How to Roast Frozen Vegetables Straight From the Freezer—No Thawing Required (2024)

Frozen vegetables are just as healthy as their freshly picked counterparts—and sometimes healthier. While we try to reach for fresh fruits and veggies whenever possible, there's no denying the value, convenience, and affordability of freezer aisle offerings.

Plus, you can save time by roasting frozen vegetables in the oven without thawing. Read on to learn how to roast frozen vegetables without compromising crispness or flavor. We also share a few recipe ideas for using your roasted frozen veggies.

How to Roast Frozen Vegetables Without Thawing

You don't need to thaw frozen vegetables before roasting. Here's how to prepare them so they don't get soggy.

Step 1: Dial Up the Heat

Crank your oven up to 450 degrees when preheating. Roasting frozen vegetables in a super hot oven will help them get deliciously caramelized. As with any frozen food, veggies are prone to releasing condensation as they thaw. Baking them in a sizzling oven helps evaporate any remaining water rapidly so the veggies won't start to steam from the moisture (resulting in a mushy disaster).

Step 2: Preheat the Baking Sheet With Oil

Preheating your baking sheet or pan is a genius hack for saving time when roasting. But did you know it's also a great way to boost browning and tenderize your frozen vegetables? Before transferring the ingredients to the baking sheet, add a drizzle of olive oil to the bottom and place it in the oven as it preheats.

By the time the oven is up to temp, you'll have a hot pan ready for roasting. This way, the second your frozen broccoli or beans hit the metal surface, they'll defrost rapidly and avoid the soggy texture frozen vegetables acquire if they start to steam.

Step 3: Pair Similar Vegetables Together

Rather than adding frozen sweet potatoes, spinach, and string beans all to the sheet tray at once, roast veggies that are similar in size and texture together (like broccoli and cauliflower florets). This way, everything will cook at the same rate, and you won't be left struggling to get the near-burnt spinach off the pan before the potatoes have even started to soften.

Step 4: Coat Vegetables With Oil

When prepping frozen veggies, make sure to fully cover each piece in a thin layer of oil, like extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) or coconut oil. The fat will help your cauliflower or corn crisp up evenly on the outside while keeping its interior tender. Simply hand-toss them in a bowl with oil to evenly coat them.

Step 5: Add Flavor

While salt and pepper are essential when seasoning your frozen vegetables, feel free to add other dried or fresh herbs and spices to your medley. Rosemary, cumin, paprika, parsley, and garlic are all fair game. Season veggies after coating with oil so the flavors stick to the pieces.

Step 6: Cook Until Brown

When transferring your frozen vegetables to the baking sheet, don't overcrowd them and spread them in an even layer to help with browning.

Cooking time will depend on the type of vegetable. In general, roast frozen vegetables for 12 to 30 minutes—it's best to look for browned edges. When you see that the veggies' edges are starting to brown and the texture is to your liking, you can call them done.

Frozen Vegetable Recipe Ideas

Once your frozen vegetables are roasted to perfection, serve them alongside salmon, chicken, pork chops, or a deliciously seared steak. You can also meal prep to use with lunches and dinners for the rest of the week. Try one of these recipes to upgrade your roasted frozen veggies or incorporate them into a dish.

Roasted Vegetable Pasta

After roasting frozen vegetables (take your pick), toss them with your preferred pasta. This makes a quick weeknight dinner and can be served warm or cold.

Roasted Root Veggie Quinoa Bowls

Combine roasted vegetables with your favorite grain: quinoa, brown rice, or barley. Not only is this a nutritious meal full of fiber, but it's also easy to put together—in under 30 minutes.

Roasted Asparagus With Flax Seed-Walnut Crumble

Complementing many entrees, roasted asparagus is a go-to vegetable for many families. This recipe adds a nutty crumble for extra flavor and texture.

Mustardy Kale Salad With Roasted Sweet Potato and Apple

Take roasted sweet potatoes, toss with kale, and top with crunchy apples and almonds for a wholesome plant-based meal. You'll get plenty of fiber and antioxidants with this filling salad.

Rigatoni With Roasted Sausage and Broccoli

After roasting your frozen broccoli and sausage, add them to cooked pasta for a hearty and delicious meal. We used rigatoni in this recipe, but you could also use penne, ziti, or your favorite shape.

Roasted Broccoli Pesto Pasta

Roasted broccoli comes through again for a nutrient-filled pasta dish. This time, garlic-flavored broccoli gets tossed with homemade pesto and whole-grain pasta.