Grilled Broccoli with Lemon & Parmesan

Grilled broccoli with lemon and parmesan is tender and flavorful, with crispy bits and a slightly smoky flavor. An easy side dish, it is ready in just 20 minutes using four simple ingredients.

Grilling your vegetables can add so much extra delicious flavor. Our favorites include grilled cauliflower as well as grilled brussels sprouts. Another great option is grilled broccoli!

With crispy caramelized bits and a slightly smoky flavor, grilled broccoli is one of our favorite ways to cook it!

This recipe is super simple to prep, cook, and clean up, and uses ingredients you probably already have in your pantry. Serve it with this perfect grilled chicken breast and unbelievably crispy grilled potatoes for the perfect summer dinner!

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Ingredients you'll need

• broccoli florets- you'll need 1 lb or roughly 8 cups for this recipe; make sure to cut them into equal sized 1.5 inch florets so that they cook through evenly
• olive oil- to toss the broccoli florets in; this helps the edges caramelize while grilling. Feel free to swap for avocado oil or another high smoke point oil
• lemon- provides acidity and flavor. We are using the juice of half a lemon to toss the broccoli in, and slicing the other half to go onto the grill. Grilling lemons concentrates their sweetness and enhances their flavors.
• parmesan cheese- just before serving, sprinkle the broccoli with parmesan cheese for added saltiness and umami. I highly recommend using freshly grated parmesan cheese rather than the shelf-stable kind.

Preparing the broccoli

Start by washing the broccoli. Chop it into even-sized florets, roughly 1.5 inches each. Try to get them as equal-sized as possible so that they cook through evenly.

Toss the broccoli florets in olive oil and lemon juice, and you are ready to grill!

A vegetable grilling basket is your best friend

The major risk with grilling broccoli is that they could fall between the grates. The solution is to invest in a vegetable grilling basket! (This is the one I own!)

When adding the broccoli to the basket, spread it out as much as possible. If the broccoli is placed too close together, it will steam rather than roast, and you will miss out on those golden caramelized bits.

Grill for 7-10 minutes, turning it as needed with tongs. Since all grills cook slightly differently, it's important to keep an eye on it and use your judgement as to when it's ready to take off.

The finishing touches

Just before serving, sprinkle the grilled broccoli generously with freshly ground parmesan. This adds some much needed salt, and pairs so well with the lemon.

Squeeze the charred lemon onto the broccoli, and enjoy!

Storage Tips + Recipe Variations

• cut up your broccoli up to 1 week ahead and store in an air tight container in the fridge
• leftover grilled broccoli can be stored in an air tight container in the fridge for up to 4 days
• chili lime- swap the lemon for lime and add a sprinkling of chili powder
• asian sesame- skip the lemon + parmesan and toss in soy sauce and sesame oil before grilling. Sprinkle with sesame seeds to serve
• balsamic feta- swap the lemon juice for balsamic vinegar and the parmesan for feta cheese. Before serving, drizzle with this 2-ingredient balsamic reduction for a sweet and tangy finish!

Serve it with

• 3-Ingredient Maple Glazed Salmon
• Baked Lemon Pepper Chicken
• Instant Pot Chicken Breast Recipes
• 7 Easy Rice Recipes
• Sugar Snap Peas- 3 Ways

Did you make this? Tag me on social @sweetpeasandsaffron and be sure to leave a comment and rate the recipe!

Grilled Broccoli with Lemon & Parmesan

5 from 5 votes

Prep Time: 10 minutes mins

Cook Time: 10 minutes mins

Total Time: 20 minutes mins

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Print Rate

Grilled broccoli with lemon and parmesan is tender and flavorful, with crispy bits and a slightly smoky flavor. An easy side dish, it is ready in just 20 minutes using four simple ingredients.

6

Ingredients

• ▢ 1 lb broccoli florets (roughly 8 cups; cut into 1.5 inch florets)
• ▢ 1 tablespoon olive oil
• ▢ ½ lemon (juiced)
• ▢ ½ lemon (sliced)
• ▢ salt & pepper
• ▢ ½ cup parmesan cheese (shredded)

Instructions 

• Heat grill to medium heat (350°F).
• Toss broccoli florets with olive oil, lemon juice and lemon slices. Season with salt and pepper to taste. 
• Grill broccoli (I recommend using a vegetable grilling plate) for 7-10 minutes, stirring every couple of minutes. Broccoli is done when it is bright green with some crispy, brown bits.
• Transfer broccoli to serving plate, sprinkle with parmesan cheese and serve.

To prep ahead

• This broccoli recipe is best served right after cooking, however you may pre-chop the broccoli florets and store in the fridge for up to 7 days.

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Tips:

Storage

Grilled broccoli may be stored in an air tight container for up to 4 days. It will not smell great but it still tastes good!

Reheat

Heat on a grill or in a frying pan for 3-5 minutes, until warmed through.

Variations

• chili lime– swap the lemon for lime and add a sprinkling of chili powder
• asian sesame– skip the lemon + parmesan and toss in soy sauce and sesame oil before grilling. Sprinkle with sesame seeds to serve
• balsamic feta- swap the lemon juice for balsamic vinegar and the parmesan for feta cheese. Before serving, drizzle with this 2-ingredient balsamic reduction for a sweet and tangy finish!

Nutrition Information

Serving: 1/6 of batch, Calories: 79kcal, Carbohydrates: 5g, Protein: 5g, Fat: 4g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 5mg, Sodium: 158mg, Potassium: 246mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 1g, Vitamin A: 535IU, Vitamin C: 68.7mg, Calcium: 134mg, Iron: 0.6mg

Author: Denise Bustard

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: BBQ

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