Sautéed Broccoletti (How to Cook Broccolini in 10 Minutes)

Broccoletti (aka broccolini) is a perfect side dish that’s quick, healthy, and bursting with garlicky goodness. If you’re looking for more easy options like this, be sure to explore my side dish recipes collection for plenty of quick and flavorful ideas. Those who have never tried broccolini before will be pleasantly surprised by its flavor and tender texture.

It's versatile. It’s delicious. And it’s nutritious. Your kids don’t eat regular broccoli? Try this broccoletti recipe and they’ll ask for more. You can even add it to your pasta dishes for a pop of colour, earthy-sweet flavor, and extra nutrition. 

Did I mention, it’s SUPER EASY to cook as well? You can literally do all the prep work for this recipe in 5 to 10 minutes with few simple ingredients . The cooking time is not more than 10 minutes. It’s so convenient and quick, you can make this broccolini recipe even for your snacks. Or, you can try roasted broccolini if you want an extra crunchy snack.  In short, Broccolini is a great green vegetable to have in your refrigerator.

If you love easy, flavorful vegetable sides like this sautéed broccoletti, be sure to explore more in my side dish recipes collection for plenty of delicious ideas like roasted mini peppers , roasted carrots and asparagus , roasted cauliflower and carrots combo. These veggie sides pair beautifully with mains like Oven Baked Shrimp Skewers or Blackened Salmon Bites, and you can round out the meal with something satisfying like a Chicken Salad Melt Sandwich or a lighter option like a Hummus Bagel Veggie Sandwich.

Why You’ll Love This Broccoletti Recipe

There is not one, but many reasons why you (the cook or the eater) will love this recipe. Before you learn how to cook broccolini, it’s important to know why it’s worth your time.

• Great Flavour and Texture - For starters, it has a great flavor profile. It’s sweeter, milder, and a bit mustard-y when eaten raw. When sautéed in garlic, the broccolini gives off a beautiful aroma and a great crunchy, tender texture. This broccolini recipe is a great substitute for recipes with kale, bok choy, broccoli, and gai-lan. 
• Versatile Side Dish - Broccolini sautéed with garlic is a versatile side dish. You can also make roasted broccolini instead of sautéed. You can pair it with so many dishes, including steaks, steamed rice, roasted chicken, hot wings, pastas, you name it! 
• Easy to Make - This broccolini recipe is very easy to make. You just need to trim the woody ends of broccolini, chop some garlic, and voila! It’s ready to be sautéed.  
• Great Nutritional Value - Broccolini is packed with vitamins, minerals, and fiber. It’s rich in iron, zinc, calcium, potassium, Vitamin A, C, and K. It supports heart health, bone health, and improves digestion. Due to low carbs and low fats, you can eat it in big portions without worrying about gaining pounds.  
• Kid Friendly - Broccoletti is loved by all, kids, tweens, and adults. Its sweet flavor, crunchy yet tender texture is loved by kids. This broccolini recipe is a crowd pleaser. 

What is Broccoletti aka BROCCOLINI?

Broccoletti is an Italian term that typically refers to a few different types of green vegetables, depending on the region. It often refers to rapini (broccoli rabe),  a leafy green with small florets, a slightly bitter flavor, and edible stems and leaves. In Americanized Italian recipes, broccoletti may be used to mean broccolini.  For the ones wondering, “What on earth is Broccolini?” I see you! If you’ve eaten broccoli before, but never heard of Broccoletti, your confusion is genuine. You might have thought this is just broccoli, but it’s not. It looks a lot like broccoli, hence sometimes wrongly labeled as “baby broccoli”. 

Time to end the mystery, Broccolini is a cross between Broccoli and Gai-Lan. Gai Lan is chinese broccoli or sometimes called chinese kale. 

Broccolini’s flavor is not as strong as gai-lan's. It has a milder and sweeter flavor than both broccoli and gai-lan, making it perfect for a lot of dishes. Now let’s learn how to cook broccolini! A perfect side dish that’s quick, healthy, and bursting with garlicky goodness.

Ingredients You’ll Need

• Broccolini: Take a bunch of broccolini, wash it, and trim the woody ends. If you could't find baby broccoli, use broccoli or tenderstem broccoli by cutting them into smaller florets.
• Olive Oil: Use olive oil to saute the garlic and broccoletti. It will help crisp up the veggies while adding more flavor to the dish.  
• Garlic: Thinly slice 4 garlic cloves and saute them in olive oil. Garlic adds a rich flavor and aroma to the veggie. 
• Seasonings: For this broccolini recipe, we don’t need to do much. However, to balance the sweetness of broccoletti, you need to add salt and a little freshly cracked black pepper.
• Water: You’ll need two tablespoons of water to soften the broccoletti stems. Water will also prevent the florets from burning.
• Lemon Juice: Lemon juice will give a citrusy punch to this broccolini recipe. 
• Fresh Lemon Zest: Take a fresh lemon and grate the zest for an enhanced citrusy flavour and aroma. 

