This easy Sauteed broccoli is a healthy and delicious side dish. Made with only olive oil, garlic, and some light seasonings, it's ready in 10 minutes or less!
Looking for more easy side dishes? Try my Steamed Broccoli or Broccoli Salad next!
About This Recipe
Guys... It's 2 weeks until Christmas, so today I'm sharing my Grinch-themed side dish...sauteed broccoli. Ok, maybe it's just broccoli...
This is one of those recipes that I make all the time, but somehow it never made it onto my blog. I was making Bourbon chicken earlier this week and decided on broccoli as the side dish to go with it. At first, I wasn't going to include a recipe for the broccoli, but then I realized there is quite a bit of technique to cooking it.
For me, I want my sauteed broccoli to have a clean taste. That means no charring or caramelization on the outside, which can be bitter and overpower the sweetness of the broccoli. If I want charred broccoli, I'll roast it or air-fry it at a high temp instead.
For sauteed broccoli, I cook it on a lower heat because broccoli does not have much moisture. If the heat is too high, the broccoli will burn, and if you have any other similarly dry ingredients in the pan, like garlic, they will burn too.
To get the perfect broccoli, I use a saute-steaming technique. This involves sauteeing for 1-2 minutes, then adding a few tablespoons of water to the pan and covering with a lid. This reduces the heat on the surface of the pan and creates steam, which actually cooks the broccoli faster. The result is perfectly crisp and tender broccoli in only about 5 minutes.
Key Ingredients
Broccoli crowns: You'll need 1 pound of broccoli crowns. For me, this ended up being about 2 medium crowns. You can also use frozen broccoli florets.
Olive oil: For sauteeing the broccoli and garlic.
Garlic: I prefer to mince the garlic so that more of its flavor disperses throughout he broccoli.
Salt and pepper: Add to your own taste. I usually adjust the salt according to the main course I serve it with. If I'm eating something saucey and flavorful, I add less salt.
Lemon juice: Add a squeeze of fresh lemon juice to brighten up the broccoli.
Instructions
STEP 1: Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the broccoli and garlic and saute for 1-2 minutes.
STEP 2: Add 3 tablespoons of water and cover with a lid. Let the broccoli steam for about 3-4 minutes until tender but still crisp.
STEP 3: Remove from the heat and season with salt, pepper, and a squeeze of fresh lemon juice.
📋 Recipe
Easy Sauteed Broccoli
Ingredients
- 1 pound broccoli crowns
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic (minced)
- ¼ teaspoon salt and pepper (or to taste)
- fresh lemon juice
Instructions
- Cut the broccoli into small florets.
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the broccoli and garlic and saute for 1-2 minutes.
- Add 3 tablespoons of water and cover with a lid. Let the broccoli steam for about 3-4 minutes until tender but still crisp.
- Remove from the heat and season with salt, pepper, and a squeeze of fresh lemon juice.
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