Grilled broccolini is a wonderful summer side dish. Not only is it easy to make but it is perfect for any grilled entrée. The broccolini is tossed in olive oil and garlic and grilled to perfection then tossed with some lemon juice and zest. Pair it with grilled chicken, beef or fish for an easy and flavorful meal.
There is always something great about an effortless side dish when you are grilling. What makes this recipe so great is that you can cook it in the last 5-6 minutes of grilling the rest of your meal and it will be ready at the same time. This makes for a great meal for those on the go. One of my favorites is that this side dish is easily scalable and is perfect for large groups or meal prep.
Table of Contents
In this recipe
There isn’t much in this recipe which is what makes it great. You should have most of the ingredients already on hand and a quick jot to the store can rectify any missing ingredients easily.
Broccolini: the star of the dish. Use firm bright green stems without soft spots.
Lemon juice: the acid cuts through the olive oil and adds brightness to the broccolini
Red pepper flakes: add a little kick and it is completely optional for the recipe.
What is the difference between broccolini and broccoli?
While the name suggests that this could be young or baby broccoli, broccolini is a completely different plant. It is a hybrid of broccoli and Chinese broccoli. This makes it more tender and carries a milder flavor than broccoli. The stalks can be less fibrous, and the florets will be less tightly packed than broccoli making it more tender after cooking. You will want to make sure that when choosing good broccolini that it is bright green, the stems are firm and do not have any soft spots.
Making grilled broccolini
One of the best parts of grilled broccolini is how quickly it cooks. This is going to be impacted on how thick the stems are. In the photos here these are a bit thicker so it will not always cook through by the time the florets have gotten a nice char. In order to address this, you will want to move the broccolini to the side of the grill with indirect heat and cover. By cooking an additional 5 minutes you will get that nice tender vegetable that makes a great side dish.
What do I serve grilled broccolini with?
Here are some of my favorites but this list is not even close to all-inclusive:
- Grilled mojo chicken
- Herb grilled pork chops
- Grilled London broil
- Swordfish, salmon, and grilled halibut
- Grilled Lamb
- Any grilled vegetables
Looking for other grilled side dish recipes?
Easy Grilled Broccolini
Equipment
- Grill
- Tongs
- Sheet pan
Ingredients
- 1 pound broccolini
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon garlic chopped
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon lemon zest
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- ½ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Heat the grill to 400°F or 200°C.
- On a sheet pan, drizzle the olive oil over the broccolini and then season with the salt, red pepper flakes, and garlic,1 pound broccolini, 2 tablespoons olive oil, 1 tablespoon garlic, ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes, ½ teaspoon salt
- Place on the grill over direct heat and cook for 2-3 minutes per side until the broccolini has a nice char.
- Move to indirect heat, cover, and cook for another 5 minutes if the broccolini is larger like pictured above.
- Remove from the grill and place back onto the sheet pan. Squeeze the lemon juice over the broccolini and toss with the lemon zest1 tablespoon lemon juice, 1 tablespoon lemon zest
Nutrition
