Oven Roasted Broccoli

With just six ingredients this delicious Oven Roasted Broccoli with lemon and Parmesan will quickly become one of your favorite sides.  Just think you can get all that fabulous nutrition and plenty of great flavor all in a quick and easy recipe. 

I love to serve this with Grilled Marinated Chicken, Chicken Parmesan, and Turkey Meatloaf.  However it goes well with any beef, pork, chicken or fish main course.  Once you try this delectable way to prepare broccoli it will become a regular at your meal table.

How to make Oven Roasted Broccoli

After washing the broccoli dry it well.  Then cut it into bite size pieces and place on parchment covered baking sheets.  Next drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper.  Now roast in a preheated oven for about 20 minutes.  Then drizzle with lemon juice and sprinkle with freshly grated Parmesan Cheese.  Roasted broccoli is best served promptly while the edges are slightly crispy and the flavors are at their peak.

Recipe notes and tips for roasted broccoli

• Dry the washed broccoli well. I use paper towels to wrap around the pieces and very gently squeeze to extract the moisture.
• Generously sprinkle with salt and pepper.
• Fresh lemon juice is best and you only need the juice from one lemon. For added flavor add a little lemon zest.
• Fresh Parmesan cheese is flavor packed and tastes so much better than the pre-grated Parmesan cheese without any additives or anticaking agents.  It is well worth every penny.
• Leave enough room on the baking sheet for the hot air to flow between the broccoli.
• Plan to serve this recipe straight out of the oven.  You will be so pleased that this recipe will quickly become one your favorites.
• Do you like things a little zesty?  If so sprinkle with a little bit of crushed red pepper along with the pepper and salt.

How to select broccoli

Choose broccoli with a rich dark green color and firm stalks.  It should feel heavy for its size and be free of any brown or black patches on the florets which are more than likely mold.  Check to see if the stalk cut looks fresh and and florets are full and tight indicating plenty of moisture.

Flavor variations for Oven Roasted Broccoli

• Balsamic Glaze Broccoli – After roasting the broccoli omit the lemon juice and Parmesan Cheese and drizzle with Balsamic Glaze.
• Everything Bagel Broccoli – After roasting your broccoli generously sprinkle with Everything Bagel Seasoning. Omit the lemon juice but feel free to add the Parmesan cheese.
• Spicy Asian Broccoli – In addition to the olive oil drizzle very lightly with sesame oil as a little goes a long way.  After roasting omit the lemon juice and Parmesan Cheese. Drizzle with low sodium soy sauce and sprinkle with sesame seeds and crushed red pepper.

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