I had an “Ah-ha!” moment last week that I just had to share with you. I always thought frozen broccoli wouldn’t work well for roasting because it’s just too wet (it is blanched in hot water before freezing), but a couple weeks ago and a friendly commenter mentioned that they roast frozen broccoli all the time and it turns out great (this is why I love to hear your thoughts and experiences). So, I tried it, I loved it, and now I’m sharing it! Oven Roasted Frozen Broccoli is officially my new favorite easy side dish.
See this recipe used in my weekly meal prep.
Why Roast Frozen Broccoli?
Not only is frozen broccoli generally less expensive than fresh broccoli, but it’s already washed and chopped, which takes a lot of prep work out of your meal. And because frozen broccoli is blanched before it’s frozen, it’s already partially cooked, which means it takes less time to roast than fresh broccoli. It’s seriously the easiest side dish ever and it goes with just about anything!
Is Roasted Frozen Broccoli Crispy?
Roasted frozen broccoli florets will not be quite as crispy as roasted fresh broccoli, but the edges of the florets still develop a nice gentle brown color that gives that slightly smoky roasted flavor. The inside of the broccoli florets maintains a nice level of moisture and a good amount of tooth/bite.
How Do You Keep it From Turning Out Wet?
Frozen broccoli can have a lot of ice on the outside, so it’s really important that the broccoli florets are spaced out very well on the baking sheet. If they’re crowded, the ice will not be able to evaporate well and your broccoli will turn out wet and mushy. You can also control the moisture level by roasting a bit longer, which again, allows for more evaporation.
What Do You Use to Season Roasted Broccoli?
I seasoned my broccoli with Montreal Steak Seasoning (coarse ground salt, garlic, pepper, red pepper), but you can customize the seasoning to be whatever your heart desires. I think lemon pepper would be great, as would chili powder, smoked paprika, and cumin. Play with it! :)
Oven Roasted Frozen Broccoli
Servings 2 to 3 servingsIngredients
- 1/2 lb. frozen broccoli florets ($1.00)
- 1 Tbsp olive oil ($0.16)
- 1/2 Tbsp Montreal steak seasoning ($0.07)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400ºF. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Spread the frozen florets out over the baking sheet (no need to thaw).
- Drizzle the olive oil over the florets, then sprinkle the Montreal steak seasoning over top. Toss the florets in the oil and seasoning until everything is evenly distributed (it's okay if a lot of it falls onto the baking sheet, it will be stirred and redistributed again later).
- Transfer the baking sheet to the oven and roast for 20 minutes. Take the baking sheet out and use a spatula to stir the broccoli and redistribute the oil and spices. Return the baking sheet to the oven and roast for another 10 minutes, or until the broccoli develops the amount of brownness desired. Serve hot.
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Equipment
- Enamelware Sheet Pan
- Parchment Paper
- Chef's Knife
Notes
Nutrition
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How to Roast Frozen Broccoli – Step by Step Photos
Make sure you buy “broccoli florets” and not “broccoli pieces” for this recipe. Broccoli pieces are usually at least half-stem pieces, which can be great for things like broccoli soup, but not as good for recipes like this. Preheat the oven to 400ºF before you begin so that it’s fully up to temp before the broccoli goes in.
This is the steak seasoning I used. Some brands call it “Montreal Steak Seasoning” but it’s basically a really coarse mix of salt, pepper, garlic, and a couple other spices. It’s so delish! You can use this seasoning or any other seasoning blend for your roasted broccoli.
Line a baking sheet with parchment then spread the frozen broccoli florets out over the baking sheet. Drizzle with 2 Tbsp olive oil and 1/2 Tbsp steak seasoning. Toss the broccoli in the oil and spices to distribute them over the surface. It’s okay if a lot of it ends up on the parchment instead of the broccoli because it will be stirred later and the seasoning will stick better then (as opposed to now when it’s frozen).
Roast the broccoli in the fully preheated oven for 20 minutes, then take the baking sheet out and give the broccoli a good stir. The spices should stick to the broccoli a little better now. Return the sheet to the oven and roast for another ten minutes, or until the edges are browned to your liking. Serve immediately.
