Properly roasted vegetables may be the gold standard, but this summer, the gold star goes to Grilled Broccoli – with just a touch of garlic and lemon, the char absolutely sings. But no need to stop there! We’ve got lots of options for seasonings to make it a perfect partner for any meal.
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One of the questions I get asked -and have asked myself – so, so, so, sosososososo many times is “what can I serve with X?” We all have kitchens full of various foods and ingredients with which to experiment, but we’ve all also been burned before. This can sometimes lead to unfortunate ruts.
Fortunately for us, we’ve got broccoli. It goes with everything – fish, pork, beef, and chicken; citrus, dairy, ginger, garlic, curry, or cumin. Find me a dinner and I’ll fit broccoli in. Casseroles, soups, salads, and sides abound. You think broccoli can’t go in a taco? Give me 5 minutes and I’ll work it into a taco.
Not only does it go with everything, you can literally use any cooking method to prepare broccoli and it still tastes great. (I mean, sure, technically, you can boil anything and it would probably still be edible, but taste great? I think not.) But much like many of our other favorite foods, grilled broccoli, cooked over an open flame is the pinnacle (the piece de resistance, the apex, the cruciferous climax, if you will) of preparation methods.
So, I’ve seasoned this recipe simply with just a few sprinkles of enhancement, but I’m also leaving with you with a bevy of options below to dress it up for any occasion. This way, you can dedicate your grilling season to proving to yourself over and over again that if you’ve got broccoli, you’ve got a meal.
How to Grill Broccoli
Welcome to Suppertime Superlatives – where Most Popular Vegetable meets Favorite Cooking Method. Fast and easy Grilled Broccoli is a perfect summer side. Fresh florets get tossed with garlic and drizzled with fresh lemon juice for a smoky, yet bright finish.
- Toss trimmed florets with oil, garlic, and seasoning and coat evenly.
- Prep grill with foil. Heat a gas grill to medium (375°F-ish) or prepare a charcoal grill for indirect heat.
- Spread florets in an even layer over the aluminum. Close lid and cook for 4 minutes, flip with tongs, then cook 4-5 more minutes. The broccoli should be soft with charred edges.
- Remove from grill and drizzle with lemon juice.
Tips for Perfect Grilling Broccoli
- Line the grill with foil or use a grill pan so the florets don’t fall through the grates.
- Close the lid while grilling – this will help the florets both steam and slightly char, creating tender florets with great flavor.
- The broccoli is ready when the stem can be pierced with the tip of a paring knife (aka “bite” tender) and the florets are slightly charred.
What to Serve with Grilled Broccoli
- All on its own! A sprinkle of lemon juice will highlight the smoky flavor.
- Add it to pasta! Swap the roasted vegetables in our Creamy Pasta for grilled broccoli, or serve as a side (or mixed into!) Pesto Cream Sauce.
- Serve it alongside your favorite grilled proteins like Rosemary Steak, Balsamic Chicken, or Lemon Thyme Chicken Skewers.
Make It Your Way
- Italian Seasoning: add 1 tsp with the olive oil and salt. Garnish with chopped basil before serving.
- Lemon: season with zest, juice, or both just before serving.
- Pesto: a little drizzle after grilling goes a long way.
- Sesame: add 1 tsp to the olive oil before cooking, then garnish with toasted seeds just before serving; a drizzle of tahini sauce is also a welcome addition.
- Aged hard cheeses: season with thinly shaved Parmesan, Asiago, or Pecorino just before serving.
A quick and easy way to change things up is to toss your florets in infused oils or non-neutral cooking oils (sesame, chili, walnut, hemp seed, etc.).
PRO TIP: Looking to keep it vegan? Use nutritional yeast for cheesy flavor (plus extra protein, fiber, vitamins and minerals) without dairy.
Best of Broccoli: More Side Dishes
- Broccoli Quinoa Salad with Sunbutter Sauce
- Roasted Broccoli with Tahini
- Keto Broccoli Bacon Salad
- Broccoli and Cauliflower Salad with Sunbutter Sauce
- Broccoli Pasta Salad with Asparagus and Cherries
- and even more ways to cook broccoli!
Did you make this Grilled Broccoli? I’d love to know how it turned out! Leave a comment and a rating below.
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Recipe
Grilled Broccoli
Print Recipe Rate this Recipe Pin RecipeRecommended Equipment
- Grill
- Aluminum foil
- Grill pan
Ingredients
- 2 medium heads broccoli (about 6 cups), divided into florets
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- ½ tsp ground pepper
- 1 tbsp lemon juice, optional
Instructions
- Combine broccoli, olive oil, garlic, salt, and pepper in a mixing bowl, then toss until evenly coated.
- Lay a piece of foil over the grill grates or position a grill pan over the grates. Heat gas grill to medium, or prepare a charcoal grill for indirect heat.
- Once the grill is heated, spread the broccoli florets over the foil or grill pan. Arrange into an even layer, close the lid, and grill 4 minutes.
- Flip the florets using tongs, close the lid, and grill 4-5minutes minutes more, or until the florets are tender and lightly charred.
- Remove from the grill, sprinkle with lemon juice, and serve immediately.
[…] with it. And over time (slowly, so slowly) we’ve graduated from simple steamed broccoli, to grilled broccoli, and even broccoli in the air […]