Wondering how long to roast broccoli at 400 degrees? This simple recipe takes about 20 minutes. The exact time depends on your oven and how big the pieces are, but you'll end up with tender broccoli and crisp edges every time.
Jump to:
Broccoli is loaded with fiber, vitamins, and minerals. Roasting brings out its natural flavor. Toss the broccoli in your salads or serve it as a hot side dish. Either way, it's a delicious and healthy part of a balanced diet.
Why You'll Love Roasted Broccoli
We love simple roasted vegetable recipes and we try to eat them a few times every week. You can also try our Roasted Asparagus, Crispy Roasted Cauliflower, and Roasted Russets or Tiny Red Potatoes. Roasted veggies make a healthy side dish and they're so much fun to make.
- Flavor: Roasting broccoli brings out its natural sweetness and enhances its flavor.
- Crispy Texture: Roasting gives broccoli a crispy texture that adds a good crunch to every bite.
- Nutrient-Rich: Broccoli is packed with essential vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, and roasting helps to retain its nutritional value.
- Easy Preparation: With just a few simple ingredients and minimal prep time, you can whip up a batch of roasted broccoli that's both nutritious and tasty. Even the kids will love it!
This recipe is:
- Low-calorie
- Low-fat
- Gluten-free
- Dairy-free
- Soy-free
- Egg-free
- Vegan, Vegetarian, Paleo, Whole30
Broccoli is loaded with fiber, vitamins, and minerals. Roasting it brings out its natural flavor. Toss the broccoli in your salads, serve it as a side dish, or eat it straight up.
How To Buy Broccoli
When selecting broccoli at the grocery store, look for bunches with tightly bound florets and vibrant green color, avoiding any signs of yellowing or florets falling off.
Turn the broccoli over so you can see the underside of the florets; if they look pale yellow, it's a sign that the broccoli is past its prime.
Organic broccoli is readily available at stores like Publix and Whole Foods. To keep it fresh, store broccoli in the refrigerator in a plastic bag for 3 to 5 days.
To keep it fresh, store broccoli in the refrigerator in a plastic bag for 3 to 5 days.
Ingredients
- Fresh broccoli
- Olive oil
- Salt
- Black pepper
How to Roast Broccoli
- Adjust the oven rack to the middle position and heat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Wash the broccoli and pat it dry with a paper towel.
- Trim the broccoli florets from the stalk into bite-sized pieces. You can also peel and slice the broccoli stalk into thin rounds, which are also delicious when roasted.
- In a mixing bowl, toss the broccoli florets with olive oil, ensuring they are evenly coated, but not drenched in oil.
- Season the broccoli with salt, pepper, and any other herbs or spices.
- Spread the broccoli pieces in a single layer on the baking sheet, making sure there is room around each piece. This allows them to roast evenly and get crispy.
- Roast the broccoli for about 20 minutes, or until the edges are crisp and golden brown, and the broccoli is tender when pierced with a fork.
- Remove when golden brown. Serve hot.
Best Seasonings for Roasted Broccoli
- Dried spices: Elevate your dish with garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, cayenne pepper, Tajin, lemon pepper, crushed red pepper flakes, or blackened seasoning. Simply mix a spoonful of them into the bowl along with salt and pepper before roasting.
- Cheese: Add a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese, cheddar, or Monterey Jack during the final 5 minutes of roasting for a luscious, melty finish.
- Citrus: Brighten up your cooked broccoli with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice or a sprinkle of lemon zest for a refreshing twist.
- Nuts: Elevate the texture with sliced slivered almonds or crushed macadamia nuts as delicious crunchy toppings.
- Fresh herbs: Scatter parsley, basil, or thyme leaves on your serving plate for a flavor boost and a beautiful garnish.
Top Tips
- Dry Thoroughly: Make sure the broccoli is thoroughly dried after washing so it gets crispy.
- Preheat: Make sure to preheat the oven so the broccoli is evenly roasted.
- Cut florets evenly: Keep the broccoli florets uniform in size so they roast at the same rate. I like to slice the broccoli to about 1 ½ inches wide. All the little pieces that fall off should also be added to the sheet pan. They get very crunchy!
- Use the Stalks: Don't discard the broccoli stalks! Peel off the tough outer layer with a vegetable peeler. Then, slice the broccoli stems into "coins" and roast them alongside the florets. They taste great.
