Creamy Garlic Parmesan Broccoli with Bacon
A creamy, savory dish featuring tender broccoli and crispy bacon, perfect for any meal.
Equipment
- Oven-safe skillet Use for cooking and baking.
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 5 oz 150g beef bacon, cut into strips
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 pounds 1kg broccoli florets
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- Fresh cracked pepper to taste
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 5 cloves garlic minced
- 3/4 cup 180ml heavy whipping cream
- 2 tablespoons cream cheese
- 1/4 cup 60ml chicken or vegetable stock
- 1/2 cup fresh grated parmesan cheese
- 1/2 cup grated mozzarella cheese
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
- In a large oven-safe skillet, cook the beef bacon over medium heat until crispy. Use a slotted spoon to transfer the bacon to a paper towel-lined plate to drain excess fat.
- Drain most of the bacon fat from the skillet, leaving about 1 tablespoon. Melt the butter in the same skillet, then add the broccoli florets. Season with salt and pepper. Scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan and cook, stirring occasionally, for about 6 minutes. Tip: Make sure to stir gently to avoid breaking the broccoli florets.
- Add the minced garlic to the broccoli and stir for about 1 minute, until fragrant. Then, add the heavy cream, softened cream cheese, chicken stock, half of the grated cheeses, and paprika. Reduce the heat to low and let it simmer for about 3-4 minutes, stirring until smooth and the broccoli is tender.
- Stir the crispy bacon back into the mixture, ensuring everything is well combined. Top with the remaining grated parmesan and mozzarella cheeses.
- Bake in the preheated oven for about 15 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbly and the broccoli is cooked to your liking. For an extra crispy top, you can broil for the last 2 minutes.
- Remove from the oven, season with additional pepper if desired, and sprinkle with fresh chopped parsley. Enjoy your delicious dish!
Notes
For a lighter version, you can use low-fat cream cheese and reduce the amount of cheese. Feel free to add other vegetables like cauliflower or spinach for added nutrition.