This Broccoli Caesar Salad is a fun twist on Caesar salad flavors, using roasted broccoli as the base! This addictive side dish is the perfect way to add flavorful veggies to your meal!

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I love roasted broccoli and lately I’ve been on a bit of a Caesar kick, so I decided to combine the two! After falling in love with this vegan Caesar dressing, I’ve been drizzling it on everything from salads to Brussels sprouts. This side dish has all the flavors of a Caesar salad, but I swapped the crunchy romaine for roasted broccoli.

How to Roast Broccoli

roasted broccoli
Oven Method
roasted broccoli
Air Fryer Method

Oven Method

Preheat your oven to 500 degrees with a large baking sheet on the lowest rack. Cut broccoli into small pieces, toss in a bowl with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Take the hot baking sheet out, carefully spread the broccoli on it, and roast in the oven for 9-11 minutes until browned and tender.

Air Fryer Method

Preheat your air fryer to 400 degrees. Cut broccoli into bite-sized pieces and toss in a bowl with oil, salt, and pepper. Place the seasoned broccoli in the air fryer basket, ensuring an even layer. Air fry for 5-6 minutes until the broccoli is crispy and just beginning to brown, shaking the basket halfway through for even cooking.

Health Benefits of Broccoli

Broccoli is quite a “superfood,” offering tons of health benefits. It is packed with vitamins, minerals, and fiber, so it’s a great veggie to add to your plate. This cruciferous vegetable is an excellent source of vitamin C, supporting the immune system, and vitamin K, vital for blood clotting and bone health. It’s also a good source of antioxidants that can help reduce inflammation and offer protection against chronic diseases. Hopefully, I’ve convinced you to stock your fridge (or freezer) with broccoli!

Ingredients & Substitutions

  • Broccoli– I prefer to use fresh broccoli, but you can also make this with frozen broccoli. But keep in mind it might need a little extra time in the oven or air fryer.
  • Olive oil– A little olive oil helps roast the broccoli and toasts the baguette to make croutons. If you want to use less oil, try an olive oil spray to coat the broccoli and baguette lightly.
  • Baguette– I used a sourdough baguette, but any kind of crusty bread works great. You can even use storebought croutons in a pinch, although they won’t have quite the same texture. If you’re looking for a gluten-free option, try my polenta croutons.
  • Parmesan cheese- Bel Gioso makes a Parmesan cheese that does not use animal rennet, if you want a vegetarian-friendly cheese. I used a vegetable peeler to create Parmesan shavings.
  • Caesar dressing– You can use a homemade dressing like my vegan Caesar dressing or store-bought. Keep in mind that most store-bought dressing contains anchovies and is not vegetarian. I do like Brianna’s Asiago Caesar, which is vegetarian-friendly.

How to Make this Salad a Complete Meal

If you want to turn this into a full meal, try adding some protein. I like adding roasted chickpeas for protein and crunch! You can also add cooked chickpea pasta to make a pasta salad type of dish. I love tossing in some Banza noodles to add protein and fiber to this recipe. You may need a little extra dressing. This recipe is also delicious with a little tempeh bacon, which is another easy way to add plant-based protein.

Other Broccoli Recipes

If you’re looking for more ways to enjoy broccoli, try my roasted broccoli salad or make these open-faced broccoli sandwiches! I also love adding broccoli to pizza and it makes an incredible taco filling.

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Broccoli Caesar Salad

Broccoli Caesar Salad

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  • Author: Liz Thomson
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 10 minutes
  • Total Time: 20 minutes
  • Yield: Serves 2
  • Category: Salad
  • Method: Oven or Air Fryer
  • Cuisine: American
  • Diet: Vegetarian
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Description

This Broccoli Caesar Salad is a fun twist on Caesar salad flavors, using roasted broccoli as the base! This addictive side dish is the perfect way to add flavorful veggies to your meal!

Ingredients

Units Scale
  • 4 cups broccoli florettes
  • 2 cups cubed sourdough bread (about 2oz)
  • 3 tablespoons Caesar dressing (I use my vegan Caesar dressing)
  • 1 oz shaved Parmesan cheese
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

Oven Method

  1. Preheat your oven to 500 degrees with a large baking sheet on the lowest rack.
  2. In a large bowl, toss the broccoli and bread pieces with olive oil, salt, and pepper.
  3. Take the hot baking sheet out, carefully spread the broccoli and bread on it, and roast in the oven for 9-11 minutes until browned and tender.
  4. Transfer to a bowl, drizzle with Caesar dressing and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Air Fryer Method

  1. Preheat your air fryer to 400 degrees.
  2. Toss the broccoli and bread with oil, salt, and pepper.
  3. Place the broccoli and bread mixture in the air fryer basket, in a single layer. If your air fryer basket is small, you may need to do this in multiple batches.
  4. Air fry for 5-6 minutes or until the broccoli and croutons are crispy and just beginning to brown, shaking the basket halfway through for even cooking.
  5. Transfer to a bowl, drizzle with Caesar dressing and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Notes

This can be served warm or cold, but I recommend waiting to add the dressing until you’re ready to enjoy it so the croutons don’t get soggy.