Recipes › Sides

Sautéed Broccoli

By Samira Kazan

published January 10, 2025

Make sautéed broccoli with olive oil, garlic, and parmesan for extra flavor. Quick and easy, this flavorful and nutritious side dish will complement any main.

A large pan with sautéed broccoli topped with parmesan cheese. - 1

Learning how to sauté broccoli was a game changer for me. Whenever I need a quick and healthy side dish, I turn to steamed broccoli or this quick and easy recipe. Sauteed broccoli is so much faster to make than making roasted broccoli . Plus, it preserves its vibrant color and texture.

These garlic-infused florets are ready in under 15 minutes and can pair with any meal—I love to use them in this easy beef and broccoli recipe . I hope you try sautéing broccoli—it’s so versatile and flavorful!

To see all the ways you can prepare this green veggie, check out my post on How to Cook Broccoli .

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  • Watch the sautéed broccoli tutorial
  • Ingredients
  • How to sauté broccoli
  • What to serve with sautéed broccoli
  • More simple vegetable recipes
  • Sautéed Broccoli Recipe

Watch the sautéed broccoli tutorial

Ingredients

A photo of the ingredients for sautéed broccoli. - 3
  • Broccoli: Choose bright green fresh broccoli with a firm stem and no brown spots. Alternatively, you can use frozen broccoli.
  • Oil: I love to use olive oil, but you can substitute it with avocado oil or butter.
  • Water : A splash of water will help steam the broccoli quickly.
  • Seasoning : You will need a garlic clove, salt , and pepper , as well as any other seasoning you want, like red pepper flakes.
  • To garnish: Optionally, use parmesan cheese and lemon to garnish the sautéd broccoli.

See the printable recipe card below for full information on ingredients and quantities.

How to sauté broccoli

Prep the veggies : First, wash and cut the broccoli into even-sized florets to ensure it cooks evenly. Check my post on how to cut broccoli to see my top tips. Also, grate or mince the garlic.

Sauté the broccoli: Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Then, add the broccoli florets in a single layer. Sprinkle the salt and pepper and sauté for about 2 minutes.

Then, add 2 tablespoons of water and cover the pan with a lid. Continue cooking for about 3-5 minutes, flipping halfway. The broccoli should be crisp-tender, easy to pierce with a knife or a fork, and still pretty vibrant green. Don’t overcook it—it will become mushy.

Add the minced garlic—we are only adding it now so it doesn’t burn. Stir and cook for a minute until it becomes aromatic. Then, remove from the heat. The sautéd broccoli is now ready to enjoy!

A collage of the steps for sautéing broccoli florets. - 4

If you use frozen broccoli florets, first, allow them to thaw. Then, use a kitchen or paper towel to remove any excess moisture before proceeding with the recipe.

What to serve with sautéed broccoli

  • With Toppings: For extra flavor, serve the sautéd broccoli with a squeeze of lemon, grated parmesan cheese, or chili flakes.
  • As a Side Dish: Pair it with grilled or roast chicken , air fryer steak , fish, or tofu.
  • In Pasta: Toss it into pasta dishes for added nutrition and texture. It’s delicious with creamy pasta dishes.
  • With grains: Serve it with grains like jasmine rice or the perfect quinoa .
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More simple vegetable recipes

A large serving of roasted carrots topped with some fresh parsley. - 6 A large serving of roasted carrots topped with some fresh parsley. - 7 How to cook eggplant - 8 How to cook eggplant - 9 Sauteed snow peas in a skillet - 10 Sauteed snow peas in a skillet - 11

IngredientsUS CustomaryMetric1x2x3x

  • ▢ 1 head broccoli cut into florets
  • ▢ 2 Tbsp olive oil
  • ▢ 2 Tbsp water
  • ▢ 1/2 tsp salt or to taste
  • ▢ 1/4 tsp black pepper or to taste
  • ▢ 1 clove garlic minced

Optional, for serve

  • ▢ grated parmesan cheese
  • ▢ lemon cut into wedges

Instructions

  • Wash and cut the broccoli into even-sized florets. Mince or grate the garlic. If using, grate or shave the parmesan.
  • In a large pan, heat the oil over medium heat. Add the broccoli florets in a single layer. Sprinkle with salt and pepper, and sauté for 2 minutes.
  • Add the water and cover the pan with a lid. Cook for about 3-5 minutes, flipping halfway, until the broccoli is tender-crisp but easy to pierce with a knife or a fork.
  • Stir in the minced garlic and sauté for 1 minute until fragrant. Remove the heat and enjoy the sauteed broccoli.

Video

Notes

Nutrition

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

A large pan with sautéed broccoli topped with parmesan cheese. - 12

Sautéed Broccoli

Ingredients

  • 1 head broccoli cut into florets
  • 2 Tbsp olive oil
  • 2 Tbsp water
  • 1/2 tsp salt or to taste
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper or to taste
  • 1 clove garlic minced

Optional, for serve

  • grated parmesan cheese
  • lemon cut into wedges

Instructions

  • Wash and cut the broccoli into even-sized florets. Mince or grate the garlic. If using, grate or shave the parmesan.
  • In a large pan, heat the oil over medium heat. Add the broccoli florets in a single layer. Sprinkle with salt and pepper, and sauté for 2 minutes.
  • Add the water and cover the pan with a lid. Cook for about 3-5 minutes, flipping halfway, until the broccoli is tender-crisp but easy to pierce with a knife or a fork.
  • Stir in the minced garlic and sauté for 1 minute until fragrant. Remove the heat and enjoy the sauteed broccoli.

Video

Notes

Nutrition

Recipe on Alphafoodie: https://www.alphafoodie.com/sauteed-broccoli/