Enjoy as a side dish with your favorite meal, or just on its own with a little sauce for dipping! (pictured with ranch dressing)
This recipe works perfectly with frozen okra as well! You don’t need to adjust the time or temp. Love this one!
Can this be done with a metal sheet pan (cookie sheet?) I don’t have one like in your photo.
Absolutely!
So simple and so delicious. I randomly made this and my husband says it’s the best broccoli he has ever had. I used Lawry’s because I didn’t have the steak seasoning. It does taste great right out of the oven, but I have also made it for meal prep and even 2-3 days later it tastes good, even if it’s no longer crispy.
Best way I’ve ever cooked frozen broccoli!
I was happily surprised at how well this tasted. No sense that it was frozen. Thank you so much!
I’m not sure what was wrong but I followed the recipe exactly and the broccoli was mushy. The only thing I wonder is could it make a difference that I used the steamable broccoli florets. Very disappointed since it was a Thanksgiving dish.
I tried it and my broccoli was perfectly crispy and tasty. Did you perhaps use too much oil?
Very good! However way too much steak seasoning. Very salty
I was just looking to see if you could roast frozen broccoli, this came up so I went with it. It was great and quick. Thanks
Thanks for this timing, seasoning and temp recommendation. However, I would recommend skipping the oil to get better crispiness. On frozen broccoli, the oil “seals in” the water as it melts and makes evaporation less efficient. Instead, I would season and spread out as suggested, ensuring your seasoning has salt to draw water out. Do the initial 20 min roast, then when you take out to stir, drizzle the oil before returning for the last 10 min roast. This way, the oil is added after a lot of the ice has had a chance to melt and evaporate, and can serve to flavour and crisp up the broccoli in the final few minutes.
I will be trying it this way. Thank you for mentioning it.
I’m new at cooking and my oven only has bake and broil features. I preheated in bake 400 and placed florets on bottom rack. I had to change the parchment paper 2 more times because it was burning and still water coming from florets. I decided to change sheet to upper rack and broil for 5 minutes. I missed something
Try using the rack in the middle and you may want to get an extra thermometer for your oven to make sure the temperature is correct.
I purchased fresh broccoli o sale and boiled it for 3minutes put in a ice bath , put in the freezer I will bake it for dinner tonight
I think I’ll back off on the amount of Montreal Steak Seasoning that I use and add in some herbs. I found this too salty… however, that kept me from snitching a few potato chips which were on the supper table. My frugal suggestion is to put the broccoli “crumbles” back in the bag, spray with olive oil and sprinkle with seasonings, then add them to the baking sheet for just those last 10 minutes! Came out perfectly!
Once roasted, can the roasted broccoli be a prep-ahead item (not for hours, but 2 or 3 days)? And if so, how would you recommend reheating?
This will keep in the fridge for 3-4 days, but may not be *quite as delicious* eaten as leftovers than fresh from the oven! (Frozen broccoli doesn’t stay as crisp as fresh.) But it could be eaten again later cold (or tossed in a salad) or warmed back up in the microwave or oven! ~ Marion :)
This recipe turned out perfect. I roasted the broccoli using a crisper tray. Perfect amount of flavor. Not soggy at all.
I made this Broccoli and I added some more of my own seasoning, and it turned fabulous. Thank you for this recipe.
Believe it or not, a teeny-tiny touch of sugar sprinkled on top of the Broccoli takes the dish from delicious to gourmet. The sugar caramelizes when cooked and it makes the broccoli seem like it was fresh to start out. I use less than 1/2 tsp.
Do you have to use parchment paper? Can you just put right on the roasting pan
You don’t have to use parchment. It helps for an easy clean up. The broccoli will roast just as well directly on metal. Though a touch faster, so keep an eye on it. XOXO -Monti
I highly recommend adding parm to this recipe! This was the first recipe I made in my first apartment, I served it alongside rotisserie chicken and some Italian bread. I used a “garlic and herb” seasoning and then sprinkled with Parmesan cheese after taking it out of the oven. My only regret was not making more of it, my partner and I devoured the whole 1/2 pound easily. I would probably make a whole 1 pound bag next time for the two of us–it’d be better for our bodies and wallets to fill up on greens than on meat or carbs. This is my new favorite way to eat broccoli, and I’m positive I will be making it frequently!
