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Make your broccoli taste amazing in just 10 minutes! This easy sauteed broccoli highlights its fresh flavor and comes out perfectly crisp tender.
In need of a healthy and easy side dish? Here’s a “recipe” that’s more of an idea than anything: sauteed broccoli! It might sound basic, but you’ll be surprised at the amount of flavor it’s possible to get from perfectly cooking this vegetable!
Why we love this recipe: Broccoli is often overcooked, leaving it soggy and without flavor. Here Alex and I will show you our go-to simple sauteed broccoli recipe: how to cook it so it’s lightly browned but perfectly crisp tender and flavorful!
🥦 Other favorite ways to cook broccoli? Try our steamed broccoli, roasted broccoli, and roasted broccoli and carrots recipes, or head to How to Cook Broccoli for more!
How to make sauteed broccoli…the right way!
Broccoli is basic, right? But so many home cooks cook it way beyond the point of no return. Overcooked broccoli is the worst: it’s limp and lifeless. Instead, you’ll want to cook it just to the point where it’s tender, but still bright green and crisp. Even better: it takes less time! There’s no reason to spend the time extra overcooking it (ha!). Here are our tips on how to make the best sauteed broccoli:
Step 1: Chop into medium-sized florets. Try to leave a good amount of the stem to make a lovely shape, so the broccoli doesn’t look stubby! Chop them into medium-sized pieces: not so small they disintegrate, but not so large they’re too tough to cut.
Step 2: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the broccoli and sauté for 5 minutes. Watch the pan and stir so the broccoli doesn’t get too browned. Stir in the seasonings (salt, spices, etc).
Step 3: Cover and cook 2 minutes more. Covering the broccoli at the end locks in the moisture and steams it, helping it to get fully cooked through and tender instead of more browned.
And that’s it! Perfectly seasoned sauteed broccoli in just 10 minutes.
Ways to season sauteed broccoli
The key to great tasting sauteed broccoli is the seasonings! First and foremost, make sure to salt it perfectly to taste. Then to accessorize, we used sliced green onion, Italian seasoning, and garlic powder (see the recipe below). If you have a lemon, topping with lemon zest gives it the perfect zing! Here are a few more ideas for flavoring:
- Grated Parmesan or Pecorino Romano cheese
- Feta cheese or goat cheese crumbles
- Rice vinegar, soy sauce (in place of the last ¼ teaspoon salt), and sesame seeds
- A drizzle of balsamic reduction
- Slivered toasted almonds
- Minced garlic
- Grated ginger
- Panko and dried herbs
A bit on broccoli nutrition
Broccoli is a super nutritious cruciferous vegetable! It’s high in fiber (with 2.4 grams per 1 cup), which is helpful for keeping you full and helping with digestion. It also has relatively high protein for a vegetable (2.5 grams per 1 cup), and is high in Vitamin C, K and iron. Read more broccoli nutrition facts here.
Main dishes to pair with it!
Of course, there’s no end to dishes to pair with this sauteed broccoli! It’s so versatile that it literally goes with anything (like a perfect pair of jeans!). Here are a few ideas for mains that would pair nicely:
- Pair it with pasta or risotto. You could serve with mac and cheese or as a side to go with lasagna for some well-needed fiber. Try our vegetarian lasagna, risotto, or mushroom pasta with goat cheese.
- Serve with salmon or chicken. This broccoli pairs with any salmon recipe or chicken recipe. Try our baked salmon, grilled salmon, or pan seared salmon, Parmesan crusted chicken, or grilled chicken.
- Try it with pizza! Try this as a vegetable-based side for pizza recipes like Margherita pizza or Neapolitan pizza. Top with a little feta or Parmesan cheese, and adds green to the plate.
Dietary notes
This sauteed broccoli recipe is vegetarian, vegan, plant-based, dairy-free, and gluten-free.
Frequently asked questions
Fresh broccoli florets are ideal. Look for firm, deep green florets with tight buds. Avoid broccoli with yellowing florets or a mushy texture.
We don’t recommend it. Frozen broccoli florets have a softer texture and may release more water during cooking.
Steaming broccoli preserves its vibrant green color and slightly more nutrients. Sautéing allows for browning and caramelization, developing a deeper and more complex flavor.
Blanching (briefly boiling) broccoli florets for a minute or two before sauteing can help soften them slightly and ensure even cooking. However, it’s not essential, especially if you prefer your broccoli with a bit of a bite.
The possibilities are endless! Popular additions include garlic, shallots, ginger, red pepper flakes, soy sauce, lemon juice, toasted nuts, or even a sprinkle of parmesan cheese.
Simple Sauteed Broccoli
- Prep Time: 3 minutes
- Cook Time: 7 minutes
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 4 1x
Description
Make your broccoli taste amazing in just 10 minutes! This easy sauteed broccoli highlights its fresh flavor and comes out perfectly crisp tender.
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 pounds (2 large heads) broccoli
- 2 green onions
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- ⅛ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt, plus more to taste
- Optional: 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- Dress it up: Add a sprinkle of shredded Parmesan cheese or feta cheese!
Instructions
- Chop the broccoli into medium sized florets (leave a good amount of the stem for a nice shape; see the photo). Thinly slice the green onions.
- In a large skillet over medium heat, heat the olive oil. Add the broccoli florets and sauté for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally (the broccoli will lightly brown in parts). Stir in the green onion, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, and kosher salt.
- Cover and cook for 2 to 3 minutes more, until crisp tender but still bright green. Taste and add a few pinches of salt if needed (make the flavor pop!) and fresh ground pepper. Remove the broccoli to a bowl and serve immediately. Sprinkle with the lemon zest, if using.
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Sauteed
- Cuisine: Vegan
Just wondering if you keep at same heat entire time?
yes!
Tried this with fresh broccoli and it was great! Will this work with thawed frozen broccoli?
You won’t get the same texture, but it still tastes great!
I played around with this recipe a bit but luckily it seems to be quite versatile! I didn’t have any onions handy and I used a dash of lemon juice instead of zest. I also can’t eat cheese so I added a healthy sprinkle of nutritional yeast. I think it turned out fantastic and got equally good reviews from my family! I think I will definitely be cooking broccoli like this again, thank you for this super easy recipe!
So glad you enjoyed!
Problem: need to use broccoli, wanted something quick for a side
Journey: searching online for inspiration
Destination: the yummy, tasty recipe from your site
Outcome: flavorful al dente broccoli with a kick
I am grateful…Foodieforpeace
Haha! So glad you enjoyed it! We make this one at least twice a week!