Easy Oven-Roasted Broccoli

If there is one easy side dish that I love, it is oven-roasted broccoli! This is a recipe that I remember both my mother and grandmother making very regularly. It was the only way I would eat my broccoli! It is a quick and easy veggie side dish that adds a bit of freshness to every meal. 

Delicious Oven-Roasted Broccoli For Dinner! 

I make many side dishes to go with my main recipes (like these baked sweet potatoes), but oven-roasted broccoli has to be one of my favorites.

It is an easy and healthy side dish that pairs perfectly with just about any entree. I much prefer this roasted broccoli to steamed broccoli ANY DAY! The only other way I really like to eat it is in my favorite broccoli salad. So yummy! 

This recipe is the perfect way to get your family to eat more vegetables without feeling like they are eating vegetables! Even picky children like this broccoli and are tempted to eat it at dinner time.

It’s really simple to make, whether you spend a lot of time in the kitchen or don’t have that kind of time to spare. It can be thrown together in a few minutes and left alone to cook. Pair it with a pot roast and you’ll have a colorful, healthful meal!

It is one of my favorite go-to’s when I am having a busy day or just have other priorities than spending an hour whipping up dinner. I make this at least once a week!

Ingredients Needed to Make Roasted Broccoli

To make this roasted broccoli recipe, you will need the following ingredients:

• Fresh Broccoli: This fresh veggie is the star of the show and tastes amazing once it has been roasted to perfection. You can use other vegetables as well.
• Salt: Salt is an important seasoning ingredient to bring out the bright flavor of fresh broccoli.
• Pepper: Pepper is that classical seasoning that brings a bit of spice to the table without being overpowering or too spicy.
• Olive Oil: Olive oil helps the broccoli to roast and become nice and crispy. It also makes it easier to coat the broccoli in salt and pepper thoroughly.

Additions and Substitutions

• Other Vegetables: You can make this recipe with your favorite vegetable if you aren’t a fan of broccoli. You will just need to adjust the cooking times according to the vegetable that you decide to use.
• Garlic: For an even more flavorful side dish, you can add a bit of minced garlic or some garlic powder before you cook the broccoli. This will make the broccoli even more bright and flavorful!

Note:

• If I’m feeling fancy, I’ll sprinkle the broccoli with a little parmesan cheese and squeeze some fresh lemon on it after it comes out of the oven. So good!

What To Serve with Oven Roasted Broccoli

Some of my favorite things to serve with this roasted broccoli are dishes that need an added vegetable or some more freshness. That usually includes:

• Fried Chicken
• Grilled Cheese Sandwiches
• Classic Lasagna 
• Creamy Mac and Cheese

These are all dishes that go very well with a side of freshly roasted broccoli!

I especially like to pair this side dish with my recipe for creamy chicken fettuccine alfredo. It adds a much-needed element of freshness to cut through the richness of the pasta dish. Sometimes I mix the broccoli in with my pasta!

Frequently Asked Questions About Broccoli 

Whenever I share this recipe, I get some of the same questions. Here are the most popular ones that people ask!

If you have a question that isn’t listed here, please leave them in the comments, and I’ll answer them as soon as I possibly can.

Why is my roasted broccoli still tough?

If your oven-roasted broccoli came out of the oven still feeling tough and slightly undercooked, it might need more time in the oven.

Every oven is different, and some are slightly cooler than others. Your stalks of broccoli might also be thicker, which would require more cooking.

One guaranteed way of getting nice and tender roasted broccoli is to steam the broccoli before roasting in the oven lightly. Steam them until a fork can just penetrate the broccoli stem, then season the broccoli and put it in the oven to roast.

This will give you perfectly tender and deliciously roasted broccoli without fail!

Is roasted broccoli as healthy as steamed broccoli?

Both roasted and steamed broccoli is healthy. The only thing that might set them apart is the olive oil.

But, roasted broccoli is still just as healthy as steamed broccoli since butter would normally be added to the latter. Olive oil is a healthy fat and makes this broccoli even more filling and tasty while still remaining healthy.

As far as side dishes go, this broccoli recipe is a very healthy side dish and can help you to feed your family more vegetables in their meals!

Can I roast frozen broccoli?

Yes, you can definitely roasted frozen broccoli as well!

The secret to roasted frozen broccoli and getting the same results as fresh broccoli is a very hot oven and a preheated pan.

Making sure the oven is nice and hot and putting the broccoli onto a hot pan will help the water to evaporate quickly. This will help your broccoli not become soggy and will allow it to begin browning.

By following these two tips, you can still make deliciously crispy roasted broccoli even when using frozen broccoli. This is perfect for when you are running out of fresh ingredients but still have some frozen vegetables on hand.

More Grandma-Approved Recipes to Try

If you enjoyed this recipe for roasted broccoli, you might like these other savory dishes. These are some of my favorite home-cooked recipes.

• The Best Broccoli Salad Recipe
• How to Make Baked Sweet Potatoes
• Cheesy Broccoli and Rice Casserole
• Bisquick Sausage Balls Recipe with Cheese
• The Best Chicken Pot Pie Recipe

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