Green Giant Seasoned Steamers Review

Looking for a quick, easy way to break free from the boring dinner blahs? Want to prepare delicious, healthy vegetables vegetables after a long day, but you’re tired of mushy, frozen side dishes?  What if I told you you could pair a few, easy dinner elements four different ways with the same product for four different, super-simple suppers?

I was so pleasantly surprised when we tried Green Giant’s Seasoned Steamers Tuscan Seasoned Broccoli that I put it to the test with meatballs three ways. Could vegetables really pep up a dish so saucy and fun, I don’t even pair it with any other starch?

The answer: Yes.

The rich, aromatic flavors of fresh, steamed crisp broccoli with onion, garlic, Parmesan and buttermilk lends itself well to various tastes, but without being bogged down.

Consider these four, simple ways to pair this delightful side with a dish as simple as meatballs in 20 minutes or less.

1. Meatballs and Marinara + Tuscan Seasoned Broccoli. Pre-prepare meatballs (recipe below) ahead of time and freeze them for quick and easy meals. Thaw. Simmer in your favorite no-sugar added pizza sauce.  Cook Green Giant’s Seasoned Steamers Tuscan Seasoned Broccoli and serve with a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese.

2. Meatballs and Sweet and Sour Sauce + Tuscan Seasoned Broccoli. Pair pre-cooked meatballs (recipe below) with the sweet and sour recipe (below) and Seasoned Steamers Tuscan Seasoned Broccoli. Toss together, and you’re ready for a quick and festive feast. Option: Add riced cauliflower (recipe here) for the perfect low-starch Asian meal.

3. Meatballs and Tomato Alfredo + Tuscan Seasoned Broccoli. Meatballs (recipe below) with a decadent Sun-Dried Tomato Alfredo (recipe here) warms tummies on the coldest days with some amazing color and texture and deep, complex flavors. The creamy decadence of Alfredo paired with the pungently aromatic Tuscan Seasoned Broccoli is sure to be an instant favorite.

4. Meatballs and Beef Gravy + Tuscan Seasoned Broccoli. Looking for a more “meat and potatoes” (so to speak) down home dish? Simply pair meatballs (recipe below) with this easy beef broth gravy (recipe here) and Tuscan Seasoned Broccoli for a hearty, homey meal that will appeal to people who like their food a little less fussy.

Easy Peasy Meatballs

1 pound lean ground beef
1 extra large egg
1/4 cup flax seed meal
1/4 cup aged, grated Parmesan cheese
1 tsp Italian seasoning

Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Mix all ingredients together thoroughly. Roll into balls and place on a jelly roll pan (or any pan with edges) to prevent meatballs from rolling off of the pan. Bake for 20 minutes.

Bag and freeze for later use, or serve, simmered, in desired sauce or gravy for 10-20 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Simple Sweet and Sour Sauce

1/4 cup white vinegar
1/4 cup brown sugar substitute (or more to taste)
1 tablespoon sugar-free ketchup
2 teaspoons soy sauce

Combine all ingredients in a small sauce pan over medium heat, stirring occasionally, for 10 minutes. Add meatballs, cooking for 10-15 minutes more, stirring occasionally to coat meatballs.

All in all, I am really happy with the pairing of Parmesan cheese, buttermilk, bell peppers, parsley and turmeric contained in the Green Giant Seasoned Steamers for a product that marries a ton of flavor into 4 net carbohydrates per 1/2 cup prepared side.

Minimal in terms of blood sugar impact (plain broccoli contains roughly the same number of carbohydrates per serving), there’s not much–if any–variation in terms of nutritional information to standard, cooked, plain broccoli, even though the seemingly complex ingredients help bring about delicious, complex flavors in the side.

The flavor and ease of this product lends itself to numerous, easy dishes, and with five other Green Giant flavors to choose from, I have no doubt there’s a Seasoned Steamer out there ready to play a fierce side to anything you can pair with it.

Want to know more? Follow Green Giant on Facebook, Twitter, or on their Website and keep up-to-date ion their latest offerings.
Green Giant Seasoned Steamers
Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥
Price: $3.50 for 12 ounce bag (roughly 3 servings)
Usefulness: Quick sides and healthy meals
Found: Store Locator
Website: Green Giant Steamers

Seasoned Steamers™, a new line of Green Giant® vegetables, gives you unexpectedly delicious taste in every vegetable bite. These chef-inspired, seasoned vegetables come in six new varieties ranging from smoky roasted cues to ethnic inspired flavors. By roasting, seasoning and freezing individual pieces, our vegetables lock in flavor so delicious, your family will ask for more. In less than 8 minutes, your family can enjoy new Seasoned to Delicious™ Seasoned Steamers™.

Disclosure: Compensation was provided by General Mills via Glam Media.  The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of General Mills.