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Broccoli Stems Cooked Different Ways

How to Cook Broccoli, 7 Ways

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  • Author: Elizabeth Rider
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 5-25 minutes
  • Total Time: 10-30 minutes
  • Yield: 4 servings 1x
  • Category: Sides
  • Method: Various
  • Cuisine: Vegetable
  • Diet: Vegetarian

Description

Here are the 7 ways to cook broccoli! I still prefer roasting or steaming, but all 7 ways work. If you experiment, come back to the comments and let us know which way you prefer—and leave a 5-star rating for this post in the comments section to help other readers in our community. Thanks for being here!


Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 large head of broccoli (makes about 4 cups florets), or, 1 (12-ounce) bag fresh florets
  • extra virgin olive oil or ghee
  • salt and pepper
  • Optional: minced garlic, fresh lemons

Instructions

Roasting Broccoli

  1. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.
  2. Wash, dry, and trim the broccoli.
  3. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or tin foil and add the broccoli. Toss the broccoli with a tablespoon of extra virgin oil, 1/2 teaspoon of salt, and pepper, to taste. Optional: add some fresh chopped garlic.
  4. Spread the pieces out in a single layer. Roast until you can start to see the caramelized edges, but the broccoli is still slightly crunchy, about 20-25 minutes. You can add a squeeze of lemon juice to your roasted broccoli, if desired.

Air-Fryer Broccoli

  1. Wash, dry, and trim your broccoli.
  2. In a bowl, toss the pieces with a tablespoon of extra virgin oil, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and pepper, to taste. You can also add some garlic powder, if desired.
  3. Add to your air fryer’s basket and cook at 375 degrees until the broccoli edges start to caramelize, about 10-12 minutes. Shake the basket after 5 minutes to ensure even cooking.

Blanching Broccoli

  1. Wash, dry, and trim your broccoli. Prepare a bowl of ice water and have it next to the stove.
  2. Bring a large pot of water to a rapid boil. Add a tablespoon of salt and then add the broccoli and cook until just crisp-tender, 1 to 1 1/2 minutes. Be careful not to overcook the broccoli.
  3. Remove with a slotted spoon and immediately add to the ice water to stop the cooking process. Remove from the water and dry before serving.

Sautéeing Broccoli

  1. Wash, dry, and trim your broccoli.
  2. Heat a tablespoon of olive oil in a skillet over high to medium-high heat. Add the broccoli and a pinch of salt. Toss to coat with oil.
  3. Cook, stirring frequently until the broccoli is tender, about 5 minutes.

Steaming Broccoli

  1. Wash, dry, and trim your broccoli. Fill a pot with a few inches of water and insert a steamer basket. The water should not be high enough to reach the bottom of the steamer basket.
  2. Bring the water to a simmer over medium-high heat. Add the broccoli, cover, and steam until tender, about 4-5 minutes.
  3. Toss your cooked broccoli with a little olive oil (or ghee), salt, and pepper. And add a squeeze of lemon (optional).

Microwaving Broccoli

  1. Wash, dry, and trim your broccoli.
  2. Place the broccoli in a microwave-safe bowl and pour 1/4 cup of water over the top. Don’t add more — you want to steam not boil the broccoli.
  3. Cover with a dinner plate (use as a top) and microwave on high for 3-4 minutes. Remove the plate carefully and check to ensure the broccoli is tender. If necessary, microwave in additional minutes or two.
  4. Toss your cooked broccoli with a little olive oil (or ghee), salt, and pepper. And add a squeeze of lemon (optional).

Boiling Broccoli

  1. Wash, dry, and trim your broccoli.
  2. Bring a large pot of water to a rapid boil. Add a tablespoon of salt and then add the broccoli and cook until tender, about 2-3 minutes. Be careful not to overcook the broccoli. Drain immediately.
  3. Season as desired.

 


Notes

  • Storing: You can store uncooked fresh broccoli for up to one week in your refrigerator’s crisper drawer. Cooked broccoli will also last a day or two if stored covered in the refrigerator, although it might lose its crispness. But it will still be great in casseroles or frittatas.