Hi, I’ve been “roasting” frozen broccoli for years. I used quotation marks because I don’t really roast it. I thaw mine first in the microwave, then squeeze out as much water as possible. At this point, it’s almost as if it were already cooked, it doesn’t need roasting.. So I put it on a parchment lined baking sheet, spray it with a bit of oil, sprinkle with a bit of salt and garlic power and put it under the broiler until it’s charred and slightly crispy. Works every time.
Flash frozen veggies still have their nutrients, unlike fresh that does not get to the table in a timely manner. Once picked a vegetable starts losing its nutrients. The more quickly they are frozen the nutrients are sealed in. Going to try this recipe tonight. May add feta or parmesan cheese.
Thanks for this helpful recipe! I’ve been making it with Ghee instead of olive oil, and a no-salt organic seasoning from Costco where we get our frozen broccoli and the Ghee too; my husband and I both love it and have now made it a main side dish to replace potatoes.
I wasn’t expecting it to be good! It wasn’t…..IT WAS AMAZING!!!!! I ate the entire bag by myself!!!
Thanks so much, Beth! Couldn’t be simpler or more economical. I mixed the roasted broccoli with cooked brown rice, added a bit of grated parmesan, and called it a meal. Delish!
A perfect accompaniment to the Classic Baked Ziti.
I made this recipe and it was absolutely delicious!
I meant panko* bread crumbs
I was getting so sick of making steamed broccoli. I eat broccoli because I want the nutrients, but I don’t often enjoy it. I have another roasted broccoli recipe but it calls for Pannonia bread crumbs and isn’t nearly as good as this. This is the BEST one and what a great way to spruce up frozen broccoli! It’s my go to now and it’s craveable! :)
I google up this recipe to double check my temp. And time. So delicious every time and my kids love it!
I’m tempted to let the frozen broccoli thaw out a bit at room temperature…Would that be ok..
Yes, that would be fine!
I use Trader Joe Umami seasoning on my roasted broccoli. Have never tried roasting frozen florets, thank you for the great idea!
Turned out great!
Will this method work for other kinds of frozen veggies, like cauliflower?
It works for a lot of them, yes! You may need to adjust the roasting time depending on the vegetable. I’ve heard from a lot of people that they love to do this with cauliflower and Brussels sprouts. :)
I’ve made this a bunch of times and it always comes out well. Toddler grandson is the pickiest kid I’ve ever encountered. He won’t eat chicken nuggets, but devours oven roasted broccoli. Then, he eyeballs my plate and charms G’ma into giving him hers as well.
My go to healthy side. Love this and love how easy it is. I season with garlic powder, crushed red pepper, salt and pepper (basically steak seasoning.) Waiting on it to cook right now as a side to burgers!
Have always used fresh broccoli and always will. I’ll never use frozen broccoli in this way again! It was spread out on sheet as shown on your site and got mushy broccoli not golden as I previously have.
So disappointed serving this for tonight’s dinner!
Does this method work for roasting other frozen vegetables? Found a rainbow cauliflower medley today and would love to try it made this way if it works!
Woops… meant to add as a new comment 😬😅
Delicious! I used this without seasoning to partially roast the frozen broccoli before adding it to a casserole.
This is a great side .
We make this all the time. It’s a favorite around here. Cranking the oven up to 425, or even 450, can help to get the outside crispy before the inside turns to mush.
Not crowding the pan is essential!
Has anyone made a homemade container to drizzle olive (or other) oils from????
Whenever a recipe calls for drizzling olive oil like this, I just put a little olive oil in a ziplock bag, add the vegetables and seal. Roll the veggies around in the bag to coat. I use a lot less oil and get better coverage this way.
