Cheddar-Roasted Broccoli Recipe (2024)

By Ali Slagle

Published March 1, 2024

Cheddar-Roasted Broccoli Recipe (1)

Total Time
40 minutes
Prep Time
10 minutes
Cook Time
30 minutes
Rating
4(349)
Notes
Read community notes

With frizzled florets and crisp-tender stems, roasted broccoli is pretty delicious on its own. Follow Step 1 if you need a go-to basic method, or keep going for broccoli all dressed up in lacy skirts of Cheddar. Store-bought grated cheese will work, but freshly grated cheese will have an easier time surrendering to the heat of the oven. Let the cheese go past melted to just golden brown, at which point it will crisp into chips on your florets. Serve the broccoli alongside chicken cutlets, sausage or refried beans — or eat it straight from the sheet pan with your fingers.

Featured in: The One Way to Roast Every Kind of Vegetable

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Ingredients

Yield:4 servings

  • pounds broccoli, cut into 1½- to 2-inch-long florets, stems sliced ¼-inch thick
  • 3tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • Salt and pepper
  • 2garlic cloves, finely chopped
  • ¾packed cup/3 ounces coarsely grated extra-sharp Cheddar

Ingredient Substitution Guide

Nutritional analysis per serving (4 servings)

237 calories; 18 grams fat; 6 grams saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 9 grams monounsaturated fat; 1 gram polyunsaturated fat; 13 grams carbohydrates; 5 grams dietary fiber; 3 grams sugars; 10 grams protein; 473 milligrams sodium

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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Cheddar-Roasted Broccoli Recipe (2)

Preparation

  1. Step

    1

    Arrange a rack at the bottom of the oven and heat to 425 degrees. On a parchment paper-lined sheet pan, toss the broccoli with the oil and season with salt and pepper. Arrange in a single layer, cut sides down, and roast on the bottom rack, without flipping, until browned and crisp-tender, 15 to 20 minutes.

  2. Sprinkle the broccoli with the garlic, stir to combine, then spread the broccoli in an even layer. Sprinkle with the Cheddar, then roast until the cheese is melted and nearly all golden brown, 6 to 9 minutes. Let cool a few minutes for the cheese to crisp. Use a spatula to transfer the broccoli and all the cheese to plates.

Ratings

4

out of 5

349

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Private Notes

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Cooking Notes

Lynda

I like to put the vegetables and the oil in a large bowl and mix it with my hands. Distributes the oil and is eco friendly.

B

I know we all live busy lives, but you should shred your own cheese and not purchase the supermarket pre-shredded cheese for any recipe involving melted cheese. Hand-shredded tastes better (cellulose anticaking additives don’t taste good), and the melting will be faster and more complete.

Hapibirder

After reading Carol Chait's note about shaking the veggies in a plastic bag, which she acknowledges is not eco-friendly, I feel obligated to suggest my own method, which is more so: Just put the veggies and oil in a large mixing bowl and stir until the veggies are evenly coated. I definitely agree with her that drizzling food right on the sheet pan results in more oil on the pan than on the food.

Carol Chait

I like to put the broccoli florets in a plastic bag, apply the oil and salt and then shake it up to distribute oil and seasoning rather than directly on the sheet pan. With the latter method, I seem to get more oil on the pan rather than the broccoli (I know using plastic bags isn't really eco friendly but less wasteful with regard to the oil)

Sardineeater

Ate this on top of a baked potato and will do that again. Great recipe.

Kay

In similar recipes rather than oil on the sheet pan or veggies in a plastic bag, I use one of my glass containers with a lid and shake it up!

Meg

MHKC: re: cutting the vegetables, the picture doesn’t exactly match the recipe copy. The recipe says to cut the florettes off of the stems and then cut the stems in slices. I don’t see the slices on the sheet pan and I also see a couple of inches of stem attached to the florettes. Especially with older broccoli, the stems will take longer to cook than the florettes. I don’t think it’s an exact science and I also think it would be delicious regardless of how you cut it.

Kitchenette

I use 400 degrees with the convection feature. Foil is less likely to burn than parchment, esp. if you preheat the pan, which is a good idea.Tonight I mixed the roasted broccoli (no cheese) with bowtie pasta, thawed homemade pesto from the freezer, and a little lemon juice. Really good, with leftovers.

susan

Delicious! So simple but tastes amazing. It was consumed in a flash.

chakrates

Olive oil doesn’t smoke at 425. I’ve been roasting broccoli and other vegetables at this temperature weekly for years.

Henk

Love it!

rosey c.

