Our roasted broccoli recipe is a healthy roast that can fill you with warming flavors this fall. The mix of golden butternut squash, caramelized carrots, and charred broccoli makes a delicious, nutrient-rich dish.
Read on to learn how to make your broccoli better and what makes this roasted broccoli dish is healthy.
Is Roasted Broccoli Healthy?
Broccoli is replete with health benefits. In this recipe, we’ve combined it with other vegetables and seasonings for added flavor and nutrition.
Some of the most significant benefits are:
1. Vitamin C
This roasted broccoli recipe is vitamin-rich. The broccoli alone serves a sufficient dose of daily vitamin C intake, naturally supporting the immune system.
2. For Eye Health
Similarly, the other vegetables add to the nutritional goodness.
The vibrant color of butternut squash and carrots is owed to the beta-carotene. This nutrient converts into vitamin A to improve eye health and cell differentiation.
3. For Heart Health
In the same way, pumpkin seeds are a great source of macronutrients. One ounce provides half the adequate intake (AI) of omega-6 fatty acids and a moderate amount of magnesium, zinc, and antioxidants.
All these contribute to an increase in ‘good’ cholesterol levels to help reduce the risk of heart disease. So they’re not only healthy but are also a texture-varied way to finish off this dish.
Cauliflower vs Broccoli
There’s no question as to whether cauliflower or broccoli are healthy. The only real debate is whether one is healthier than the other.
A quick look at their nutrition profiles reveals how they share the attributes of being high in fiber and low in calories. So if you’re wondering which is preferable for your weight loss diet, the answer is either one will do.
When it comes to differences, there’s no mistaking the two: broccoli is green and cauliflower is white. Broccoli also contains more vitamins C and K than cauliflower.
On the other hand, cauliflower contains from 3 to 4% more vitamin B6 and pantothenic acid. So nutritionally, broccoli takes the lead.
But there’s also the matter of taste, with some preferring the milder flavor of cauliflower.
Types of Broccoli
There are over 27 different types of broccoli, including bright green romanesco and purple sprouting broccoli. The most popular kind is green (Calabrese) broccoli.
This thick-clustered variety is probably the one you think of when visualizing broccoli. It’s readily available at the store, and what people know as standard broccoli.
You may have come across a more leafy green variety known as Chinese broccoli. It has longer stems and can be slightly bitter, but you can use it whenever a recipe calls for Calabrese broccoli in the ingredients, including ours.
How to Roast Broccoli in the Oven
After cutting the broccoli, toss it together with any seasonings of your choice until the florets are fully coated. Transfer them onto a lined sheet pan and roast the broccoli for 30 minutes before removing it from the oven.
Check the broccoli florets half-way through roasting, flipping them over to prevent the seasoning from burning.
Seasoning
Although this roasted broccoli recipe contains plenty of different vegetables, we’ve kept the seasoning minimal with thyme, salt, and pepper. Simple seasoning really helps to enhance the natural flavors of the vegetables rather than overpowering them.
Below are more helpful ways to improve flavor when roasting vegetables.
Tips for Cooking
Start by using a metal sheet pan with sides less than 1 inch deep. That, plus avoiding stacking the vegetables on top of each other, allows steam to escape to produce a crispy outcome.
Then, cut your vegetables into equal sizes and evenly coat them with seasoning and oil. This results in evenly roasted pieces of food as well as a neat presentation for your dish.
Next, set the temperature of your oven to between 425-450°F to achieve a crispy, caramel char without burning the broccoli. And keep an eye on the veggies throughout the cooking process, flipping them over halfway through to evenly roast.
Main Ingredients
1. Garlic
Garlic brings a distinct aroma to any dish. In this roasted broccoli recipe, roasting the garlic helps break down the pungent allicin present to release a sweeter essence that flavors the vegetables.
Though 4 cloves might seem like a lot, don’t worry about it being too much in this recipe.
2. Lemon
Similar to garlic, lemon juice has a dominant flavor. But in small amounts, it adds freshness and can offer relief amidst other flavors.
