Cheesy baked broccoli made with olive oil, lemon zest, and melted cheese is a simple and comforting vegetable side. This oven broccoli recipe turns out tender and flavorful. If you enjoy roasted broccoli but want something a little softer with melted cheese, this version is a great alternative.
I love oven-roasted vegetables, and you can find quite a few of them on my blog. I have shared some of them below—do check them out. During his toddler years, my son loved eating roasted vegetables and fruits as snacks. More than South Indian poriyal varieties, he preferred roasted veggies, and this cheesy broccoli was his absolute favorite.
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This cheesy baked broccoli recipe is an easy oven side dish made with broccoli florets tossed in olive oil, salt, pepper, and lemon zest, then baked at 350°F and topped with melted cheese. It’s tender, flavorful, and perfect for a quick vegetable side dish.
How is my baked broccoli different from others?
If you are looking for an easy broccoli side dish, this cheesy baked broccoli is a great choice. While most roasted broccoli recipes bake the broccoli at 400–450°F, I like to cook it a bit differently here. I bake it at 350°F (175–180°C) and place the tray on the rack just above the lower rack. The lower temperature and rack position help the broccoli cook gently so it stays tender, and the cheese melts nicely without browning.
Ingredients required
Broccoli – I usually buy cleaned broccoli florets. Just remove any loose leaves and tough stems, and break or chop them into evenly sized, bite-sized florets.
For the dressing, I keep it simple by using olive oil, salt, pepper, and lemon zest for a bright flavor.
For the cheese, I used half a cup of cheddar. You can use mild or medium cheddar, or even a Mexican cheese blend, which melts nicely in oven broccoli recipes like this one.
Please check the recipe card for the exact measurements.
How to serve this roasted broccoli
If you are looking for a simple roasted broccoli side dish, this cheesy broccoli is a great choice. You can omit the cheese for a vegan version, which makes it vegan, gluten-free, and nut-free, making it a perfect side dish for anyone at a holiday table. This broccoli can be served alongside pasta or simply as a vegetable side.
You can also roast this broccoli without cheese as part of your meal prep and add it to salads for that extra fiber and nutrition boost.
Like most roasted vegetables, this cheesy broccoli tastes best when served warm. For storage, bake the broccoli without cheese, then refrigerate. Just before serving, spread it again on a baking tray, add cheese, and bake for about 10 minutes until the cheese melts.
How to make cheesy baked broccoli
- If required, clean the broccoli florets and pat them completely dry. Remove any loose leaves and chop them into bite-sized pieces if needed. Spread them on a baking tray lined with aluminum foil or parchment paper. If using foil, lightly spray it with oil.In a small bowl, mix the olive oil, salt, pepper, and lemon zest.
- Add this mixture to the broccoli and use your hands to rub the seasoning evenly onto each floret. This helps distribute the salt evenly and prevents any one piece from tasting overly salty.
- Bake the broccoli in a preheated oven at 350°F for 20 minutes.
- Remove the tray from the oven, sprinkle the grated cheese evenly over the broccoli, and bake for 10–12 minutes more.
- I gently bring the florets closer together before adding the cheese, so it melts nicely over the broccoli and becomes slightly pull-apart when served.
Recipe notes
- You can use any citrus zest—lime, lemon, or orange. I have tried all three, and they all taste great.
- You can also use flavored olive oil; garlic-infused olive oil works particularly well.
- If you prefer it cheesier, you can add up to 1 cup of cheese. Depending on the type of cheese used, adjust the salt to keep the broccoli from becoming too salty.
- Ensure you rub the broccoli florets well with the dressing using your hands. This helps distribute the seasoning evenly and prevents salty spots, which is especially important for oven-baked broccoli recipes.
- even oil coverage
- No “salt bombs” on individual florets
- better flavor adhesion during baking
This cheesy baked broccoli makes a simple, flavorful side dish that pairs well with pasta, rice dishes, or holiday meals.
