45 Amazing Broccoli Recipes Even Broccoli Haters Can’t Resist (2024)

No, seriously.

By Taylor Worden
45 Amazing Broccoli Recipes Even Broccoli Haters Can’t Resist (1)

If you're the type who hears the word "broccoli" and is immediately filled with wary skepticism, we're here to change your mind about one of our favorite veggies. If you've only had this classic vegetable steamed or raw, these recipes will open your mind to a whole new world. From delicious broccoli salads to cheesy casseroles to comforting, warming soups, broccoli is a versatile veggie star you won't regret trying in your next healthy weeknight dinner.

Broccoli is one of our fave veggies not only because of its versatility, but also how quick and easy it is to cook! It takes to so many different forms of cooking depending on your desired texture—crispy, slightly crunchy, raw, or softly steamed. You can toss these babies in your stir-fry, steam them in the bag, or toss them in the air fryer or even on the grill! If you just can't get enough of roasting your veggies, try out our best ways to eat roasted broccoli for tons of inspo.

While we've included plenty of recipes that let broccoli shine, if you're still a bit nervous about it—or if you have some picky eaters in your household—many of these recipes sneak in the veggie in the most creative ways. Tater tots, cheesy garlic bread, and pesto all get a broccoli makeover, making them extra-green, ultra-flavorful, and the tastiest way to get in an extra helping of veggies.

So what are you waiting for? Whether you're a broccoli lover or hater, try out these quick and delicious recipes for weeknight dinner ideas or easy vegetable sides that will please any and every crowd.

1

Beef & Broccoli

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In terms of popularity, this is right up there with orange chicken, and for very good reason: The combination of tender, seared beef and broccoli tossed in a garlicky, velvety sauce is practically impossible to resist.

Get the .

2

Broccoli Cheddar Soup

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Our recipe is thick, hearty, cheesy, and just rich enough to make it a staple comfort food recipe during cold and chilly nights. You get that stick-to-your bones goodness and the sharp, cheesy flavor from the cheddar, while still getting a good dose of veggies. Mmmm!

Get the Broccoli Cheddar Soup recipe.

3

One-Pot Broccoli Cheese Pasta

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This creamy pasta is kind of the grown-up version of , but even easier and better. Broccoli is a star here, coated in cheese with a kick of heat from red pepper flakes.

Get the One-Pot Broccoli Cheese Pasta recipe.

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4

Chicken Stir-Fry

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A stir fry is our go-to weeknight dinner when we just don’t have the energy to spend a long time in the kitchen or the grocery store—this recipe is no exception. Make it as is, then use it as a jumping-off point to create your perfect chicken stir-fry.

Get the Chicken Stir-Fry recipe.

5

Broccoli Cauliflower Casserole

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There’s your average casserole... and then there’s this cheesy loaded broccoli cauliflower casserole. Filled with plenty of veggies and feel-good flavors, there’s something in this dish for everyone.

Get the Broccoli Cauliflower Casserole recipe.

6

Cream of Broccoli Soup

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Cozy up to a bowl of this creamy, healthy soup when the nights get cold. Packed with broccoli, potatoes, and a healthy dose of heavy cream (use coconut cream if dairy-free!), this fall soup is SO satisfying.

Get the Cream of Broccoli Soup recipe.

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7

Air Fryer Broccoli

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For perfectly crisp and tender broccoli, skip the oven and use your air fryer. You can get away with minimal oil, making it a smart way to cook the veggie, while still tasting absolutely delicious.

Get the Air Fryer Broccoli recipe.

8

Mongolian Beef Ramen

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We made the classic take-out dish even easier in this recipe by using packaged ramen noodles. Tip: Don't forget the cornstarch! It's the secret ingredient for making the sliced sirloin steak crispy and caramelized, and for thickening the delicious sauce.

Get the Mongolian Beef Ramen recipe.

9

Chicken Bacon Ranch Bubble-Up Bake

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Broccoli is a match made in heaven with shredded chicken, crispy bacon, and biscuits in this quick and easy bake!

Get the Chicken Bacon Ranch Bubble-Up Bake recipe.