- Use enough oil: Toss the florets in olive oil, avocado oil, or coconut oil to help the broccoli caramelize and prevent burning.
- Seasonings: Salt brings out the flavor in almost everything. I like to use kosher salt or flaky sea salt to season roasted broccoli.
- Face Down: Place the broccoli florets cut-side down on the sheet pan. This allows the large, flat-cut surfaces to caramelize, resulting in uniformly crispy broccoli with golden edges.
- Space it Out: Be careful not to overcrowd the pan and use enough oil that the broccoli caramelizes as it cooks.
- Roast at high heat: Roasting at 400°F is the perfect temperature for roasting broccoli. If you go higher, you may destroy the nutritional value of the vegetable.
Important: Make sure to monitor the oven. Keep an eye on the broccoli as it roasts to prevent burning. Oven temperatures can vary, so check on the broccoli periodically and adjust the cooking time as needed.
To double the recipe, use two sheet pans and rotate the pans in the oven after 10 minutes. You might need another 5 minutes in the oven.
Broccoli Stalk Benefits
The "trunks" of broccoli are rich in sulfur compounds that act as harmful gas to unfriendly bacteria and other microorganisms inside the intestinal tract and also travel straight to the liver, where they saturate liver tissue, allowing the liver's immune system to have a fighting chance at controlling pathogens.
Anthony WIlliam, Medical Medium
How To Store Roasted Broccoli
Store the broccoli in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 2-3 days.
Reheat in a small skillet with a drizzle of olive oil for a quick and tasty meal.
Sides for Roasted Broccoli
Roasted broccoli is incredibly versatile and can be enjoyed as a side dish, tossed into salads, and served with meat and chicken dinners. We often use it to go with our favorite blackened seafood meals.
Here are some of our popular high-protein recipes to serve alongside the roasted broccoli:
Nutritional Benefits
Steamed, boiled, or roasted broccoli has anti-fungal and anti-inflammatory properties, making it an excellent dish. It is a cruciferous vegetable and a significant source of fiber, vitamins A, C, K, and folate.
According to Dr. Josh Axe, moderate consumption of broccoli can lead to healthier teeth and gums, better eye health, and lower blood pressure.
Summary
This recipe for healthy oven-roasted broccoli is easy to make and tastes great. The crispy edges of each piece of broccoli make you crave more with every bite.
For a convenient hands-free side dish, simply toss all the ingredients in a bowl, mix thoroughly, and bake in the oven. Make sure there's ample space in the pan for air circulation, allowing the broccoli to dry out and get crispy
We eat roasted all the time. The broccoli has lots of fiber and nutrients. Paired with chicken, fish, or eggs, roasted broccoli is good food and an easy side dish you can feed your family.
Explore our in-depth Guide to Roasting Vegetables at 400°F for a full recipe of every roasted vegetable.
FAQ
Yes, it is! Broccoli is low in calories and sodium. A cup of roasted broccoli has only 7 net carbs, making it a great source of fiber, ideal for a keto diet.
You can certainly roast frozen broccoli, but it may not become as crispy as fresh broccoli. Thaw it completely and pat it dry before roasting to help minimize excess moisture.
You can, but freezing is not recommended. Nicely roasted broccoli will never be the same after freezing.
Broccoli takes about 20 to 25 minutes to bake in the oven at 400°F (204°C). The cooking time may vary depending on the size of the florets.
How Long To Roast Broccoli at 400
Ingredients
- 1 ½ pounds fresh broccoli, 2-3 heads
- 3 tablespoons olive oil, or avocado oil, ghee, or coconut oil
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a large rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Trim broccoli and slice each floret in half lengthwise.
- In a large mixing bowl, toss broccoli with oil, salt, and pepper.
- Spread broccoli in a single layer on the baking sheet with the cut (flat side) face down.
- Roast 20 minutes or until the edges are crispy. There is no need to flip the pieces while they roast.
- Serve hot.
Notes
- Use fresh broccoli.
- Wash the broccoli and dry it well before mixing with oil.
- Cut the broccoli into even-sized pieces so they all roast at the same rate.
- You can slice the stems into "coins" and roast them too. They taste great.
- Do not crowd the pan.
- When you crowd the pan, the broccoli (or any other vegetable) will steam and not get crispy.
- To double the recipe, use two sheet pans and rotate the pans in the oven after 10 minutes. You might need another 5 minutes in the oven.
