It really doesn’t get any easier than this. Or healthier. Or tastier! This easy broccoli recipe is made with steamed broccoli, garlic, lemon zest, and chili flakes. Deliciously tender, your kids will love it too. Constantly on repeat at our house, we never tire of it!
You may be wondering why we steam broccoli? Steaming broccoli saves time. No preheating the oven, ready in just a few minutes, on busy nights, this is a godsend! Steamed broccoli literally takes 5 minutes of steaming time before it is tender and ready to eat, and it doesn’t dry out.
Kids often prefer softer steamed broccoli. My husband will eat steamed broccoli with a pat of butter and salt every day of the week. We do have an amazing roasted broccoli recipe, which is equally good but takes longer.
Don’t toss the stems! Full of nutrition, these are packed with fiber and polyphenols! Just slice them thinly and place them on the bottom of the steamer basket.
Broccoli Recipe Ingredients
- Broccoli – buy florets or whole broccoli, stems and all. Don’t toss those stems, slice them up small!
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil– to add delicious richness and polyphenols!
- A fresh Lemon- you’ll use the lemon zest and a little lemon juice if you like!
- Garlic- to add a little punchy flavor. Or sub granulated garlic.
- Seasonings- Salt, Black Pepper and Red Chili flakes
- To elevate – a drizzle of truffle oil, optional, but yummy.
Broccoli Variations
- Add cheese. Sprinkle with Parmesan or Pecorino cheese
- Use different spices! Sprinkle a little cajun spice, zaatar spice or even something as simple as taco seasoning or smoked paprika!
- Toss with an Asian marinade– like our teriyaki sauce, Szechuan sauce, or even our pozu dressing.
- Drizzle with Truffle oil. Elegant and delicious!
How to make The Best Broccoli Recipe
- Prep. Cut or break broccoli into small bite-sized florets. Try to make them the same size so they steam evenly.
3. Season! At this point, you can serve it with a drizzle of olive oil, a sprinkle of granulated garlic, salt and pepper, and a squeeze of lemon juice and lemon zest. Or continue with the recipe below which takes about 5 more minutes.
How to Elevate Your Broccoli
Add lemon zest and turn off the heat.
5. Combine. Add the steamed broccoli to the skillet and toss to combine, seasoning generously with salt and pepper.
Taste for salt and pepper and add more if needed. Doesn’t this just look delicious? It is! This easy broccoli recipe is cooked in 15 minutes flat!
Storing Cooked Broccoli
Leftovers will keep up to 4 days in an airtight container in the refrigerator. You can also freeze it in the freezer for up to 3 months.
What to serve with Broccoli!
I love serving it with jasmine rice and crispy tofu (or Blackened Salmon) for a quick, healthy dinner. Here are some other ideas…
- Salmon with Braised French Lentils
- Chicken Piccata
- Chicken Provençal
- Over Cacio e Pepe Or Lemon Pasta
- Healthy Spaghetti with Fresh Tomato Sauce
broccoli Benefits
- Studies at Johns Hopkins University show that broccoli is an incredible antioxidant. It truly is a superfood. In fact, it is one of the most nutrient-dense veggies available!
- Research is showing that broccoli (and other cruciferous veggies) may actually help us mend damaged DNA and reverse our age, and even prevent cancer.
- The reason for this is that broccoli includes a magic compound called sulforaphane.
So, kids, eat your broccoli. 😉
xoxo
More broccoli recipes you may like:
- 25 Healthy Broccoli Recipes
- Broccoli and Cheddar Soup
- Roasted Broccoli Salad
- Creamy Broccoli Pesto Soup
- Broccoli Quinoa Cakes!
- Creamy Vegan Broccoli Salad
- Vegan Broccoli & Cheddar Soup
- Thai Broccoli Soup with Coconut Milk
- Pasta with Broccolini, Preserved Lemon and Chickpeas
- Lemony Broccoli Chicken Orzo Bake
- Broccoli Manicotti with Burrata
Easy Broccoli recipe | 60-sec video
The Best Broccoli Recipe
- Prep Time: 5 mins
- Cook Time: 10 mins
- Total Time: 10 mins
- Yield: 4
- Category: Side
- Method: steamed
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegan
Description
This recipe for Broccoli with Garlic, Lemon Zest and Chili flakes is our “go-to” broccoli recipe -simple, yet full of amazing flavor! Vegan, healthy can be made in 15 minutes! Updated 1/2022
Ingredients
- 4–6 cups Broccoli Florets (or broccolini) 8 ounces – save the stems.
- 1 tablespoon olive oil (or butter or ghee)
- 4–10 garlic cloves, rough chopped
- generous pinch chili flakes (Aleppo or Urfa Biber are nice here)
- zest of one lemon
- salt and pepper to taste
- Optional: truffle oil
Instructions
- Tear or cut broccoli florets into small florets, roughly the same size to ensure even doneness. Thinly slice the stems ( ⅛-inch thick disks)
- Pour 3/4-inch of water into a medium pot and place a steamer basket over the top. (Water should not cover the bottom of the basket). Place broccoli stems in the basket first, then florets and cover with a lid. Bring water to a boil. Lower heat to medium-low, and simmer covered, until fork-tender, about 5 minutes. Test with a fork- see notes.
- While the broccoli is steaming, heat oil in a large skillet. Saute garlic over medium heat until fragrant, add chili flakes. When garlic is golden add lemon zest, give a stir and turn the heat off.
