20 Broccoli Recipes You'll Want to Make Forever

Brie Passano
Brie Passano

The best way to use up your broccoli is by trying one of these highly-rated recipes. From soups and salads to sheet-pan dinners and casseroles, these four- and five-star rated dishes embrace the fresh flavor of the cruciferous veggie. Recipes like our Cream of Broccoli Soup and Crispy Smashed Broccoli with Balsamic & Parmesan are so delicious, you'll want to make them again and again.

Cream of Broccoli Soup

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This simple and healthy cream of broccoli soup recipe gets its flavor from a mixture of aromatic vegetables, including leeks and celery. Using an immersion blender (or regular blender) gives it a smooth, creamy texture. Enjoy this easy homemade cream of broccoli soup as a comforting appetizer or pair it with a sandwich or salad for lunch or dinner.

Crispy Smashed Broccoli with Balsamic & Parmesan

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Brie Passano
Brie Passano

Flattening broccoli florets increases their surface area, which means more space to absorb the flavors of Parmesan cheese and a sweet balsamic vinegar drizzle.

Cranberry-Almond Broccoli Salad

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Iain Bagwell Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas
Iain Bagwell Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas

Broccoli salad is usually drowning in a creamy, often very sweet, dressing and studded with 1/2 pound crumbled bacon, making it more about the creamy dressing and bacon than about the actual broccoli. Ours uses a combination of canola mayonnaise and Greek yogurt to keep the calories in check. We opt for center-cut bacon (a bit less of it) and swap the usual raisins for lower-sugar dried cranberries to pack a subtle punch of tart. The best part of this salad? The longer it sits, the better it gets.

One-Pot Garlicky Shrimp & Broccoli

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Photography: Kelsey Hansen; Food Styling: Greg Luna
Photography: Kelsey Hansen; Food Styling: Greg Luna

Shrimp and broccoli cook quickly in this easy, one-pot recipe, making it perfect for busy weeknights. Serve this healthy shrimp recipe over whole grains or rice.

Pureed Broccoli Soup

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Sonia Bozzo
Sonia Bozzo

In this easy recipe, broccoli cooks together with onions, celery, garlic and fresh herbs and is then puréed into a delicious creamy soup. Try this healthy broccoli soup alongside grilled cheese sandwiches or as a starter for a simple dinner.

Honey-Garlic Chicken Thighs with Carrots & Broccoli

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This sweet and savory baked honey-garlic chicken thigh recipe comes with a side of veggies that cook on the same sheet pan as the chicken for the perfect weeknight dinner.

Loaded Broccoli Salad

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Photographer / Brie Passano, Food Stylist / Annie Probst, Prop Stylist / Holly Raibikis
Photographer / Brie Passano, Food Stylist / Annie Probst, Prop Stylist / Holly Raibikis

This is the broccoli salad you will get special requests for. The combination of bacon, sour cream, mayonnaise, scallions and Cheddar is hard to resist.

Balsamic & Parmesan Roasted Broccoli

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This healthy side dish recipe couldn't be simpler--or more delicious. Broccoli is roasted until brown and crispy, then topped with Parmesan cheese and balsamic vinegar for a savory and sweet flavor combination that can't be beaten. Try this quick vegetable dish along with chicken, fish or really any main course. It's also great in salads or warm grain bowls. Tip: Preheating the pan helps the broccoli to brown and develop nutty flavors.

Gluten-Free Teriyaki Chicken with Broccoli

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Everyone loves teriyaki chicken—and this one is better for you with much less added sugar. It's also gluten-free so long as you use tamari (aka gluten-free soy sauce). Feel free to swap out the broccoli for any veggie—carrots, snow peas, green beans—that you have on hand.

Creamy Broccoli Pasta

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Brie Passano
Brie Passano

If you're looking for a simple weeknight pasta dish, look no further. This vegetarian dinner is done in only 20 minutes and packs plenty of broccoli along with creamy goodness thanks to mascarpone cheese and low-fat Greek yogurt.

Ginger Roasted Salmon & Broccoli

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This quick Asian salmon recipe uses the sauce for both glazing the salmon and tossing with the broccoli. Serve over rice noodles or brown rice tossed with sesame oil and scallions.

Easy Broccoli-Cheddar Quiche

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This broccoli and Cheddar quiche gets its creamy texture from evaporated milk. It's a great recipe to make ahead: simply reheat before serving or cut into slices and reheat each morning for breakfast. Using precut microwaveable broccoli cuts down on prep time, but if you have broccoli crowns sitting around, go ahead and use those up. Just be sure to cook the broccoli only until barely tender or the final dish will have overcooked, soggy broccoli.

Loaded Broccoli & Chicken Casserole

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Stacy k. Allen, Props: Julia Bayless, Food Stylist: Ana Kelley
Stacy k. Allen, Props: Julia Bayless, Food Stylist: Ana Kelley

This delightfully creamy broccoli and chicken casserole is a satisfying dinner that is sure to please a crowd. To keep prep simple, look for bags of pre-cut broccoli florets. If you like a little spice, swap out the Monterey Jack cheese for pepper Jack instead.

Easy Loaded Baked Omelet Muffins

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Protein-packed omelet muffins, or baked mini omelets, are a perfect breakfast for busy mornings. Make a batch ahead and freeze for the days when you don't have time for your typical bowl of oatmeal. You can also serve these fresh with fruit salad for a simple weekend brunch.

Roasted Broccoli & Cauliflower

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Roasted broccoli and cauliflower are perfectly cooked with just the right amount of seasonings and char from the oven. Enjoy this simple recipe for any meal or occasion.

Easy Chicken & Broccoli Soup

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Jennifer Causey
Jennifer Causey

This easy chicken and broccoli soup is creamy and luscious, but still light. The broccoli florets absorb the creamy soup base, while the chicken stays tender. This is the perfect soup to make on a busy weeknight when you have leftover roast chicken or rotisserie chicken on hand. While the recipe calls for chicken breasts, if thighs are what you have on hand, feel free to use those.

Sautéed Broccoli with Peanut Sauce

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Peanut butter, balanced with a little soy sauce and vinegar, makes a delicious and kid-friendly sauce for broccoli and other vegetables. Giving the broccoli a head start by steaming it before sautéing it with the other vegetables ensures that all the vegetables are nicely cooked at the same time.

Shrimp Cauliflower Fried Rice

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Amp up your veggie servings with this healthy cauliflower fried rice for a quick low-carb dinner.

Ham and Broccoli Breakfast Casserole

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Prepare this easy ham and broccoli casserole the evening before, and in the morning just pop it in the oven for a delicious breakfast.

Broccoli Salad with Bacon

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Classic broccoli salad, the perfect dish for a potluck, is updated with cauliflower, bacon and a sprinkle of crunchy sunflower seeds in this so-easy recipe that's sure to be a new picnic favorite.

Originally appeared: EatingWell.com, September 2023

Read the original article on Eating Well.