Name: Popcorn Broccoli
Cuisine: Plant-based
Ingredients: 1½ lbs broccoli florets - from about 7-9 small heads of broccoli; 1 tablespoon nutritional yeast; 1 teaspoon garlic powder; 1 teaspoon onion powder (optional); ½ teaspoon dried thyme (optional); ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika (optional); pinch of red pepper flakes (optional); sea salt; freshly ground black pepper; 2-3 tablespoons avocado oil or olive oil

Popcorn Broccoli

Recipe by

Masha

Plant-Based Recipe Developers 📅 Published March 8, 2020 🔄 Updated August 19, 2025

Masha and Anya are the plant-based cooking duo behind Golubka Kitchen. They believe that the most nourishing meals come from fresh, whole ingredients prepared with love and intention.

Instructions

Preheat oven to 400° F (200° C). Prepare a lined baking sheet. Put the broccoli florets on the sheet. Done

In a small bowl, combine the nutritional yeast, garlic powder, onion powder, thyme, smoked paprika, and pepper flakes, if using. Add salt and pepper to taste. Whisk in the olive oil until smooth. Pour the spice and oil mixture over the broccoli and massage it in with your hands, making sure to coat the florets well. Alternatively, you can sprinkle all the spices right on the broccoli and drizzle the oil over top, then massage everything in. Done

Roast the broccoli for 25-30 minutes, stirring halfway, until the florets are cooked through and charred in parts. This popcorn broccoli is best enjoyed right away. Done

Maybe I’m crazy, but I think that anyone would love broccoli if they tried it this way. Plain roasted broccoli has always kind of tasted like popcorn to me, and then I started adding nutritional yeast and spices to amp up the popcorn effect. I can easily eat a whole bowl of this stuff in one sitting and often make it as a snack. This broccoli also works well as a side to pretty much any meal – we love having it with rice and baked tofu or tempeh.
Wondering what to do with all the leftover broccoli stems? I recently made a creamy broccoli stem soup and it turned out delicious – you can watch me make it step by step on our IG here. Also, try this broccoli stem tartare and these latkes. Happy Women’s Day and wishing you a great rest of the weekend :)

Popcorn Broccoli

Serves: 4 as a side

Ingredients

1½ lbs broccoli florets - from about 7-9 small heads of broccoli
1 tablespoon nutritional yeast
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder (optional)
½ teaspoon dried thyme (optional)
¼ teaspoon smoked paprika (optional)
pinch of red pepper flakes (optional)
sea salt
freshly ground black pepper
2-3 tablespoons avocado oil or olive oil

Instructions

Preheat oven to 400° F (200° C). Prepare a lined baking sheet. Put the broccoli florets on the sheet.
In a small bowl, combine the nutritional yeast, garlic powder, onion powder, thyme, smoked paprika, and pepper flakes, if using. Add salt and pepper to taste. Whisk in the olive oil until smooth. Pour the spice and oil mixture over the broccoli and massage it in with your hands, making sure to coat the florets well. Alternatively, you can sprinkle all the spices right on the broccoli and drizzle the oil over top, then massage everything in.
Roast the broccoli for 25-30 minutes, stirring halfway, until the florets are cooked through and charred in parts. This popcorn broccoli is best enjoyed right away.

Notes

If your broccoli has leaves, roast them as well, they will crisp up like kale chips.

3.5.3226

About Golubka Kitchen

Welcome to Golubka Kitchen, where plant-based cooking meets seasonal inspiration. We're Masha and Anya, and we believe that the most nourishing meals come from fresh, whole ingredients prepared with love and intention.

Our journey began with a shared passion for cooking that celebrates the natural flavors of fruits, vegetables, grains, and legumes. What started as casual conversations about seasonal ingredients has grown into a platform where we share recipes that honor both tradition and innovation in plant-based cuisine.

Learn More About Our Story