Thank you Mistyblu for that tip…it sounds so efficient for less oil and more coverage!!! It is my new baking tip!
I add the oil and seasoning in the bag my veggies come in. It’s even less messy and less waste
That’s so smart!
Using the bag the veg are packed in – that’s just simply brilliant!! Someone had their thinking cap on that day! Thanks so much for sharing. :-)
You can use a squeeze or squirt bottle, think mustard & ketchup bottles.
An empty wine bottle with a liquor spout works great for me!
Love this recipe! For my husband and I we make 1 lb of frozen florets for a dinner serving.
i make roasted frozen broccoli, but i defrost it in the microwave first, cooks quicker and all the water stays in the bowl you microwave in
That’s a great tip – thanks!
Fantastic tip…Thanks!!!
Does that mean it needs less time in the oven?
How long do you pre-cook the broccoli in the microwave? This is a great idea
My family loved this, even my kids who don’t like broccoli. It was a little salty so I may cut the seasoning back to 1 tsp.
I’ve been using this recipe and putting the broccoli into a cheese tortelloni dish, it’s amazing🤤
I made this Roasted FrozenBroccoli for dinner tonight. I only made one change by adding graded parmesan. I sprinkled on a good amount at the beginning and then more when I stirred at the 20 min mark. I also cooked them until they were ready brown almost black. They turned out crispy and delicious. Hubby liked them too! They went perfectly with my pork tenderloin roast and Keto cauliflower mash. Thanks for the recipe!
Does this reheat well? Or will it be soggy? Wondering if I could use this for my meal prep!
I think it does well personally! I make a big batch once and eat it all week ;)
I think I may have put a little too much seasoning on mine so a few of the bites I had were a little powerful but overall it tasted great and the broccoli added some great flavors to my meal!
This broccoli is so good., love it!
So easy and so delicious. As The Beth says, it doesn’t go from frozen to *crazy* crispy, but it is so very good. I am going to try it with fresh just to see how much I like it.
But seriously–dump, drizzle, season, stir? Yes, please!B
Thank you for the great dishes you make Brenda Tippens st Petersburg fl
Super easy and hubby and I love it! We have roasted broccoli twice a week thanks to this recipe. I use olive oil, chili powder, dash of black pepper and dash of salt and shake it up in a ziplock bag. Comes out perfect every time!
Wow I was truly surprised. I am not a fan of frozen broccoli but this recipe totally transforms it. I used salt/pepper/garlic powder in place of the Montreal. I only needed to bake ours about 25 minutes total. I am very happy to have a new easy side to add to the rotation, I will definitely keep frozen broccoli in the freezer from now on!
Hmmm, mine was mushy. What did I do wrong?
I would try roasting them a bit longer to help them dry out a bit. Also, you may want to check the accuracy of your oven’s temperature, because if it’s not quite hot enough the ice will just melt and not evaporate quickly, which can leave you with mushy broccoli. That being said, roasted frozen broccoli will always still be softer than roasted fresh broccoli.
Have you ever tried roasting frozen green beans? I may have to experiment and see how that comes out. We love them roasted but fresh can be hard to find.
We haven’t tried that yet! But keep us posted on how it goes.
I roast the Trader Joe’s French Green Beans all the time – really good, fast and easy!
I’ve made this recipe a couple times and thought it was great! Definitely best right out of the oven. I use Penzey’s Ruth Ann Muskego Avenue seasoning instead of Montreal steak. It’s a blend of salt, pepper, onion, garlic, lemon peel and I use it on…pretty much everything at least once.
Also do you think I could use a Silpat (silicon baking mat) instead of parchment paper? I’m trying to reduce my disposables in the kitchen :)
I used garlic powder and a ridiculous amount of salt, and my picky kids devoured it!!
I have been led astray by other roasted frozen broccoli recipes, but this recipe did not disappoint! It definitely has snuck its way many times into my meals for each week! I did not have any Montreal steak seasoning on hand so I used Italian seasoning (rosemary, thyme, oregano, basil, sage). The broccoli is crisp and delicious and holds a lot of flavor. Can’t wait to make it again tonight! Thank you for this great recipe and saving me from choking down bland boiled frozen broccoli!