I put the sheet pan on the bottom rack of a cold oven set to 425 degrees.I roast all my vegetables this way.After 15 minutes, I shredded gruyere over the broccoli, moved the rack up to the middle of the oven, and baked until the cheese was melted.

Deejay

These directions work perfectly. 425 degrees is an ideal temperature for roasting any vegetable. Your oven may be running much hotter if food is burning at that setting for you—get yourself a good oven thermometer and check that 425 degrees is indeed 425 degrees. The cheese on this takes it over the top!

Ashley

Doesn’t Olive Oil smoke at 425?

Linda

I feel silly for not coming up with this on my own! Kids devoured it.

Karen

Followed recipe, but I also added a thinly sliced shallot, and I had a brick of Tillamook White Cheddar, so I grated that on top. It was delicious!

Steve

My husband is not a greens person. Can I do this with a chicken breast instead? He’s also lactose intolerant. Think bbq sauce will work as a swap out?

SueBee

Made this tonight using Gouda as it was all I had. I used a silicone sheet with parchment paper over it in my cookie sheet. Delicious and the crispy cheese was fantastic with the roasted broccoli. Not hard to do or time consuming. Will make again.

Megan

Never have I ever before eaten broccoli that made me moan in a way that had my husband giving me the side eye....I made this just as directed, but since I had some small potatoes, I roasted them for 20 minutes ahead, then added the broccoli and followed the recipe as published with an adjusted amount of store-brand extra sharp cheddar that I grated myself. Huge flavor payoff for very little effort!

Bob from NorCal

It probably depends on the broccoli we used, but I found this dish to be barely palatable.

colleenrain

Made this and tossed it with penne and some peeled prawns. Utterly fantastic and satisfying.

Jimbo

My oven may run hot, but I roast broccoli and most other vegetables, tossed with garlic-infused olive oil and salt and pepper, at 375 degrees and it is delicious. I’ll add grated cheese next time!

Sue B.

I made this tonight. The dish was quite tasty. I made the mistake of piling the cheese up on 'crowded' pieces of broccoli, so the cheese did not crisp up evenly throughout the dish (my bad). That said, I would make this again.

Timothy Brown

Great recipe. However, I'm baffled by a couple of steps including:"arrange [florets] in a single layer, cut sides down" -- I clipped a bunch of florets but there is no "cut side." I just spread them on a cookie sheet."Sprinkle the broccoli with the garlic, stir to combine . . ." == How can one "stir" a bunch of broccoli florets on a flat sheet without knocking most if not all off onto the counter. I just sprinkled the garlic and the grated cheese and it worked out well.

Ann

You will have cut sides if you slice the larger florets vertically (stem to head), splitting the stems so that the stem on each floret is 1/4 inch thick.

AKC

I've been roasting vegetables for decades. Why did I never come across this technique before? I was craving comfort food but didn't want to over-indulge. I made it with cauliflower (no broccoli on hand) and ate it with a baked sweet potato. I will be frico-izing broccoli and a variety of other veggies from now on! Thanks!

Xfarmer Laura

Note: No need to waste parchment paper...get a stainless steel sheet pan with shallow sides, cook what ever your cooking remove from pan to eat, then put water in the sheet pan in the sink to soak, (doesn't take long), give a swish, clean it, or put in dishwasher...

Dottie

I just made a 1/3 recipe of this for my lunch. It was delicious and very satisfying. I advise against someone’s suggestion about substituting foil for the parchment paper. The cheese was hard to peel off. I didn’t have sharp cheese, though, and used my favorite Tillamook medium.

Paula

I just use my oil mister - even, light coating of oil without messy hands or extra bowls.

chakrates

Olive oil doesn’t smoke at 425. I’ve been roasting broccoli and other vegetables at this temperature weekly for years.

Ann

Ordinary olive oil has a higher smoke point, but extra virgin olive oil will smoke at that temperature.

Tina

I prepared this for a midmorning breakfast and though not traditional, it was greatly appreciated by all. I followed the directions exactly and was amazed that the dish turned out as described.

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Cheddar-Roasted Broccoli Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How do you stop broccoli from burning when roasting? ›

The tender, fuzzy “tree” tips of roasted broccoli florets are the most delicious, but they are also quick to burn. Make sure the florets are well-coated with olive oil to keep this from happening. Don't Crowd the Pan. If the florets are too close, they will steam instead of roast.