Use it sparingly, as we’ve done in this recipe, to elevate the mild taste of vegetables.
3. Parmesan
Parmesan’s dry, nutty texture works excellently in this dish to maintain the crisp, charred texture of the vegetables.
If you don’t have parmesan, hard cheeses like pecorino work best as a substitute. But remember to monitor the saltiness of the dish as some cheeses contain higher amounts of sodium.
4. Olive Oil
Combining olive oil with garlic and broccoli is a foolproof formula for achieving a simple yet aromatic dish. Just be sure to add it in an equal or lesser amount than this recipe calls for to maintain the crispiness of the broccoli.
What Goes Well With Roasted Broccoli?
You can have roasted broccoli plain or paired with a refined main dish. It works well alongside a protein-packed dish to give a satisfying fullness without being too heavy.
Here are a couple of other dishes we believe go well with roasted broccoli:
1. Grilled Chicken Breasts
If you trust yourself with multitasking, grill some chicken while the vegetables are roasting. The moist chicken will offer a firm, meaty texture that delicately complements the mild taste of the tender roast-vegetables.
2. Baked Salmon
Salmon is rich in flavor and adds a full taste to any dish. Its mildness accompanies the nutty broccoli to create a savory balance of fresh and caramelized flavors.
More Quick & Easy Broccoli Ideas:
- Ground Beef and Broccoli Recipe
- Instant Pot Broccoli Recipe
- Broccoli Cauliflower Salad Recipe
- Broccoli Salad Recipe
- Beef and Broccoli Recipe
Roasted Broccoli Recipe
This roasted broccoli requires you to roast until the butternut squash is fork-tender and broccoli florets are crispy brown. Top with pumpkin seeds, sprinkle parmesan cheese and enjoy!
- by Tuyet Pham, Luna Regina, 2020-05-06
- cook TIME 35 mins
- prep TIME 7 mins
- total TIME 42 mins
- COURSE Dinner, Lunch
- CUISINE American
- SERVINGS servings
- CALORIES 228 kcal
INGREDIENTS
- 20 oz broccoli florets
- 4 oz butternut squash (cubed)
- 4 oz carrots (cubed)
- 4 oz red onion (chopped)
- 1.5 oz pumpkin seeds (toasted)
- 0.5 oz grated parmesan cheese
- 4 cloves garlic (minced)
- 2 tbsp lemon juice (fresh)
- 2 tbsp olive oil (*)
- 1 tsp ground black pepper
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1 sprig fresh thyme (optional)
INSTRUCTIONS
Preheat oven to 450°F and line a sheet pan with parchment paper.
Whisk 2 tbsp olive oil, 1 tsp pepper, and 1/4 tsp salt in a bowl and divide the mixture into 2 separate medium-sized bowls.
In the first bowl, add the 20 oz broccoli florets.
In the second bowl, add the remaining vegetables: 4 oz butternut squash, 4 oz cubed carrots, 4 oz red onion.
Add 2 minced cloves garlic and 2 tbsp lemon juice to the broccoli bowl. Toss each bowl until fully coated with seasonings.
Lay the seasoned vegetables out on the sheet pan in a single layer. Don't add the broccoli yet.
Roast for 15 minutes, turn the vegetables over then add the broccoli to the sheet pan. Continue roasting for a further 20 minutes, flipping the broccoli halfway through.
Remove from the oven. Use a fork to check the tenderness of the butternut squash— you want it to be fork-tender. The broccoli should be a nutty brown color.
Immediately sprinkle 0.5 oz parmesan cheese over the vegetables and then 1.5 oz pumpkin seeds to top it off. Garnish with fresh thyme.
(*) Only some of the oil is absorbed during the cooking process and we have calculated nutritional values based on the amount in the final product. The total amount consumed is 2 tablespoons of olive oil.
NUTRITION
Neola Muhambi
Writer, SEO SpecialistTuyet Pham
Head Chef, Culinary ConsultantLuna Regina
Writer, AuthorLizzie Streit, MS, RDN, LD
Nutrition Reviewer- Priya
Broccoli is our new favorite veggie. We will love this recipe for sure.