Crispy, crunchy, and cheesy broccoli
Ever since I could remember, broccoli has been the ONE vegetable I would happily eat as a kid.
(Granted, more than half of that steamed broccoli was covered in Cheez Whiz!)
Recently Justin remembered my childhood obsession, and he made this Smashed Broccoli with Parmesan recipe you see below — a spin-off of these Smashed Brussels Sprouts!
What resulted was the CRISPIEST broccoli with the BEST flavor I had ever tasted. (Yes, even better than my favorite Roasted Broccoli or Air Fryer Broccoli recipes!)
You can serve them as-is for an easy side dish, or mix up your favorite sauce for dipping (they make the best veggie chips!). This is seriously going to be your new favorite broccoli recipe. Even broccoli haters won’t be able to resist.
Why You’ll Love this Smashed Broccoli
- Crispy Texture: A 2-part cooking method is needed to get that crunchy bite. First, an entire head of broccoli is boiled (so much easier than boiling individual florets!) Then, a glass jar is used to smash the florets before baking them in the oven.
- Incredible Flavor: The combo of a garlic butter sauce gives it a delicious umami flavor while the sprinkle of Parmesan cheese adds that perfect, salty bite while also helping the florets crisp up.
Ingredients and Substitutions
For the exact measurements and detailed instructions, please see the recipe card below.
- Garlic. I’m almost always going to recommended fresh garlic cloves, but in this case, garlic powder can easily be substituted.
- Broccoli. A large head of broccoli is boiled and cut into pieces for this easy recipe. Look for a fresh broccoli head with no brown or mushy spots.
- Parmesan cheese. Grated cheese is recommended as it will crisp up even more than shredded. You can always swap the cheese out for another kind, like Cheddar or even Swiss, but won’t get the same texture or flavor. Look for Parmigiano Reggiano for the most flavor.
Step-by-step Instructions
Please see the recipe card below for the full instructions, ingredient amounts, and a printable recipe.
Boil the broccoli.
Bring a large pot of water to a boil (you can also use a Dutch oven). Place the entire head of broccoli into the boiling water, florets facing down.
Boil the broccoli for 3 to 5 minutes, just until it’s bright green and tender. Be careful when removing the broccoli head from the boiling water and drain it in a colander.
You can use a steamer basket if you’d like.
Smash the broccoli.
Once the broccoli is cool, cut into 1–2 inch florets and pat dry so they crisp well. Spread on a parchment-lined baking sheet, leaving space between pieces, then smash each floret with the bottom of a glass until ¼–½ inch thick.
Make the sauce.
Whisk the butter, garlic, salt, and black pepper in a small bowl. Brush the butter mixture over each smashed floret. Then, sprinkle each chip with the Parmesan cheese.
Bake and serve.
Bake the smashed broccoli in a 425℉ preheated oven for 18 to 20 minutes. The broccoli will get crispy and the cheese will turn golden brown. Watch the seasoned broccoli towards the end for your desired level of crispiness.
Top the roasted broccoli with a squeeze of lemon juice and lemon zest for a fresh kick. Adding it after baking ensures it doesn’t get too bitter.
Pro Tip: To make them in the air fryer: add the broccoli to a 380℉ air fryer that has been preheated for at least 3 minutes and cook for 9-10 minutes.
FAQs
Steaming broccoli is a great way to ensure it retains most of its nutrients, but you can’t beat the flavor of roasted broccoli. Both are a great way to enjoy this vegetable.
If roasting in the oven, be sure to use enough oil (but not too much!) and that the oven temperature is high enough. If steaming or boiling, don’t overcook it, or your broccoli will have a mushy consistency.
For the best tasting broccoli, go for a combination of texture and flavor. Get it crispy by roasting it at high heat in either the oven or air fryer. Butter and garlic are excellent ingredients to balance out the bitterness normally found to be off-putting in broccoli.
What to serve with it?
These taste incredible on their own as a side with your favorite main course, or can be served with tons of sauces:
- Chick-fil-A Sauce
- Ketchup or Mayo
- Homemade Ranch Dressing
- Spicy Sriracha Mayo
- Secret Sauce
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Crispy Smashed Broccoli Recipe
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Ingredients
- 1 large head broccoli or 2 medium
- 2 tablespoons butter melted
- 1-2 garlic cloves finely minced
- ½ teaspoon salt to taste
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 3-4 tablespoons Parmesan cheese grated
- Lemon juice optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425℉.
- Bring a large pot or Dutch oven filled ⅔ of the way with water to a boil. Add head of broccoli to the boiling water, florets facing down, and boil for 3-5 minutes, or until broccoli is bright green and tender. Carefully remove the head of broccoli from the pot and let drain completely in a colander in the sink.1 large head broccoli
- Once broccoli has cooled to the touch, cut off the florets into 1 to 2-inch pieces. Dab thoroughly with a paper towel to remove any excess water. Place the florets in a single layer on a parchment paper lined baking sheet. Make sure there is at least 1 inch of space between each floret. Smash each broccoli floret with the bottom of a flat glass or jar until they are no more than ¼ to ½-inch thick. (Closer to ¼” will give you crispier sprouts, but thinner than that and you risk them breaking apart into pieces!)
- Whisk together butter, garlic, salt, and black pepper in a small bowl. Brush garlic butter over the florets and sprinkle with grated Parmesan cheese.2 tablespoons butter, 1-2 garlic cloves, ½ teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon black pepper, 3-4 tablespoons Parmesan cheese
- Bake in the preheated oven for 18-20 minutes, or until the broccoli begins to get crispy and the cheese has browned slightly. Serve with a squeeze of lemon juice and additional grated Parmesan cheese. Enjoy!Lemon juice
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Video
Notes
- Air Fryer: Preheat air fryer to 380℉ for at least 3-5 minutes. Add the smashed broccoli to the air fryer basket in a single layer. Brush the garlic herb butter sauce on top and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Cook for 9-10 minutes, or until crisp.
- Boiling: Only boil the broccoli until it’s slightly tender and bright green.
- Baking: Roast the broccoli in a single layer for crispy edges.
- Flavor: dd a bit of hot sauce or Sriracha or a sprinkle of red pepper flakes to give this roasted broccoli recipe a kick.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
More Easy Broccoli Recipes
A broccoli dish is always a family favorite side, and these easy recipes with simple ingredients won’t disappoint.
Awesome! Love this! Thanks for sharing
Yay! So happy to hear you enjoyed the recipe, Penny! Thanks so much for taking the time to leave a comment!