What should I season broccoli with? ›

Oven Roasted Broccoli Serving Suggestions
  1. Toss it with chopped fresh herbs like parsley or thyme.
  2. Sprinkle it with lemon zest and toss it with a simple lemon vinaigrette.
  3. Drizzle it with sesame oil and tamari or soy sauce and sprinkle it with toasted sesame seeds.

Which cooking technique gives the best results when cooking broccoli? ›

Steaming broccoli is quick and easy, and it's considered one of the healthiest ways to prepare the vegetable. Instead of submerging the florets and stem into boiling water or roasting them in the oven, the broccoli is placed in a steamer basket over simmering water and covered with a lid.

Is it better to roast or steam broccoli? ›

In this regards, it is likely that broccoli cooked by steaming will be better fit for human consumption than other cooking methods. In conclusion, the current study clearly shows that nutrient and health-promoting compounds in broccoli are significantly affected by domestic cooking.

How do you keep roasted vegetables crispy? ›

The #1 Tip for Extra-Crispy Roasted Vegetables
  1. Preheat oven to 425℉.
  2. Prep veggies and pat dry (ensuring the veggies are dry will help avoid clumping with the cornstarch). ...
  3. Add 1 tablespoon cornstarch per pound of vegetables. ...
  4. Roast until fork-tender and crispy, 20 to 45 minutes, depending on the vegetable.
Apr 3, 2023

How do you roast vegetables without burning them? ›

Try this: Toss your vegetables with olive oil, salt, pepper, a few cloves of smashed garlic, and a few sprigs of fresh thyme. Spread the coated vegetables evenly across a parchment-lined, rimmed baking sheet and roast at 400°F until almost cooked through. (Time will depend on which vegetables you're roasting.)

What season is best for broccoli? ›

A cool weather vegetable, broccoli thrives in the winter and spring, but is grown year-round in warm climates like California. The best season for broccoli is October through April. When selecting broccoli at the grocery store, choose florets with firm stems and dark green buds.

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.

What do you soak broccoli in before cooking? ›

Nope, not those commercial produce washes; the USDA actually advises against using those. Instead, use a pantry staple: vinegar. Fill a large bowl with 2 ⅔ cups cold or warm water and ⅓ cup white vinegar. Allow it to soak for 2 minutes, then dump the broccoli into a colander.

Is roasted broccoli still healthy? ›

Roasted broccoli is a healthy side dish with major crowd appeal. Broccoli contains a lot of good-for-you fiber, vitamin C, and a surprising amount of protein, too. Who knew? If you've been in a rut with side dishes lately, or you're tired of steamed broccoli, you're going to love this simple side.

What is the healthiest way to eat broccoli? ›

Moreover, too much exposure to high temperatures destroys the enzyme that converts the inactive glucosinolates to active compounds. Serving broccoli raw is an excellent option, since it retains these nutrients and the enzyme that forms isothiocyanate compounds.

Why is roasted broccoli so good? ›

After just 15 minutes in the oven, the florets come out crisp and browned at the edges with tender stems. Roasted broccoli makes a great weeknight side served on its own, but this cooking method also works well if you're adding it to a grain bowl or simple pasta dish.

Is it OK to roast vegetables with olive oil? ›

For me, when it comes to roasting veggies or anything at all, I am all for using quality, good-tasting extra virgin olive oil which imparts great flavor while properly cooking your veggies.

Which is healthier steamed or roasted? ›

Essentially, if your aim is to preserve nutrients, light steaming is the way to go, but the thing is, flavour and enjoyment play a major part in food, too. “If roasting vegetables means you enjoy them more, then by all means roast them,” Hope says.

How to keep broccoli from burning? ›

Cook the broccoli uncovered for 1 to 2 minutes, COVER it, and continue cooking for about 6 more minutes (8 minutes total). Lift the lid occasionally (every 1 to 2 minutes) to stir the broccoli and prevent burning. You want the florets to lightly char, which adds depth of flavor to the veggie.

Why do my vegetables burn in the oven? ›

**Use the Right Temperature:** The ideal roasting temperature for most vegetables is between 375°F to 425°F (190°C to 220°C). Higher temperatures can cause burning on the outside before the inside is cooked.

How do you protect broccoli from heat? ›

Mulch with a dark-colored plastic cover or compost in the spring to help warm the soil. As the weather warms, remove black plastic to prevent excess heat, or cover it with straw. Improve soil drainage by planting in raised or mounded beds. Wet, heavy soil warms slower than well-drained soil.

Why did my broccoli burn in the air fryer? ›

Extra-virgin olive oil – It helps the broccoli become tender as it cooks. Don't skimp on it – without enough oil, the broccoli will burn instead of browning.

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