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10

Tofu Stir-Fry

We love adding broccoli to stir-fries because of how fast and easily it cooks in the pan alongside all our other veggies. We used tofu in this recipe for a vegan dinner that rivals any take-out.

Get the Tofu Stir-Fry recipe.

11

Air Fryer Broccoli Ranch Tots

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Switch up your normal tater tots by adding finely chopped broccoli and ranch seasoning. Using an air fryer will give you ultra-crispy tots in half the time!

Get the Air Fryer Broccoli Ranch Tots recipe.

12

Keto Broccoli Cheddar Soup

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We think broccoli cheddar soup was invented solely for keto people who hate vegetables. It's so much easier to get your daily serving of veggies when they're paired with a luscious, cheesy broth.

Get the Keto Broccoli Cheddar Soup recipe.

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13

Air Fryer Beef & Broccoli

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This classic Chinese-American dish features tender strips of beef, perfectly cooked broccoli florets, and a savory-sweet sauce. Bonus: Since it only takes 30 minutes, it might be even faster than takeout!

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14

Broccoli Slaw

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Nothing says summertime like a good cruciferous slaw, and this tangy, crunchy broccoli one will make you the star of every summer cookout. It’s got the classic slaw veggies, with the addition of raw broccoli, toasted walnuts, and sweet craisins tossed in a maple and lemon dressing.

Get the Broccoli Slaw recipe.

15

Walnut Broccoli Stir-Fry

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When you’re looking for an satisfying vegetarian dinner, but are craving take-out , it’s time to turn to the almighty walnut. It’s fatty and rich, with a fun, rippled texture that gives this sweet and spicy sauce lots of nooks and crannies to hug onto.

Get the Walnut Broccoli Stir-Fry recipe.

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16

Keto Broccoli Salad

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This might be one of our favorite keto recipes. Packed with crispy bacon, broccoli, cheddar cheese, and sharp red onion all tossed in a creamy dressing, this is always a crowd-pleaser.

Get the Keto Broccoli Salad recipe.

17

Miso Glazed Salmon

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This easy baked salmon is glazed in a miso sauce and cooked right alongside broccoli for a simple and fast dinner in under an hour. Quick and super-delicious, this is one of our go-to healthy dinners.

Get the Miso Glazed Salmon recipe.

18

Broccoli Cheesy Bread

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You may have had zucchini cheesy bread, but have you ever had our broccoli version? This bread has all the classic cheesiness of garlic bread, but with an adding helping of veggies! Serve it with marinara or ranch for a seriously irresistible snack.

Get the Broccoli Cheesy Bread recipe.

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19

Shrimp Stir-Fry

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Now THIS is what we call a one-skillet dinner. Whip up this easy, customizable shrimp dinner in around 30 minutes for a super-satisfying, quick weeknight dinner.

Get the Shrimp Stir-Fry recipe.

20

Chicken Teriyaki

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We used chicken breasts in this recipe to pair with our sweet and salty teriyaki sauce and steamed broccoli, but feel free to switch out your main protein for tofu or pork!

Get the Chicken Teriyaki recipe.

45 Amazing Broccoli Recipes Even Broccoli Haters Can’t Resist (2024)

FAQs

How do restaurants make their broccoli taste so good? ›

How do restaurants make broccoli taste so good? As with everything made by chefs, they have unexpected (read: unhealthy) additions to their meals — mostly butter, oil and heaps of salt. An excellent tip for the perfect broccoli is the blanching step.

How do you get a picky eater to eat broccoli? ›

Broccoli also goes great with different sauces and dips. As a side dish, broccoli can also be steamed, stir-fried, roasted or boiled. Serving broccoli to picky eaters in different ways helps prevent them from getting stuck in a rut and may make them more likely to try broccoli.

What should you avoid when selecting broccoli? ›

Avoid broccoli with yellow and orange spotting, or other discolouration. You also want to make sure the florets are firm, and don't easily pull away from the main stem.

How do you cook broccoli if you don't like it? ›

Garlic and butter help make broccoli taste irresistible. Simply sautee the broccoli in a pan with just a little butter, some onions and grated garlic and voila! Add a drizzle of lemon if desired.