More Oven Roasted Vegetables
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P.S. If you try this oven-roasted cheesy broccoli, please leave a comment and rate the recipe. If you have questions, drop them in the comments, and I’ll respond as soon as possible. Follow me on Pinterest for more healthy, delicious ideas, and on Instagram for regular updates, behind-the-scenes moments, and a peek into my kitchen!
📖 Recipe
Cheesy Baked Broccoli (Easy Oven Broccoli Recipe)
Ingredients
Measurement Details: 1 cup=240ml; 1 tbsp = 15ml; 1 tsp = 5ml;
- 10 oz broccoli florets
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- ¾ tsp salt
- ¾ tsp pepper
- ½ tsp lemon zest
- ½ cup cheddar cheese or Mexican blend
Instructions
- If required, clean the broccoli florets and pat them completely dry. Remove any loose leaves and chop them into bite-sized pieces if needed. Spread them on a baking tray lined with aluminum foil or parchment paper. If using foil, lightly spray it with oil. In a small bowl, mix the olive oil, salt, pepper, and lemon zest.
- Add this mixture to the broccoli and use your hands to rub the seasoning evenly onto each floret. This helps distribute the salt evenly and prevents any one piece from tasting overly salty.
- Bake the broccoli in a preheated oven at 350°F for 20 minutes.
- Remove the tray from the oven, sprinkle the grated cheese evenly over the broccoli, and bake for 10–12 minutes more.
- I gently bring the florets closer together before adding the cheese, so it melts nicely over the broccoli and becomes slightly pull-apart when served.
Video
Notes
- You can use any citrus zest—lime, lemon, or orange. I have tried all three, and they all taste great.
- You can also use flavored olive oil; garlic-infused olive oil works particularly well.
- If you prefer it cheesier, you can add up to 1 cup of cheese. Depending on the type of cheese used, adjust the salt to keep the broccoli from becoming too salty.
- Ensure you rub the broccoli florets well with the dressing using your hands. This helps distribute the seasoning evenly and prevents salty spots, which is especially important for oven-baked broccoli recipes.
-
- even oil coverage
- No “salt bombs” on individual florets
- better flavor adhesion during baking
Nutrition
I am not a nutritionist. The nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and is an estimate only. It varies depending upon the product types or brands.
Update Notes: This recipe was originally posted in 2014 but now updated with new photos and step-wise pictures and video.
It doesn’t get much easier than this! Love the bit of lemon zest to add some brightness to the dish!
Thanks :-)
I made this as a side and it was really good. Tender broccoli with melted cheese on top!
These are so addictive for sure. Thanks
Baking gave the broccoli such a great texture and flavor. It was a simple, healthy way to get the kids to enjoy their veggies.
Totally agree and with cheese it’s much more easy.
This is really good. It’s so simple but has so much flavor. I love the olive oil dressing.
Thanks so much.
I loved the pop of the lemon with the slightly roasted broccoli. This is a great side!
Thanks a lot.
This is such a great and easy side. I love the texture baking it gives it in place of steaming.
yeah, love the slow baking. Thanks
good way to get kids to eat veg
Yeah
True :-)
My kids love these crunchy broccoli. Adding cheese is a good idea too.
Yup :-)
Such a healthy option to feed the kids..
Thanks
Roasted broccoli is a favorite in our house too. Nice one.
Thanks Varada
Love broccoli in any form, but I think roasting it makes it even more delicious.
Yup true. Very crunchy
Love the idea. Healthy and nutritious.
Thanks :-)
That’s nice to know your kid loves to eat vegetables this way..very good..
Thanks :-)
Baked broccoli is my fav as well:-)
Oh nice..
L my daughter loved broccoli so will try your version sometime. ..healthy and delicious….
Thanks let me know how it turned out. .
Very healthy and definitely a wonderful way to sneak this vegetable.
Yup :-)
My elder kid also loves broccoli and esp in this form .. I love the addition of cheese . Do u marinate the veggies for sometime ??
Oh great.. nope I don’t marinate.. for broccoli I do add cheese n for asparagus n Brussel sprouts I don’t add :-)
Amazing, will try it out soon…:)
Great. Let me know how it turned out
Awesome :-)
Thanks :-)