See recipe card for quantities.

INSTRUCTIONS (How to Cook Broccolini)

For this broccolini recipe, follow the steps given below:

• Rinse the broccolini and trim the woody ends. Pat dry with a clean towel.

1. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the sliced garlic and sauté for about 1–2 minutes until golden and fragrant, be careful not to burn it.

2. Toss in the broccoletti and sauté for 2-3 minutes, sprinkle the 2 tablespoons of water, and close with the lid. 

• Cook for 4-5 minutes on a medium-high heat , turning occasionally, until tender and slightly crispy at the edges.
• Sprinkle it with salt and black pepper. Drizzle lemon juice over the top along with lemon zest. You can also garnish with parmesan cheese as an optional step.
• Transfer to a serving dish and serve warm as an easy side dish to enjoy.

Substitutions

• Olive Oil: For this broccoletti recipe, you can use avocado oil or coconut oil if you don’t have olive oil.
• Fresh Garlic: If you don’t have fresh garlic, you can use garlic powder instead. 
• Black Pepper: If you want to add a bit more heat to this broccolini recipe, you can use red chili flakes instead of black pepper.

What to Serve with Broccoletti

You can serve this aromatic and delicious Broccoletti as a side dish with the following:

• Chicken and Shrimp Fried Rice
• Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Thighs
• Teriyaki Chicken Thighs
• Baked Lemon Pepper Chicken Thighs
• Blackened Salmon Bites

Variations

You can make this broccolini recipe in many ways by swapping ingredients and equipment. Here are some ideas:

• Balsamic Broccolini Recipe: If you want more umami flavors, you can use balsamic vinegar instead of lemon juice. When the broccolini is crisp, add a teaspoon of balsamic vinegar, stir for 30 seconds, and turn off the flame.
• Hot Broccoletti: If you’re more of a spicy food lover, you can add red pepper flakes or peri peri sauce for the heat.
• Air Fryer / Roasted Broccolini Recipe: For an air fryer version of this dish, you need to finely chop the garlic, mix it in olive oil and let it sit for 10 minutes. Brush the broccolini with garlic infused olive oil, arrange the broccolini in a single layer and cook in the air fryer. For roasted broccolini, switch to the oven instead of the air fryer following the same process and roasting the broccoli in baking sheet.

Equipment

• Measuring Spoons - For precise measurement of ingredients like olive oil, salt, and pepper.
• Large Skillet - To saute the broccoli.

STORAGE AND REHEATING TIPS

Refrigerator - You can store the leftover Broccolett in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Make sure to keep it in an air-tight jar.

Freeze - Do not freeze or it will lose the crunch and the crisp.

Reheat - You can reheat it on the stove or in the microwave. I recommend reheating it on the stove, in a skillet, for a crispy texture.

FAQ

Related

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Pairing

These are my favorite dishes to serve with this sauteed broccoletti recipe:

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Sautéed Broccoletti with garlic and lemon

Abi Guna

This easy Broccoletti recipe features tender broccolini sautéed with garlic and olive oil for a simple, flavorful Italian side dish. Ready in under 15 minutes, it’s the perfect healthy vegetable pairing for pasta, chicken, or seafood.

5 from 9 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 10 minutes mins

Total Time 15 minutes mins

Course Side Dish

Cuisine American, Italian

Servings 4 people

Equipment

• Sharp Knife
• Measuring Spoons
• Large Skillet

Ingredients

  

• 1 bunch broccolini aka broccoletti, ends trimmed
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 4 garlic cloves thinly sliced
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
• 2 tablespoons water
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• ½ teaspoon fresh lemon zest

Instructions

 

• Rinse the broccolini and trim the woody ends. Pat dry with a clean towel.
• Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the sliced garlic and sauté for about 1–2 minutes until golden and fragrant, be careful not to burn it.
• Toss in the broccoletti and sauté for 2-3 minutes, sprinkle the 2 tablespoons of water and close with the lid. Cook for 4-5 minutes, turning occasionally, until tender and slightly crispy at the edges.
• Sprinkle it with salt, and black pepper. Drizzle lemon juice over the top along with lemon zest.
• Transfer to a serving dish and serve warm.

Notes

1. Trim the ends of the broccolini to remove any tough or woody stems for better texture.
2. Don’t overcook the garlic, sauté just until golden to avoid bitterness.

Keyword Healthy, side dish