Most people use their Pit Boss pellet grill to cook burgers, hot dogs, and other delicious meats. But did you know that you can cook broccoli on your pellet grill? It only takes a few minutes and you’ll love how great it tastes, plus broccoli is a great side that goes well with several dishes.
Cooking Broccoli On A Pit Boss
Roasted broccoli on the Pit Boss tastes so much better than cooking it on the stove. It’s absolutely delicious when roasted over indirect heat and wood flavored pellets. Not to mention, you can cook it as large florets directly on the grates or smaller florets in a grilling pan.
This post will walk you through step by step on how to cook this nutritional vegetable for you and your family.
To cook the perfect broccoli on a Pit Boss pellet grill, Traeger, or any other brand, we’ve got you covered. You can adjust any of the settings to work with the type of grill you have.
So, let’s go!
- Pit Boss pellet grill (I use the 820 Pro Series)
- Fresh Broccoli
- The right cooking technique
- Tongs
This may sound confusing, especially, if you’ve never grilled vegetables on the grill. Don’t worry, I’m going to cover each step in complete detail.
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Can You Cook Broccoli On A Pit Boss?
The Pit Boss is a versatile cooker that makes it easy to grill or smoke broccoli, Brussel sprouts, carrots and other tasty vegetables. If it can be cooked on propane, gas, charcoal or your indoor oven, it can be cooked in the Pit Boss.
To roast broccoli on the grill, set the temperature to a high indirect heat, then cook about 5-8 minutes, so it doesn’t become too limp. Remove and enjoy!
Can You Smoke Broccoli On A Pit Boss?
Yes, there are several recipes online that will walk you through smoking broccoli on a pellet grill. To smoke it, close the flame broiler plate and keep the temperature below 350°.
Smoke the florets and stems until it softens up and becomes nice and roasted. How long it takes to smoke will depend on the temperature setting, but the smoke time will vary from 15-30 minutes.
Personally, I prefer grilling it on the Pit Boss. The last time I tried roasting it, the broccoli became too soft and mushy.
How to Prepare Broccoli for Grilling On The Pit Boss Pellet Grill?
The preparation will depend on the type of broccoli you’re cooking. For instance, if you purchased a bulk size package of smaller cut broccoli florets from Costco or Sams, you’ll need a grill basket to cook it on the grill. The pan will prevent the small florets from falling through the grates.
A large broccoli bunch with crisp leaves, needs to be cut into smaller florets and washed before cooking.
After cooking broccoli several times, we prefer cooking the larger florets without using a grilling pan. There’s less clean up, without the pan. If you don’t want to put the broccoli on the dirty grates, then invest in these Mein Produkttitel” /], that we use for everything.
Can I Use Frozen Broccoli?
While it is possible, I’ve never done it. If using frozen broccoli, take it out of the freezer and allow it to thaw first before grilling. The texture of frozen broccoli will be softer in texture, which won’t be the same as using fresh broccoli.
I haven’t grilled frozen broccoli, and not sure how it would come out. I recommend using fresh broccoli, especially, if you want the kids to eat it.
How to Cook Broccoli On The Pit Boss
Preheat the Pit Boss
While prepping the broccoli, preheat the Pit Boss to 400 – 500° Fahrenheit. Wait till the grill reaches the set temperature before putting the broccoli on the grill. Close the sear plate, as you’ll cook the vegetable over indirect heat.
If you want to smoke the broccoli, set the Pit Boss to the smoke setting, which is 180°F. Smoke for about 20-30 minutes or until the stems are tender and smoky, with a crispy floret.
Don’t worry, even if you don’t smoke the broccoli, it will still have a hint of smokey flavor from grilling it in the pellet grill. You can even open the sear plate and sear
What P-Setting to Use?
Leave the P-Setting the on the default P-4. Unless you’re cooking in the cold winter months, the P-4 setting is the recommended default setting for all cooks.
