Ever bought a bag of frozen broccoli florets and then wondered what to do with them? Do you thaw them, do you keep them frozen? Don’t worry friends I’m going to share my favorite recipe on how to cook frozen broccoli so it’s perfect and ready to use on or with anything! Transform frozen florets into your favorite dishes that you would normally use fresh broccoli for a fraction of the price.
Following the broccoli recipe on the back of the frozen vegetable bag isn’t always the best way to prepare it.
Here’s my favorite way to prepare broccoli for adding to pizzas, adding to a hearty pasta dish, or just serving as a side dish.
The uses of broccoli are endless.
Some of my other favorite recipes using this amazing veg include Cheesy Broccoli Vegan Quiche and Vegan Broccoli Cheese Soup.
With the right recipe, you can make frozen broccoli and other frozen vegetables taste absolutely delicious without breaking the bank.
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Why you will love this recipe
- Shares a great way to liven up otherwise plain old boring frozen veggies
- Frozen broccoli is cheaper than fresh produce, making it a cheap side dish
- It’s a healthy side dish and versatile enough to use in or with other main course recipes
- Easily customize with your favorite spices
- Vegan and gluten free recipe
- The oven is not required as this is prepared on the stove
ingredients needed
Check out the recipe card below for more information on these simple ingredients.
- frozen broccoli florets
- olive oil
- chopped garlic cloves
- lemon juice
- Lemon peel
- dried thyme
- Salt
- red pepper flakes, optional
How to make the best frozen broccoli
Place the florets in a microwave-safe bowl.
Thaw in 30-second intervals using the microwave’s defrost setting until the florets are completely thawed, stirring between intervals.
Once thawed, add lemon zest, lemon juice, thyme and salt. Stir well to combine.
Heat olive oil in a 10-inch skillet over medium-high heat. Add garlic and cook for 1-2 minutes or until beginning to brown.
Add the seasoned broccoli to the pan with the garlic.
Cook for about 5 minutes or until tender and warmed through. Stir occasionally.
Serve as desired and enjoy this easy side dish.
Save and warm up
This broccoli should be used while it is still nice and warm.
If you plan to save leftovers for the next day or couple of days, allow to cool before transferring to an airtight container and store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
You can use the leftovers in other meals if you like.
You can reheat leftovers on a parchment-lined baking sheet in a hot oven for a few minutes until warmed through.
Alternatively, you can reheat leftovers using other cooking methods, such as in the microwave or on the stovetop.
You can even air fry your leftover broccoli to reheat it!
Tips and Variations
- Make sure you know how long your cooked broccoli will last!
- To prevent broccoli from becoming soggy, it can help to pat your broccoli dry after thawing and remove excess water before adding it to the pan with the garlic.
- Want more flavor? Add some onion powder, black pepper and garlic powder to your crispy broccoli.
- Instead of some olive oil, you can use avocado oil instead. You can also use olive oil spray or just a few tablespoons of water if you want an oil-free recipe.
- We also have an Oven Roasted Broccoli recipe for fresh broccoli if you want.
- Like cheesy broccoli? Sprinkle with Parmesan if you like. You can also use vegan parmesan cheese or nutritional yeast to keep this recipe dairy-free.
Why Use Frozen Broccoli?
Not only is it more economical than fresh broccoli, but it’s already chopped, washed, and prepared, allowing you to skip several steps when cooking your broccoli.
The best part is that since the broccoli is already prepared, you don’t have to mess up the whole kitchen, drag out the cutting board, etc.
And of course, frozen broccoli keeps longer than fresh broccoli, so you can keep some in your freezer for when you’re in the mood to make this easy recipe.
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How to cook frozen broccoli (on the stovetop)
Ever bought a bag of frozen broccoli florets and then wondered what to do with them? Do you thaw them, do you keep them frozen? Don’t worry friends I’m going to share my favorite recipe on how to cook frozen broccoli so it’s perfect and ready to use on or with anything! Transform frozen florets into your favorite dishes that you would normally use fresh broccoli for a fraction of the price.
ingredients
- 16 oz frozen broccoli florets
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
- ¼ teaspoon Lemon peel
- ¼ teaspoon dried thyme
- ⅛ teaspoon fine sea salt, plus more to taste
- optional: crushed red pepper flakes for garnish
instructions
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Thaw the frozen broccoli in the microwave using the defrost setting. Place broccoli in a large microwave-safe bowl and microwave in 30-second intervals until completely thawed, stirring occasionally.
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Add the lemon zest, lemon juice, thyme, and salt to the broccoli in the bowl. Stir to combine.
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Heat olive oil in a 10-inch non-stick skillet over medium-high heat and cook garlic until just beginning to brown, about 1-2 minutes.
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Add the seasoned broccoli and cook until tender and warmed through, stirring occasionally, about 5 minutes. Add more salt to taste and garnish with red pepper flakes if desired.
(Please see the post above for instructional photos and other helpful information for this recipe)
Remarks
The nutritional information shown is an estimate from an online nutrition calculator. Accuracy is not guaranteed. The information displayed should not be taken as a substitute for the advice of a professional nutritionist.
nutrition
Calories: 71kcal | Carbohydrates: 8thG | Protein: 3G | Fat: 4G | Saturated Fatty Acids: 1G | Fiber: 3G