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This Roasted Broccoli Recipe tosses broccoli florets in a sesame and garlic marinade before they’re baked to crisp and tender perfection. Enjoy as an exciting side dish or with takeout-inspired meals. Vegan & Gluten-Free.
These Roasted Sesame Broccoli Florets are lightly charred around the edges, tender on the inside, and coated with a garlicky sesame marinade! It’s an incredibly flavorful and easy side dish recipe made with only 6 pantry staple ingredients in about 25 minutes.
Table of Contents
All About This Roasted Broccoli Side Dish
Whether you’re sick of boring blanched broccoli or are looking for a flavor-packed yet healthy side dish, this Roasted Garlic Sesame Broccoli recipe has you covered.
To make this everyday veggie extra exciting, I tossed the florets in a warm and savory sesame garlic marinade before roasting them until they were perfectly tender and slightly crisp. All it takes are pantry staples like sesame oil, garlic powder, and sesame seeds.
What’s better is that you only need about 25 minutes to put this side dish together! Because of its Asian-inspired flavors, I’m a big fan of pairing the broccoli with stir fries and rice bowls, although you can’t go wrong with serving it as a side dish for everyday meals.
What You Need To Make Sesame Roasted Broccoli
You only need 6 simple ingredients to make this easy broccoli side dish—you may already have most of them in your pantry!
- Oil: A neutral-tasting oil, like avocado oil or olive oil, encourages the broccoli to tenderize and become slightly crisp and golden brown in the oven.
- Garlic powder: Just a sprinkle adds a nice savory flavor to balance the nuttiness of the sesame oil and sesame seeds. Feel free to use fresh minced garlic cloves for a stronger garlic flavor.
- Sesame seeds: They add a lovely crunch to the roasted broccoli! For a nice color contrast, use a 1:1 mix of white sesame seeds and black sesame seeds.
- Broccoli: I only used the florets in this recipe and saved the stems for this Homemade Vegetable Broth. If you’d like to use the broccoli stems, peel the rough and thick “skin” before cutting them into bite-sized pieces.
- Toasted sesame oil: Just a drizzle gives the roasted broccoli florets a warm and nutty sesame flavor. This heat-sensitive oil is used as a finishing oil, and a little goes a long way! You can find it in the Asian section of most grocery stores, or at your local Asian market.
How to Make Roasted Broccoli with Garlic and Sesame Seeds
- Stir the oil, garlic powder, sesame seeds, and salt in a large bowl. Add the broccoli florets to the bowl and toss to coat.
- Lay the marinated broccoli on a sheet pan and bake until the edges are crispy.
- Drizzle the sesame oil over the roasted broccoli and toss to coat.
- Serve the sesame broccoli right away with your favorite mains.
Caitlin’s Cooking Tips
- Caitlin’s Cooking Tips
- Use evenly-sized broccoli florets: Chop the broccoli crowns into evenly-sized florets to help them cook evenly and in the same amount of time.
- Save time with pre-chopped broccoli: It’s a great way to get this side dish on the table even faster!
- Don’t skip the oil: Coating the broccoli with both avocado oil and sesame oil ensures that it comes out of the oven with a tender crisp texture and a warm sesame flavor.
Serving Suggestions
Serve the roasted sesame garlic broccoli as a side dish next to your favorite Asian-inspired main dishes or takeout-inspired recipes. The savory florets would be delicious alongside this Garlic Green Bean Stir Fry, this Black Pepper Tofu Stir Fry, or this Vegan Takeout-Style Fried Rice.
You also can’t go wrong with using the broccoli as a topping on a rice bowl. Add this Vegan Sesame “Chicken” or this Sesame Tofu for protein, then finish it with a drizzle of this Sesame Miso Dressing for a flavorful and satisfying meal.
Do you want to add a burst of flavor to your other favorite broccoli recipes? Go ahead and swap the “regular” broccoli for the sesame and garlic broccoli in this Roasted Broccoli Quinoa Salad or this Vegan “Beef” and Broccoli!
If you’re looking for more exciting vegetable side dish recipes, you’ll also love these Roasted Parsnips with Gremolata, these Dijon Garlic Roasted Potatoes, or this Raw Carrot Salad!
How to Store Roasted Broccoli
Leftover roasted broccoli can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. Freezing is not recommended.
Reheat the leftovers in a 350ºF oven for 5 to 10 minutes, or until they’re warmed through and slightly crisp again.
Substitutions and Variations
- Roast More Vegetables: Roast cauliflower florets, chunks of bell peppers, halved brussels sprouts, or snap peas along with the broccoli.
- Add a Garnish: Sprinkle nutritional yeast over the roasted broccoli to add a cheesy, salty flavor, or sprinkle extra sesame seeds on top if you’re looking for more crunch.
- Air Fryer Method: Season the broccoli as normal before placing it in an even layer in a parchment-lined air fryer basket. Air fry at 400ºF for 8 to 12 minutes, or until the broccoli is cooked to your liking.
Recipe FAQs
I personally love how fresh broccoli becomes crisp-tender in the oven, but frozen broccoli may work in a pinch. You shouldn’t need to thaw the florets before tossing them in the marinade, but keep in mind that they may not get as crisp as fresh broccoli.
No, it isn’t necessary to blanch the broccoli before you roast it.
Enjoy! If you make this recipe and decide to share it on Facebook or Instagram, don’t forget to tag me @FromMyBowl + #FromMyBowl! I would also love it if you could leave a comment below with a recipe rating! Thank you for the support 😊
Roasted Garlic Sesame Broccoli
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon avocado oil or neutral oil
- 1 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 tablespoons raw sesame seeds*
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt or to taste
- 16 ounces broccoli florets
- 1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
Instructions
- Prep: Preheat the oven to 420F and set a baking sheet aside.
- Season: Add the oil, garlic powder, sesame seeds, and salt to a large bowl. Use a spatula to mix the marinade together until well combined. Add the broccoli florets to the bowl and mix well, until evenly coated.
- Bake: Bake in the top rack of the oven for 15 to 18 minutes, until the edges of the broccoli are crispy. The broccoli will soften more as it cools!
- Sesame Oil: Drizzle the sesame oil over the broccoli on the baking sheet and mix well (or, transfer the broccoli back to the bowl and mix there!).
- Serve & Store: Serve immediately. Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
Recipe Notes
- Air Fryer: Season the broccoli as instructed in step 2. Line the basket of your air fryer with parchment paper and spread the broccoli out evenly. Air fry at 400F for 8 to 12 minutes, or until the broccoli is cooked to your liking!
- Broccoli Stems: This recipe can also be made with broccoli stems! I recommend peeling or slicing off the outer thick portion of the stem’s “skin”, then cutting into bite-sized pieces.
