Pan Fried Broccolini

I make a lot of grilled and roasted broccolini, so one day I decided to give it a whirl on the stove with this Pan Fried Broccolini recipe.

broccolini with garlic on a serving platter


 

A quick pan fry gives it enough time to soften a little, but leaves it with the toothiness and crunch I crave.

Broccolini

What is broccolini? Most people think it is just another name for broccoli, but it is not.

broccolini on a cutting board

In fact, it is sometimes referred to as baby broccoli. The truth is that it is that it is a hybrid between broccoli (florets) and Chinese broccoli (long, thin stems.)

close up of broccolini in a skillet

This pan fried broccolini tastes similar to broccoli, but the texture is a little different. The stems are a little woody but edible. I happen to prefer them to the stalks of broccoli, which can sometimes get a little mushy.

Cooking Pan Fried Broccolini

How do you cook broccolini? Most people roast it, some grill it and others steam it, like for broccolini salad. But I also like to pan fry it (hence the pan fried broccolini.)

To prep it, simply cut off about 1/2 inch to an inch of the ends. I like to cut it until this little white dot in the center is gone.

cross section cut of broccolini stem

With just 5 ingredients, a simple side dish is perfect for an elegant dinner or a simply night of burgers on the grill. In fact, this batch is being served with my famous Lamb Burgers.

It takes 10 minutes to prepare and can be made ahead of time and reheated on the stove right before serving too. All you do is heat them until they are bright green and you are done!

fried broccolini with garlic and olive oil

Pan Fried Broccolini Ingredients

Does it get any easier? This recipe uses only 5 ingredients.

ingredients for pan fried broccolini
  • Broccolini- Look for thinner stems so they have time to cook and become tender.
  • Garlic– I implore you to use whole garlic instead of jarred garlic, which can be sweet instead of garlicky. Because we slice it, you will get the flavor without an overwhelming “I’m going to peel the paint tonight” flavor in your pan fried broccolini.
  • Fine Sea Salt & Freshly Ground Black Pepper– Totally standard.
  • Olive Oil– Use a good quality here. I have an awesome guide to cooking oils if you’d like to check it out!
  • Water– If you don’t have this ingredient, we have a whole other level of Maslow’s needs to discuss before you dive into making a new veggie.

Some people also like to add red pepper flakes, but this is totally optional. I was serving this dish to my young kiddos so those were a little too spicy, but hubby added them to his.

overhead of fried broccolini on a platter

Make Ahead & Storage

This easy Pan Fried Broccolini can certainly be prepared ahead of time and simply reheated. I like to reheat mine in a hot skillet to retain some of that char and crunch on the tips, but the microwave is also a viable option.

Cooked broccolini will stay good in the fridge for up to 5 days. Raw broccolini can be stored for up to a week in the fridge. So keep that in mind when doing your meal planning and grocery shopping for the week!

fried broccolini for pinterest

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close up of garlic broccolini
close up of cooked broccolini

Pan Fried Broccolini

4.67 from 18 votes
Making broccolini has never been easier than with this EASY PAn Fried Broccolini recipe! Simple ingredients and only 15 minutes of work!
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Servings: 4

Ingredients

Instructions

  • In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat.
  • Add broccolini, tossing to coat in oil. Saute for 2-3 minutes until they start to turn a bright green.
  • Add garlic, Kosher salt and pepper, tossing to combine. Continue to cook for 2-3 minutes.
  • Add water and cook for another 2-3 minutes, or unti stalks soften. They won’t be fully soft and will still be crisp.
  • Remove and serve immediately.
  • If you’ve tried this recipe, come back and let us know how it was in the comments and ratings!

Nutrition

Calories: 34 kcal, Carbohydrates: 1 g, Protein: 1 g, Fat: 4 g, Saturated Fat: 1 g, Sodium: 583 mg, Fiber: 1 g, Sugar: 1 g, Vitamin C: 1 mg, Calcium: 3 mg
Author: Jessica Formicola
Calories: 34
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Keyword: broccolini recipe
Did you make this recipe?I’d love to see your recipes – snap a picture and mention @savoryexperiments or tag #savoryexperiments!
Jessica Formicola in her ktichen

About the Author

Chef Jessica Anne Formicola

Jessica the mom, wife and chef behind Savory Experiments. You might see her on the Emmy- nominated TV show Plate It! or on bookshelves as a cookbook author. Jessica is a Le Cordon Bleu certified recipe developer and regularly contributed to Parade, Better Homes & Gardens, The Daily Meal, Mashed and more!

Read More About Jessica

4.67 from 18 votes (13 ratings without comment)

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