Hooray! Thanks Cassie!
Accidentally bought frozen chopped broccoli (meant for broccoli cheese soup) instead of florets but it still turned out tasty! I put broccoli “sprinkles” on my toddler’s pasta and he ate it up. Can’t wait to try it again with florets! Thanks for the time and money saving tip!
Ha! I love the sprinkles!
It was amazing. Thanks so much for letting us know that frozen broccoli is actually better than fresh, when roasted. Will definitely be making many times over in the future.
You’re welcome!
This is literally my go to veggie now, so easy and I always have frozen broccoli on hand. I truly appreciate all your awesome recipes, I use your website at least a few times a week!
I don’t ever rate recipes but felt compelled to come on here and say thank you! This is the best broccoli I’ve ever had! I don’t normally love broccoli but this is my new favorite vegetable dish!
I was a little skeptical about roasting frozen broccoli…it was delicious! Highly recommend! If your broccoli florets are larger, you may want to increase time by 3-5 minutes.
I made this tonight but used lemon olive oil & Mediterranean Sea salt. To die for!
This worked great! So tired of plain old steamed, so I was happy to try this! I did the lemon pepper as suggested. WOW! It was a super delicious side to our fish tonight! My 2.5 yr old always hated broccoli, wouldn’t even touch the stuff let alone try it, he ate 4 helpings!!!!!! Will definitely make this again! Our older son didn’t care for it as much, but he never wants broccoli. He did however, eat his portion with ranch. Haha
I have made this twice and it’s so good…my eight year old loves it too. I don’t have that type of seasoning so I just salted it. Thanks for the great recipe!
I find that roasting frozen veg works even better if you do the following:
– coat your pan with a thin layer of oil and put it in the oven while it preheats to 450
– toss the frozen veg with oil and seasoning (I use the Trader Joe’s Umami blend) and put directly onto the hot pan and roast until golden
I did this just this morning – added some chickpeas for fiber and then tossed everything on top of 1/3 cup of marinara sauce and added some parm. Perfect quick lunch!
I tried this last night with frozen cauliflower and garam masala to accompany a curry. It was so tasty, and mild enough for the non curry eating four year old. I had to extend the cooking time slightly and chop up some of the larger pieces, but it’s such a good technique
Thanks for sharing this. It tastes WAY better this way vs the traditional steaming/microwaving method. I don’t dread frozen broccoli anymore haha.
Worked great! Thank you!!
I normally start with fresh, but my mum and dad had a huge bag of the frozen, so I was so happy to find this-turned out great! (Also works for frozen cauliflower–they had a blend). I just used olive oil, salt and pepper.
Can you re-freeze safely after roasting? I often meal prep for the week.. many thanks
Yes, as long as you chill the broccoli immediately after roasting.
The best broccoli I’ve eaten! Thanks for the great idea. We don’t have that spice in Australia though so I used paprika, garlic powder and salt. Yum!
Absolutely amazing! So easy and delicious!
Speaking of spices to sprinkle on I am currently obsessed with Penzey’s “The New Curry” blend and it would be AMAZING on this.
That spice sounds great. I’m going to check it out!
I went on Penzey’s website and ordered that curry, along with other spices. Thanks for the info!
Do they keep well for the week?
I always finish mine within a day or two. I’d say four days, max. Cooked broccoli tends to go downhill a little faster than most things, IMHO.
VERY good! I have had such a difficult time eating broccoli and my husband loves it! I will never go back! This is wonderful!
I am pleasantly surprised! I just made this and it’s so good! Definitely second to the taste of fresh broccoli but 10x+ better than steamed broccoli! So glad you shared! Excuse me while I finish it off lol. (I also roasted fresh sweet potatoes on a separate sheet. They got done first so I removed them while the broccoli finished. I added the sweet potatoes back to the oven when the broccoli was done just for a few minutes to make sure they were warm)
this was wonderful and so much easier than using fresh broccoli! thank you so much!!! :)
This was amazing, thank you! I never tried roasting frozen broccoli because I figured it wouldn’t work, but this was delicious. I tossed a 10 oz. bag on a sheet pan alongside a pound a salmon, and voila! Beautiful, healthy dinner! I wonder if I could do Brussels sprouts as well? I’m going to try, anyway!
