Grilled Broccoli and Bacon Skewers

Grilled Broccoli and Bacon Skewers are a fresh and flavorful side dish featuring tender-crisp broccoli and smoky bacon.

One of the perks of living in Florida is year-round grilling.  The winters never produce snowfall and, often, a light jacket and a pair of jeans will suffice even on the coldest days of the year.  I swear, some of our best grilling days have been dead smack in the middle of winter.

What that means for me is that I am often thinking about ways to cook everything on the grill.  Meats, veggies, bread, dessert...grill it all!  You see, the more we cook on the grill, the more nights that clean up is easy, the more we save on electricity, and the more I get to enjoy smokey grilled goodness, which I love.

I had a head of broccoli in the fridge from when I bought two heads on sale.  It was time to use it or lose it, if you know what I mean.  I hate throwing away food, so I was definitely going to use it.  I also had an open package of bacon, so naturally I paired the two.

Bacon is my go-to pairing item.  Bacon goes with everything, you know.  Trust me on this one, it does.

So the broccoli and the bacon made their way to my grill.  These  tasty skewers would be the perfect accompaniment to just about anything!  Burgers, chicken, steaks, or even fish!

My favorite part about these skewers is all of the crisp little bits on the broccoli.  And I love that the bacon is a little crisp in spots and a little soft in spots.  It's just right!

Grilled Broccoli and Bacon Skewers

   

Ingredients

• 1 bunch of broccoli, cut into florets (around 4 cups)
• 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 tablespoon soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon mustard
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 6 strips of bacon

Instructions

1. Place the broccoli into a large bowl.  Whisk together the vinegar, olive oil, soy sauce, mustard, and pepper.  Pour over the broccoli and toss to coat.
2. Prepare your grill for medium-high heat.  Thread the broccoli onto the skewers, threading the bacon between each piece.
3. Grill the skewers, turning frequently, for around 15 minutes, or until the bacon is crisped up to your liking.

Notes

• It's easier to thread the broccoli closer to the floret instead of through the center of the stems.  
• To ensure the bacon cooks fairly evenly, don't press the broccoli pieces too closely together on the skewers.
• Source: Me.