Easy Broccolini in a Lemon Garlic Butter Sauce

If you’re looking for a quick vegetable side dish that goes with just about anything, this easy broccolini recipe is one you’ll want to save. Fresh broccolini is steamed until tender and then sautéed in butter, fresh garlic, and lemon juice for a simple side dish that’s packed with flavor.

The best part? You only need a handful of ingredients and one pan. This garlic butter broccolini is easy enough for a weeknight dinner but feels special enough to serve alongside steak, chicken, salmon, or your favorite holiday meal.

What Is Broccolini?

Broccolini looks similar to broccoli, but it has longer, thinner stems and smaller florets. It has a slightly sweeter, milder flavor than traditional broccoli, and the tender stems are one of the best parts.

Because the stems and florets are different thicknesses, cooking broccolini can sometimes be tricky. This recipe solves that problem by steaming the broccolini first and then sautéing it in garlic butter. You get tender stems without overcooking the florets.

Why You’ll Love This Easy Broccolini Recipe

● Quick and easy: It comes together in one pan with very little prep.

● Simple ingredients: You only need broccolini, butter, garlic, lemon, salt, and pepper.

● Full of flavor: Butter and garlic add richness while fresh lemon brightens everything up.

● Easy to customize: Cook the broccolini until it reaches exactly the tenderness you prefer.

● Pairs with almost anything: Serve it with beef, chicken, pork, seafood, or pasta.

Ingredients

● 1 pound fresh broccolini

● 4 tablespoons salted butter

● 2 cloves garlic, minced

● Juice of ½ lemon

● 1 teaspoon kosher salt

● ½ teaspoon black pepper

● ½ cup water

How to Cook Broccolini

1. Prep the broccolini

Trim the ends from the broccolini stems. If you have any especially large or thick pieces, slice them into smaller, thinner pieces so everything cooks evenly.

2. Steam the broccolini

Pour ½ cup of water into a large sauté pan and add the broccolini.

Place the pan over high heat and cover with a lid. Allow the broccolini to steam until it begins to soften and almost all of the water has evaporated.

3. Remove the broccolini

Transfer the broccolini from the pan to a plate. If there is any water remaining in the pan, carefully sop it up so the pan is dry.

4. Make the garlic butter

Add the 4 tablespoons of salted butter to the same pan and allow it to melt.

Add the minced garlic and lemon juice, stirring so the garlic becomes fragrant without burning.

Scrape the bottom of the pan to loosen all of those flavorful browned bits and incorporate them into the butter sauce.

5. Finish the broccolini

Return the broccolini to the pan and season with kosher salt and black pepper.

Cook uncovered over low-medium heat, tossing the broccolini in the garlic-lemon butter, until it reaches your desired tenderness.

Serve immediately, spooning any extra garlic butter from the pan over the top.

Tips for the Best Broccolini

Let most of the water evaporate. You want the broccolini to steam, but you don’t want excess water diluting your garlic butter sauce.

Keep an eye on the garlic. Garlic cooks quickly. About a minute is all it needs before you add the lemon juice.

Cook it to your liking. If you like crisp-tender broccolini, it won’t need long during the final sauté. For softer broccolini, simply give it a few additional minutes over low-medium heat.

What to Serve with Broccolini

This lemon garlic broccolini is one of those side dishes that works with almost any main course. Try serving it alongside:

● Grilled or pan-seared steak The Perfect Filet Mignon

● Roasted or grilled chicken Easy Oven Baked Chicken Thighs 

● Salmon or other seafood Crispy Salmon with Maple Dijon Glaze

● Pork chops or pork tenderloin Brined Pork Tenderloin

● Pasta

● Rice or risotto

● Holiday roasts

It’s also an easy way to add a flavorful green vegetable to a simple weeknight meal.

Can You Make Broccolini Ahead of Time?

Broccolini is best served right after cooking, especially if you prefer it crisp-tender. However, leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator and reheated gently in a skillet.

For the best texture, avoid overheating it when reheating.

Easy Garlic Butter Broccolini

This easy broccolini recipe proves that vegetables don’t need a long ingredient list to taste amazing. Steaming the broccolini first ensures the stems become tender, while finishing it in a skillet with butter, garlic, fresh lemon juice, salt, and pepper gives it plenty of flavor.

It’s simple, fast, and versatile—the kind of vegetable side dish you can make again and again.

Easy Broccolini Recipe

Ingredients

● 1 pound fresh broccolini

● 4 tablespoons salted butter

● 2 cloves garlic, minced

● Juice of ½ lemon

● 1 teaspoon kosher salt

● ½ teaspoon black pepper

● ½ cup water

Instructions

1. Trim the ends of the broccolini and cut any especially large or thick pieces into smaller, thinner pieces.

2. Add ½ cup water and the broccolini to a large sauté pan.

3. Place over high heat and cover. Steam until the broccolini begins to soften and almost all of the water has evaporated.

4. Remove the broccolini from the pan and sop up any remaining water.

5. Melt the butter in the pan.

6. Add the minced garlic and cook for about 1 minute.

7. Squeeze in the juice of half a lemon and scrape the bottom of the pan to loosen any browned bits.

8. Return the broccolini to the pan. Season with kosher salt and black pepper.

9. Cook uncovered over low-medium heat, tossing in the garlic butter, until the broccolini reaches your desired tenderness.

10. Serve warm with the garlic-lemon butter spooned over the top.