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What to Serve With Broccoli: 15 Best Side Dishes

When serving broccoli, enhance your meal with delicious side dishes. Try cashew chicken for a protein-packed option with a delightful crunch. Mongolian beef, with its sweet and savory sauce, pairs well with broccoli. For a nutritious touch, choose brown rice or quinoa, both hearty and flavorful. To complement broccoli's texture, consider umami-rich lo mein or crispy fried shrimp. Meatless options like crispy tofu or a light spinach salad provide variety. Hearty favorites, such as steak fajitas, baked salmon with lemon butter, and fluffy couscous, also make excellent companions. Exploring these pairings will elevate your meal to the next level.

Cashew Chicken

delicious stir fry dish

Cashew chicken, with its succulent chicken pieces and crunchy cashews, serves as a delightful protein option that pairs exceptionally well with broccoli.

The rich, salty, and slightly sweet sauce beautifully coats broccoli for a flavor-packed meal.

This dish offers a perfect blend of textures and flavors, making it an ideal side dish for broccoli, and is sure to impress at family dinners.

Mongolian Beef

savory mongolian beef recipe

Mongolian beef, characterized by its tender slices of beef enveloped in a sweet and savory sauce, makes a delectable companion to broccoli.

This mouthwatering flavor combination adds an exotic touch to your meal, creating a harmonious blend with broccoli for a well-rounded dish.

Ideal for family dinners, it offers a burst of flavors and textures that foodies will love, making it one of the best side dishes.

Brown Rice

healthy whole grain option

Brown rice, with its nutritious profile and hearty texture, serves as an excellent side dish to complement broccoli. Its fluffy texture and rich flavor make it a great accompaniment to broccoli, enhancing the meal's overall appeal.

Packed with fiber and essential nutrients, this delicious side dish offers a satisfying contrast, providing a balanced and wholesome addition to any plate.

Quinoa

healthy protein rich grain

Following the hearty and nutritious profile of brown rice, quinoa stands out as another excellent side dish to pair with broccoli, offering a fluffy texture and nutty flavor that enhances the meal.

High in protein and fiber, quinoa allows the broccoli florets to shine while adding a unique textural element.

This ancient grain's versatility and health benefits make it a perfect addition to your plate.

Lo Mein

chinese takeout noodle dish

Lo Mein, a popular Chinese noodle dish, offers a delightful combination of flavors and textures that pairs exceptionally well with broccoli. The umami-rich flavor profile of Lo Mein complements the crunchy texture of broccoli, making it an ideal broccoli side dish.

With its soy-based sauce and mix of vegetables, Lo Mein provides a comforting and fulfilling dining experience. Enjoy this flavorful pairing for a complete meal!

Fried Shrimp

shrimp dish at restaurant

Fried shrimp, with its crunchy exterior and tender interior, offers a delightful contrast to the textures of broccoli. Serve alongside broccoli for a meal that pairs perfectly.

The sweetness of the shrimp complements the broccoli's flavors beautifully. Tossed with garlic and chili flakes, fried shrimp adds a spicy kick, enhancing the overall dining experience and making it an irresistible side dish.

Crispy Tofu

flavorful vegan protein option

Crispy tofu, with its delightful combination of a crunchy exterior and a soft, flavorful interior, makes an excellent side dish to complement broccoli. Its well-seasoned taste provides a pleasant contrast to the fresh, green vegetable, enhancing the overall dining experience.

This healthy, meatless option is perfect for vegetarians or anyone looking to diversify their protein sources, making meals more satisfying and well-rounded.

Steak Fajitas

delicious sizzling beef fajitas

Following another delectable option like crispy tofu, steak fajitas bring a hearty and flavorful addition to your meal with broccoli.

The juicy steak, combined with bell peppers and onions, offers a great side dish. The tangy and smoky spice mix adds a burst of flavor, creating a wonderful textural contrast.

It's ideal for foodies seeking a delicious, well-rounded dinner option.

Garlic Bread

garlic bread cravings satisfied

Garlic bread, with its warm, buttery texture and robust garlic flavor, frequently serves as a classic and comforting side dish that pairs beautifully with broccoli.

The buttery flavor and crunchy crust contrast delightfully with broccoli's texture.

Perfect for mopping up sauces, garlic bread adds depth of flavor, enhancing the overall meal experience and elevating a simple broccoli dish into a satisfying, well-rounded meal.

Parmesan Potatoes

delicious oven baked side dish

Parmesan potatoes, with their flavorful salty crust and tender interior, serve as an excellent accompaniment to broccoli dishes.

This side dish boasts crispy exteriors and fluffy insides, providing a delightful texture contrast to broccoli.

The savory parmesan enhances the meal experience, making it a delicious and easy-to-make addition to any dinner.

Perfect for gatherings, they elevate any broccoli-based meal.

Grilled Chicken

Complementing the crispy and savory parmesan potatoes, grilled chicken offers a juicy and flavorful protein option that pairs perfectly with roasted broccoli.

The smoky notes from grilling enhance the meal's overall flavor profile, adding depth and satisfaction.

Ideal for picky eaters, grilled chicken can be easily seasoned, providing a well-rounded, delicious meal when enjoyed alongside the textures of roasted broccoli.

Baked Salmon

healthy protein option choice

Baked salmon, with its rich and buttery flavor, serves as an excellent protein option to pair with broccoli for a balanced and nutritious meal.

Drizzling it with lemon butter sauce adds a citrusy kick, enhancing the dish.

Serving baked salmon alongside a fresh broccoli salad, or even roasted broccoli, creates a healthy and flavorful main course that is sure to delight.

Spinach Salad

dietary fiber and vitamins

A spinach salad, frequently adorned with fresh vegetables and crunchy nuts, offers a crisp and invigorating contrast to broccoli. The light vinaigrette dressing adds a rejuvenating touch, enhancing the overall meal experience.

This combination introduces a new dimension of flavor and texture, making each bite enjoyable. Together, spinach salad and broccoli create a harmonious and delightful pairing that elevates any meal.

Cauliflower Rice

low carb alternative to rice

Cauliflower rice is a versatile and low-carb alternative to traditional grains. It pairs excellently with broccoli to create a nutritious and balanced meal. Its light, fluffy texture and mild flavor let broccoli shine.

Easily seasoned with herbs, garlic, and onions, cauliflower rice provides a delightful textural contrast. This combination guarantees a wholesome and satisfying dish suitable for various dietary preferences.

Are the Best Side Dishes for Beef Broccoli the Same as for Regular Broccoli?

When it comes to choosing the best side dishes for beef broccoli, the options can be different from what would pair well with regular broccoli. For beef broccoli, savory and hearty sides like fried rice or lo mein are recommended, whereas regular broccoli may be better complemented by lighter options such as steamed vegetables or a simple salad.

Couscous

moroccan dish with semolina

Why not elevate your meal by pairing broccoli with couscous, a light and fluffy grain that offers a delightful textural contrast?

Seasoned with herbs and spices, couscous complements the flavors of broccoli perfectly.

This nutritious and versatile side dish allows broccoli to shine, providing varying textures and flavors for a satisfying dining experience.

Enjoy a healthy and delicious accompaniment to your broccoli.