Let me know how they turn out! :)
My boyfriend loves this recipe so much.
Love this! I have been wondering if frozen broccoli can be roasted. This is perfect – thanks so much!
I was so pleasantly surprised how great this tasted! I went overboard on the seasoning because it seemed crazy to put seasoning right on frozen broccoli, but it was amazing! Buying frozen is so much more convenient than fresh, but it always tastes crummy. So glad to have found this recipe!
Very good, doesn’t need that much.time. half it
Can you roast the frozen broccoli with fresh vegetables or should they be cooked separately?
I’ve never tried to do them in combination with other vegetables, but I think it would still work. You might have to play around with it to get the timing right, though. Sometimes vegetables roast at different speeds.
Made this tonight with baked chicken. It was delicious. Not having any steak seasoning on hand, I combined some Creole seasoning, some Old Bay Seasoning, some garlic powder, and some Chipotle sea salt instead. So very good. Thank you so much for sharing. This recipe and baking method will be part of my regular rotation.
I always assumed frozen veggies would get soggy in the oven, definitely not the case! I seasoned mine with olive oil, salt and pepper and it was delicious! Dare I say better than fresh roasted?! Cheaper too which is always a win, I’m going to try cauliflower and Brussels sprouts next!
Tried this last night, and we love this. I made it again tonight, but doubled the recipe, because it is just so good. And this comes from two people who couldn’t stand vegetables because (grew up with bland mushy veggies)
I use Montreal Steak for SO many things including roasting veggies. Thanks for the idea to roast frozen; I moved to a grocery desert with poor fresh veggie selection and it was making me crazy.
Did this for our weekly get together with family and they all loved it. Thank goodness for the Internet ideas!!!
I tried this today and it was DELICIOUS! Definitely a new staple in my home! Thanks!
I am making this AGAIN this week- just can’t get enough!! So I had to include it in my sunday weekly menu plan post – http://www.bostongirlbakes.com/2016/02/28/sunday-meal-plan-week-1/
too tasty not to share!
Made this as a side to go with the red pepper wonderpot for dinner. Sooooo good. Love having another option besides steaming/boiling
A winner for a fast easy healthy side! My husband said why don’t we make this every week…SCORE.
Glad I found your website recently. Thank you for the great ideas & recipes.
A thankful new mom.
I like broccoli anyway, but this has just become my new favorite way to fix it. Easy, fast, and delicious. I used a homemade Moroccan spice blend plus a little salt, and it was terrific. Thanks for another winner, Beth.
I like this better than fresh broccoli roasted. If I use fresh broccoli, I think I’ll blanch it before roasting. I seasoned it with a combination of salt, pepper and garlic powder.
Yummo! Thank you Beth! I love roasted vegetables and never knew I could use frozen. I added lemon pepper seasoning to mine. :)
It’s really good with fresh lemon juice drizzled over the top too.
I roast frozen broccoli all the time in olive oil, garlic, salt, and cayenne flakes and it’s delicious! I’ve never thought to try the steak seasoning though…I am sure that’s great!
Just made this for the second time! Huge hit for my family – especially me. Much better than steamed broccoli mush and super easy. There was a little too much steak seasoning for my taste, but that is easily adjusted.
