Air fryer broccoli is a healthy side dish you can whip up in a fraction of the time! That’s right! In just 10 minutes this broccoli turns ultra-crispy,
Air fryer broccoli is a surefire way to ensure you get vegetables on the table, no matter how strapped you are for time. In just 10, short minutes, this broccoli comes out as juicy and crispy as it would have if you roasted it in the oven.
What’s better? There’s no need to use a ton of oil in the air fryer. Just a couple of tablespoons of olive oil will do the trick. Now that’s healthy eating…
Whether you’re looking for a quick side dish or planning to add crispy broccoli to your favorite pasta dish, this recipe will soon become your go-to. Grab a head of broccoli and let’s get started!
How to Make Air Fryer Broccoli
Air fryer broccoli takes only 5 ingredients and three easy steps to make. Below, find a quick rundown of the recipe.
- Season the Broccoli: Grab a large bowl and pop broccoli florets inside. Toss the broccoli with seasoning and oil, evenly coating each floret.
- Place Broccoli in Air Fryer Tray: Place broccoli in the air fryer basket in a single layer.
- Air Fry and Serve: Air fry for 8-10 minutes at 370°F, flipping halfway through. Enjoy!
Hot Tip: Uplevel the broccoli by adding freshly grated parmesan cheese in the last 4 minutes of air frying. Hello, cheesy crust!
Looking for an air fryer? Right now, I’m obsessed with my COSORI Air Fryer Max XL. It has 13 different presets and a tray big enough to feed 3-5 people. It’s perfect for a meal prep pro or a family of four.
Tips for the Best Air Fryer Broccoli
Below, find a couple of tips to help you make the best air fryer broccoli.
- Slice your florets into equal-sized pieces. To promote even cooking, slice your florets into as equal-sized pieces as possible. If you want to cut a corner, you can find pre-cut florets in the refrigerated aisle of the produce section.
- Switch up the seasoning. Branch out from garlic powder, salt, and pepper and add any dry seasoning you like. Cumin, red chili flakes, and Italian seasoning are all great options. You could even squeeze lemon juice on top of your florets for a pop of citrusy flavor.
- Use a bowl to season broccoli. Instead of seasoning broccoli directly on the air fryer tray, season it in a bowl first. This allows you to toss the broccoli in the oil and seasonings and distribute it more evenly, coating all the nooks and crannies of each floret.
- Serve broccoli fresh. Air-fried broccoli is best served fresh. If you let it sit too long, it will lose its crispiness and turn a bit soggy.
- Add a tablespoon of water for more tender broccoli. If you like broccoli to be a bit more on the tender side, add a tablespoon of water to the air fryer to help it steam.
Fresh Broccoli vs. Frozen Broccoli: It’s best to use fresh broccoli in the air fryer. While you can air fry frozen broccoli, it won’t get as crispy due to its higher moisture content.
Serving Air Fryer Broccoli
Serve air fryer broccoli anywhere you would serve oven roasted broccoli. Add it to a heaping bowl of shrimp fettuccine alfredo or pair it with a leg of lamb for a healthy dinner. You could even use cold leftover air fryer broccoli as a substitute to raw in our broccoli cauliflower salad – it will add such a nice touch!
Storing Air Fryer Broccoli
- Refrigerating: Store air fryer broccoli in an airtight container in the fridge. It will keep fresh for up to a week when stored properly.
- Freezing: Freezing your air fryer broccoli is not a good idea. It doesn’t tend to reheat well and turns out mushy.
Reheating Tip: Pop the broccoli back in the air fryer for a couple of minutes to make it crispy again. You could also reheat it in the microwave.
FAQ
Is broccoli good in the air fryer?
Broccoli is wonderful in the air fryer. It gets super crispy super fast.
Do you steam broccoli before air frying?
There’s no need to steam your broccoli before air frying it. If you like broccoli a little more on the tender side, add a tablespoon of water to the bottom of the fryer to create a steaming effect.
Can you air fry frozen broccoli?
You can air fryer frozen broccoli, but it won’t turn out as crispy. Use fresh broccoli whenever you can.
Can you put aluminum foil in the air fryer?
You can, but it’s not necessary. Aluminum foil can actually prevent the hot air from circulating, causing uneven cooking.
