Easy, Microwave Steamed Broccoli - Simply Whisked

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By: Melissa

Updated: October 17, 2024

Making a fresh vegetables side dish is easier than you might think. This microwave steamed broccoli recipe will give you crisp, flavorful broccoli in minutes. It’s the perfect side dish for a quick weeknight dinner.

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Why I love this easy broccoli recipe

I know. Microwaved broccoli seems like it’s not worth a recipe, but I really wanted to share because steaming vegetables in the microwave is one of my favorite ways to make weeknight dinners easier. Not only does it make my life easier, but I think it makes a huge difference in the quality of our dinners.

If I’m not making a one pot meal – like my ___ – I typically follow a protein, carb, veggie formula. For years we relied on frozen veggies, and while they’re totally fine and work in a pinch, but there’s just something about fresh vegetables that makes me actually want to eat them.

They’re slightly crisp and full of flavor, and a million times better than any frozen or canned vegetables.

This recipe would be great with: sweet chili salmon / lemon rosemary chicken / cauliflower alfredo sauce / turkey sloppy joes

This technique is also great for getting vegetables ready for a quick stir fry, and I use this as a step for my Chinese chicken and broccoli recipe before adding it to the cooked chicken and sauce.

Here’s what you’ll need make microwave steamed broccoli

Chef’s knife
Cutting board
Large microwave safe bowl
Microwave

How to steam broccoli in the microwave

Prep. Start by washing and chopping your fresh broccoli. If you like the stems, they can totally stay, it’s really up to you. I like a little stem and a lot of floret, so we normally buy stemless, but do what you like. It will work either way.

I think the fastest way to prep broccoli is to chop it and then rinse it well in a colander, but you can wash and then chop if you want. It doesn’t make a difference. Just make sure you’re cutting it into bite-sized-ish pieces.

Steam. Place your chopped broccoli in a large bowl and season to taste. I like to use a drizzle of olive oil, a little garlic powder and salt & pepper. Then, put the bowl in the microwave and cook it for 3 – 5 minutes, depending on how soft you like your vegetables. You don’t even need to cover the bowl. It’s that simple.

Remove the bowl from the microwave immediately, or it will continue to cook as it sits in the closed microwave. When you remove the broccoli, it should be bright green in color and slightly tender.

steamed broccoli florets in a glass bowl

More broccoli recipes you’ll love:

Easy broccoli salad recipe
Vegan broccoli soup
Shrimp and broccoli
Spicy broccoli slaw

More easy, dairy free sides:

Honey brussel sprouts
Air fryer green beans
Moroccan couscous
Seasoned potato wedges
Pesto pasta salad
Air fryer green beans

steamed fresh broccoli on a serving platter

Microwave Steamed Broccoli

Print Recipe Pin Recipe Prep Time 5 minutes Cook Time 5 minutes Total Time 10 minutes Servings 4 – 6 servings Making a fresh vegetables side dish is easier than you might think. This microwave steamed broccoli recipe will give you crisp, flavorful broccoli in minutes. It’s the perfect side dish for a quick weeknight dinner. Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark

Ingredients

Fresh broccoli (chopped)
1 teaspoon olive oil
1/8 – 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
Salt & pepper

Instructions

Place chopped broccoli into a microwave safe bowl.
Drizzle with olive oil and season with garlic, salt & pepper, to taste.
Microwave for 3 – 5 minutes.

Nutrition

Calories: 61kcalCarbohydrates: 10gProtein: 4gFat: 2gSodium: 341mgFiber: 4gSugar: 3gVitamin C: 136mg

Melissa

Melissa Belanger is the founder and food-obsessed visionary behind Simply Whisked, where she creates dairy free recipes with simple ingredients. She lives in Wisconsin with her milk-allergic husband and two kids. Melissa's experience in developing dairy free recipes is unparalleled and she strives to make dairy-free living accessible and enjoyable. In addition to running Simply Whisked, Melissa also manages two other publications: Another Cocktail Blog, a cocktail recipe website, and The Pasta Twins, a joint venture with her twin sister.

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Hi! I'm Melissa.

I create easy, dairy free recipes because I know how hard living without milk can be. I believe you can live a completely satisfying life without dairy, and I want to teach you how.

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