Sneak in your veggies with this basil broccoli pasta Feb. 18, 202204:24 For ages, broccoli has had a bad reputation taste-wise. From the late former president George H.W. Bush’s famous contempt for it to all the three-year-olds out there with their mouths tightly shut at mealtime, this vegetable (perhaps […]
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Sneak in your veggies with this basil broccoli pasta
Feb. 18, 202204:24
For ages, broccoli has had a bad reputation taste-wise. From the late former president George H.W. Bush's famous contempt for it to all the three-year-olds out there with their mouths tightly shut at mealtime, this vegetable (perhaps more than most) is hardly hailed as dinner's winner.
But that's about to change.
Why? Because it's about time this nutritious, cruciferous veggie gets its time in the spotlight. A member of the cabbage family, broccoli is has lots of fiber and vitamins. Just one cup has as much vitamin C as an orange! It's also a great addition to the grocery list for being budget friendly; plus, it's readily available year round in supermarkets, which means that you can use it whenever you want.
If that's not enough to entice you to eat your veggies, we're here to help. Luckily, the fabulous chefs and cooks who frequent the TODAY kitchen are flavor magicians who can dress broccoli up or down, roast it on a sheet pan with crispy chicken Parm, glaze it in a lively miso dressing and even sneak it into pepperoni rolls so kids (and adults!) might actually get excited to eat their broccoli.
So roll up your sleeves, stock up on a few heads of the good stuff and try these easy, delicious dishes starring broccoli.
Side dishes and appetizers with broccoli
TODAY All Day
Roasted Broccoli with Lemon
Peyton Janicke
Roasting veggies with salt, garlic powder and pepper makes them so delicious. Make sure to evenly spread the broccoli out on the sheet pan so you can get lots of little crispy bits in every bite.
TODAY
Tender Broccoli with Garlic, Orange and Toasted Almonds
Catherine Fulvio
Making a sauce for vegetables, such as this zesty orange one, adds great flavor and encourages picky eaters with veggie aversions to enjoy their greens more.
Shutterstock
Joy Bauer's Broccoli Tots
Joy Bauer
Say goodbye to bags of freezer-burned Tater Tots. Joy Bauer's homemade version is so easy and delicious. By replacing the potato with broccoli, she cuts back on carbs and calories without sacrificing texture and flavor.
Ali Rosen
Creamy Broccoli Salad
Ali Rosen
This is a twist on those classic mayo-based broccoli salads, except every element is amped up. Quick-pickled shallots add a tang, Gorgonzola gives a hit of flavorful creaminess and salami inserts the meaty element without forcing you to fry up some bacon.
Carla Lalli Music
Charred Broccoli with Spicy Avocado Sauce
Carla Lalli Music
There's no reason to discard the broccoli stem, which has a radish-like crunch and mild flavor. Cutting it into long spears and searing it keeps the broccoli crunchy while softening its fibers a bit, and the creamy avocado sauce acts as a sort of dip.
Mike Smith / TODAY
Siri's Broccoli and Cheese Stratta
Siri Daly
Cheese and broccoli are a natural combination in dips and dinners, but when you add bread and eggs into the mix, you get a show-stopping side dish.
Ali Rosen
No-Cook Grated Broccoli-Feta Slaw
Ali Rosen
When it's hot outside and you don't want to turn on your stove, this light, bright salad is the perfect antidote. Use a grater or your food processor to get the broccoli as small as possible, then combine with the fresh zing of lemon and the brininess of feta to get the perfect summer slaw.
Nathan Congleton / TODAY
Pepperoni Rolls with Broccoli
Katie Lee
Hailing from West Virginia, pepperoni rolls are a popular snack of chewy dough stuffed with pepperoni and gooey cheese. Here, Katie Lee makes a homemade version with the addition of broccoli. It's perfect for entertaining and a great way to sneak in the vegetable.
Courtesy Romel Bruno
Burnt Broccoli and Charred Brussels Sprouts Salad
Romel Bruno
Serve this simple salad warm, with a vinaigrette that’s bright, acidic and onion-y. You can render out pancetta to get it crispy, use the fat to cook down the shallot and add a splash of vinegar and Dijon to balance it all out.
Karen Akunowicz
Grilled Broccoli Caesar Salad
Karen Akunowicz
This non-traditional dish borrows ideas from three different countries. The Caesar salad was invented in Mexico, the migas (toasted seasoned bread) hails from Spain and the dressing has a dollop of Japanese miso in it.
Casey Barber
200-Calorie Panera-Style Broccoli Cheddar Soup
Casey Barber
What's the secret to stuffing so much cheesy flavor into a soup that's only 200 calories a serving? A rind from a wedge of Parmesan cheese is the key to adding lots of rich taste while keeping this comfort food on the virtuous side of the spectrum. A second sneaky add-in comes from peeled and diced broccoli stems in the broth, giving you tons of fill-you-up fiber and cutting down on waste from this nutritious green vegetable.
Armando Rafael
Spicy Sheet-Pan Pork Chops and Broccoli
Lidia Bastianich
Pickled pepperoncini are the secret ingredient here, adding spice and tanginess. They also serve to brighten up the meaty pork chops, nutty chickpeas and earthy broccoli.
Lucy Schaeffer
Joy Bauer's Creamy Broccoli Soup
Joy Bauer
This soup incorporates three nutritional-powerhouse ingredients: onions, broccoli and Greek yogurt. It's only 100 calories per cup, contains six grams of protein and six grams of fiber. Pair it with a piece of oven-roasted salmon for the ultimate (and complete) feel-good meal.
