How to Bake Frozen Broccoli

Can You Bake Frozen Broccoli

We experimented first making Instant Pot frozen broccoli and that worked out great. I like having a few ways to make everything though depending on how much time I have, or how I am making the main dish. Many times I’ll want to bake a chicken so it is convenient if I can also throw this on another rack and not have to turn another appliance on.

Like air fryer frozen broccoli, this way will get that nice crisp on the edges too which is nice. Kids will only eat this with goodies on top? No problem, I get it. Either sprinkle some cheese on top, or drizzle some Velveeta over the top when done. You will find that there are a lot of ways to serve and/or season this one once you get the hang of the timing.

How to Roast Frozen Broccoli

We are just going to use a bag of broccoli right out of the freezer, olive oil, seasonings and if you want parmesan then that too. For easier cleanup and have it not stick to the pan just add a sheet of parchment paper on the bottom. When bought in a bag like this you bypass all the preparations which is nice too.

The stem is removed and the florets are sliced so each piece is around the same size. This is important whether you are cooking frozen or fresh Instant Pot broccoli so that it cooks evenly and each one is the same fork tenderness. 😉 Let’s talk about the nutritional value you will enjoy, which doesn’t change when frozen.

How to Bake Frozen Broccoli

It is one of the best vegetable sources of vitamin C, more than the daily recommended intake for adults.

• An excellent source of vitamin K, which is important for blood clotting and bone health.
• Folate is essential for DNA synthesis and cell growth and there is some in there too.
• Potassium: It is a good source of potassium, with approximately 316 mg per 100 grams. Potassium is crucial for maintaining healthy blood pressure and heart function.
• Although it isn’t as high in calcium as dairy products, it still provides a decent amount which may be surprising.
• Broccoli contains iron, which is important for oxygen transport and overall energy production.

Now one thing to remember is that if you boil broccoli you will loose some of the vitamins, baking won’t do that. So another bonus.

Baked Frozen Broccoli

There is literally NO prep work necessary when you cook frozen broccoli oven roasted like this. If you had fresh broccoli you would need to rinse, remove leaves, cut off the stem, slice the florets into smaller equal pieces and then start with coating with oil and seasonings. With this you throw it into a bowl, toss the broccoli with those and go!

• Preheat the oven to 360 F.
• Put separated pieces of frozen broccoli florets into a bowl, drizzle on olive oil to coat, toss, add salt and pepper, and other spices if desired.
• Line a baking sheet with parchment and lay out the broccoli florets in one single layer.
• Bake for 15 minutes.
• Then sprinkle with parmesan, or drizzle with sauce from Asian Broccoli recipe and bake for another 5 minutes.

If you didn’t want to add cheese then I’d open after 15 to move around with a spatula, you could add red pepper flakes now if you wanted some spicy heat to it and then proceed with last 5 min.

Frozen Broccoli in the Oven

Got the gist? Now let’s talk about variations you could go with on future batches. If you love the seasonings on this one then by all means stick to simple but you may want to tweak a bit and see which are your favorite combinations over the top of your oven roasted frozen broccoli.

1. Seasoning options: Once your broccoli recipe is cooked, you can add additional seasoning to enhance its taste. A few other popular options would be:
   • A sprinkle of some sea salt and freshly ground black pepper over the cooked broccoli is simple and obvious.
   • You could just sprinkle garlic powder on the top, or go a step further to sauté minced garlic in olive oil or butter in a pan, then drizzle it over the cooked florets.
   • Squeeze fresh lemon juice over the top to give it a bright, tangy flavor.
   • Like I said we like to sprinkle grated or shredded Parmesan cheese on the top for a savory, cheesy taste.
   • Red pepper flakes will add a touch of heat by sprinkling just a bit on top.
   • Experiment with herbs and spices like thyme, oregano, basil, cumin, or paprika to add different flavor profiles.

Now jump to recipe below and get down to the basics, tweak from there depending on what else you are making. If you want another sheet of veggies to enjoy as a side dish, throw in our roasted zucchini and squash which is something else my kiddos love.

Another favorite I will make often too is a tray full of roasted red cabbage. You can use the same seasonings really on both which makes it handy.