The ultimate guide for oven roasted broccoli! This is a classic recipe and one you need to have in your back pocket. I’m not the biggest fan of broccoli, but this roast broccoli is one of my favorite foods! I love it.
My Go-To Method The Best Roasted Broccoli
We’ve shared a version with you before — this cheesy baked broccoli combines perfectly crisp broccoli and cheddar cheese. This time, we’re sharing our favorite roasted broccoli with lemon as well as all of our tips including the best oven temperature, roasting times, and possible variations.
The hardest part for me about roasting broccoli is not eating the whole pan before anyone else gets a chance. It’s that good!
Here are our tips for making perfect roasted broccoli:
- Stick with one size and make sure that you cut the broccoli into similar sized pieces. It’s up to you how big, but make sure everything on the pan looks similar in size. This way, everything roasts evenly.
- Create lots of flat edges. Instead of pulling the florets apart to look like the tops of round trees, slice the florets in half or quarters, which creates a flat side. When you arrange the broccoli on the baking sheet, place the flatter edge down. As the broccoli roasts, the flat edge will get nice and brown.
- Don’t overcrowd the baking sheet. This goes for other roasted vegetables, too. Arranging the broccoli too close together causes them to stream instead of roast. (This tip applies to mushrooms, too!)
- Roast the broccoli at a high temperature. To get the crisp brown tips and caramelized stems, go for an oven temperature of 400 to 450 degrees Fahrenheit. We usually go for 425F, but you can adjust based on what else might be in the oven. At 425F, the broccoli will take between 20 and 25 minutes. Check the broccoli towards to end of roasting. Look for the tips of the florets to be browned and crisp and the stems to be tender.
Have you ever tried broccolini? It’s a cross between broccoli and Chinese broccoli and we love it! Here’s our recipe for roasted broccolini with herbs.
Possible Variations
Broccoli roasted with just oil, salt, and pepper is delicious, but there are lots of variations you can make as well.
In our recipe below, we roast a few lemon wedges next to the broccoli. When it’s finished cooking, we squeeze the juice from the roasted lemon wedges all over. It’s delicious!
Here are a few more variations to try:
- Garlic Roasted Broccoli: Toss two to three cloves of thinly sliced garlic with the broccoli before roasting.
- Spicy Roasted Broccoli: Toss 1/2 teaspoon (or more) of crushed red pepper flakes with the broccoli before roasting.
- Parmesan (or any cheese) Roasted Broccoli: Toss the cooked broccoli with 1/4 to 1/3 cup of shredded cheese before serving. We use cheddar for this cheesy broccoli.
- Use fresh herbs. Toss the roasted broccoli with two tablespoons to 1/4 cup of chopped fresh herbs like parsley, basil or chives.
- Use spice blends like chili powder, taco seasoning, Za’atar, Creole, or Italian seasoning to add even more flavor to the broccoli. Just toss the broccoli with it before roasting.
- Broccoli with Balsamic Vinegar: Instead of adding lemon juice to the roasted florets, drizzle a little high-quality balsamic vinegar or balsamic glaze on top.
I’m sure there are more variations out there. If you have a favorite, share it in the comments below!
Perfect Roasted Broccoli
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Roasted broccoli is a classic recipe and one you need to have in your back pocket. I’m not the biggest fan of broccoli, but this broccoli with lemon is one of my favorite foods! Try our version with roasted lemon wedges. The lemon becomes a little sweet, and the broccoli tastes terrific with some of the roasted lemon juice squeezed on top. For other variations like garlic, parmesan or herby roasted broccoli, see the article above for our tips (temperature and timing will be the same).
Makes 4 servings
You Will Need
1 bunch broccoli (about 1 1/2 pounds), cut into florets, stems peeled and sliced or diced, see notes
2 tablespoons olive oil, avocado oil or grapeseed oil
Salt and fresh ground black pepper
3 lemon wedges
Directions
1Heat the oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit.
2Toss the broccoli florets and stems with the olive oil, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon fresh ground pepper on a baking sheet.
3Spread them out, facing as many of the flatter edges down onto the baking sheet so that they brown nicely.
4Scatter lemon wedges around the broccoli.
5Roast, without stirring, until the edges are crisp and brown and the stems are tender, 20 to 25 minutes.
6Serve warm with some of the juice from the roasted lemon wedges squeezed on top.
Adam and Joanne’s Tips
- Don’t throw away the broccoli stems. If your broccoli is sold with long stems, you can eat them. The outer layer can be a bit tough so we like to use a vegetable peeler to remove it. Cut 1/2 inch or so from the end and discard (this can be tough). Slice or dice the rest and throw onto the baking sheet with the florets.
- Nutrition facts: The nutrition facts provided below are estimates. We have used the USDA database to calculate approximate values.
If you make this recipe, snap a photo and hashtag it #inspiredtaste — We love to see your creations on Instagram and Facebook! Find us: @inspiredtaste
Nutrition Per Serving
Serving Size
1/4 of the baking sheet
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Calories
119
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Total Fat
7.6g
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Saturated Fat
1.1g
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Cholesterol
0mg
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Sodium
346.9mg
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Carbohydrate
11.6g
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Dietary Fiber
4.4g
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Total Sugars
3g
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Protein
4.8g