Grilled Broccolini with Lemon Garlic Dressing
On June 09, 2020 (Updated April 16, 2022)
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This Grilled Broccolini is lovingly drizzled with a lemon garlic dressing. It’s a fresh and fun vegetable when you want something different (and maybe just a tad bit “fancy” or “special”). It’s crisp, fresh, and cooks quickly.
What is Broccolini?
Broccolini is a hybrid vegetable of broccoli and Chinese broccoli known as gai-lan. It looks like broccoli, except it has longer stalks and more delicate florets. It can be more difficult to find in the store when compared to regular broccoli, but it is growing in popularity. Ask the produce manager to see if your grocery store has some in stock.
Broccolini tastes fairly similar to broccoli, except it has a lighter, sweeter flavor. Broccolini tastes wonderful when grilled or roasted, and since we’re in the business of BBQ, you know I’m all in favor of grilling my veggies.
Whenever I’m looking to add some extra oomph to my meal, or I need a side for a special occasion, I’ll buy broccolini instead of broccoli. It tends to be slightly more expensive than broccoli, so it’s a great side for a date night or holiday.
Grilled Broccolini
Broccolini is a tasty vegetable that is sweet and flavorful. It’s delicate flavor is gorgeously complemented when roasted on the grill. Grilling the broccolini balances out that sweetness with the charred flavor you get from high temperature grilling. The lemon garlic dressing also adds a tart punch of flavor that is the perfect finishing touch to this vegetable.
If you want some extra smoky flavor in the broccolini (I’m looking at you BBQ fiends!), skip the salt in the dressing and then sprinkle a bit of smoked salt on top of the grilled broccolini right after you pull it off the grill. Salt to taste and add as little or as much as your palate desires.
How to Season Grilled Broccolini
While you can simply season this broccolini with olive oil, salt, and pepper if you desire, drizzling it with my lemon garlic dressing prior to grilling really ups the flavor impact of the final product.
This dressing is simple and easy to make. Here’s what you’ll need to snag from your pantry:
- 2 Tablespoons olive oil (make sure you are using a high-quality extra virgin olive oil to achieve the best flavor)
- 2 cloves minced garlic
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt (I like to use a flake salt in my recipes)
- 1/2 teaspoon fresh cracked black pepper
- zest and juice of 1 lemon
Combine all ingredients in a small bowl, and you’re ready to go! This dressing works well on any grilled vegetables, really.
How to Grill Broccolini
Broccolini pairs beautifully with just about any meat you have on the menu, and you’ll be amazed how quick and easy it is to grill! I’m a big fan of cooking my sides alongside my main course (or sticking them on the grill for a few minutes while my meat is resting). It saves so much time! Also, if you’re cooking during the hot summer months, you can avoid heating up your house by cooking the main course and sides all on your grill outside.
- Preheat your grill. Turn on your gas grill to High heat. Aim for the temperature of your grill to be between 400-450 degrees F. You can also cook this broccolini on a charcoal grill, pellet grill, or even in your oven. Preheat to the same temperature, and cook as specified below.
- Prep the broccolini. Remove leaves from the broccolini, and trim 1/4″ off the bottom of the stems. Aim to make all your broccolini the same size and length so they cook evenly on the grill. Place the broccolini on a metal baking sheet and drizzle with the lemon garlic dressing, ensuring that it is evenly coated. I prefer to use a baking sheet with raised edges to prevent the dressing from running off the side and making a mess on your countertop.
- Grill the broccolini. Once your grill is preheated, place the seasoned broccolini directly on the grill grates. Do not walk away from the grill! Grill the broccolini for 8-10 minutes, turning every 2-3 minutes. Remove promptly when the vegetable begins to char. You’ll know they are done cooking when they have a slight bend to them. I like to keep them a bit crisp, but you can cook them to whatever doneness you prefer.
Tips for Grilling Broccolini
Since broccolini is not likely to grace your table as often as broccoli or other common vegetables, here are some tips to help you cook and enjoy grilled broccolini:
- Keep things even. Buy broccolini with stems that are similar in size. By ensuring that your broccolini are all the same size, it will allow for more even cooking when the vegetable is on the grill.
- Stay close! You don’t want to overcook or burn the broccolini. Remember, it’s a delicate veggie and will cook quickly. You need to be nearby to rotate and remove quickly. Once the broccolini is on the grill, don’t walk away until it is fully cooked.
- Use in leftovers. If you have extra broccolini (or choose to make extra), it tastes wonderful chopped up in salads, omelets, or soup.
More Grilled Vegetable Ideas
While we’re on the topic of “fancy” vegetable ideas, here are a few grilled vegetables that bring a little extra flair to your dinner table.
- Grilled Carrots with a Balsamic Glaze
- Artichokes with Lemon Garlic Aioli
- Grilled Cauliflower Steaks with Burst Tomato Salad
Grilled Broccolini Recipe
This recipe was created for you, backyard griller! Here at Hey Grill Hey, we’re in the business of helping you make better BBQ, feed the people you love, and become a backyard BBQ hero. You can find more of my smoking and grilling recipes here on my website (browse the Homepage for inspiration) on Instagram, YouTube or our Facebook Page.
Grilled Broccolini
Ingredients
- 1 bunch broccolini (approximately 1 pound)
Lemon Garlic Dressing
- 2 Tablespoon olive oil
- 2 cloves minced garlic
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon fresh cracked black pepper
- zest and juice of 1 lemon
Instructions
- Heat the grill. Preheat grill to High heat (400-450 degrees F).
- Make the dressing. Combine all ingredients for the lemon garlic dressing in a small bowl. Set aside.
- Prep the broccolini. Remove excess leaves from the broccolini, and trim the bottom quarter inch of the stems. Lay the broccolini on a baking sheet and drizzle with the lemon garlic dressing.
- Grill. Place the broccolini directly on the grill grates and grill for 8-10 minutes. Turn every 2-3 minutes. The stalks should have a bit of bend to them without being wilty and you should have some nice char on the edges.
- Serve hot. Remove the broccolini from the grill and serve immediately.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