Why does Chinese restaurant broccoli taste so good? ›

Even adults don't enjoy eating their vegetables sometimes. The high water content in some veggies renders them a bit bland on their own, so many people would prefer to make them palatable by adding various ingredients.

How do Chinese restaurants get broccoli so crispy? ›

The Chinese broccoli needs to cook as fast as possible, so that the nutrients and color don't have as much opportunity to leach out into the water. It's best to start with as much boiling water as you can. Restaurants serve amazingly green and crunchy Chinese broccoli because they use huge amounts of boiling water.

How do you get a super picky eater to eat? ›

Approaches to Try
  1. Try eating the food first to show them you like it. ...
  2. Make funny faces with the foods on their plate. ...
  3. Give them a choice of different foods to try. ...
  4. Serve new foods with foods you know they like.
  5. Try freezing small bites of leftover foods. ...
  6. Wait a couple of days before offering the food again.

How do you perk up broccoli? ›

You can soak the broccoli in a bowl of ice water for 30 minutes or more to help it regain its firmness. Another method is to slice off a portion of the stem and place the remaining stem and crown in a pot with a cup of water. Store it in the fridge overnight, and the broccoli will be crisp and fresh in the morning.

How do you get an adult picky eater to eat vegetables? ›

10 ways to encourage picky eaters to eat veggies
  1. #1 Get hands physically on the veggies and emotionally invested. ...
  2. #2 Hide the veggies. ...
  3. #3 Eat veggies raw with dip. ...
  4. #4 Don't make a big deal out of it. ...
  5. #5 Have fun with the veggies. ...
  6. #6 Make pickles with your veggies. ...
  7. #7 Have the veggies available. ...
  8. #8 Roast your veggies.

What are the disadvantages of eating broccoli everyday? ›

As broccoli is rich in Potassium that causes lowering of blood pressure, an excess consumption can result in hypotension. An excess broccoli consumption can also increase the risk of hemorrhagic stroke. Patient on blood thinners can have increased risk of bleeding due to the presence of Vitamin K in broccoli.

Why am I so sensitive to broccoli? ›

Symptoms of a broccoli allergy usually mean that you're sensitive to salicylates, which is a natural chemical that can be found in plants like broccoli. Some people may be sensitive to even small amounts of salicylates. You may also have symptoms when eating other foods with salicylates like: apples.

Why is my broccoli turning purple in the fridge? ›

According to Tetsu, this purple color is not a sign of damage, but a sign that the cold has made it sweeter. It is said that broccoli buds turn purple because they produce anthocyanin pigments, a type of polyphenol, to resist cold temperatures and arid conditions during the cold months.

Is it better to boil or bake broccoli? ›

In conclusion, the current study clearly shows that nutrient and health-promoting compounds in broccoli are significantly affected by domestic cooking. All cooking treatments, except steaming, caused great losses of chlorophyll and vitamin C. Only boiling and stir-frying/boiling caused the loss of total carotenoids.

When should you not cook broccoli? ›

Appearance: Fresh broccoli should be uniformly bright green. If there are yellow or brown spots, it's a sign that it's past its prime. If you see any mold, such as white or black fuzzy patches, it's definitely spoiled. Smell: If the broccoli has a strong odor or an off smell, throw it out.

Why is boiling broccoli not recommended? ›

Boiling leaches out the vegetable's water-soluble vitamins in these vegetables, such as vitamin C and folate, as well as many of the glucosinolate compounds, which are water-soluble, too. Moreover, too much exposure to high temperatures destroys the enzyme that converts the inactive glucosinolates to active compounds.

Why do restaurant vegetables taste so good? ›

However, one reason that vegetables always taste better at a restaurant is that chefs there don't hold back on using oil to boost flavor. They often use oodles of butter, oil, or bacon fat to coat veggies fried on the stove and give them an umami appeal.

How do chefs make vegetables taste good? ›

What Chefs Know About Vegetables (That You Don't)
  1. Recaudo makes everything taste good. ...
  2. Blanch kale to make it more tender. ...
  3. Charring concentrates flavor and heightens sweetness. ...
  4. Shave root veggies into a salad. ...
  5. Swap sweet potatoes in for white ones. ...
  6. Make a luxurious tomato confit. ...
  7. Cook vegetables before marinating them.

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