Name: Balsamic Roasted Broccoli
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 25 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 1/2 pounds broccoli florets; 3 tablespoons olive oil; 3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar; 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder; 1/4 teaspoon salt; 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper; 1 tablespoon Parmesan cheese, freshly grated

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Balsamic Roasted Broccoli is a quick and easy side dish made with tender, crispy broccoli florets tossed in a simple homemade glaze made with just 5 ingredients. This low maintenance recipe takes just 25 minutes to make, and most of that time is spent in the oven.

Balsamic Roasted Broccoli is a quick easy side dish made with tender, crispy broccoli tossed in a flavorful 5-ingredient glaze and is ready in 25 minutes. | aheadofthyme.com

Roasted Broccoli is one of our favorite easy side dishes to make, but add a balsamic vinegar glaze and you’ve turned that side into something even more flavorful, delicious, and mouthwatering. It requires very little seasoning thanks to the balsamic glaze and pairs well with everything from chicken to beef to fish. It's a one side fits all!

Why You'll Love this Balsamic Roasted Broccoli

Sweet and savory flavor. The combination of the tangy balsamic vinegar and the salty parmesan cheese create a perfectly balanced flavor that will win over veggie haters. Plus, you can easily recreate the flavor profile and use it for all your favorite roasted vegetable dishes!
They have the best texture. This oven baked broccoli are crisp on the edges, yet soft and tender inside. You could even crisp them up more by turning on the broiler for a few minutes if you want.
Perfect side for any occasion. Because it’s so simple, flavorful, and only requires 5 minutes of active prep work, this broccoli is a wonderful side dish for any and every occasion. Just prep it and pop it in the oven while you work on the rest of the meal! Perfect for busy weeknights, but also a stress-free side for fancy dinner parties.
Can easily be made vegan. If you need a vegan side option for a dinner guest or family member, you only need to make one easy swap to make this dish fully vegan without losing much flavor. Check out the ingredient notes below for details.

Ingredient Notes

To make quick and easy Balsamic Roasted Broccoli, you will need the following ingredients (full measurements in recipe card below):

broccoli - We prefer fresh broccoli florets for this recipe but you could accomplish a similar result with frozen broccoli florets. You’ll get perfectly roasted broccoli either way, but you may need to add a few minutes to the roasting time if you use frozen.
olive oil - avocado oil or another neutral oil with a high smoke point will work in place of the olive oil.
balsamic vinegar - if you’re out of balsamic vinegar, red wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar will yield a similar flavor.
garlic powder
salt and pepper
parmesan cheese - the parmesan is completely optional and is added after cooking for flavor. Omit it if you have lactose sensitivity or if you’d like to make a completely vegan version of the recipe. You can also use a vegan parmesan-style cheese substitute instead.

You will also need measuring cups and spoons, a mixing bowl, and a large half sheet baking pan.

How to Make the Best Balsamic Roasted Broccoli

Prep. Preheat the oven to 375F and position the oven rack in the top position.
Season broccoli. In a large mixing bowl, add broccoli, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Toss to combine until the broccoli is well coated.

Bake. Arrange the broccoli in a single layer on a large half sheet baking pan. Bake until tender and lightly browned, about 20 minutes.

Serve. Sprinkle with parmesan and serve with a drizzle of extra balsamic vinegar on top if desired.

Recipe Variations

You can customize this recipe by adding in other ingredient to switch up the flavor profile. Try:

Spices. A sprinkle of cumin, smoked paprika, or red pepper flakes can add a nice smoky flavor and a bit of heat.
Herbs. Add in your favorite fresh herbs such as thyme, rosemary, or basil either before or after roasting.
Nuts. Add some nuts like pine nuts, pecans, or almonds for an extra crunch and nutty flavor.
Dried fruits. Adding dried fruits such as dried cranberries, raisins, or drued apricots can add sweetness and extra depth of flavor to the broccoli..
Bacon. Chop up some bacon and cook it over the stove before tossing it into the broccoli to give it a smoky and salty flavor.

How to Serve

Balsamic Roasted Broccoli can be served with almost anything — whether you are serving it with a simple weeknight dinner or a fancy dinner party. Some dinner entrees that we like to serve these veggies with are:

Recipe Tips and Tricks

Cook evenly. Cut the broccoli into florets of similar size, so that they cook evenly.
Crisp them up more. These veggies are crisp on the edges and tender inside but you can crisp them up even more. Simply turn on the broiler for 1-2 minutes at the end. But keep a close eye on the broccoli as things can burn quickly in the broiler.
Add leftovers to lunches. Upgrade packed lunches by replacing raw broccoli with this elevated balsamic roasted broccoli. It’s just as tasty served cold or reheated in the office microwave or air fryer.
Serve with everyday dinners or on special occasions. This broccoli is easy enough to make on busy weeknights when you’re serving chicken nuggets, but sophisticated enough to serve for romantic date nights or dinner parties with a special roast.

Storing and Freezing Instructions

How to Store

Once cooled to room temperature, place leftover roasted broccoli in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 5 days.

How to Reheat

Reheat leftover veggies in a 300 F preheated oven, air fryer, or toaster oven for 5-10 minutes until hot and crispy. You can also reheat in the microwave but it may loose its crispy texture.

How to Freeze

Transfer the broccoli to a freezer-safe container or freezer bag and freeze for up to 3 months. For the best texture, allow it to thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating and serving.

More Broccoli Recipes

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