This is still the best damn broccoli ever. Roasted broccoli with crispy golden edges, finished with a drizzle of lemon juice, zest and a sprinkle of parmesan. It’s so good, yet so easy, it’s like magic….
This Roasted Broccoli is the best broccoli recipe ever
4 1/2 years ago when I first shared this broccoli recipe, I stated that this was the best damn broccoli I had ever had in my life. And that still holds true.
Sure, I’ve had fancier. Great chefs can work magic on the humble broccoli and turn it into a real fancy dish.
But the thing that makes this particular recipe the best broccoli recipe ever is that it’s so quick and easy and yet so good!
Roasting is the key here. Roasted broccoli has flavour that is puts plain steamed broccoli to shame!! It sweetens it, you get caramelisation, crunchy edges and it sucks up the flavour of the lemon juice.
And when you finish it off with a little parmesan…. OMG. It’s just so damn good!!!
How to make the tastiest broccoli of your life
Ready to see how easy this is? Not much more effort than steaming it!
Two large broccoli heads (this will serve 4 as a side, or 2 if I’m present)
Break into florets and halve larger ones
Pile onto tray, drizzle with oil, sprinkle with finely sliced garlic, salt and pepper then toss
Spread out on tray
Roast for 20 – 25 minutes just until the edges are a bit browned and crisp (my favourite part!)
Drizzle with lemon juice and zest and parmesan, toss then serve
I don’t take credit for this Magic Broccoli. It is based on an Ina Garten recipe – though hers has more oil, pine nuts and basil. Terrific, but quite rich and a bit more fiddly than I’d make for day to day purposes (I make Magic Broccoli a lot!)
So this recipe is a simplified and healthier version. I find that if you use too much oil when roasting broccoli, the florets soak it up like a sponge. So what should be a pretty healthy broccoli side becomes excessively rich and oily.
Trust me, you do not need tons of oil to roast broccoli. Especially not when we finish it off with lemon and parmesan!
So easy.
SO DAMN DELICIOUS.
It’s like….magic! ~ Nagi x
Health benefits of broccoli
Broccoli is a powerhouse of goodness! It’s rich with Vitamin C and K, high in fibre (good for your digestive system), and other minerals and antioxidants that promotes good health. There’s also been studies that suggest that broccoli helps with cancer prevention – though it’s not conclusive.
In summary: Broccoli is a nutritional powerhouse and Magic Broccoli makes it easy to eat LOADS of it!!
Watch how to make it
Magic Broccoli recipe video!
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Magic Broccoli (Best roasted broccoli recipe ever!)
Ingredients
- 2 medium to large heads of broccoli , about 1 kg / 2 lb
- 2 garlic cloves , finely sliced or minced
- 2 1/2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 1/2 tsp salt (adjust to your taste)
- Black pepper
- Zest of half a lemon
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 2 tbsp freshly grated parmesan cheese , plus more for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 220°C/425°F (200°C fan).
- Cut/break broccoli into florets and pile onto baking tray. (Note 2 re: stem)
- Toss – Drizzle all over with extra virgin olive oil, scatter with garlic, salt and pepper. Toss with fingers or tongs, then spread out over tray in a single layer (or toss in large bowl or ziplock bag).
- Roast for 20 to 25 minutes until the tips of the florets are slightly browned and crispy. The broccoli should be "tender crisp", meaning just cooked through, not soft and floppy.
- Finish – Remove from the oven and immediately drizzle over the lemon juice, zest, and parmesan. Toss quickly, transfer to serving plate and garnish with a bit more parmesan. Serve warm!
Recipe Notes:
Nutrition Information:
Magic Broccoli originally shared in 2014. Updated with new photos, new video, all new words in post. No change to recipe – I wouldn’t dare!
More fabulous Broccoli recipes
Browse all Broccoli Recipes
Life of Dozer
I know I’ve already shared this photo on my blog, but I only put it up on Instagram this morning. I asked people to caption the photo – and some of the responses were so good, I had to share!!
Caption This responses:
“Catch me mum 🐶” (To which I responded: “I’d be flattened – then in hospital!”😂)
“Dozer for President” (At which I grinned just thinking what a great world it would be with giant “Dozer for President” banners all over the world…)
“If Jaws was a dog….”
“Houston, we have lift off!🚀🚀”
“Me – when someone hands me a plate of Asian food” (To which I responded: Me too!!)
And you? Any suggestions??
Your Magic Broccoli lives up to its name and tastes great! So easy (I even used store bought grated parmesan {not in the green can]). Tonight I’m going to try it with Brussels sprouts! Thanks, Nagi, love your recipes.
It will be great on Brussel sprouts!!!
