The Restaurant Trick for Making Roasted Broccoli Taste Ridiculously Good

Jan Valdez
·2 min read
Overhead shot of roasted broccoli on white parchment paper, in a sheet pan.
Credit: Photo: Alex Lepe; Food Styling: James Park Credit: Photo: Alex Lepe; Food Styling: James Park

I absolutely love the simplicity of roasted broccoli for most of my weeknight dinners. Roasted broccoli is quick, easy, and pairs well with practically any main dish. I’ve made it countless times over the years, and while it’s a classic standby, I wanted a leveled-up version for dinner.

So when I found Christine Gallary’s recipe for Caesar Roasted Broccoli, I made it immediately. This simple, yet ingenious upgrade transforms simple roasted broccoli into a super-flavorful side dish that will have you reaching for seconds (I know I did!).

caesar broccoli on a platter
Credit: Photo: Joe Lingeman; Food Styling: Anna Stockwell Credit: Photo: Joe Lingeman; Food Styling: Anna Stockwell

Why Caesar Dressing Makes the Best Roasted Broccoli Ever

What makes this side dish stand out is the homemade Caesar dressing. This dressing packs a punch of flavor from the anchovies, garlic, lemon, and Parmesan cheese. We definitely recommend making the dressing from scratch (it’s so much better than store-bought, trust us), and it’s actually really easy to make! The dressing comes together quickly with just a whisk and a bowl — no special equipment needed.

Along with the homemade Caesar dressing, the toasted panko breadcrumbs take this side dish to a whole new level. As with our recipe for Caesar Salad with Garlic Butter Breadcrumbs, panko breadcrumbs are toasted until golden brown and crispy, then sprinkled generously on top. This super-crunchy topping is the reason why “breadcrumbs are the new croutons.” You’ll want to sprinkle it on everything.

Get the recipe: Caesar Roasted Broccoli

Other Ways to Use Caesar Dressing

Once you’ve made Caesar roasted broccoli, you’ll want to make it again and again. This method can also be used to level up other basic roasted vegetables, such as roasted cauliflower or roasted asparagus. Here are a few other ways to use Caesar dressing (beyond the classic Caesar salad).

Caesar Salad Smashed Potatoes
3-Ingredient Baked Caesar Chicken
Grilled Salmon Caesar Salad
Fried Chicken Caesar Wraps
Creamy Caesar Pasta Salad with Chicken
Easy Caesar Spaghetti
Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad Skewers
Breakfast Caesar with Jammy Eggs and English Muffin Croutons

This post originally appeared on The Kitchn. See it there: The Restaurant Trick for Making Roasted Broccoli Taste Ridiculously Good