- Using tongs, add the steamed broccoli to the skillet, season generously with salt and pepper and give a gentle stir.
- Taste, adjust salt, pepper, chili flakes. Add a little more olive oil if you like, so broccoli is nicely coated.
- Serve and enjoy!
Notes
FASTER: Once the broccoli is steamed, you could simply season with a drizzle of olive oil, salt, pepper, granulated garlic powder and lemon juice and zest- for a quick cheater version.
My husband is happy with just butter, salt and pepper, always a win with kids too.
Feel free to add a drizzle of truffle oil, to elevate this!
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 96
- Sugar: 1.6 g
- Sodium: 324.6 mg
- Fat: 7.4 g
- Saturated Fat: 1.1 g
- Carbohydrates: 7.3 g
- Fiber: 2.6 g
- Protein: 2.7 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
Fabulous and easy recipe for broccoli or cauliflower. Love meyer lemons and garlic.
Thanks for sharing.
Glad you enjoyed Lisa!
This is a lovely recipe. It is easy and tasty. The lemon zest brings a bright note and reminds me that spring is coming (we’re in winter as I write this). Thank you for this yummy recipe!
So glad you enjoyed Linda! Yay spring- I can’t wait!💚
What brand is the flat edge wood spatula? I need one! THX
It was a gift and I don’t remember seeing a brand on it- sorry about that!
Would this taste as good if I used frozen broccoli?
It should work? It may be a softer texture.
What tool do you use for that beautiful lemon zest?
A channel knife zester, one the has the 4 little holes at the top that will create the long strands.
Love this quick, delicious recipe.
I use capers in place of the chili since my partner likes chili less than I do. The lemon makes such a difference.
Glad you enjoyed Anne!
Wow love ❤️ at first bite!
Nice to hear!
Hi Sylvia, love your recipes, great way to enjoy healthy food!
If I may make two suggestions for easier reading (I use your metric versions):
1. Replace “gramms “ with the abbreviation “g”
2. Replace “Tablespoon” with “Tbsp” and “Teaspoon “ with “tsp”.
But again, wonderful food, has earned us (you) lots of compliments.
Thanks.
Thanks so much!
I’ve made this, or some version for several years. Even with my lazy adaptations it was excellent. Today for the first time I decided to make it exactly as written, including a small drizzle of truffle oil. Oh my goodness what a game changer ! I thought the lemon zest alone made the difference but no! I used 8 very large garlic cloves along with the other ingredients. So so good. I think next time I will make it the same way but go back to my original practice of squeezing a lemon over the top right before serving. This will be on our table once a week!!!!
Great to hear Pam! I love this one too!
Lovely
So glad you enjoyed!
Sylvia,
The brussel sprout substitution was also delicious. I am a huge fan of this recipe. THANKS!
Ok, thanks Ernie! I’ll have to thry that next! Glad you are enjoying!
I love the recipe, going to substitute broccoli for brussel sprouts. Going to give it a try.
Love that idea Ernie- let us know how it turns out!
I used dried ghost pepper flakes from last years garden.
The recipie is simple and delicious.
I used a microwave steamer, 2 minutes. Put in pan and sauteed a bit. The broccoli was done perfectly.
Thanks Ernie- glad you gave this a go and appreciate the comment and rating!
Another awesome dish!!!
I love the mix of spicy chili flakes with the lemon.
So beautifully prepared and yet so easy to make.
Thanks again Sylvia 😁
Glad you enjoyed this!
I agree with other comments that it was amazing what a difference lemon zest made! I have squeezed fresh lemon juice over broccoli for years; but the sauteed garlic and lemon zest take it to another level…….not to mention the pepper flakes. Easy enough for a weeknight but tastes like a weekend date night! Thank you for this simple, fast and delectable broccoli dish. Best broccoli ever!!!
Glad you gave it a try!
Love it!
Great to hear!
Simple but very healthy dish.
This is the quickest way to prepare a WFPB dish or Vegan. Also excellent side dish.
I have this 3-4 times per week. I also squeeze some lemon juice, I find it adds to the olive oil flavour, and then dip some bread in the remaining juices. Yum
Yum Carlo! Thanks!
Thank you, Sylvia! DELICIOUS!!!!
thanks Christine- glad you enjoyed this!
This is pretty much how I’ve made my broccoli for years. However, I speed things up a bit by “steaming” wet/washed broccoli in the microwave for about 3-4 minutes before dumping it into the skillet.
Perfect Lucinda! I don’t have a microwave but using one would be much faster!
We’ve been making this for years! Very easy, healthy and delicious.
Great to hear Sandy!
Fantastic, simple so tasty. This receipe will be a standard in my repertoire, thanks so much for the inspiration.
Truffle oil is one of my favorites! Sounds great with lemon and pine nuts.
This looks so good! I cannot wait to try. I need to get a steamer but I do not think they are that expensive? I found your blog through pinterest and repinned this on my website: http://www.muffinsandmocha.com Hope that was ok! Linked it right back to you 🙂
I almost forgot that I saw this recipe a while back – I do not really like broccoli. But then I do believe in healthy food and variation so the other day I found myself in my kitch with a broccoli in my hand. I followed your instructions and … i was AMAZED! How can something as simple as lemon zest make such a difference!! Thank you for sharing!