These 14 Easy Broccoli Side Dishes Are Better Than a Restaurant's

You'll never have to sit down to boring broccoli again.

By
Sara Bir
Sara Bir
Sara Bir
Sara is a chef, culinary educator, and author of three cookbooks, The Pocket Pawpaw Cookbook, Tasting Ohio and The Fruit Forager's Companion. The latter won a 2019 IACP Cookbook Award.
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Updated November 11, 2024
Sara Bir
plate of Bang Bang Broccoli smothered with Bang Bang sauce and garnished with fried onions and a small dish of sauce on the side

Simply Recipes / Ali Redmond

How was it that broccoli became the default green vegetable to serve up at dinner? Not that we should complain. It's versatile, readily available all year long, keeps well in the fridge, and even holds up decently frozen.

However, if broccoli is the fallback veg the majority of your evenings, its presence can trigger weariness—particularly among the kids. The right preparation can catapult broccoli from a dreary afterthought to a beloved favorite that gets gobbled up with nary a floret left. We have diverse broccoli recipes to weave into your rotation that'll not only round out the three-point landing of starch and protein, but be a small cause for celebration.

Eat your broccoli, kids. With abandon.

  • Microwave Broccoli With Sesame Dressing

    Bowl of Microwave Broccoli with Sesame Dressing with Utensils, Next to a Table Napkin, a Glass of Water, and a Bowl with More Sesame Seeds

    Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek

    Steaming veggies in the microwave is quick and easy to master. Many, many nights my mother microwaved broccoli florets when I was growing up. That's all well and good, but a sesame-ginger dressing will dress it right up into craveable territory. It's lovely with chicken, shrimp, or beef. Or pork. Or as-is.

  • Bang Bang Broccoli

    plate of Bang Bang Broccoli smothered with Bang Bang sauce and garnished with fried onions and a small dish of sauce on the side

    Simply Recipes / Ali Redmond

    Simply Recipes Contributor Devan Grimsrud says, "For this recipe, you can use a whole head of broccoli, a bag of florets, a mix of broccoli and cauliflower, or even broccolini."

  • Broccoli Salad

    Broccoli Salad

    Simply Recipes / Lori Rice

    You don't have to relinquish this classic salad to potlucks and picnics. Bacon, red onion, and a touch of mayo make this hearty salad appealing to many. I like to add raisins, too.

  • Roasted Broccoli With Parmesan

    Roasted Broccoli with Parmesan

    Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek

    Roasting broccoli is reliably the preparation that converts broccoli haters, young and old alike. It's fast, hands-off, and brings out its sweetness. A finish of parm adds a savory depth.

    Continue to 5 of 14 below

  • Broccoli Tots

    broccoli tots on a plate next to a bowl of ketchup

    Simply Recipes / Molly Adams

    Simply Recipes Contributor Molly Adams says, "I find these easiest to bake in my oven since I can do so in one large batch, but I often reheat them in the air fryer. If you have an air fryer with a large cooking basket, you could certainly cook them in there; just make sure they are in one layer so they get nicely golden brown."

  • Broccoli Cheese Casserole

    Broccoli Cheese Casserole - an easy broccoli casserole you'll love!
    Elise Bauer

    The "add cheese" rule is verified to work 9 times out of 10 when you want a picky eater to consume their veggies. Beaten eggs and plentiful cheddar envelop broccoli florets in an easy bake that could stand in for an entire dinner itself.

  • Broccoli Slaw With Cranberry Orange Dressing

    A dish of broccoli slaw with dried cranberries and nuts
    Elise Bauer

    Save your broccoli stems to shred for this slaw. Or buy a bag of broccoli slaw that's ready to toss with a zesty dressing. Sweet cranberries are a fitting foil for the burly broccoli bits.

  • Crispy Parmesan Broccoli

    crispy parmesan broccoli lifted using a fork over a platter with more (close-up)

    Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe

    Simply Recipes Contributor Molly Adams says, "I love the slightly nutty flavor of Parmesan or Pecorino Romano, but aged cheddar or Gruyere would work well, too."

    Continue to 9 of 14 below

  • Broccoli Cheddar Egg Bites

    Plate of Cheddar Egg Bites

    Simply Recipes / Elise Bauer

    Simply Recipes Founder Elise Bauer says, "Keep them mini, or make them in full size muffin tins, just up the baking time to 30 minutes if you go bigger."

  • Perfect Steamed Broccoli

    Microwave Broccoli with Sesame Dressing

    Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek

    Here are all the tips you need for steaming broccoli on the stove to a perfect bright green. Never mushy, never undercooked. If it's too plain for you, cover it with the cheese sauce we share below.

  • Easy Dairy-Free Cheese Sauce

    blended vegan queso

    Simply Recipes / Coco Morante

    Stick with me here. We all know a generous drowning of cheese sauce does wonders for those who would otherwise refuse broccoli. If you'd like a more wholesome option, try this creamy, cheesy (yet cheese-free) vegan queso. It's easy to make in a blender and gets its orange hue from a carrot. Never once has an unsuspecting diner at my home cried foul on this fabulous sauce.

  • Broccoli With Crispy Cheese

    Cheesy Broccoli

    Simply Recipes / Myo Quinn

    Associate editorial director Myo Quinn has three hungry boys to feed, and the mere aroma of this super-fast broccoli wonder draws them to the table with delight in their eyes. "I cook broccoli florets in a skillet with a little oil. Halfway through cooking, I sprinkle shredded cheese on top. Some cheese will cling to the broccoli and melt while the rest will fall onto the hot skillet and get crispy. " Myo shares the precise details in the recipe so you, too, can enthrall your troops as it cooks.

    Continue to 13 of 14 below

  • Broccoli Stir-Fry

    Overhead view of a plate of broccoli stir fry recipe served over rice.

    Simply Recipes / Cambrea Gordon

    Throw a little stir-fry together to enliven grilled chicken breasts or pork tenderloin.

  • Broccoli Cheddar Quesadillas

    Quesadilla Recipe with Cheddar cook the quesadillas
    Nick Evans

    How is a quesadilla a side dish? Perhaps it's not, but also: how is it we've not yet considered broccoli a quesadilla filling? Brilliant!

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