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Home » Recipes » Side Dishes

Best Ever Parmesan Roasted Broccoli with Lemon

February 24, 2025 by Suzie J. Leave a Comment

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This easy parmesan roasted broccoli recipe turns simple fresh broccoli florets into crispy, golden brown perfection. Roasted with parmesan cheese and finished with a bright squeeze of lemon juice, it’s the ultimate simple side dish that will make even the biggest broccoli skeptic a new fan.

If you're a fan of veggies side dishes that steal the show, you will also love these sautéed asparagus with mushrooms w/ pistachio crumble.

Parmesan roasted broccoli in a bowl served with lemon wedges on a green background. this …

If you’re anything like me, I grew up hating broccoli. In fact, I thought vegetables only came frozen in bags from the supermarket. It’s no wonder I avoided broccoli my whole life…until now. (well, until 2020.)

One morning, I woke up with a craving for roasted broccoli—something I’d never even tried before. I didn’t know what had come over me, but I rushed to the store, grabbed a head of broccoli, and picked up a lemon because I thought the acid would be a perfect way to finish the dish. I already had parmesan cheese at home (because, let’s be real, I always do).

That day, I discovered the magic of parmesan roasted broccoli—and I’m thrilled to share this recipe with you!

Parmesan roasted broccoli in a bowl served with lemon wedges on a green background.

Why Roast Broccoli?

Roasting broccoli is a great way to transform this green vegetable into a side dish that’s golden brown, crispy, and packed with nutty flavors. Unlike steaming, roasting brings out the natural sugars in broccoli, creating caramelized edges and crunchy bits that are completely irresistible.

Why Add Lemon and Parmesan?

Adding lemon gives the dish a bright, tangy zip that enhances the earthy flavor of broccoli. The squeeze of lemon juice and a touch of lemon zest at the end makes all the difference.

As for the parmesan cheese, it does two important things:

  1. It adds a rich, nutty flavor.
  2. It creates a crispy texture that’s absolutely addictive. There’s nothing quite like crispy, golden-baked parmesan.

Tips for the Best Roasted Broccoli

  • Use high heat when roasting—this helps create those crispy edges.
  • Make sure your broccoli is dry. Dry broccoli = crispy broccoli.
  • Use freshly grated parmesan cheese for the best flavor.
  • For extra crunch, add panko breadcrumbs. (⅓ cup plus one more tablespoon of olive oil.)
  • Add some Italian seasoning for a delicious addition and flavor boost.

The Ingredients You'll Need

Ingredients needed to make roasted parmesan broccoli on a rustic green background.

This recipe is simple and comes together with just a handful of ingredients:

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  • Fresh broccoli florets, cut into smaller pieces for even cooking
  • Parmesan cheese, freshly grated
  • Garlic powder and onion powder
  • Olive oil or avocado oil for roasting
  • Freshly cracked black pepper
  • Red pepper flakes for a little heat, optional 
  • Fresh lemon both the lemon zest and lemon juice for brightness
  • Flake sea salt like Maldon for the perfect crunchy bits and added texture

How to Make Parmesan Roasted Broccoli

  • Preheat your oven to 425°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Adding broccoli to a sheet pan with seasonings and olive oil.
  • On the baking sheet, toss the fresh broccoli florets with olive oil, onion and garlic powder, lemon zest,  black pepper, and a pinch of salt.
Broccoli tossed in seasonings and spread in an even layer on a sheet pan.
  • Spread the broccoli out in an even layer on the sheet pan. Make sure not to crowd the pan, as this will steam the broccoli instead of roasting it.
Broccoli topped with parmesan cheese.
  • Roast in the preheated oven for 15 minutes. Then top the broccoli with parmesan cheese and roast for another 10 minutes.
Roasted broccoli on a sheet pan with crispy parmesan.
  • Finish with a squeeze of lemon juice.

Try pairing this with blackened chicken, blackened steak, garlic butter shrimp, or add it to a salad. 

Storage Tips

If you have leftovers, store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge. To maintain the crispiness, reheat them in the oven or an air fryer instead of the microwave.

Recipe

Parmesan roasted broccoli in a bowl served with lemon wedges on a green background.

Best Ever Roasted Broccoli with Lemon and Parmesan

This easy roasted parmesan broccoli recipe turns simple fresh broccoli florets into crispy, golden brown perfection. Roasted with parmesan cheese and finished with a bright squeeze of lemon juice, it’s the ultimate simple side dish that will make even the biggest broccoli skeptic a new fan.
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*Easily adjust serving size to your liking by clicking the number under servings or with the boxes below in the ingredients section.

Prep Time 5 minutes mins
Cook Time 25 minutes mins
Course Side Dish
Cuisine American, Italian
Servings 4 people
Calories 165 kcal

Equipment

  • Sheet Pan
  • Parchment Paper
  • Microplane

Ingredients
  

  • 1 pound Broccoli about 2 medium heads. Cut into equal florets (well, best you can)
  • 3 tablespoons Olive oil extra virgin
  • 2 teaspoons Onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon Garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon Lemon zest
  • ¼ teaspoon Flaky sea salt Maldon
  • few grinds Fresh cracked black pepper
  • ½ cup Parmesan cheese shredded
  • Lemon wedges for serving
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Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 425F.  Wash and dry broccoli well. (Dry broccoli = crispy broccoli).  Trim broccoli tops off of stems and cut into equal pieces.
  • On a parchment-lined sheet pan, add the broccoli florets and drizzle with olive oil, onion powder, garlic powder, lemon zest, salt, and pepper.  Toss together and spread the broccoli mixture evenly over the whole pan, leaving room between each piece.  (This will allow for a crispy crust.) Roast on the center rack for 15 minutes.  
    Broccoli tossed in seasonings and spread in an even layer on a sheet pan.
  • After 15 minutes, remove from oven and toss well.  Redistribute evenly back on the sheet pan and add the parmesan cheese on top of the broccoli. Roast for another 10 minutes or until golden and crispy.
    Broccoli topped with parmesan cheese.
  • Remove and serve with the lemon wedges. Serve immediately and enjoy!

Notes

For extra crunch, add panko breadcrumbs. (⅓ cup panko and one more tablespoon of olive oil, 4 tablespoons total.)

Nutrition

Serving: 0.25of recipeCalories: 165kcalCarbohydrates: 10gProtein: 6gFat: 13gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 8gCholesterol: 4mgSodium: 140mgPotassium: 395mgFiber: 3gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 756IUVitamin C: 104mgCalcium: 136mgIron: 1mg
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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Hi, I'm Suzie!

I'm the recipe creator, photographer, and official taste tester here! I create everyday recipes inspired by dishes I've had from my favorite restaurants around Sonoma, Napa, and beyond.

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