Kitchn Love Letters

The 4-Ingredient Parmesan Broccoli I Make All Summer Long (I Promise You’ll Never Roast It Again)

published Jun 5, 2024
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Credit: Joe Lingeman

Broccoli is hands-down one of my favorite vegetables to cook. It’s a hearty side dish that pairs well with so many weeknight dinners, from pan-seared ribeye to garlic Parmesan chicken bites to creamy lemon-dill salmon.

Right now, I’m all about easy summertime recipes for those hot days, like summer sandwiches and no-oven meals. Instead of heating up the house, I head out to my backyard and reach for the grill. So when I came across Christine’s recipe for cheesy grilled Parmesan broccoli, I knew it had my name written all over it. I made it that night for dinner and it was amazing! The lemony broccoli was slightly charred and caramelized from the grill, and covered in cheesy, crispy bits of Parmesan. I seriously couldn’t stop eating it. Once you try this quick and easy method for cooking broccoli, you’ll want to make it all summer long.

Get the recipe: Cheesy Grilled Parmesan Broccoli

What Makes This Cheesy Grilled Parmesan Broccoli So Good

So what’s the secret to super-flavorful broccoli? Marinate it. The broccoli is tossed with fresh lemon juice, olive oil, and a bit of salt. Then you let it sit for 20 minutes while you get the grill ready. After marinating, the broccoli is sprinkled with a generous amount of grated Parmesan cheese and some red pepper flakes for a bit of heat, then tossed until thoroughly coated.

This simple lemon marinade does double duty here — it adds flavor throughout the broccoli florets (not just the exterior), and it helps the grated Parmesan adhere to it. When you grill the broccoli, the cheese crisps up and caramelizes around the edges, giving you all the delicious browned bits. The broccoli is also perfectly cooked and crisp-tender from the direct heat of the grill. If you haven’t tried grilling broccoli yet, this is the recipe that will make you a believer.

Get the recipe: Cheesy Grilled Parmesan Broccoli