THANK YOU FOR THIS! Like you, it never occurred to me that I could put frozen veggies in the oven without it being a soggy mess – I always just put them in soup or steamed them (or, my knockoff version of steaming – boiling in 1/2 inch of water with some red pepper flakes tossed in). I loooooovvvve roasted broccoli but rarely bothered with it because fresh broccoli tends to be expensive here for all but 3 weeks in the summer (NY), and also it’s a mess to cut up a head of broccoli with the green bits that go everywhere! I just roasted a $1 one-lb bag of frozen florets the other day with great success! (I also tossed in some purple carrots that I got at the greenmarket and had sliced and frozen….because like every time I go to the greenmarket, my eyes are bigger than my fridge and I overbuy. Despite them being ridiculously freezer burned after only 3 weeks because I am not an industrial machine that can flash-freeze things, they turned out great!) Thank you, thank you, thank you! You have drastically changed our dinners here with this post. More broccoli! Woo!
I just tried this for the first time yesterday! I discovered that frozen brussel sprouts turn out pretty decent roasted (and are WAY cheaper than fresh) so I figured I’d give frozen broccoli a try. Sure enough it was DELICIOUS! And so easy! :)
Wow, thanks for sharing. I thought the same thing and when I did use frozen broccoli I would thaw it out first. I’m so happy I could scream!!!
I rarely buy frozen vegetables except for peas, because of texture/water and I’ve always been unhappy with results, but will give this method a try as like others, sometimes the fresh broccoli is not good quality or more than I care to spend.
NOW, about those stalks, though. Sometime last summer, on http://www.thekitchn.com, there was a post about eating the stalks and I was so amazed at how many people commented that they preferred the stalks that I tried them myself. I really, really loved the stalks! You cut off the bottom inch or so, lightly peel and chop like medallions or shred the remainder of the stalk. I roast the “medallions” with the floret or stir fry them. If I shred, I make a broccoli slaw – and if you like broccoli slaw (packaged), it is made from the stalks. At any rate, if you are throwing out stalks from the frozen bag, you might consider giving them a try.
Huh, I always thought the frozen stuff would be too wet to roast, too! Do you think this would work with cauliflower as well?
Judging by the comments people left on Facebook, both cauliflower and Brussels sprouts work great! I can’t wait to try both.
I totally roast frozen broccoli too. I love to do half a bag of broc and half a bag of cauliflower together. Just kosher salt and olive oil usually, at 450 degrees. Maybe I’ll get brave and try different seasonings next time, but it’s just so good plain. And soo easy!
We love roasted broccoli in our house (even my 5 year old likes it!). I have found the frozen broccoli makes it much easier for us to eat whenever we would like. We roast ours with olive oil, salt, pepper, garlic powder (or minced garlic), parmesan and panko. YUM!!!
This is kind of game changer for me. I’ve avoided frozen broccoli… always… since being forced to eat frozen and microwaved mush as a kid. Honestly, I just thought that was how broccoli was until I “discovered” steamed this year. I will have to try it.
I found a similar recipe elsewhere a few weeks ago and made it as one of my veg dishes for Christmas dinner. Fantastic! Will be sure to try the Montreal seasoning next time.
You can also do this with frozen brussels sprouts–don’t thaw, just toss with olive oil and a little kosher salt. They take a little longer than the broccoli, but so worth it.
Yum, frozen brussels sprouts are yummy roasted in this manner, too. I am going to try frozen asparagus this way too! I really enjoy your blog, best to you in 2016
Sounds simple and delicious. Have you considered using an olive oil sprayer? Might give better coverage than drizzling…
You can do the same with Brussels sprouts!
I was just wondering this. Thanks for the info!!!
Would it be easier to toss the broccoli, olive oil and spices in a bowl first for even distribution?
This is wonderful to hear. My 2yr old daughter LOVES roasted broccoli but we don’t always have fresh on hand. I will try frozen! She has disdained frozen broccoli in the past – but it’s always just been microwaved/steamed I think, not roasted. Will definitely be giving this a try.
WHAT. You just changed my life. I do roasted fresh broccoli all the time, but you’re right about it not being cheap! I just assumed frozen wouldn’t work, I can’t wait to try it! We sprinkle it with lemon juice/zest and parm after roasting, it’s amazing. I like it SUPER roasted, almost burnt!
Looks delicious! I’m trying to eat better for 2016 and this will be a great start!
