31 Broccoli Recipes That’ll Turn It Into the Star of Your Dinner Plate
Broccoli is always a trusty side dish, but playing the same old steamed or roasted cards can get old, fast. Luckily, there’s a whole bounty of creative broccoli recipes to choose from. You can sear the hearty stalks until charred and finish them in the oven until tender, or pair them with tons of fresh lemon juice and garlic for a bright and crunchy Caesar treatment. You can melt your broccoli into a quick and easy pasta dish, or blend it into a warming, flavorful soup. And don’t throw away those stems either; save them for stock or thinly slice them and use them in slaws, salads, or str-fry. Below you’ll find an array of creative recipes that go beyond steamed broccoli.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Micah Marie Morton1/31Egg Salad With Grilled Broccoli and Chili Crisp
While most broccoli recipes act as side dishes, this creamy egg salad is a satisfying main meal all on its own. Smoky grilled broccoli and a drizzle of chili crisp transform egg salad from a lunch staple to an unexpected and hearty meal.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Laura Rege2/31Soy-Glazed Chicken With Broccoli
In this quick, kid-friendly dinner, a sweet and gingery soy sauce mixture is used to both braise and glaze skinless, boneless chicken thighs; making it the perfect partner to crisp-tender broccoli sprinkled with sesame seeds.
Photo & Food Styling by Anna Stockwell3/31Broccoli and Spam Stir-Fry
In this simple Thai-inspired stir-fry, you’ll quick-sear Spam for a crispy yet melt-in-your-mouth texture, then finish it with a mint (or cilantro) vinaigrette for a fresh, herbaceous lift.
Photo by Waterbury Publications, Inc.4/31Blissed-Out Crispy Cheesy Broccoli Gratin
This isn’t your typical broccoli casserole recipe. By cooking broccoli gratin on a sheet pan instead of in a baking dish, you ensure that every morsel gets an ample coating of crunchy, cheesy breadcrumbs.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Katherine Sacks5/31Green Goddess Grain Bowl
In this delicious meal-in-a-bowl, roasted broccoli makes a nice foil to nutty cooked grains, crunchy cucumbers, and creamy avocado, while a bright and refreshing green goddess dressing perks it up.
Photo by Alex Lau, Food Styling by Sue Li6/31Broccoli and Garlic-Ricotta Toasts With Hot Honey
Scattering crispy roasted broccoli florets over garlicky, ricotta-slathered toasts makes for a great party trick—or a great part of a snacky dinner.
Photo by Alex Lau, Food Styling by Susie Theodorou7/31Sheet-Pan Chicken Meatballs and Charred Broccoli
This Japanese-inspired dinner of chicken meatballs and roasted broccoli comes together on a baking sheet with a sweet and sour sauce that will win over even the pickiest of eaters.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Alex Brannian, Food Styling by Rhoda Boone8/31Sesame Chicken With Broccoli
In this speedy, fan favorite meal, the chicken gets a crisp crust thanks to a quick coating in cornstarch. For a complete meal, serve with plenty of rice and don't skip the scallions and toasted sesame seeds on top.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Sophie Strangio, Food Styling by Olivia Mack Anderson10/31One-Pot Pasta Primavera With Shrimp
This lightning-fast version of the classic spring pasta calls for just the right amount of water that magically cooks down to create a silky sauce, no draining necessary. And because it’s made with frozen broccoli and peas, you can enjoy it all year round.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, food styling by Michelle Gatton, prop styling by Alyssa Pagano11/31Broccoli Slaw With Miso-Ginger Dressing
Photo by Laura Murray, Food Styling by Pearl Jones13/31Big Flavor Broccoli
This lemony, garlicky broccoli recipe goes well with just about anything, whether you’re pairing it with roast chicken or a plate of pasta. Pro tip: Don't discard your broccoli stems. Here, the whole vegetable is used and only the very bottom, woody part is trimmed.
Photo by Kristin Teig15/31Melted Broccoli Pasta With Capers and Anchovies
In this satisfying, budget-friendly dinner, broccoli gets cooked down to create a hearty, satisfying pasta sauce. Breadcrumbs help thicken the sauce and add a pop of texture in lieu of cheese.
Photo by Michael Graydon & Nikole Herriott, Prop Styling by Kalen Kaminski, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich16/31Broccoli Caesar
Everyone loves a classic Caesar salad, but this broccoli version gets points for crunch. The salad uses two whole heads of broccoli, stems and all. Use a peeler to trim down any tough, woody ends.
donna hay magazine, photography by William Meppem18/31Thai Coconut, Broccoli and Coriander Soup
This warming, Thai-inspired recipe combines broccoli, spinach, cilantro, and creamy coconut milk with store-bought green curry paste to create a flavorful vegetarian soup. To serve, garnish each bowl with crispy shallots and more cilantro to add a pop of texture and freshness.
Photo by Laura Murray21/31Cold Sesame Noodles With Broccoli and Kale
The broccoli in this noodle dish gets tossed in a punchy seasoning of grated garlic cloves and hot sauce, then quickly roasted at high heat until tender and browned for a quick weeknight dinner.
Photo by Alex Lau22/31Broccoli Bolognese with Orecchiette
Blanch some chopped broccoli before cooking your pasta in the same water, then toss with crumbled Italian sausage, red pepper flakes, butter, and Parmesan cheese for a veggie-based bolognese perfect for pasta night.
23/31Cracked Farro and Broccoli Salad
This recipe turns nutty farro into a complete meal thanks to a bevy of crunchy raw vegetables, salty Pecorino cheese, fresh mint, and sliced Fresno chile peppers.
Photo by Alex Lau, Prop Styling by Beatrice Chastka, Food Styling by Lillian Chou24/31Chinese Broccoli With Soy Paste
Steamed Chinese broccoli (or broccolini) only needs a bit of good-quality, umami-rich soy paste to truly shine. Serve with rice and luscious soy-braised chicken wings for a flavor-packed dinner.
Photo by Claire Cottrell25/31Broccoli and Cheese Quiche
Extra greens and a generous amount of cheese make this classic broccoli cheddar quiche an exciting addition to any brunch.
Photo by Alex Lau27/31Salt-As-You-Go Pasta
The trick for restaurant-style pasta and broccoli with a glossy, Parmesan-enriched sauce? Salting as you go. The technique ensures you end up with perfectly seasoned pasta that makes the flavors shine. A squeeze of lemon juice over top adds a touch of brightness and acidity that ties it all together.
28/31Broccoli-Cheese Soup
Cheesy, creamy broccoli soup is on our list of essential broccoli recipes, obviously. But it's also essential comfort food. Bread bowl, optional.
Photo by Hirsheimer & Hamilton30/31Roast Salmon and Broccoli with Chile-Caper Vinaigrette
Broccoli and salmon make an ideal weeknight dinner duo, and this one-pan version with spicy jalapeños and salty capers couldn’t be easier to throw together.
Photo by Con Poulos31/31Spring Green Bowls
Maybe you think you've tried all the best broccoli recipes out there, but have you tried broccoli rice? Here, riced broccoli creates a hearty, grain-free base for bright toppings like fresh peas, avocados, and pickled ginger. Top it off with a creamy, herby dressing and a soft-boiled egg and it might just become your new favorite way to eat broccoli.
