20 Broccoli Recipes That Even Picky Eaters Will Love

By Southern Living Editors
June 04, 2015
Credit: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall
Want a delicious and well-balanced meal? Add broccoli, our ultimate green warrior, to the mix. As kids our nose would turn up at the mention of this green vegetable. But now, older and wiser, we realize that broccoli adds a flavorful and healthy twist to any dish.

Long are the days where we have to smother our florets in cheddar cheese. We’d like our broccoli front and center, right where we can see it and taste it. We collected delicious broccoli recipes that even picky eaters will love. From Chicken-Broccoli Mac and Cheese with Bacon to Broccoli Tots, we have all the tasty recipes that showcase our affinity for this green veggie. Cook up these pretty little florets for a healthy accompaniment to any meal.
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Easy Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry Recipe

Credit: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner; Food Styling: Maggie Ruggiero

Recipe: Easy Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry Recipe

Ready in just 20 minutes, this easy stir fry needs to be on your weeknight rotation.

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Baked Broccoli Tots

Recipe: Baked Broccoli Tots

Broccoli Tots are the healthier yet equally delicious version of classic tater tots.

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Broccoli-Cheddar Soup

Recipe: Broccoli-Cheddar Soup

Cue the nostalgia factor, this creamy soup instantly brings us back to our childhood days.

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Broccoli-Spinach Soup with Parmesan Croutons

Credit: Antonis Achilleos

Recipe: Broccoli-Spinach Soup with Parmesan Croutons

This vibrant and hearty soup was made for those long winter months.

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Lemon-Garlic Butter Shrimp with Broccoli

Credit: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Tina Bell Stamos

Recipe: Lemon-Garlic Butter Shrimp with Broccoli

Throw together this tasty meal in a pinch by using bagged, precut broccoli florets.

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Crispy Chicken-and-Broccoli Salad

Credit: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Recipe: Crispy Chicken-and-Broccoli Salad

Even the picky-eaters of the group will be lining up for seconds for this Crispy Chicken-and-Broccoli Salad.

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Simple Whole Roasted Chicken with Broccoli-Mushroom Rice

Credit: Photo: Alison Miksch

Recipe: Simple Whole Roasted Chicken with Broccoli-Mushroom Rice

Looking for an easy one-pan dinner? Try this savory chicken and vegetable dish.

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Roasted Broccoli Salad

Recipe: Roasted Broccoli Salad

This tangy broccoli salad is filled with flavorful ingredients from Honey crisp apples to crispy bacon.

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Chicken-Broccoli Mac and Cheese with Bacon

Credit: Photo: Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Chicken-Broccoli Mac and Cheese with Bacon

A little bit of turmeric enhances the color here; it's a bit of a trick that makes you perceive the sauce as cheesier than it actually is.

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Broccoli Slaw

Credit: Photo: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Broccoli Slaw

Recipe: Mayo-Sour Cream Dressing

Cooking broccoli in boiling water to a bright green takes only a couple of minutes. Be sure to shock it immediately in ice water to keep the color vibrant.

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Cheesy Broccoli and Rice Casserole

Credit: Photo: Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Cheesy Broccoli and Rice Casserole 

"The old-school version of this recipe uses canned soup and often calls for frozen broccoli. My new twist is made with fresh, wholesome ingredients. It takes just a smidgen of more time, but the results are absolutely extraordinary." —Contributing editor Virginia Willis.

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Spiced Beef Kabobs with Herbed Cucumber and Tomato Salad Recipe

Credit: Greg Dupree

Recipe: Spiced Beef Kabobs with Herbed Cucumber and Tomato Salad

You can prepare these kabobs up to two days in advance. All that's left is popping them onto the grill just before you're ready to serve.

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Broccoli, Grape, and Pasta Salad

Credit: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Broccoli, Grape, and Pasta Salad

If you're a broccoli salad fan, you'll love this combination of colorful ingredients. Cook the pasta al dente so it's firm enough to hold its own when tossed with the tangy-sweet salad dressing.

Cooking Video: Easy & Delicious Broccoli, Grape, and Pasta Salad

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Pasta-Chicken-Broccoli Bake

Credit: Photo: Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Pasta-Chicken-Broccoli Bake

Cheese-filled tortellini and a chopped pecan topping add extra flavor to this kid-friendly Pasta-Chicken-Broccoli Bake, while broccoli and red bell pepper contribute pops of color throughout this one-dish meal. Add even more fun color by using colored tortellini. The unlikely pairing of ingredients like white wine and pecans will impress guests, while the delicious buttery crackers and grated Parmesan cheese will please even the pickiest eaters. Make this casserole dish for a potluck group or your family and receive rave reviews from all. One reviewer said that she enjoyed it so much, that she immediately emailed the recipe to her girlfriends.

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Peanut-Broccoli Stir-fry

Credit: Photo: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Peanut-Broccoli Stir-fry

Vegetarian or not, you'll love this healthy and satisfying meat-free dish for its delicious sauce: a flavorful combination of creamy peanut butter, fresh ginger and sweet chili sauce.

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Queso-Broccoli Potato Chowder

Credit: Photo: Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Queso-Broccoli Potato Chowder

Refrigerators and freezers cannot cool soups quickly enough to be food safe. Speed up the cooling process by placing the pot of soup in a bath of ice water in the sink. Stir soup often to help release the heat. Even your kids won't be able to resist this broccoli chowder. Sautéed ham and creamy Cheddar cheese create a savory base.

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Broccoli Salad Dip

Credit: Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Broccoli Salad Dip

Spin the old-school salad into a dip, and pair with everything from crudités to pretzel rods.

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Lemony Broccoli Rabe Pasta

Credit: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Lemony Broccoli Rabe Pasta

Broccoli rabe, a bitter, almost-spicy descendant of wild mustard, is actually more closely related to turnips than broccoli. Blanching, before sautéing, mellows out its bitterness and locks in the bright green color.

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Broccolini with Pecans and Cane Syrup Vinaigrette

Credit: Photo: Alison Miksch

Recipe: Broccolini with Pecans and Cane Syrup Vinaigrette

Easy, in-a-pinch substitutions: Use molasses for cane syrup and broccoli florets in place of fresh Broccolini. Pomegranate seeds add a festive touch.

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Chubba Bubba's Broccoli Salad

Credit: Photo: Beth Dreiling Hontzas

Recipe: Chubba Bubba's Broccoli Salad

This easy version of broccoli salad features frozen broccoli plus cauliflower and chopped carrot for added color and crispness.

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