I love to whip up a batch of grilled vegetables, you can’t go wrong with grilled mushrooms, grilled corn, grilled asparagus and especially grilled broccoli! I make this recipe almost every week during the summer, and it always gets rave reviews.
Grilled Broccoli Ingredients
To make this grilled broccoli recipe, you will need broccoli florets, olive oil, lemon juice, salt, black pepper, Italian seasoning, garlic and parsley. Serve this broccoli with summer grilling favorite main dishes like grilled pork chops, grilled chicken wings and grilled flank steak. You could also make your side dishes on the grill like grilled sweet potatoes and grilled potatoes in foil. So fire up that grill and enjoy!
How Do You Make Grilled Broccoli?
This grilled broccoli recipe starts with a simple marinade of olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, salt, pepper and herbs. Place large broccoli florets in the marinade, and let them sit for at least 20 minutes. Preheat an outside grill, or indoor grill pan, then add the broccoli. Cook the broccoli for 3-4 minutes per side, or until tender. Place the grilled broccoli on a plate, then garnish with fresh parsley and lemon wedges, and serve.
Tips For The Perfect Broccoli
Prepare your broccoli by washing the broccoli, cutting the florets apart and trimming the stems. You want pieces of broccoli that are all about the same size. Using larger pieces of broccoli will keep this vegetable from slipping through the grates of the grill. I like to finish my broccoli with a sprinkling of parsley. If you don’t have parsley on hand, other great options include green onions, thyme, basil or dill. This recipe calls for dried Italian seasoning, which is located in the spice aisle of most grocery stores. This seasoning is a blend of dried basil, oregano, parsley and garlic powder. You can also make your own Italian seasoning. I find that this dish is best when eaten immediately. Store any leftovers in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Grilled broccoli is not a great candidate for the freezer, as it will change texture when thawed and reheated. If you want something sweet to go with your dinner try grilled peaches or grilled pineapple. You can prepare broccoli in other ways like parmesan roasted broccoli, broccoli with cheese sauce and broccoli salad.
Grilled Broccoli Cooking Techniques
There are a couple different ways to grill your broccoli for the best results.
Direct: Place the broccoli florets directly on a grill or grill pan. This method works best with broccoli pieces that are at least 3 inches in size. If you use small pieces of broccoli, they’ll be likely to fall through the grill grates into the fire. Skewer: You can thread smaller pieces of broccoli onto wooden or metal skewers to make grilling go a little easier. If you’re using this method, I recommend lightly blanching the broccoli first so that it’s soft enough to poke a skewer into. Grill Basket: For this method, you’ll want to purchase a grilling basket or tray. You can place any size of broccoli florets in the basket or tray, and they’ll get that great smoky flavor without the risk of losing vegetables into the fire. Foil Packet: Divide the broccoli between 4 pieces of foil, then fold the foil up into packets. Grill each packet for about 10 minutes or until broccoli is tender.
Flavor Variations
There are a lot of different ways to flavor your grilled broccoli, here are some of my favorites!
Cheese: Add a sprinkle of feta cheese, cheddar cheese or parmesan cheese on top of the cooked broccoli. Flavorings: After your broccoli is cooked, garnish it with toasted pine nuts, red pepper flakes, a drizzle of balsamic vinegar, olives, sun dried tomatoes or bacon. You could also season the broccoli with a little melted butter or soy sauce. Sauce: Serve your broccoli with a dipping sauce such as yum yum sauce, tzatziki sauce, or honey mustard sauce. Vegetables: You can cook with this broccoli other veggies like cauliflower, mushrooms, zucchini, Romanesco or asparagus. Make sure to cut your veggies into pieces that are about the same size.
This grilled broccoli is the absolute best way to eat your veggies, even the kids will enjoy this one!
Grilled Broccoli Recipe
