Roasted Parmesan Broccoli Recipe - Easy! Recipe

Name: Roasted Parmesan Broccoli
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 25 min
Ingredients: 1 large bunch of broccoli ((about 1/2 pound)); 2 tablespoons olive oil ((grapeseed or avocado oil is fine, too)); 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt; 1/4 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper, more to taste; 1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

When you bite into crispy roasted Parmesan broccoli, you’ll feel like you’re eating a treat, not something packed with healthy nutrients! It’s going to become a favorite.

Recipe Overview

Why you’ll love it: Easy and delicious! Even professed broccoli haters will love it.

How long it takes: 25 minutes
Equipment you’ll need: large rimmed baking sheet (sheet pan)
Servings: 4

A small white bowl containing roasted broccoli on a white striped dish towel.

Ben and I recently binge watched Stranger Things (1 and 2). It’s hard to find a show that we can enjoy together — he’s a History Channel type guy and I’m a Bravo kind of girl. However, we both have been LOVING Stranger Things.

We don’t have a TV in our bedroom so we lie in bed watching it on the iPad. I do a little Instagramming here and there but it’s mainly just hanging out with each other being scared. Before I go to sleep, I typically get out of bed, go upstairs and check the kids, unload the dishwasher, turn down the heat, and turn off all the lights in the house.

The problem? We live in the country so we don’t have a lot of window treatments which is great during the day. But at night, when it’s pitch black out and you just watched Stranger Things, it’s less than ideal. It’s a love-hate relationship and we can’t wait for season 3.

Small white bowl of roasted broccoli on white striped dishtowel, with roasting pan and broccoli in background.

Speaking of stranger things, what’s stranger than posting broccoli in the middle of cookie season? I’m not always one to follow trends, so I’m probably not going to start now. I’m just gonna go ahead and direct you over to my cookie archives and then have you come back here and make this broccoli, because green is good and not scary at all.

And it’s no secret how much I love roasted vegetables, now is it? I’ve shown you already how to roast broccoli and this is a fun and simple little twist on the original method.

Partial overhead view of sheet pan containing roasted broccoli.

About This Recipe

This Parmesan broccoli starts the way most other roasted vegetables are made: clean and dry vegetables, oil, salt, pepper, and high heat. The only difference is that you sprinkle a little Parmesan cheese on at the end to give it the most amazingly nutty salty flavor.

You’ll need a large rimmed baking pan, too. An aluminum half size sheet pan (18 x 13 inches) is invaluable. I use mine all the time. Have you tried any of my sheet pan meals? Take a look, you’ll find more than fifteen recipes for a complete dinner roasted on one pan in the oven!

What You’ll Need

Broccoli: Look for firm green heads of broccoli with tightly compacted florets. If you want to use the stems, peel them and slice them into “coins.” They’re just as delicious as the florets.
Olive Oil: A couple tablespoons of oil helps to crisp up the broccoli. If you prefer, use another mild-tasting oil such as grapeseed or avocado oil.
Salt and Black Pepper: Coarse salt such as kosher salt and coarsely ground black pepper are best when roasting vegetables, providing nice little pops of flavor.
Parmesan Cheese: Freshly grated tastes best but feel free to use what you have.

Dry Equals Crisp!

The more dry your broccoli is, the crispier it will get! Wet broccoli = steam = soggy broccoli. The goal is NOT steamed broccoli. Dry thoroughly after washing. You can even spin it in a salad spinner!

How To Make This Recipe

Wash and dry. Dry, dry, DRY. The drier, the better.
Cut into small pieces. Smaller = shorter cook time, crispier broccoli.
Toss with olive oil, salt and pepper.
Spread in single layer.
Roast at 425°F (or 450°F if you’re in a rush).
Push the broccoli together a bit and sprinkle on Parmesan. Stick it back in oven to let the cheese melt.
ENJOY!

I love this roasted broccoli topped with savory granola. The mixture of seeds and spices in this not-sweet granola really brings out the nutty flavor of the Parmesan and adds a lot of nutrition. Top a bowl of brown rice or quinoa with Parmesan roasted broccoli and savory granola for a delicious lunch.

FAQs

How can you tell when broccoli goes bad?

If you notice yellowish coloration, dark spots, or mold on fresh broccoli, discard it. Broccoli that is somewhat soft or limp may just be dehydrated and still be okay to eat. If you notice a bad or strong odor, the broccoli should be dumped.

Overhead view of roasted broccoli in small white serving bowl.

Make It Your Own

if you want to switch it up a little, try sprinkling in some breadcrumbs when you take it out of the oven to stir it halfway through. A squeeze of lemon is amazing too. Try this Lemon Roasted Broccoli with Parmesan and garlic.

If you love roasted broccoli recipes like we do, be sure to check out Roasted Broccoli and Cheddar Quiche, Baked Chicken Parmesan and Broccoli, Roasted Broccoli Quinoa Salad from Two Peas & Their Pod, or Slow Roasted Broccoli and Cauliflower with Curry from Kalyn’s Kitchen.

Make-Ahead Ideas

To get a head start on this recipe, prep the broccoli up to to two days in advance. After you’ve cut it into florets, washed and dried it, put it in a resealable bag or covered container in the fridge.

Storage & Reheating Tips

Roasted broccoli is best eaten right away but if you have leftovers, store them in the refrigerator for up to three days. To reheat, for best results pop the broccoli into the oven or toaster oven for 5 to 10 minutes or until heated through.

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