How To Cook Broccoli In Air Fryer

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Air fryer broccoli is a quick and healthy air fryer recipe. A great option if you are looking for a quick side dish with all the flavor of roasted broccoli without turning your oven on.

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Air fried broccoli in a grey bowl. — Air fryer broccoli.

How to Roast Broccoli in an Air Fryer

Roasted broccoli is so delicious, and healthy too, and air frying is a great way to cook it as it gets it so beautifully crispy.

I love roasting in my air fryer. It is quick and relatively mess free, but also there is no need to wait for the oven to heat up, and having your entire kitchen heat up with it!

Scroll down for the printable recipe card for this air fried broccoli recipe, or read on for all the details .

Ingredients

Broccoli

I normally use a whole head of regular fresh broccoli (Calabrese broccoli), cut into florets for this recipe.

You can also cook Romanesco broccoli or broccolini in an air fryer, however the cook times are shorted due to the different size and shape of this variety. Check out this recipe for all the details: air fryer broccolini.

Seasoning

The seasoning in the recipe below uses onion powder, kosher salt and black pepper. However many different types of seasoning can be used when roasting broccoli. Here are some others to try:

Switch the onion powder for garlic powder, or use minced garlic
Add ½ teaspoon of red pepper flakes for a spicy kick
Lemon pepper broccoli – add 1 teaspoon of lemon juice or lemon zest to the seasoning

To make a healthier version of this roasted broccoli, you can use olive oil spray (note: you need the type that spritzes rather than an aerosol, and avoid generic 'cooking sprays' as both can damage your air fryer basket).

Step-by step instructions

Step 1: Rinse the broccoli, and pat dry thoroughly on paper towels. Cut into florets.
Step 2: Mix the seasoning and oil in a large bowl then add the broccoli florets. Toss broccoli to coat.
Step 3: Place florets in the air fryer basket and cook for 8-12 minutes. If you have used a lot of broccoli then shake the basket half way through the cooking time to redistribute the florets.

The broccoli is cooked when it is crispy at the edges, and tender.

Exactly how long it will take to get perfectly crispy broccoli for depends on how much you are cooking, as well as how powerful and efficient your particular air fryer is.

If it is the first time you have tried cooking broccoli in your air fryer I would recommend recommend checking on the broccoli after 6 or 7 minutes cooking time, and then cooking in 2 minute additional bursts until it is cooked to your liking.

Tip: Print the recipe card below and make a note of how long was just right for your air fryer.

How to Serve Roasted Broccoli

This air fried broccoli makes a great side dish to any meal just on its own, but you can really elevate it to something special by trying one of these serving options:

Drizzle with pesto and sprinkle with flaked almonds
Sprinkle ½ tablespoon grated Parmesan cheese over the cooked broccoli
Top with cheese sauce
Sprinkle with lemon juice or serve with lemon wedges
Make an Asian-inspired sauce from Sesame seeds, red pepper flakes, soy sauce and sesame oil
Sprinkle 1/2 tablespoon of nutritional yeast over the cooked broccoli (a delicious vegan alternative to Parmesan cheese)

How to store air fried broccoli

In the unlikely event that you have any leftover roasted broccoli, you can store it in an an air tight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.

When you are ready to eat it, it is as simple as popping it back in the air fryer to cook for around 3 minutes to reheat (and crisp up again).

FAQ & Tips

How to reheat roasted broccoli

Forget the microwave, the best way to reheat roasted broccoli is in your air fryer. Toss it back in the basket and air fry for around 3 minutes until heated through. This also helps to re-crisp it after it has been stored in the fridge.

Can you cook broccoli and cauliflower together in an air fryer?

Yes you can. However cauliflower takes slightly longer to air fry than broccoli, so start the cauliflower cooking first, then add the broccoli after 5 minutes.

Can you cook frozen broccoli in an air fryer?

Yes you can. Cook times should be similar to the times in this recipe for fresh broccoli, but you wont get quite such crispy broccoli due to the extra water on frozen broccoli.

Air Fryer Broccoli Recipe Card

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 8 minutes

Total Time: 13 minutes

How to cook broccoli in an air fryer.

Ingredients

1 head broccoli
2 tablespoons olive oil
½ teaspoon onion powder
½ teaspoon kosher salt
½ teaspoon black pepper

Instructions

Preheat air fryer to 360°F / 180°C.
Rinse broccoli then pat dry and cut into florets (approx. 2 inch sized pieces).
Mix olive oil, onion powder, salt and pepper into a large bowl, then add the broccoli florets and toss to coat.
Place broccoli in air fryer basket, and set to cook for 8-12 minutes until tender, and crispy at the edges.

Notes

If using broccolini reduce cook times by half.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 94 Total Fat: 7g Saturated Fat: 1g Trans Fat: 0g Unsaturated Fat: 6g Cholesterol: 0mg Sodium: 303mg Carbohydrates: 7g Fiber: 3g Sugar: 1g Protein: 2g

Nutrition information is an estimate and provided for informational purposes only.

You may also like:

Air fryer cauliflower
Air fryer carrots
Air fryer roasted vegetables
Air fryer broccoli bites (frozen)
Air fryer vegetable recipes
Microwave steamed broccoli
Air fryer recipes

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