Longhorn Steakhouse Broccoli Recipe

When I first tried recreating Longhorn’s broccoli at home, I was surprised by how simple yet delicious it turned out.

The key to getting that restaurant-quality taste is all in the steam – it locks in the vibrant green color and the nutrients.

I always season the broccoli generously while it’s hot, so it absorbs every bit of flavor.

What I love about this recipe is its versatility; it pairs beautifully with a juicy steak or even a light fish dish.

A sprinkle of grated Parmesan cheese right before serving gives it that irresistible cheesy crust that my guests always rave about.

Remember, don’t overcook the broccoli – you want it tender but with a bit of bite to keep things interesting.

How to make Longhorn Broccoli

We often need great sides to accompany our dishes, and there’s a good reason why the Longhorn Steakhouse broccoli is so popular amongst diners.

What makes this broccoli dish recipe so special is the extra garlic, parmesan cheese, and salted butter that add an extra dimension to the flavor.

This really complements any good meats such as steak or ribs.

You can even add it to lighter dishes such as chicken or salmon.

Super easy and simple to make, this longhorn steakhouse copycat recipe is sure to enhance your dish no matter what you decide to pair it with.

Ingredients:

(8 servings)

• 2 heads of broccoli, chopped
• 2 cups of water
• salt
• pepper
• 4 tablespoons of salted butter
• 1 tablespoon of minced garlic
• ⅓ cup of grated, parmesan cheese

Instructions:

Although this is steamed broccoli, you don’t need any fancy equipment such as a steamer to be able to follow this recipe.

You can simply use a skillet with some water in, it works great!

Also, you don’t need to copy exactly what Longhorn Steakhouse does.

There are many variations you can do on this simple dish to introduce a bit of spice and variety to the mix.

Step 1:

Chop the broccoli into smaller pieces, the size can be largely defined by preference, but do try to make sure they are small and uniform enough so that they will steam easily.

If you are using frozen broccoli instead of fresh broccoli, make sure it’s fully defrosted beforehand.

Step 2:

Bring water to a boil and place the chopped broccoli evenly in the skillet.

Step 3:

Add additional seasonings as required, including salt and pepper.

This can be done to taste but our recommendation for this serving amount is about a teaspoon of each.

Step 4:

Once water is boiling, cover it with a lid that allows some of the steam to escape.

Steam everything for 5-7 minutes.

Step 5:

Check if broccoli is cooked adequately: the easiest way to do that is to pierce it through the stem with a fork.

If the fork enters without much resistance you can remove it from the heat immediately.

Step 6:

Drain the excess water and put the broccoli into a separate bowl.

Step 7:

Add the butter to a pot on low heat and let it melt.

Once melted add the broccoli to the butter and toss it to make sure everything is covered.

Step 8:

Coat the broccoli in parmesan and garlic, toss in the pan to ensure everything gets covered equally.

Serve on a plate and enjoy!

Ingredient substitutions

One of the best things about this recipe is almost every ingredient can be substituted for something else, and you can add whatever you wish to create something truly special.

These suggested substitutions can be used in a 1:1 ratio and follow the exact same cooking method for their respective role in the recipe.

1. Cauliflower

Often described as ‘the white broccoli’, although slightly milder in taste, the texture is very close.

It’s also very similar nutritionally speaking, making it the number one choice of replacement for broccoli.

2. Kale

While not having quite the same bulk and texture that you might see in broccoli/cauliflower, kale retains all that thick, dark green, nutritional goodness and steams up great.

Depending on which kind of kale you are cooking you might need to steam for an additional 3 minutes to cook it through adequately.

3. Asparagus

Some people head to Brussel sprouts next.

But in fact, sprouts can often taste a little bit bitter when steamed so we recommend asparagus as the next alternative.

While lacking some of the nutritional goodness that you’ll get from broccoli, it can be used as a replacement almost any time you’d normally reach for broccoli.

The steaming time is comparable to broccoli as well, just be sure to chop them into similar-sized pieces before cooking.

4. Pecorino Romano

This is a very popular cheese substitute for parmesan, primarily because its taste and texture are somewhat similar to parmesan.

The main difference is that it’s made from sheep’s milk instead of cow’s milk.

Which contains more fat, making it slightly richer in flavor. So depending on your preference, you may wish to reduce the amount used.

5. Additional seasonings

There are a plethora of good seasoning substitutions (or additions) you can use with this recipe.

Cayenne pepper, balsamic vinegar, soy sauce, or even sparing use of lemon zest will be excellent!

What to serve with Longhorn Broccoli

By design, Longhorn broccoli is an excellent side that goes with just about anything.

But of course, there are certain dishes that people will prefer to pair it with.

Most of these are meat-based dishes where you are looking for a more refreshing vegetable dish to complement the high fat of the meat.

Grilled Chicken

A popular Longhorn dish, grilled chicken breast is often accompanied by thick sauces and seasonings.

Strong in smokey flavors and rich to the taste.

Longhorn broccoli can provide the perfect side to this dish, with its lighter and more healthy ingredients.

Mashed Potato

Classic mashed potatoes with some chicken and fresh steamed broccoli are the perfect balanced dish when you need something light and nutritious.

Season with butter, garlic powder, pepper, a little lemon and you’ll have a delicious, filling dish low in saturated fat.

Longhorn Ribeye Steak

Going big next with one of Longhorn Steakhouses’ signature and most popular mains, the Ribeye Steak.

This rich and flavorful steak really benefits from the lighter taste of the fresh steamed broccoli.

How to reheat Longhorn Broccoli

You can reheat Longhorn broccoli both from the fridge or freezer, so it can be a good idea to make a big batch to use for the whole week.

Here’s how you can properly reheat Longhorn broccoli.

How to reheat Longhorn Broccoli in a pot

The process is the same whether you are reheating from frozen or from refrigeration.

You just need to adjust the cooking time.

Add all the broccoli into the pot with a little water (enough to steam) and re-steam everything until it has become soft again.

You may also want to add additional seasonings in case any of the flavors were lost during the freezing process.

How to reheat Longhorn Broccoli in a microwave

Simply place all of the frozen broccoli into a microwavable dish or bowl, heat for 2 minutes, then remove.

Toss the bowl to mix the ingredients and ensure they cook evenly.

Then cook for another 2 minutes.

How to reheat Longhorn Broccoli in the oven

Use a baking sheet and place all of the broccoli on top, pre-heat the oven to 375°F, and cook the broccoli for about 5 minutes.

You don’t want to cook this for too long as the edges of the broccoli are prone to drying out and burning.

How to reheat Longhorn Broccoli in an air fryer

Cook it at about 375°F for 5 minutes.

Adding the tiniest bit of water to your air fryer basket will help to re-steam everything and stop it from burning.

Take your air fryer basket out and shake it halfway through cooking to ensure everything reheats evenly.

How to store Longhorn Broccoli

Luckily, all the ingredients we use in the Longhorn broccoli dish keep very well.

Whether you decide to refrigerate it or freeze it, you’ll be able to store the food for a long time.

Store in the fridge

After cooking allow to cool completely, then put the fresh steamed broccoli into an air-tight container and place in the fridge.

Once refrigerated it will keep for 3-5 days without issue.

Store in the freezer

It’s absolutely possible to freeze fresh steamed broccoli.

The only thing to be careful about is that the freezing and reheating process can drain a little bit of the flavor.

You might want to add some extra seasoning such as butter or garlic when reheating to re-introduce a bit of kickback into the flavor.

To freeze Longhorn broccoli simply place in a freezer bag or airtight container and store it in the freezer, once frozen it will keep for 10-12 months.