Description
These baked crispy broccoli chips with Parmesan offer a crunchy, healthy snack alternative to potato chips. Blanching, smashing, and roasting broccoli florets with Parmesan creates an addictive veggie snack ready in 30 minutes.
Ingredients
- 3 large broccoli crowns, cut into large florets
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 1½ cups shredded Parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 425°F and line two large rimmed baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and blanch the broccoli florets for 2-3 minutes until just tender but not mushy.
- Drain the broccoli thoroughly and transfer to the prepared baking sheets, then gently pat completely dry with paper towels or a clean kitchen towel.
- Drizzle olive oil over the broccoli florets, then sprinkle with garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper, tossing to coat evenly.
- Space the florets apart on the baking sheets and use the bottom of a drinking glass to firmly smash each piece until it’s about ½ inch thick.
- Sprinkle the shredded Parmesan cheese evenly over and around each smashed floret, creating a thin cheese layer on the pan.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes, rotating the pans halfway through, until the cheese turns golden brown and the broccoli edges are crispy.
- Allow the chips to cool for 5 minutes on the baking sheet before breaking apart and serving.
Notes
- Pat the blanched broccoli completely dry before smashing to ensure maximum crispiness.
- Do not skip the blanching step; it tenderizes the broccoli while keeping florets intact for smashing.
- Smaller florets work best and get crispier than large pieces.
- Watch carefully during the last 5 minutes of baking, as the cheese can go from golden to burned quickly.
- Serve immediately while warm for the best crispy texture.
- Store cooled chips in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Reheat in a 400°F oven for 5-7 minutes to restore crunch.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Snack
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American