More Air Fryer Recipes
- Air Fryer Chicken Wings – Crispy, no-guilt wings
- Air Fryer Salmon – Flakey, moist salmon
- Air Fryer Baked Potatoes – Crispy and moist
- Air Fryer Shrimp – Plump, juicy shrimp
Recipe
Ingredients
- 12 oz broccoli florets
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp ground black pepper
Instructions
- In a large bowl, toss broccoli florets with salt, garlic powder, pepper, and olive oil. Use a spoon to distribute oil and seasoning evenly.
- Place broccoli in the air fryer tray in a single layer. Air fry at 370°F for 8-10 minutes. Toss halfway through to promote even cooking.
- Serve hot as a side dish to your favorite entrees.
Perfect and Delicious!
Hi Karol, Thank you! Enjoy! 🙂
delicious! I airfried from frozen, 400 deg for 10 minutes Thank you!
Hi SS, I'm happy to hear it was a success! 🙂
People in your comments are WILD! This is a simple, yet really great recipe!!! Thank you!!!
Hi Meranda, Thank you for your supportive feedback. I really appreciate it! 🙂
Delicious and really easy. Love how it's crispy on the outside (especially the florets) but tender inside. Reduced heat to around 350 degrees after cooking for around 6 minutes since they started to get pretty dark brown, but didn't burn and it was the perfect side dish. Thank you for sharing!
Hey AK, Thanks for sharing your experience! Glad you had the perfect side dish to enjoy!
Disappointed it didn't say anything about adding water in the Recipe I am also new to cooking so my broccoli came out very dry and very burnt maybe I was supposed to wash it immediately prior I don't know To add moisture I did add a teaspoonful of water to the bottom of my container To make it softer it was unbelievably hard to eat Texture And burnt
There was another couple reviews complaining that the water wasn't in the ingredient list
Hi Jim, I would highly recommend watching it as it cooks. It shouldn't come out burned. Not all air fryers run the same way, I have never air fried broccoli with water. Let me know if you do test it, I would love to hear feedback.
why haven't you tested Each recipe yourself before sending it out and letting all us inexperienced or inexperienced cooks figure it out for you ??
Amazed that you get commission for recipes that aren't finished or tested by you
Don’t blame her for your user error. Watch your food every fryer is not the same
wow, she can't test every air fryer out there, they all cook differently . You need to check often to see how Your fryer is doing, maybe lower the temp if its cooking too hot & fast. Be nice, you are getting free recipes!
Jim, We have tested the recipe with the recommended air fryer in this post. It would be impossible for us to test it in every air fryer. Also, all of our recipes are free to public, unless you decide to get one of our ebooks. I am sorry you weren't satisfied with the outcome.
The air fryer broccoli was delicious. It did cook quickly but I think it depends on the size of the broccoli used. I also will use less salt next time. I made shrimp broccoli Alfredo and my husband loved it.
Denise, thank you for sharing this. Yes, the size does play a huge role and sometimes air fryers run at different temperature. Alfredo sounds incredible.
it burned before 5 min turn
Hi Laura, I am so sorry to hear that. All air fryers are different. I am not sure why it would burn so quickly.
Your instructions are too long.. l give up reading the recipe after while. They are great recipes but get to it faster..too long.
Hi there Serpouhy, I am sorry you feel that way. I try very hard to be thorough in my recipes that way there is no confusion about the process. Thank you for understanding why it's important for me to list every step in detail. I hope you give our recipes a try, the end result is well worth the read. I appreciate your feedback, have a great day!
Click the jump to recipe link!!
To the commenter: just hit the "Jump to Recipe" button if you don't want to read the blog. Pretty simple.
My favorite way to make broccoli now! My whole family loved it.
I like cooking Broccoli with the airfryer, it's a lot quicker. My fresh Broccoli was crushy cooking for 10min at 370 temp. I will have to add water to the bottom of the airfryer as instructed to create steam. To make the Broccoli more tender.
I didn't know or even think that you could put water in a air fryer and is it going to steam or fry the broccoli?
Hi Denise- thank you for the feedback! Yes, adding the water will help tenderize it more. Enjoy!
So glad to hear that, thank you for taking the time to comment!
Oh, this is so good! The air fryer really does a fantastic job in bringing out some extra good flavor in the already flavorfuol broccoli! Perfect side dish.
I am so glad you enjoyed the broccoli, thank you for your feedback!
We loved this recipe to go with our dinner tonight! Such an easy and very flavorful recipe. We love that it's quick and simple. Thanks!
We do too! Quick and easy recipes are the best!