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)
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!