Learn how to roast frozen broccoli so it turns out crispy and delicious instead of soggy! You won’t need any extra ingredients, just a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, olive oil, seasonings, and of course frozen broccoli (it’s actually as nutritious as fresh!!). This technique makes crunchy, golden broccoli that’s perfect for nights when you’re all out of meal prep or fresh produce or want to add a quick veggie to a lazy meal!
It has come to my attention that many of you don’t know one of my all-time favorite healthy cooking hacks: how to roast frozen broccoli so that it turns out crispy and crunchy and delicious. If you’ve ever tried roasting frozen vegetables the same way you roast fresh ones, you know that they turn out soggy AF–unless you know this trick!
Having frozen vegetables on hand is so an absolute must for me. You might be wondering if frozen veggies are as healthy as fresh, and I’m happy to report they ARE! Frozen vegetables are shown to maintain their vitamin, mineral, fiber, and carbohydrate content because they are mostly frozen immediately after harvesting. This study compared frozen produce with fresh produce and found them to be comparable in nutrients. In some instances, frozen produce was even more nutritious than fresh. We love to see it!
So now that you know why you should embrace all the frozen veggies, let’s talk technique. I developed this method for a crispy chickpea recipe that you may remember from my Healthier Together Cookbook, and it works just as well on frozen broccoli. The science behind it is to have the ingredient that you want to roast be TOTALLY dry when it goes into the oven (no oil, no seasonings!), so that the water inside of the ingredient isn’t trapped in by an oil barrier. Once it’s browned all over, then you toss it with oil and seasonings and return to the oven. The finished product will be CRISPY and delish, not soggy and gross. This is my absolute favorite way to eat broccoli. It is addictive and so perfect for a green starter before meals to balance your blood sugar or on nights when you want to eat Annie’s mac & cheese or frozen pizza but you also want to, you know, have a veggie and not have to do a ton of chopping–you don’t even have to wait for the broccoli to thaw!
Ingredients in Easy Roasted Broccoli
My favorite part about roasting frozen broccoli is that it requires just three, simple ingredients that you probably already have on hand. Here’s what you’ll need to make it:
- Frozen broccoli: the star of the show is a high-fiber vegetable that’s great for gut health and has been shown to be one of the best sources of the compounds that fight cancer by lowering oxidative stress, protecting cell mitochondrial function, neutralizing carcinogens and battling toxins.
- Extra virgin olive oil: On the longevity episode of my Ask the Doctor series on the Healthier Together Podcast, Dr. William Li told us that mono-varietal olive oils have the most health benefits. I like this one!
- Seasonings: My bare minimum is sea salt, garlic and onion powder, so feel free to zhuzh it up with whatever flavors you like!
How to Roast Frozen Broccoli
Here’s exactly how to cook frozen broccoli without getting soggy.
- Pre-heat the oven to 400F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Pre-heating your pan is optional for slightly crispier results!
- Dump the frozen broccoli straight onto the baking sheet and spread the florets out as much as possible.
- Bake the broccoli with NOTHING on it for 25-30 minutes, or until brown at the edges.
- Remove from oven and toss broccoli with olive oil, sea salt, and any seasonings you like until well coated. Return to the oven for 7-10 more minutes until crispy.
Can I Roast Frozen Broccoli in the Air Fryer?
Yes! I’m thrilled to report that this method holds up in an air fryer quite well, as long as you can space out the broccoli enough for the florets to brown. If your air fryer is small, I’d recommend roasting them in two batches.
More healthy broccoli recipes to try:
Vegan Panera Copycat Broccoli Cheddar Soup
Charred Broccoli and Black Lentils Over Sourdough with Jalapeño Garden Sauce
Thai Satay Sweet & Spicy Freezer Burritos
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How to Roast Frozen Broccoli
Ingredients
- 1 package of frozen broccoli
- 1 to1 1/12 tablespoon olive oil
- Seasonings: sea salt, garlic powder, onion powder, and any other seasonings you like
Instructions
- Pre-heat the oven to 400F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Pre-heating your pan is optional for slightly crispier results.
- Spread out the frozen broccoli on the baking sheet as much as possible.
- Bake the broccoli with NOTHING on it for 25-30 minutes, or until brown at the edges.
- Remove from oven and toss broccoli with olive oil, sea salt, and any seasonings you like until well coated. Return to the oven for 7-10 more minutes until crispy. Enjoy!!
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