If you bought a head of broccoli with very good intentions and now it's just sitting in your fridge judging you, I got you. These easy broccoli recipes turn that humble green veggie into creamy pastas, crispy appetizers, cheesy casseroles, nostalgic dinners and so much more.
Broccoli is one of those ingredients I almost always have in my fridge. It's inexpensive, easy to find, lasts longer than most delicate veggies, and works with basically every cheese known to mankind. Which, obviously, is important around here.
And after developing recipes for Grilled Cheese Social for over 15 years, I've cooked A LOT of broccoli.
I've blended it into pesto. Tossed it into creamy pasta. Covered it in cheese. Turned it into homemade Hot Pockets. Tossed it in spicy bang bang sauce. And yes, I have even put broccoli in a cragel.
So whether you're trying to get more veggies on the dinner table or simply need to figure out what to do with the broccoli currently taking up space in your crisper drawer, here are 10 of my favorite broccoli recipes from Grilled Cheese Social.
1. Broccoli Pesto Pasta with Burrata & Goat Cheese
THIS SAUCE IS MADE FROM BROCCOLI. And somehow it tastes ridiculously luxurious.
This creamy green pasta turns broccoli into the star instead of treating it like the obligatory vegetable on the side. The broccoli gets blended with fresh basil, parmesan, lemon and creamy goat cheese to create a bright, velvety pesto that clings to every noodle.
Then comes the burrata. Because obviously if we're eating broccoli, we're allowed to tear open a ball of creamy burrata on top. It's fresh, cheesy, comforting and one of my favorite ways to turn a whole bunch of broccoli into an actual dinner. Plus, that gorgeous green sauce makes this one of the prettiest broccoli recipes on the site.
2. Bang Bang Broccoli
If you think you don't like broccoli, make this before making any final decisions.
This Bang Bang Broccoli is crispy, creamy, sweet, spicy and dangerously snackable. Roasted broccoli and crunchy cashews get tossed in a homemade bang bang sauce that hits all those sweet-spicy-creamy notes at once. It's basically what happens when broccoli decides it would rather be bar food.
Serve it as an appetizer, pile it into a rice bowl, or eat half of it straight from the sheet pan while you're supposedly getting dinner ready. I know which route I usually take.
3. Cheesy Chicken & Broccoli Hot Pockets
Remember those chicken and broccoli Hot Pockets from the freezer aisle? Consider this their grown-up glow-up.
These homemade Hot Pockets are stuffed with rotisserie chicken, tender broccoli, cheddar, cream cheese and parmesan, then baked until golden brown and ridiculously cheesy. They're nostalgic without requiring you to actually eat like your middle-school self.
I especially love these for busy weeks because they're portable, family-friendly and a great way to turn leftover chicken and broccoli into something everyone actually gets excited about eating. And that cheesy center? Come on now!!!
4. Chicken Broccoli Fettuccine Alfredo
This is the kind of broccoli dinner that nobody at the table needs convincing to eat.
You've got creamy fettuccine Alfredo, crispy chicken and roasted broccoli all piled into one seriously comforting bowl of pasta. The broccoli brings a little freshness and texture to all that creamy Alfredo goodness, while the crispy chicken makes it feel like a complete weeknight dinner.
Best of all, the whole thing comes together in about 30 minutes because it's semi-homemade. It's easy, cozy, family-friendly and exactly the kind of meal I want in my back pocket when 5 PM somehow sneaks up on me again.
5. Takeout-Style Ground Orange Chicken & Broccoli
Skip the takeout menu because this sweet and sticky orange chicken comes together in under 20 minutes.
This is one of those older Grilled Cheese Social recipes that deserves another moment in the spotlight.Instead of breading and frying chunks of chicken, I use ground chicken to make the whole thing ridiculously easy. It gets coated in a sticky homemade orange sauce and tossed with crunchy broccoli for a fast one-pan dinner.
Serve it over rice and you've got that sweet, savory takeout-inspired flavor with way less effort than you'd expect. It's also a great recipe if you've got ground chicken in the fridge and absolutely no idea what you planned on doing with it.
6. One-Pot Broccoli Cheese Orzo
Imagine broccoli cheddar soup and creamy mac and cheese had a very delicious baby. This would be it.
This one-pot broccoli cheese orzo is creamy, cozy and loaded with tender broccoli and plenty of cheese.
Everything cooks together in one pot, which means the orzo releases its starch as it cooks and creates an extra creamy texture without requiring a complicated sauce.
It's ready in under 30 minutes and has become one of those recipes readers come back to again and again.
Serve it as a cozy vegetarian dinner or pair it with chicken, steak or salmon when you want something more substantial.
7. Boursin Cheese Pasta with Broccoli
If you've got a wheel of Boursin, a head of broccoli and a box of pasta, you're basically already done with dinner.
This easy Boursin pasta has been hanging out on Grilled Cheese Social since 2021, and it's still one of my favorite examples of how a few simple ingredients can turn into something ridiculously good.
The creamy garlic-and-herb cheese melts into the hot pasta and creates an instant sauce while thinly shaved broccoli adds texture and freshness. Lemon brightens the whole thing up so it tastes creamy without feeling overly heavy. It's fast, comforting and exactly the kind of low-effort dinner I want on a busy weeknight.
8. Mafaldine Pasta Limone with Broccoli
This is broccoli putting on a cute ruffly outfit and going somewhere fancy.
Mafaldine pasta gets tossed in a silky lemony sauce with tender broccoli for a dinner that feels elevated but is surprisingly simple to make.
I love how the fresh lemon cuts through the richness of the pasta while the broccoli gives the dish color, texture and a little extra substance. And mafaldine might be one of my favorite pasta shapes ever. Those gorgeous ruffled edges catch all that creamy lemon sauce, making every bite extra saucy.
It's bright, comforting and perfect when you want pasta without going full heavy winter dinner.
9. Easy Cheesy Broccoli Casserole with Ritz Cracker Crust
If you're going to eat your broccoli, covering it in cheese and buttery Ritz crackers feels like a very reasonable approach.
This cheesy broccoli casserole is pure nostalgic comfort food.
Tender broccoli gets tucked into a creamy, cheesy sauce with cheddar and feta before the whole thing gets covered in a buttery cracker topping and baked until bubbling and golden brown.
It's an easy side dish for Sunday dinner but really shines during the holidays. Bring this to Thanksgiving and suddenly nobody is complaining about eating their vegetables.
The crispy Ritz topping against that creamy broccoli filling is truly the best part.
10. Broccoli Cheese Crescent Roll Bagels - aka CRAGELS
Yes, I put broccoli and cheese inside a croissant-bagel situation. No, I have no regrets.
Meet the CRAGEL. These broccoli cheese crescent roll bagels combine buttery crescent roll dough with cheesy broccoli filling for one of the more delightfully ridiculous recipes I've made.
They're flaky on the outside, cheesy on the inside and proof that broccoli does not always need to be the responsible part of the meal. Make them for breakfast, brunch, an afternoon snack or whenever you have broccoli to use up and feel like doing something a little more fun with it. Honestly, sometimes vegetables just need carbs and cheese.
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