Paul Brissman
Baked Cheesy Mac and Broccoli
Antoni Porowski
Broccoli and cheese make a great pair, especially in a baked pasta. Antoni Porowski's skillet version is crispy along the edges and has a wonderful, crunchy breadcrumb topping — his favorite part.
Nathan Congleton / TODAY
Broccoli Cacio e Pepe
John Fraser
What better way to enjoy veggies than paired with cheesy, peppery pasta? Adding broccoli to classic cacio e pepe gives the dish a beautiful bright green color and gives it a healthy boost.
Kelly Puleio
Ricotta Gnocchi with Broccoli Pesto, Basil and Pistachios
Missy Robbins
When you're trying to get folks who don't love their veggies to finish their broccoli, serve them this pillowy ricotta gnocchi covered in a sweet, slightly spicy pesto sauce, and they'll be begging for seconds.
Nathan Congleton / TODAY
Savannah's Mom's Broccoli Casserole
Savannah Guthrie
This creamy casserole is the epitome of comfort food. The rice makes it filling enough to enjoy as a main, but it is still light enough to serve as a side. And what better way to eat your green veggies than smothered in melty cheese?
Karina Heinrich
One-Pan Baked Acorn Squash with White Beans and Broccoli
Karina Heinrich
This vegetarian one-pan creation is loaded with tons of easy-to-digest plant proteins and fiber. The sliced acorn squash and white beans perfectly caramelize on the outside and remain creamy on the inside.
Casey Barber / TODAY
One-Pot Pasta with Broccoli, Ham and Parmesan
Tom Colicchio
Ever wonder what celebrity chefs love to cook home? Well, now we know one of Tom Colicchio's favorites: pasta with broccoli, ham and Parmesan cheese. And guess what? All you need is one pot to make this dish, so dinner and clean up will be quick and easy.
TODAY
Coconut Cauliflower Rice with Coconut Chicken and Broccoli
Kelly LeVeque
If you're a fan or teriyaki chicken rice bowls, this is a low-sodium, low-sugar alternative that can be quickly made from a rotisserie chicken on a night you are just too beat to cook. It's a perfect semi-homemade, 10-minute meal!
Tyler Essary/TODAY
Healing Cream of Greens Soup
Chloe Coscarelli
This is the perfect soup to make when you feel like you need an extra immunity boost. The greens are packed with phytonutrients and antioxidants that will have you feeling stronger and on the mend in no time.
Nathan Congleton / TODAY
Restaurant-Style Asian-Inspired Chicken & Broccoli
Kevin Curry
When planning what to make for dinner on a weeknight, the checklist typically includes "cheap," "easy," "crowd-pleaser," "healthy," "one-pan," "chicken," and "delicious." This recipe from Kevin Curry of Fit Men Cook checks all of those things off.
Jerrelle Guy
Sheet Pan Vegetable Coconut Curry Rice
Jerrelle Guy
You're going to love this versatile rice medley. It's perfect for a weeknight meal because everything is conveniently mixed together, dumped right onto a sheet pan and ready to eat in 30 minutes. Once you pull this pan from the oven, the onions will be caramelized, the raisins will be plump and the veggies will be tender.
Nathan Congleton/TODAY
Pork Tenderloin Fried Rice
Katie Lee
Fried rice is the ultimate customizable meal. You can your choice of rice, your pick of proteins and a variety of veggies to create an easy and filling dinner to suit your taste.
Elena Besser
Sheet Pan Chicken Parm with Garlic Bread and Broccoli
Elena Besser
This sheet pan Parm skips the frying step and adds roasted garlic bread and broccoli to make it a complete meal with very little cleanup. Plus, it’s a healthier way to enjoy everyone’s favorite Italian American dish.
Nathan Congleton / TODAY
Roasted Chicken with Crispy Broccoli
James Laird
This isn't your basic, boring roast chicken. The beer-based marinade makes this chicken extra juicy and flavorful, and the roasted garlic rub really ups the ante. Plus, there's nothing better to pair it with than super-crispy broccoli.
Nathan Congleton / TODAY
Miso-Roasted Sea Bass with Ginger-Garlic Broccoli
Richard Ingraham
Sea bass on its own is amazingly buttery, but the marinade takes it to another level. The crispy, gingery broccoli brings the perfect contrast in both flavor and texture.
Patricia Niven
Baked Chicken and Ricotta Meatballs with Broccolini
Yasmin Fahr
These baked chicken and ricotta meatballs are lighter than their beefy counterparts and don't require a lot of work. Baking skips the time and mess of browning on the stovetop and leaves you with one mixing bowl and sheet pan to clean at the end — and, most importantly, 20 delicious meatballs accompanied by crisped broccolini.
Courtesy Adam Friedlander
Baked Lemony Broccoli and Mushroom Pasta
Yasmin Fahr
Broccoli, mushrooms and garlic combined with a bright lemony flavor and kick of heat is a pretty unbeatable combination. Baking the pasta gives the pieces along the rim an extra crunchy texture that's deeply satisfying.
Angie Mosier
Chicken Divan
Elizabeth Heiskell
This recipe is one to put on repeat because it's easy enough to make for a Monday night, but the results are nothing short of a fancy Friday night dinner.
Samantha Okazaki / TODAY
Chicken and Broccoli Casserole
Curtis Stone
Curtis Stone's luscious casserole is a fabulous and family-friendly comfort meal that's easy to make ahead, whether it's a busy weeknight or a special occasion.
Nathan Congleton / TODAY
Broccoli Cheese Quiche
Elizabeth Heiskell
A quiche might sound fancy, but it's actually one of the most versatile dishes. It is, of course, a lovely brunch item but makes a delightful lunch or light supper when served with a salad.
