Here’s a delicious side-dish recipe for you: Slow-Cooked Broccoli with Garlic and Pancetta
I don’t know about you, but I get tired of making the same side dishes over and over again to go with my main dish meals. When I make broccoli, more often than not I just make steamed broccoli. Nothing fancy. Maybe a little broccoli with cheese sauce now and then. But this slow cooked broccoli recipe is really quite delicious. It isn’t made in a slow cooker. It’s simply slow cooked on the stove with some really flavorful ingredient additions.
Ingredient Notes:
- Fresh broccoli will work best. Don’t use frozen!
- Pancetta can usually be found next to the prosciutto in your market’s deli section. Prosciutto may be used in place of the pancetta, if desired. You can also use bacon!
- It’s okay to leave out the chile flakes, if you don’t care for heat. Though it’s not really spicy!
✏️ How to Make Slow Cooked Broccoli with Garlic and Pancetta:
*The complete, printable recipe is in the recipe card at the end of this post.
- Heat the oil in a 12-inch skillet over medium-heat. Add the pancetta and cook until it’s translucent and just starting to render its fat, about 2 minutes. Add the broccoli, garlic, salt, and chile flakes; stir to combine.
- Reduce the heat to medium low and cook uncovered, stirring every 5 to 10 minutes, until the broccoli is tender and slightly browned, about 45 minutes total. Taste and add more salt, if necessary. Let cool briefly and serve.
➡️ Recipe Tips:
- You’ll need a 12-inch skillet to make this recipe.
- It’s easy to make. Just keep an eye on the skillet and give it a peek once in a while and stir it around while slow cooking on the stove.
- Pancetta is really the most delicious choice for this recipe. Like bacon, it will render a bit of fat (but not near as much as bacon). And you’ll be cooking the broccoli in that small amount of fat. It imparts great flavor into the broccoli!
💡 Things to Note:
- It’s easy to make this recipe gluten-free. Be sure to use a brand of pancetta that is known to be GF. Or use gluten free bacon or prosciutto.
- This recipe can be served warm or at room temperature. It’s delicious either way!
❤️ What I Love About This Recipe:
- It’s easy to make.
- It’s delicious enough to make for company, but it also works to go with a weeknight meal or Sunday supper.
- The crunch of the pancetta is a great pairing with the slow cooked broccoli.
Favorite Recipes Using Pancetta:
- Arugula Salad with Olives, Pancetta and Parmesan
- Pancetta Wrapped Pork Roast
- Creamy Pancetta Gnocchi
- Lemon Brussels Sprouts with Pancetta and Thyme
- Pancetta Crisps with Goat Cheese and Pear
Slow-Cooked Broccoli with Garlic and Pancetta
A surprising broccoli recipe with a savory surprise!
Ingredients
- ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
- 3 ounces pancetta, sliced ¼-inch-thick and cut crosswise into ¼-inch-wide pieces (about ½ cup)
- 1½ pounds (about 1 bunch) broccoli, cut into smaller florets
- 8 medium garlic cloves, thinly sliced
- ¾ teaspoon kosher salt (more to taste)
- ¼ teaspoon dried red chile flakes
Instructions
- Heat the oil in a 12-inch skillet over medium-heat. Add the pancetta and cook until it's translucent and just starting to render its fat, about 2 minutes. Add the broccoli, garlic, salt, and chile flakes; stir to combine.
- Reduce the heat to medium low and cook uncovered, stirring every 5 to 10 minutes, until the broccoli is tender and slightly browned, about 45 minutes total. Taste and add more salt, if necessary. Let cool briefly and serve.
Notes
- If you are preparing this recipe as GLUTEN-FREE, just be sure to use a brand of pancetta that is known to be GF.
- This recipe can be served warm or at room temperature.
Nutrition
Serving: 1serving, Calories: 265kcal, Carbohydrates: 12g, Protein: 7g, Fat: 23g, Saturated Fat: 5g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g, Monounsaturated Fat: 14g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 14mg, Sodium: 627mg, Potassium: 517mg, Fiber: 4g, Sugar: 2g, Vitamin A: 929IU, Vitamin C: 128mg, Calcium: 79mg, Iron: 1mg
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