Tania
love roasted broccoli! I can’t believe I”m saying that since I hated broccoli a year ago. The only problem is, when I buy the frozen stuff, I’ve found half of the bag is of chopped stems instead of florets. Got any go-to brands?
I usually just use the store generic brand, BUT you have to read the label carefully. You have to make sure to get the bag that says “florets”. If you get regular frozen chopped broccoli, it will be half stems. :) I went through the same thing as you until I realized the bags actually labeled differently. :)
What a great idea! Love to buy frozen broccoli and this will become a favorite! Thanks for sharing. Pinned!
My family loves roasted broccoli with just some sea salt and crushed chili flakes – a little bite with the sweetness the roasting brings out makes such a treat!
Good idea, seems to me this would work with other frozen veggies.
Great idea! I’ve been buying fresh veggies thinking the same thing.
Gonna try this out tonight! :9
I’ve never roasted broccoli, fresh or frozen, before. I tried this recipe tonight and it was great! So easy. This will come in handy as a quick weeknight side once the semester starts up again.
Oh, I roast frozen broccoli all the time! It’s a go-to side dish at our house. I usually toss with olive oil, salt and red pepper flakes. Sometimes some garlic if I feel like it.
This is awesome! Since moving to Honolulu 18 months ago I have been paying a lot more attention to what I buy and the prices at the grocery store because everything is more expensive here! To add insult to injury, fresh produce is not only more expensive, it is often already wilting or goes bad quite soon after purchase because it’s spent a week or more on a ship getting here! I love roasted broccoli and frozen is a great alternative, especially here in Hawaii.
YUM! I love Broccoli so much, but I haven’t been able to eat it in years (IBS). I’ll have to make it for my husband who loves Broccoli.
I can’t even believe this. I always thought roasting frozen veggies would make them waterlogged. If this is just as good as fresh it will change my life!!! I have to try this tonight and will try other veggies as well. I’m hoping peppers and onions would work! MMM fajitas without shopping :)
Another idea – instead of (unevenly) drizzling with oil, you could simply pour the oil and spices into the bag it came in and shake! No dishes or waste :D
My favorite thing about frozen veggies is that they don’t go bad, if you can use them as planned!! I love fresh roasted broccoli but now I will try this one too. I add frozen broccoli to a pan and saute it without issues all the time.
Thank you for your site.
Wow! This is definitely an eye opener, “what have I been doing all of my life?!?” Moment!!! Can’t wait to give this a go! Love your blog!
Ooooooo, sounds yummy as all your recipes. Am going to do this. Thank you.
I’m so glad you posted this because I haven’t been eating a lot of vegetables lately and I have been trying to come up with quick easy ways (mostly those microwavable steam vegetables) to up my intake. We used to make your roasted sambal broccoli all the time when we were first married and we love it! Thank you Beth you have inspired us again.
Amazing idea. FYI, Montreal steak spice traditionally is salt, pepper, coriander, red pepper and dill.
Ahhh, that’s coriander in there, not fennel! Thanks for that. :)
Roasting frozen broccoli sounds like a great idea! Every time I roasted fresh broccoli, dealing with the broccoli stalk is a pain.
I do this ALLLL the time! Works great in the toaster over too if you don’t want to turn the oven on just for the brocolli.
I use the organic brocolli florets from Trader Joes, drizzle olive oil, S&P and garlic powder.
I have never roasted frozen broccoli, but I roast frozen brussels sprouts all the time. The frozen 1lb bag is $1,29 at my Whole Foods, cheaper than I could buy fresh here. I roast them using the same process you did for the broccoli.
I roast frozen broccoli all the time as well! It’s an easy food prep hack to make ahead for the week.
This might be a weird thing to ask, but does roasting the frozen broccoli help mask some of that “boiled broccoli” flavor? I hate the taste of steamed or boiled broccoli and that’s why I roast it in the oven. I’m excited to hear that it works with frozen broccoli, but I’m concerned it still mostly will taste boiled. Thanks for the help!
Hmm, I’m not familiar with that boiled broccoli flavor that you speak of, but it definitely does taste different than boiled or steamed broccoli.