Cheesy Roasted Frozen Broccoli

For a super quick and easy last minute vegetable side, this cheesy roasted frozen broccoli is ultra simple and comes out perfectly caramelized on the outside and tender on the inside.

You know when you get home from work and you're tired and the thought of making dinner just seems so HARD? Add making a vegetable side to that (you know, to be healthy and all) and sometimes you just cant.

But, what if I were to tell you that you can throw frozen broccoli right on a baking sheet and roast it? It's so easy. I mean, seriously, straight out of the bag (well with just a touch of seasoning put on - no one wants bland broccoli) easy.

You no longer have an excuse. **In a pinch, you can also make Instant Pot steamed broccoli, crispy air fryer broccoli or this sous vide broccoli if you have fresh broccoli. 

Why you'll love this roasted broccoli recipe

• Using frozen florets makes this an easy recipe and requires almost no pre-planning. It's already cut and washed so it's ready to be cooked straight from the bag - no thawing required!
• Frozen vegetables are great for meal prep when you just want a simple option to throw in the oven.
• The melted Parmesan cheese adds a nice umami flavor to the broccoli and the coconut sugar helps the edges to caramelize.

Ingredients

I recommend using frozen broccoli florets for this. If you use chopped broccoli or broccoli pieces, the results just won't be as good.

Avocado oil work the best for roasting, as it has a high smoke point, is healthy and has a great flavor. You can also use olive oil, coconut oil or grapeseed oil.

A touch of coconut sugar is used to help the edges caramelize, and a sprinkle of grated Parmesan cheese at the end to add the wonderful umami flavor.

The full list of ingredients and instructions is included in the recipe card at the bottom of the post. 

Variations and substitutions

• You can replace the Parmesan cheese with a drizzle of lemon juice, lemon butter, chili butter, or crumbles of blue cheese.
• Add seasonings like red pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, etc. for extra flavor.
• A sprinkle of dried herbs like oregano or basil can be good on this (you can even use an Italian seasoning blend).
• Omit the coconut sugar to keep this recipe sugar free.

Step by step instructions to make oven roasted frozen broccoli

1. Preheat the oven to 450°F, with the baking sheet inside. We want the baking sheet to be very hot when we add the broccoli. This helps excess water evaporate, letting the broccoli caramelize faster.

2. Place the frozen broccoli in a bowl and toss with the avocado oil, salt, black pepper and coconut sugar.

3. Place the broccoli directly on the heated baking sheet and roast for 15-18 minutes, until the edges are slightly browned and caramelized. **If the edges are not as brown as you'd like, broil it for a minute or two to crisp the edges.

4. Remove, sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and serve.

It can also be served with lemon like this sauteed broccolini recipe or using the lemon butter in the Instant Pot steamed broccoli recipe.

Expert tips

1. Make sure the sheet pan is hot before placing the broccoli on it - this helps it to caramelize in the oven.
2.  Spread the pieces out so they're not touching for the best results.
3.  Don't stir the broccoli while it's cooking. Leaving it be allows it to caramelize better and prevents it from getting mushy.
4. If you want crisper edges, place the broccoli under the broiler for a minute or two.

What to serve with cheesy roasted frozen broccoli

Make it a meal and serve this broccoli with some of these favorites:

Frequently asked questions

More favorite vegetable side dishes

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