Easy Roasted Broccoli Recipe

With just six ingredients this delicious Roasted Broccoli with lemon and Parmesan will quickly become one of your favorite side dishes.  You can get all that fabulous nutrition and plenty of great flavor all in a quick and easy roasted veggie recipe. 

I love to serve this with chicken, shrimp, or in a grain bowl with farro, quinoa, or rice. However it goes well with any beef, pork, chicken or fish main course.  Once you try this delectable way to prepare broccoli it will become a regular at your meal table. It comes out of the oven lightly browned, crisp tender, and full of flavor.  

How to make Oven Roasted Broccoli

After washing the broccoli dry it well. In a large bowl toss the broccoli, olive oil, kosher salt, and fresh ground black pepper.  Now spread the broccoli out in a single layer on a parchment paper covered sheet pan.  Roast in a preheated oven for about 20 minutes.  Then toss with lemon juice and sprinkle with freshly grated Parmesan Cheese.  Roasted broccoli is best served promptly while the edges are slightly crispy and the flavors are at their peak.

Recipe notes and tips

• Dry the washed broccoli well. I use paper towels to wrap around the pieces and very gently squeeze to extract the moisture.
• Generously sprinkle with salt and pepper.
• Fresh lemon juice is best and you only need the juice from one lemon. For added flavor add a little lemon zest.
• Fresh Parmesan cheese is flavor packed and tastes so much better than the pre-grated Parmesan cheese without any additives or anticaking agents.  It is well worth every penny.
• Leave enough room on the baking sheet for the hot air to flow between the broccoli.
• Plan to serve this recipe straight out of the oven.  You will be so pleased that this recipe will quickly become one your favorites.
• Do you like things a little zesty?  If so sprinkle with a little bit of red pepper flakes along with the pepper and salt.
• Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in the microwave at a reduced power or in the oven.  
• This delicious recipe also works well with brussels sprouts and sweet potatoes. 

How to select broccoli

Choose broccoli with a rich dark green color and firm stalks.  It should feel heavy for its size and be free of any brown or black patches on the florets which are more than likely mold.  Check to see if the stalk cut looks fresh and and florets are full and tight indicating plenty of moisture.

Flavor variations for Oven Roasted Broccoli

• Balsamic Glaze Broccoli – After roasting the broccoli omit the lemon juice and Parmesan Cheese and drizzle with Balsamic Glaze.
• Everything Bagel Broccoli – After roasting your broccoli generously sprinkle with Everything Bagel Seasoning. Omit the lemon juice but feel free to add the Parmesan cheese.
• Spicy Asian Broccoli – In addition to the olive oil drizzle very lightly with sesame oil as a little goes a long way.  After roasting omit the lemon juice and Parmesan Cheese. Drizzle with low sodium soy sauce and sprinkle with sesame seeds and crushed red pepper.

Roasted Broccoli Recipe

This delicious recipe takes Oven Roasted Broccoli to a whole new level with fresh lemon juice and grated Parmesan Cheese.  One taste and you will be hooked.

5 from 19 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: side

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes minutes

Servings: 4 servings

Calories: 166kcal

Author: Beth Pierce

Ingredients

• 1 lb broccoli florets cut into bite size pieces
• 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• salt
• freshly ground black pepper
• 1 large lemon for the juice and the zest
• 1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan Cheese

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Cover baking sheets with parchment paper.
• In a large bowl toss broccoli florets, olive oil, salt and pepper.  Arrange on prepared baking sheet with some space between the florets. 
• Roast for 15-20 minutes turning halfway through the cooking process.  The edges should be crispy and browned.
• Place florets in a bowl and drizzle with lemon juice.  Sprinkle with lemon zest and Parmesan Cheese.  For best results serve promptly.

Notes

• Dry the washed broccoli well. I use paper towels to wrap around the pieces and very gently squeezed to extract the moisture.
• Generously sprinkle with salt and pepper.
• Fresh lemon juice is best and you only need the juice from one lemon. For added flavor add a little lemon zest.
• Fresh Parmesan cheese is flavor packed and tastes so much better than the pre-grated Parmesan cheese without any additives or anticaking agents.  It is well worth every penny.
• Leave enough room on the baking sheet for the hot air to flow between the broccoli.
• Plan to serve this recipe straight out of the oven.  You will be so pleased that this recipe will quickly become one your favorites.
• Do you like things a little zesty?  If so sprinkle with little bit of crushed red pepper along with the pepper and salt.

Nutrition

Calories: 166kcal | Carbohydrates: 11g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Cholesterol: 5mg | Sodium: 148mg | Potassium: 407mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 766IU | Vitamin C: 115mg | Calcium: 116mg | Iron: 1mg

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