Let’s talk about how to roast frozen vegetables!
I am about to blow your mind because did you guys know that you can roast vegetables directly from frozen? Like, without defrosting them first?
I know, awesome right?!
I love having frozen veggies on hand to add nutrients and substance to a meal, especially if we don’t have anything fresh around. But until recently I always just assumed that frozen veggies had to be boiled or steamed.
Good news: no one ever needs to suffer through a meal of bland, mushy boiled veggies again, I promise. (See also: How to Love Veggies.)
Okay, let’s get right to the details, shall we?
Can you roast frozen vegetables?
The answer: YES! You can totally roast frozen vegetables. They don’t require much prep time, either! Plus, they taste so much better than microwaved or steamed frozen veggies.
Here are the main steps (this works for most types of vegetables – more specifics below):
- Pull veggies from the freezer (do not defrost!)
- Toss with oil + seasoning
- Roast them in the oven until slightly crispy
For seasonings: I mostly use just salt, pepper, and granulated garlic for a basic roasted veggie seasoning. For cauliflower, I usually add a pinch of red pepper flakes and dried thyme to the mix. With asparagus, I like to add red pepper flakes and fresh lemon zest.
Seasoning salt, Italian seasoning, and really just about any other spice would work well here too!
As for roasting, each type of vegetable has a specific roasting time, of course. I’ll break that down shortly, and you can see the end of this post for the official recipe/instructions for how to roast frozen vegetables!
The Best Frozen Vegetables to Roast
There are certain vegetables that turn out better than others from frozen. For example, cauliflower, broccoli, brussels sprouts, and asparagus are all great options.
(Frozen root veggies, like butternut squash or carrots, could also work well with this method. But I’d stay away from roasting frozen green beans or peas, which could get really mushy before they’d get crispy!)
Cauliflower
Here are specific instructions for roasting frozen cauliflower.
Roasted cauliflower goes well with almost anything! Try it as a side dish with my Orange Ginger Salmon or in one of my Mix & Match Pasta dishes.
Broccoli
Here are specific instructions for roasting frozen broccoli.
Roasted broccoli is a staple in our household. Throw some broccoli in with Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese or as a side with salmon or chicken. (Here’s one of my favorite chicken recipes: Instant Pot Maple Mustard Chicken.)
Asparagus
Here are specific instructions for roasting asparagus from frozen.
I love roasted asparagus as a side with my Lemon Baked Salmon, or in a Crustless Quiche with Goat Cheese.
Brussels Sprouts
Here are instructions for roasting frozen brussels sprouts.
I used to think I didn’t like brussels sprouts, but it turns out I just hadn’t had them roasted, because roasted brussels sprouts are awesome. I love how crispy they get when roasted! They go great alongside my Gluten Free Chicken Fingers or Vegan Stuffed Sweet Potatoes.
Check out my honey miso roasted brussels sprouts recipe for a yummy glaze to add to your roasted brussels sprouts!
I hope you found this post helpful and that now you’ll be a frozen veggie roasting machine! (Here’s some more veggie dish inspiration: Herb & Garlic Roasted Vegetables and Maple Cinnamon Roasted Veggies).
What are your favorite veggies to roast? Have you ever roasted a veggie directly from frozen before?
Let me know in the comments, and be sure to tag me @fANNEtasticfood on social media if you try this method!
