Best Ever Parmesan Roasted Broccoli with Lemon

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.

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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!

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.

The Ingredients You'll Need

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

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• Roast in the preheated oven for 15 minutes. Then top the broccoli with parmesan cheese and roast for another 10 minutes.

• 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