5-Ingredient Loaded Smashed Broccoli You’ll Crave Every Time
These smashed broccoli florets turn irresistibly crisp with a lemon-pepper panko crust, then get layered with smoky bacon and gooey Swiss for a salty, tangy finish. 5-Ingredient Loaded Smashed Broccoli is perfect as a game-day snack or a weeknight side when you want big flavor with minimal fuss. Expect crunchy edges, melty cheese, and bites of savory bacon in every forkful.
- Prep15 mins
- Cook15 mins
- Serves6
- DifficultyEasy
easyChef Pro health score
Calculated from USDA-referenced nutrient data for the ingredients in 5-Ingredient Loaded Smashed Broccoli You’ll Crave Every Time, not estimated by an AI model. The same recipe returns the same score every time.
- Glycemic ImpactFair
- 58 / 100
- Carb quality, not quantity. Higher is better.
- Nutritional DensityPoor
- 18 / 100
- Nutrients per calorie. Higher is better.
- Energy DensityGood
- 93 / 100
- Calories by weight. Higher means more food for fewer calories.
- NOVA Processed Culinary Ingredients
- 2 / 4
- Processing level, 1 (whole) to 4 (ultra-processed). Lower is better.
How it scores for each health goal
The same recipe scores differently against different goals, because the goal changes the calculation rather than filtering a list. Set your goal in easyChef Pro and every recipe is scored against it.
- 42
- Heart Health
- 83
- Metabolic
- 41
- Digestive
- 25
- Inflammatory
- 55
- Performance
- 53
- General Wellness
- 1
Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Add the broccoli florets and cook until they are fork-tender but not soft, 3 to 4 minutes. Drain thoroughly and pat completely dry.
- 2
Place the broccoli on a parchment-lined tray or plate. If any florets are too large, cut them in half. Gently smash each floret with the bottom of a glass or measuring cup. Lightly mist with olive oil and season with lemon pepper and panko. Lightly press the panko evenly onto the smashed surfaces to help it stick. Mist lightly with oil again and sprinkle with a small portion of the bacon crumbles.
- 3
Preheat an air fryer to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Arrange the broccoli in a single layer and cook until the edges are browned and the panko is golden and crisp, 9 to 11 minutes.
- 4
During the last 2 minutes, add the Swiss cheese and remaining bacon crumbles. Air fry until the cheese is melted, 1 to 2 minutes more. Serve immediately.
- Calories 190.01 kcal Moderate 10%
- Protein 12.92 g Good Source 26%
- Carbohydrate 19.13 g 7%
- Total Fat 8.14 g Moderate 10%
- Saturated Fat 4.97 g High 25%
- Trans Fat 0.0 g Low Source 0%
- Cholesterol 22.65 mg Moderate 8%
- Sodium 308.93 mg Moderate 13%
- Dietary Fiber 5.51 g Moderate 20%
- Total Sugars 3.73 g --
- Added Sugars 0.0 g Low Source 0%
- Calcium 231.95 mg Moderate 18%
- Iron 1.56 mg Low Source 9%
- Potassium 641.19 mg Moderate 14%
- Vitamin A 117.48 mcg Moderate 13%
- Vitamin C 181.49 mg Good Source 202%
- Vitamin D 0.02 mcg Low Source 0%
Values are per serving. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000-calorie diet.
- Milk 🥛
- Wheat 🌾
- Gluten
About This Recipe
5 Ingredient Loaded Smashed Broccoli You'll Crave Every Time is made with 6 ingredients and serves 6. It takes about 30 mins and is rated easy. Key ingredients include Bacon Bits, Broccoli, Lemon Pepper, and Olive Oil Cooking Spray. Each serving provides about 190.01 kcal, and is a good source of protein.
Recipe Questions
- What is 5-Ingredient Loaded Smashed Broccoli You’ll Crave Every Time made of?
- The main ingredients are Bacon Bits, Broccoli, Lemon Pepper, Olive Oil Cooking Spray, Panko. The full list of 6 is above.
- How long does it take to make 5-Ingredient Loaded Smashed Broccoli You’ll Crave Every Time?
- About 30 mins in total: 15 mins to prepare and 15 mins to cook.
- How many calories are in one serving?
- One serving provides about 190.01 kcal. The full nutrition breakdown is above.
- Is 5-Ingredient Loaded Smashed Broccoli You’ll Crave Every Time easy to make?
- This recipe is rated easy, with 6 ingredients and 4 steps.
- Is 5-Ingredient Loaded Smashed Broccoli You’ll Crave Every Time healthy?
- 5-Ingredient Loaded Smashed Broccoli You’ll Crave Every Time has an easyChef Pro health score of 52/100. Per serving, it provides 190.01 calories and 12.92 g of protein, or 26% of the Daily Value. It is a good source of vitamin C. Worth noting per serving: sodium at 308.93 mg (13% of the Daily Value) and saturated fat at 4.97 g (25% of the Daily Value). It contains Milk, Wheat and Gluten, so it may not be suitable for people with those allergies or dietary restrictions. Whether it fits your goals depends on your complete meal plan and nutritional needs. Remix it in easyChef Pro to adjust the ingredients and generate fresh nutrition and scores.
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