that you can judge the timing better.
- When you cut the large stems off your broccoli, save them to use in another recipe.
- When you are roasting your broccoli allow the tips to burn slightly but of course not to burn it through and through. The burnt edges are a yummy part of roasting broccoli.
Does Broccoli Go Soft in the Oven?
When you roast your broccoli in the oven the water evaporates so that’s why the broccoli gets a little more crispy and not soggy.
Instead, when you cook your broccoli at a low temperature for too long it can soft or soggy because its baking and the water hasn’t released from it, just like if you cook it or steam it on the stove. In that case, it’s actually baking instead of roasting.
Variations On This Recipe
If you are trying to copy the taste of Chinese stir fry in a low carb way then start with oven-roasted broccoli, then add to your favorite stir fry recipe.
Sesame Ginger Broccoli will certainly give it a zing!
Parmesan cheese mixed in with your broccoli is an option or make a Keto cheese sauce with cheddar cheese and pour it on top of your oven-roasted broccoli. This will probably be a favorite with your kids.
Another good seasoning that goes well on top of your broccoli is ground black pepper or one of my favorites that go so well with so many things is Montreal Steak Seasoning. It has a few yummy spices in it and makes so many things taste good.
If you are looking for an Italian flare, you can try to serve some homemade tomato sauce and mozzarella cheese over the top of your broccoli and add some hot pepper flakes if you like things spicy.
For you lovers of lemon, you can certainly squeeze some lemon on top of your broccoli before you eat it.
Is Roasted Broccoli Low Carb/Keto?
When you are on a diet you always look for foods that are delicious to eat, will help fill you up and are low in calories and carbs. Well, broccoli is one of those foods and therefore when you are on Keto or a low carb diet it fits into the list of foods that are good for you to eat.
There are only 2.4 NET Carbs per serving! So you can fill up on this yummy Roasted Broccoli and feel no guilt!
Other Diets This Recipe is Good For
Keto/Low Carb – An all vegetable dish is usually pretty low in carbs.
Vegetarian – A good choice for vegetarians and feel free to cook other vegetables the same way to make them tastier.
Gluten-free – Another option for our gluten-free friends just how it is.
Dairy-free – If you leave the cheese out of it.
Nut-free – No nuts in our roasted broccoli so no worries here.
Vegan – If you don’t put cheese on it this recipe is also vegan.
What to Serve with Oven Roasted Broccoli
So many foods go with oven-roasted broccoli…you can serve it with all kinds of meat and seafood like:
- Chicken any way, baked, broiled, stirfry
- Beef any way, steak, burgers, stir fry, prime rib roast
- Baked Ham
- Any kind of Seafood
- Pork Chops or Pork Roast
How to Meal Prep with Broccoli
Meal Prep is such a great idea because you do the work once and reap the benefits of your labor for many meals to follow, which is why I’m writing this for you. I love it when I come home from work and something is practically ready for my dinner.
Follow these very simple steps for using broccoli in meal prep:
- Break/cut your broccoli into florets.
- Roast the broccoli as recommended in the section on how to roast broccoli.
- When your broccoli is cooked and golden brown then remove your oven-roasted broccoli out of the oven and once it’s cool then transfer the broccoli to containers for later use.
How to Store Broccoli Roasted in the Oven?
After you have roasted your broccoli you can either eat it or you can store it in your refrigerator in airtight containers for 5-6 days.
Once you take the roasted broccoli out of the refrigerator, just pop it in the microwave for 1-2 minutes and it’s ready to eat.
Can You Freeze Roasted Broccoli?
I love it when I put forth some work to make things in large quantities and then freeze some for future use. Once you roast your broccoli it’s a great idea to freeze some so that you will be able to take some out of the freezer for dinner, especially when you come home from work and need to eat some good veggies.
The best way to freeze your oven-roasted broccoli is to lay it out flat on a baking tray covered with parchment paper and once it is frozen enough, which only takes a few hours, then transfer it into airtight containers and freeze your broccoli for up to 12 months.
When you are ready to take your roasted broccoli out of the freezer, take it out and put it in the refrigerator overnight so that while thawing out your broccoli it holds its texture better. Then after you eat some and if there is any portion leftover, just store it in your refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
If you are in a hurry to eat your broccoli after taking it out of the freezer then pop it in the microwave to thaw but then you will have to eat it right away.
More Keto Side Dishes
If you’re in the mood for some other Low Carb Side Dishes then try our:
- Spaghetti Squash Casserole
- Low Carb Creamed Spinach
- Roasted Green Beans with Bacon
- Homemade Keto Stuffing
They all are Keto-friendly and low carb, and will be a hit at your next party!
Roasted Broccoli Recipe (Garlic and Cheese)
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 6 Servings (1/2 Cup Per Serving) 1x
Description
I love to call this oven-roasted broccoli every mother’s go-to recipe to get their kids to eat vegetables. Covered in garlic and cheese, once they try it they will like it because it tastes so much better than plain broccoli!
Then you can try to roast other veggies the same way such as string beans and Brussel sprouts and cauliflower.
Ingredients
- 2 heads of Broccoli
- 3 Tbsp Olive Oil
- 1 Tbsp chopped dried Onion Flakes
- 3 tsp chopped raw Garlic
- ¼ cup of Parmesan Cheese (optional)
- ½ tsp Black Pepper
- ½ tsp Salt
Instructions
- The first thing that you do to make your broccoli is to wash and pat dry with paper towels.
- Next, cut your broccoli florets into bite-size pieces trying to make all your florets uniform in size.
- Line a cookie sheet with aluminum foil or parchment paper.
- Lay them out flat on the sheet all of your pieces of broccoli, spacing them out and trying not to stack them on top of each other.
- Drizzle the olive oil over all of the broccoli.
- Next, sprinkle spices over the broccoli.
- Add cheese (optional) and mix in well.
- Bake for about 15 minutes in a preheated oven at 425 degrees, or 400 degrees for about 20 minutes.
Notes
2.4 NET Carbs per serving
For easier clean up make sure to line your baking sheet with foil or parchment paper.
Be sure to preheat the oven first so that you will know how long to set your timer for accurately.
Save the stems that you cut off the bunch of broccoli so that you will be able to use them in another recipe like a stir fry or a soup….etc.
Allow your Roasted Broccoli to burn slightly around the edges to capture that roasted flavor.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Side Dishes
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American