Place The Broccoli on the Grill
Once the grill is preheated, place the broccoli directly on the grill or in a grill pan. When using a pan, leave the pan in the grill while it is preheating. This allows the to be hot when you’re ready to grill the broccoli.
Flipping the Broccoli
While not necessary, we flip our broccoli. This allows the broccoli to roast and char both sides of the floret and stem. Use tongs to flip the broccoli half way through the cook.
When using a pan, use grilling gloves and shake the pan to move the florets around.
Monitor The Broccoli
It doesn’t take long to cook the broccoli, so don’t leave it on the grill too long. Unlike cooking meats, you don’t need a thermometer. Instead, use a fork to know when it’s ready to eat. I’ll discuss this more in detail below on how to tell when it’s fully cooked.
Remove the Broccoli
Once cooked, remove the broccoli and eat serve immediately. As with meats, you don’t have to let the broccoli rest after grilling. Instead, you want to time the cook to make sure the broccoli doesn’t sit too long before eating.
I’ve found that cooking the meats first, then the broccoli ensures the vegetable isn’t resting too long before we’re ready to eat.
How Long Does It Take to Cook Broccoli On A Pit Boss?
Everyone loves their vegetables cooked differently, which is why some people prefer sautéing, roasting, steaming, and blanching their broccoli. That said, grilling broccoli on the grill takes about 8-15 minutes, depending on the size of the florets, cooking and ambient temperature.
How Do You Know When The Broccoli Is Cooked?
You’re not cooking the broccoli, there is no minimum internal temperature to reach. Broccoli is safe to eat raw, you’re just grilling until charred and fork tender. Meaning you can pierce it with a fork easily.
Best Pellets to Use For Grilling Broccoli On The Pit Boss?
Whenever cooking any type of vegetables on the Pit Boss, use mild flavored pellets such as apple, cherry, or the Pit Boss competition blend. The right flavored pellets comes down to personal choice.
The broccoli won’t be on the grill long enough for the pellets to affect the taste. That said, you will still get a small hint of smoke flavor, but the flavored pellets won’t matter that much.
You can even burn whatever you have in your hopper when you’re ready to grill broccoli.
What Sides to Serve With Broccoli?
Broccoli pairs with with pork, poultry, lamb, and beef. It makes the perfect side dish for any meal. The different ways to serve broccoli is only limited by the imagination and creativity.
Can I Cook Broccoli At The Same Time With Meat?
While it is possible, it’s not recommended. Broccoli doesn’t take as long as cooking meat, so it’s best to throw it on the grill while the meat is resting.
What to Do With Leftovers?
Don’t throw it away, instead store it in a shallow, air tight container, plastic wrap or foil and put it in the refrigerator. It will last for up to 3-5 days, just don’t expect it to taste the same.
Tips and Tricks for Grilling Broccoli on the Pit Boss
- Cook Time: I want to stress the importance of cook time. Monitor the broccoli closely so it doesn’t overcook. Overcooked broccoli is still edible, but it will be mushy. Cook it until it has a little bit of charred and caramelized look to it, and then it’s ready.
- Fresh Broccoli: Use fresh broccoli that isn’t limp. Look for a broccoli head that is bright green in color, without discoloration, dry spots, discoloration, or soft spots on the head.
- Seasoning: We keep it simple and use olive oil, kosher salt, and black pepper. But feel free to follow any recipe online and try out different ways to season the veggie.
- Toppings: Sprinkle the grilled broccoli with mozzarella, Parmesan or any of your favorite cheese. It’s an easy way to give it more flavor.
Final Word
The Pit Boss makes it easy to cook broccoli or any of your other favorite vegetables. Grilling it over indirect heat, at a medium to high temperature for 5-10 minutes will produce roasted, crispy florets with a hint of smokiness you just can’t get from cooking it any other way.
Next time you’re at the supermarket or farmers market, pick up a fresh broccoli bunch and cook it up on the pellet grill. Your family will love the taste, even the kids.
You can even get more creative and season it with chili powder, garlic or any of your other favorite seasonings.
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