Oven Roasted Frozen Broccoli

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.

Oven Roasted Frozen Broccoli Florets

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! :)

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4.91 from 43 votes

Oven Roasted Frozen Broccoli

Roasting broccoli is made faster and easier with the use of precut frozen broccoli florets. Oven Roasted Frozen Broccoli is an easy side dish for any meal!

Total Cost: $1.23 recipe / $0.62 serving

Author: Beth - Budget Bytes

Prep Time: 5 mins

Cook Time: 30 mins

Total Time: 35 mins

Servings: 2 to 3 servings

Ingredients

• 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.

Notes

I make this in small batches of 2-3 servings because it's best right when it comes out of the oven and it's so easy to prepare.

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Nutrition

Serving: 1Serving ・ Calories: 89kcal ・ Carbohydrates: 5.45g ・ Protein: 3.2g ・ Fat: 7.1g ・ Sodium: 402.45mg ・ Fiber: 3.4g

Nutritional values are estimates only. See our full nutrition disclosure here.

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How to Roast Frozen Broccoli – Step by Step Photos

I like to make this broccoli in small batches because it’s super easy and it’s best right when it comes out of the oven. For 2-3 servings (depending on how much you like), I’ll use 1/2 lb., or half of this bag. Also, start to preheat the oven to 400ºF before you begin so that it’s fully up to temp before the broccoli goes in.

Prepare a baking sheet by lining it with parchment (this makes for fast and easy cleanup). Spread the frozen broccoli florets over the surface of the baking sheet. There’s no need to even thaw them. Just dump them right out of the bag onto the baking sheet.

This is the seasoning I used–Montreal Steak Seasoning. It’s quite delicious. The bottle doesn’t specify exactly what’s in there, but I know there is coarse ground salt, pepper, red pepper, and paprika. There might also be some dehydrated onion flakes? At any rate, you can use whatever seasoning you like, but be sure to add a little salt if your seasoning doesn’t already contain it, like mine.

Drizzle about 1 Tbsp of olive oil over the broccoli, then sprinkle 1/2 Tbsp of the Montreal steak seasoning on top of that.

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.

I served this Oven Roasted Frozen Broccoli with my Slow Cooker Mashed Potatoes and a little rotisserie chicken. This is my new favorite “cheat” meal (“cheat” because the rotisserie chicken is store bought and I can make all the sides really quickly).