Oh Nagi, another great big fat winner here. I did it exactly as you described and it was unexpectedly complex and great. The garlic tasted like little morsels of savoury and with the lemon it really popped. Wowsers – this website is always my first port of call for recipes. Thx
Still think your broccoli cheese balls is the “best damn broccoli recipe ever”! They freeze well. Make great nibbles, falafel substitutes, pasta dishes etc…. Also fool broccoli haters.
Love the simplicity of this recipe and after hearing that William Shatner really rates broccoli my hubby now wants to eat a lot more of it!
Delicious and so easy. I made this the other day with Kalettes – WOW – is all I can say!
Forgot to add- it’s very interesting that you don’t actually taste the lemon! The flavour is complex and delicious, but you can’t single out the lemon. Ugh, deliciousness!
My husband requested for sweetcorn as a side dish but I came across this recipe so made it instead. He was very reluctant to eat it and after I encouraged him to, he complained that there was no way he could eat the whole lot. Well I went into the kitchen later to find out he had eaten the whole lot – a whole head of broccoli- bar 3 florets!!! Thank goodness I tasted 2 florets before he had his dinner lol! Absolutely delicious. Never steaming broccoli again :}
Nagi, This recipe looks SO good, Can’t wait to try it. I love the Recipe Cards with the nutrition info. What I really love about your recipes are your Notes. You have made it so much easier to follow recipes and substitute items when needed!
Thanks!
” Throw ME the ball, Mom”
Love love love broccoli N! This is how I roast it, except I never put any lemon juice over it…next time. Sometimes I will toast some walnuts or sliced almonds in a pan and sprinkle them on for a nice crunch. I also slice up the stems and roast them. I love roasted carrots too and sweet potatoes. Yum! I’ve even roasted butternut squash. Now I’m craving it! 😂
I love the added bonus of the nutritional facts N!👍
Dozer is thinking…so this is what you call flying! It’s fun!
His other pic, he’s thinking, why oh why did I swallow all that damn water!😂
It took 25 pages to print a 1 page recipe. Did I do something wrong?
Just love this roasted broccoli recipe and am going to try it tomorrow. Dozer caption :Is that a dog treat I see coming this way?
Also love the nutritional info – thank you.
Nagi, do you think this would work with brussel sprouts?
“Mum! I nearly caught the moon!”
OMG YES! Magic Brussel Sprouts 🙂 I’ll have to try it myself and if it’s as good as I think it will be, I’ll share Magic Brussels!!!
Coolness, thank you Nagi. Please do try; will be interested in your results. I will also try, but may not share the outcome….! 🙂
And in that case, I’ll add another Dozer caption: “Mum! I nearly caught one of your flying Magic Brussels!”
Dozer caption: Flying squirrel!
GIANT squirrel!!😂
As always I love seeing Dozer “water boy”👍
Hi Nagi .your roasted broccoli recipe is delish..and also the idea of nutritional info is excellent..so again a big thanks for such great recipes.
Glad you find it useful Gillian, thanks for the feedback! I’ll continue to include it! 🙂 N x
Dear Broccoli,
How many ways do I love thee? Raw, steamed, casseroled, roasted, souped…oh, yeah! This will be our side dish on Saturday when we make our favorite sauteed shrimp and Jasmine rice dinner. YUM! Love your creative recipes, Nagi! Also love your beautiful Dozer! That’s a great pic! One word…EXUBERANCE!! “It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s Superdog!” He needs a cape, Nagi! LOL xxx
“He needs a cape” – Kin, you shouldn’t give me Dozer dressing up ideas like that!!! You know I can’t resist….
I’ll confess to being fussy about lemon on things, which is odd because I love lemon in tea, lemon and garlic with chicken, and lemon pie and cake, etc.–but don’t care for it with seafood or some other things. Go figure!
I haven’t had it with broccoli, and won’t lie that the idea has great appeal for me, but will give it a try! (I do like a Greek type potato dish roasted with chicken broth, butter, garlic, lemon and oregano.)
Oooh – I love the idea of a big lemony Greek chicken-potato bake!!
Dozer looked like he’d nailed an impression of sleek, breaching dolphin.
Sleek?? You mean – furry / sandy / wild eyed!!!
Hi Nagi, I have been making this recipe using frozen broccoli. It works!!! And I don’t need to comment on flavor. Sometimes I do skip the cheese too. After that recipe my kids ask for broccoli. I also roast some sliced carrots on the side. Yummy!!!
OK, that might be the greatest validation ever – that your KIDS ask for this broccoli??? 😳
Could you have a listing on your web site with your lower carb recipes, like this one?
Hi Rob! What a great idea, I’ll do that! N x
OMG!! MOM!!! Something touched my foot…something touched my foooottt!
And the thing is, it’s SO viable. He is such a wuss. Once, I think he stepped on a sting ray. He yelped and ran over to me, quivering like a girl and wouldn’t leave my side all the way back to the car. literally, pressed up against my legs as we walked back, shaking!!