By Lisa Esile, MS,
Last Updated:Visually stunning, the large flowering broccoli head is a delight to use in the kitchen. But it's not all about looks—this mild-flavored brassica tastes great, too. Raw, steamed, roasted, or pureed, broccoli florets add color, body, and earthy-fresh flavors to everything from stir-fries to dips, pastas, soups, pancakes, burgers, bakes, and more. Check out these 23 scrumptious broccoli recipes, which are all vegan and as healthy as they are tasty.
Quinoa Broccoli Bowls with Roasted Beets
Perfect for lunch or dinner, these mouthwatering vegan grain bowls feature multicolored sweet roasted beets and tender broccoli florets tossed with a citrus-thyme dressing. Serve over quinoa (or another grain) with a few avocado slices and a dash of salt and pepper. A reviewer new to WFPB cooking notes, “This was really, really good.”
Creamy One-Pot Pasta with Broccolini
Broccolini, the slightly fancier cousin of broccoli, adds color, body, and earthy flavor to this simply delicious pasta meal. Add other quick-cook veggies and a simple creamy sauce for a delicious family dinner you’ll make again and again. Note: You can use broccoli if you don’t have broccolini.
Individual Broccoli and Wild Rice Casseroles
A cheesy-tasting white sauce coats every mouthful of these delicious mini casseroles packed with nutty chickpeas, chewy wild rice, umami-rich mushrooms, and earthy broccoli. These mighty meals freeze well, making them handy for nights when time is tight. A fan raves, “This was really satisfying and comforting on a cold rainy night. Even my two-year-old ate it all up.”
The Best Broccoli Slaw
Don’t throw your broccoli stalks into the compost! Shredded and tossed with carrots, scallions, and fresh herbs, broccoli stalks make a great alternative to cabbage in this crunchy slaw. A creamy mustard dressing adds a yummy tang to this lip-smacking side dish. Serve alongside your favorite veggie burgers.
Lemony Spelt Salad with Roasted Broccolini
In this flavorful grain bowl, lightly charred roasted broccolini and sweet roasted shallots are coated in a lemony Dijon mustard dressing to delicious effect. Add to a base of creamy butter beans and chewy spelt berries for a salad worthy of any occasion. Serve as a side or a main dish.
Panko Broccoli with Sun-Dried Tomatoes
Looking for a fun way to eat your greens? Fork-tender broccoli becomes crunchy when combined with garlic-infused whole wheat panko (a type of breadcrumb), while slivers of sun-dried tomatoes add pops of tang to every bite. With just five ingredients, this crowd-pleasing side dish is wonderfully easy to prepare—don’t be surprised if it earns a place in your regular rotation!
Broccoli Pasta Salad with Red Pepper Pesto
Pesto made with jarred roasted bell peppers infuses this tasty vegan salad with enchanting smoky flavors. Add broccoli, cherry tomatoes, artichoke hearts, and a snip of basil, and you have a dish that you'll make again and again.
Cream of Broccoli Soup
The hero of this luscious soup is copious quantities of fresh broccoli—stems included. Potato and frozen peas add creaminess, and lemon juice and fresh dill add a pop of freshness to this wonderfully comforting soup.
Green Lentil Spoon Salad
Small broccoli florets add body and a pleasing appearance to this nourishing green lentil salad. No dressing is required for this one: just avocado, fresh mint, parsley, and dill, with a handful of toasted pepitas to finish it off. One fan writes: “Made it for supper and it was devoured. Wonderful to have a lentil salad with no oil!”
Wild Mushroom Vegan Pho
Pho-time is always a good time! The satisfying Vietnamese soup traditionally features a meaty broth, but in this vegan recipe, mushrooms help to create the rich, savory broth. Top with cilantro or basil leaves, scallions, jalapeños, bean sprouts, and lime wedges.
Broccoli and Brown Rice Casserole with Chickpeas
Fresh, bright-green broccoli florets perfectly complement the starchiness of brown rice and chickpeas in this cozy casserole, while a slurry made from plant milk and oat flour lends a subtle creaminess. Pro tip: You can make oat flour by blending rolled oats in your food processor.
Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese with Broccoli
The crunch and brilliant green hue of just-cooked broccoli adds a satisfying complement to soft, cheesy pasta in this vegan mac and cheese.
Jackfruit Barbecue Sandwiches with Broccoli Slaw
Keep an eye out for broccoli slaw mix at the store, or make your own by peeling and julienning broccoli stems. Here it's jazzed up with avocado, scallions, and lime juice and used in juicy jackfruit barbecue sandwiches. Make the slaw on its own to enjoy as a side or topping for other dishes!
Spicy Stir-Fry Tacos
These mouthwatering tacos feature tender veggies, warm corn tortillas, and a garlicky-ginger flavor.
Lemon Broccoli Rotini
You can use fresh or frozen broccoli in this wholesome pasta meal. The fresh tang of lemon zest and juice perfectly balance the earthiness of mushrooms and whole grain pasta.
Sautéed Veggies with Lemon Pepper
For a flavor-packed side dish, try adding lemon zest and mustard powder to sautéed veggies such as broccoli, carrots, and cauliflower.
Herbed Vegan Matzo Ball Soup
Homemade matzo balls mingle with broccoli and other veggies in a flavorful, fragrant vegan broth for a deeply nourishing soup.
Pesto Penne
Add a heaping dose of goodness to your day with penne (or other pasta of your choosing) coated in creamy chickpea-based basil pesto and studded with broccoli florets and cherry tomatoes.
No-Fry Fried Rice
An easy homemade teriyaki sauce adds big flavor to this oil-free, veggie-packed stir-fry.
Green Lentil Pancakes with Sriracha Sour Cream
Riced broccoli and green lentils are the stars of these savory pancakes. Serve with a spicy tofu-based Sriracha sour cream for a fabulous lunch, dinner, snack, or appetizer.
Leftover Veggie Chickpea Omelette
Packed with spinach, this chickpea flour omelette is a great way to use up leftover broccoli and other veggies. Serve for brunch, lunch, or dinner!
Creamy Celeriac Pasta Alfredo
Steamed celeriac and cashews come together in this pasta dish to create a velvety cream sauce. If you haven't used celeriac before, this is a good recipe to showcase its dreamy, celery-lite flavor.
Creamy Pasta Primavera
Up your pasta game with this sensational pasta primavera. Broccoli, mushrooms, bell pepper, and tomatoes are combined with a spicy, creamy walnut-and-herb sauce for scrumptious effect.
About the Author
About the Author
Lisa Esile, MS
As an author, Do Nothing meditation instructor, and wellness coach, Lisa Esile combines her love for food and nutrition with her mental health background and delights in helping people find a stress-free way to make lasting lifestyle changes. Esile has a master’s degree in human nutrition and is the co-author/illustrator of Whose Mind Is It Anyway? Get Out of Your Head and Into Your Life. Learn more at lisaesile.com.
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