Sautéed frozen broccoli with plenty of garlic is so succulent and delicious, no one will guess that you cooked it from frozen!
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Sautéed frozen broccoli can be delicious with just salt and pepper, but I love it tossed in this super simple but amazingly delicious roasted garlic butter. It only takes a couple of minutes to make the garlic butter, and it adds so much amazing flavor to the finished dish!
A few weeks ago, I shared how to make delicious roasted green beans from frozen. When I sent this recipe out to my newsletter, I got some replies asking for more frozen vegetable recipes, so this sautéed frozen broccoli is for you.
Y'all, I. LOVE. BROCCOLI.
We are a broccoli family. It's one of the few veggies that both my kid and husband can agree on, so we eat it several times a week. And I'm so excited to work this super easy, super delicious sautéed frozen broccoli into our rotation!
Not only does cooking from frozen mean fewer veggies going bad in the fridge, but frozen broccoli is already chopped, so there's less prep time. Don't mind if I do!
🧄 Ingredients and substitutions
- vegan butter - To sauté. You can use olive oil, if you prefer.
- frozen broccoli - Choose a bag that has florets. The ones that are piecier tend to include very woody bits of stem, which are not delicious. I love a broccoli stem, but they need to be tender, not chewy.
- salt - A sprinkle of salt helps the broccoli brown in the pan and brings out the flavors.
- garlic - I know we're going for ease here, but fresh garlic is what makes this dish just so special!
- fairy dust - This is optional, but I do love sprinkling my seasoned vegan Parmesan all over this broccoli!
🔪 How to make sautéed frozen broccoli
Heat a teaspoon of the vegan butter in a nonstick skillet on medium-high heat, and add the frozen broccoli. Sprinkle on ¼ teaspoon of the salt. Cook for around 10 to 12 minutes, until the florets are tender and have nice, browned edges.
During cooking, flip the florets a few times, but not too often. When the florets start to soften, use the back of a spoon or a spatula to gently press them to get out even more excess water.
You want the frozen broccoli to brown evenly in the pan, but you also want to keep it in contact with the pan, so excess liquid can evaporate. This is going to depend on your stove, your pan, and, the size of the florets you're working with. Transfer to a serving bowl and set aside.
Heat the rest of the vegan butter on medium-high in the same pan, and add the garlic. If you're using olive oil, this is where you'll add the extra salt. Cook for just a few minutes, until the garlic starts to brown.
Add the garlic butter to the broccoli in the bowl and toss well to coat. Top with vegan parmesan just before serving, if desired.
This is just an incredible vegan side dish. I especially like it alongside vegan cacio e pepe. The whole meal only takes about 30 minutes to make!
💡 Helpful tips
- Choose good frozen broccoli! Frozen broccoli can vary in quality, so choose the good stuff for the best results.
- When you're sautéing the frozen broccoli, flip the florets over a few times, but not too often. The broccoli needs to stay in contact with the hot pan to brown and get tender.
- Pressing the florets once they're starting to soften really makes a difference in the texture. Frozen broccoli can be a bit water-logged, which is why it can have a mushy texture. Gently pressing out some of the water, especially from the stems, helps a lot!
🫙 Storage directions
Leftovers will keep for three to five days in a closed container in the fridge.
💬 Frequently asked questions
Yeah you can! And it's DELICIOUS.
No need to thaw.
The key is to let the moisture evaporate, so resist the urge to cover the pan. Just keep cooking, stirring occasionally, until it starts browning just a bit. Don't stir too oven, though! The broccoli needs to stay in contact with the hot pan to brown and get tender.
It also helps if you use the back of a spoon or a spatula to gently press the broccoli while it's cooking, once it's softened a bit. This will get out even more excess liquid!
🫛 More frozen vegetable recipes
📖 Recipe
🥦 Garlicky Sautéed Frozen Broccoli
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons vegan butter or olive oil
- 14 to 16 ounces frozen broccoli
- ¼ to ½ teaspoon salt
- 3 to 4 cloves garlic minced
- vegan parmesan for sprinkling, optional
Instructions
- Heat 1 teaspoon of the vegan butter in a nonstick skillet on medium-high heat, and add the frozen broccoli. Sprinkle on ¼ teaspoon of the salt. Cook for around 10 to 12 minutes, until the florets are tender and have nice, browned edges. During cooking, flip the florets a few times, but not too often. When the florets start to soften, use the back of a spoon or a spatula to gently press them to get out even more excess water. You want them to brown evenly, but you also want to keep them in contact with the pan, so excess liquid can evaporate. This is going to depend on your stove, your pan, and, the size of the florets you're working with. Transfer to a serving bowl and set aside.
- Heat the rest of the vegan butter on medium-high in the same pan, and add the garlic. If you're using olive oil, this is where you'll add the remaining ¼ teaspoon of salt. Cook for just minute or two, until the garlic gets fragrant.
- Add the garlic butter to the broccoli in the bowl and toss well to coat. Top with vegan parmesan just before serving, if desired.
Sara T
I loved how simple and crispy the broccoli and cauliflower dish came out. The flavour was nice and I even made the fairy dust you suggested !
Will definitely make my frozen veggies this way often !
Becky Striepe
I'm so happy to hear it, Sara! And enjoy the fairy dust. My kid and I put it on EVERYTHING!