This SAUTEED BROCCOLI is a simple and quick 4-ingredient recipe that makes it easy to get broccoli on the table. The bacon adds loads of flavor and turns broccoli into something even the kids will want to eat!
Got about 15 minutes and a love of bacon? I’ve got the recipe for you. 😉
As you may have noticed by now, I’m quite literally obsessed with broccoli. I make it just about every day.
I know that not everyone is happy to just eat plain steamed broccoli every night of the week, so I’ve basically come up with 13,000 ways to make it exciting. Gotta get my broccoli fix without making my family hate me somehow, ya know. 😉
This sautéed broccoli recipe is perfect for people that are on the fence about broccoli and I’ll even give you my biggest tip for learning to like broccoli.
Ready for that tip?
Here it is: Use fresh broccoli. Quit buying the frozen mushy stuff. It’s not the same. It’s not even close.
I almost always buy the already chopped florets in the produce section. It’s just as convenient as the frozen stuff, without the mushy texture.
You can also just buy a head of broccoli and chop it yourself. More budget friendly, but less convenient.
How to:
Chop your fresh broccoli into small florets. Set that aside and then chop up some bacon.
Fry the bacon until it’s nearly crisp and then dump your broccoli and minced garlic right into the skillet.
Don’t drain the grease – it adds loads of flavor.
Stir the broccoli frequently while it cooks until it’s as tender as you’d like. We usually go for about 8 minutes to get that tender-crisp texture.
We season this up with some red pepper flakes and salt, but you can skip the red pepper if you don’t like that little kick.
That’s it!
Go ahead and serve this to your kids – just watch them devour it.
Will this work with frozen broccoli?
Just about every time I share a broccoli recipe, I emphasize that fresh broccoli is the best for taste and texture, but someone always ask if they can use frozen anyway. (Seriously, please just use fresh – it’s better, I promise.)
I have never tried it, because we dislike frozen broccoli. I do imagine it will work, however be careful about tossing frozen food into hot bacon grease. You’ll likely get some splatter from the ice crystals hitting the hot grease.
Swaps & Additions:
- Red Pepper Flakes: Not a fan of spice? Skip the red pepper flakes and season your broccoli with an Italian seasoning blend instead.
- Parmesan: We like this recipe just as it is, but a sprinkle of shredded Parmesan always goes over well.
- Lemon Juice: I’m always shocked at what a little lemon does to a veggie. Sprinkle a bit on before serving and watch the flavors pop.
More broccoli recipes:
- Keto Broccoli Salad
- Keto Chicken Broccoli Casserole
- Crockpot Broccoli Cheese Soup
- Broccoli Fritters
- Broccoli Cheese Casserole
- Broccoli Cauliflower Soup
Sauteed Broccoli with Bacon and Garlic
Ingredients
- 6 slices bacon
- 1 large head broccoli
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- Salt to taste
Instructions
- Dice the bacon into bite-sized pieces and add it to a large skillet over medium heat.
- Fry bacon until it’s starting to crisp, about 5 minutes, stirring often.
- While the bacon is cooking, chop the broccoli into small florets.
- Add the broccoli and garlic to the skillet with the bacon (do not drain grease), stirring frequently, until the broccoli is tender, about 8 minutes.
- Season with red pepper and salt and serve hot.
Alice Burba says
Can I make this ahead of time and reheat? Any tips for this?
Karly Campbell says
You can, but we always prefer broccoli made fresh. If you don’t mind it reheated, this will be just fine. 🙂
Maureen Deno says
How big is one serving?
Karly Campbell says
The nutrition info is based on 4 servings. I didn’t measure by volume.
Linda says
So good. This is a go to when we cook broccoli
Long says
Came out perfectly. The broccoli was nice and tender and not overpowered with bacon. Thankyou ^^
Karly Campbell says
Glad you enjoyed it!
Cathie McClure says
I wonder if you could use a little brown sugar and/or balsamic vinegar in place of red pepper?
Karly Campbell says
I think you could mix up the flavors a million ways here. Bacon and broccoli would go well with a lot of different things, including brown sugar and balsamic. 🙂