Ingredients & Substitutions
This section will explain how to choose the best ingredients for grilled broccoli, what each one does in my recipe, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card.
Broccoli – You can use fresh or frozen broccoli, but if you use frozen, see my tips on this below. If you’ve got extra fresh broccoli, my broccoli cranberry salad will make the perfect addition to your cookout. Oil – This adds flavor and helps you get those browned edges when grilling broccoli. I recommend either olive oil or avocado oil. Lemon Juice – I add a tablespoon of lemon juice for zing, plus it tenderizes the veggies. Fresh tastes best, but bottled lemon juice works, too. Seasonings – Garlic powder (optional, but I highly recommend!), sea salt (kosher salt also works), and black pepper. Want it fiery? Throw in crushed red pepper flakes. Feeling fancy? Use my steak seasoning (might as well use it for grilling steak while you’re at it) or lemon pepper seasoning.
How To Grill Broccoli
I have step-by-step photos here to help you visualize the recipe. For full instructions with amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card. You can replace the lemon juice with balsamic vinegar instead, drizzle on balsamic glaze at the end, or sprinkle with parmesan after grilling.
Grilling Times
How long to grill broccoli depends on your individual grill, the size of your florets, and the grilling method. Here are my rule-of-thumb cook times:
Fresh grilled broccoli: 8-10 minutes Fresh broccoli in foil: 10-20 minutes Frozen broccoli in foil: 15-25 minutes
Cook until the stems are tender. (I use a small knife or fork to check — it should go in with just a little resistance.) If you’re cooking broccoli on the grill directly, the edges should be slightly charred.
Storage & Meal Prep
Store: Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-5 days. Meal prep: There isn’t much to prep here, but I almost always cut the florets in advance. I’ve also left the broccoli in the marinade for 24 hours in the refrigerator, and it still turned out perfectly. Reheat: You can reheat the broccoli on the grill over indirect heat, but my go-to method is the air fryer at 325 degrees F for a couple minutes (don’t go higher for reheating, or it will get too dark). Freeze: You can freeze grilled broccoli, but the texture will be more mushy. If you do decide to freeze, wrap tightly and store in the freezer for up to 3 months. You can even reheat from frozen.
Serving Ideas
If you already have the grill turned on, save time and serve my grilled broccoli recipe with one of my other grilled recipes:
Cut large broccoli florets for grilling directly on the grates. They’re much easier to manage on the grill, and less likely to slip through the grates. If you prefer smaller pieces, I recommend either a grill basket or using my foil method. Don’t skip the marinating time. It doesn’t take long, but it infuses the broccoli with flavor, and makes it more tender. I find it also gets me better browning with less burning. Keep the lid closed, except to flip. You’ll need to open it more often if you’re grilling broccoli directly on the grates, but it still mainly softens when the lid is down. If the outside is browned but the broccoli is not tender yet, move it over indirect heat. That way, it can finish cooking without burning. Want to grill frozen broccoli? Use my foil packet method. This is so that any small frozen pieces won’t fall into the grill as they thaw. It also allows enough time for the inside to cook through. The grilled broccoli will be softer and won’t get those signature charred edges, but it’s still delicious.
Beef – Make my best burger recipe or turkey burger recipe (a.k.a. my staples) for a casual meal. For an upgrade, try my grilled London broil or tri tip. Chicken – The simplest choices are grilled chicken legs or grilled chicken thighs, but you can also capture even more summer flavors with my bruschetta chicken or chicken kabobs. Pork – Whip up my juicy grilled pork chops while you have your grill going. Yum! Seafood – I just recently gushed about how much I love grilled salmon, and it goes so well with this grilled broccoli. My Cajun grilled cod is a good alternative for a bolder flavor. And if it’s date night? Grilled lobster or grilled shrimp all the way.
My Tools For This Recipe
These tools are optional, but I find them helpful in some situations:
Grill Basket – Although it’s not required (I made the grilled broccoli shown here without it), it makes it a lot easier to avoid losing broccoli between the grates. Cast Iron Grill Pan – When the weather’s not playing along, my trusty cast iron grill pan saves the day and gets me the same charred edges on the stovetop.
Please enter your first name for your account. Your saved recipe will also be sent to your email. To grill broccoli in foil: Place the broccoli on a large piece of aluminum foil. Fold over the foil and seal to form a foil packet. Place the packet onto the grill and cook for 10-20 minutes, turning halfway through, until tender.
