Air Fryer Broccoli (Fresh and Frozen)

Air fryer broccoli is the easiest way to get mouthwatering crispy, juicy, and flavorful broccoli in a fraction of the time as traditional oven roasting. Made with fresh or frozen broccoli and simple seasoning, you’ll have a quick and easy side dish or snack alongside your kids’ favorite dip, ready in just 10 minutes!

Air fryer broccoli is an easy way (some may call it a life hack!) to get that tender-crisp texture we all love from traditional oven-roasted veggies. That beautiful char comes loaded with added flavor that takes average broccoli up a notch. Roasting veggies always helps to bring out the natural flavors and the air fryer is no different. It’s for this reason that the florets don’t need a lot of seasoning. A simple blend of pantry staples such as salt, pepper, and garlic powder is enough to complement that crispy, juicy bite of broccoli.

Serve air fryer roasted broccoli as is, or alongside a little miso butter so your kids can dip away! They’re the perfect size for little hands and if there’s a no-fuss way to get my kids eating more vegetables, you bet I’m going to use it!

WHY SHOULD I USED THE AIR FRYER TO ROAST BROCCOLI?

Roasting broccoli in the air fryer is basically a healthy, hands-off way of cooking veggies using far less oil than other methods. It’s also great to be able to focus on the rest of dinner so you can have a meal on the table in no time. It’s a budget-friendly way to add flavor, texture, and loads of nutrients to your meals, and best yet, it’s so good even your kids will be asking for seconds. This super simple side dish gives you much the same delicious results oven roasting does but in a fraction of the time, which as a busy mom, is always appreciated!

WHY THIS RECIPE WORKS

• Air fryer broccoli is fast, easy, and tasty. If you love oven-roasted veggies you’re going to love air fryer veggies. The end results are the same, but the air fryer makes them in just 10 minutes!
• It’s cheap! Save your money and make a cost-effective side dish that rivals any restaurant’s version.
• It’s healthy. A naturally low-carb, gluten-free, dairy-free, and sugar-free side dish that fits in well with most diets.
• No heating up the oven in the summertime. The air fryer uses much less energy than the oven does. Therefore, it produces less heat throughout your home.
• Kids will love it, and if there’s a way to get your kids to eat more vegetables, that’s always a game-changer!
• A versatile side that pairs well with any main, from beef to chicken to fish. It’s also a great addition to meatless meals and just as delicious as leftovers the next day.

CAN I USE FROZEN BROCCOLI?

Yes! This recipe works with both fresh or frozen, which adds even more convenience because frozen broccoli is already cut up into florets. The “ice” from the frozen broccoli will help to create steam, which actually helps cook the broccoli. What you’ll want to do is air fry it first without seasoning at 375 degrees for 4-5 minutes. This will defrost the broccoli. Then, drain out the liquid. Toss with the oil and seasoning and continue frying for another 5-8 minutes.

Note: Before broccoli is frozen, it is blanched (cooked in boiling water and then placed in an ice bath to stop the cooking process). Cooking time will vary slightly depending on which frozen broccoli brand you use.

IS AIR FRYER BROCCOLI HEALTHY?

Broccoli itself is healthy as it’s loaded with the good stuff. Fibre, iron, vitamins, folic acid, calcium, antioxidants, all the things! Using the air fryer doesn’t strip away any more of those nutrients than any other cooking method. In fact, it is known to lose fewer. It’s also a great way to avoid using so much oil as with oven roasting and even frying (although, a good tempura vegetable is never a bad idea!).

In a nutshell, it’s definitely healthy, so dig in!

INGREDIENTS NEEDED

This recipe uses just 5 ingredients, all of which are probably already in your kitchen.

• Broccoli – Fresh or frozen, cut into florets.
• High-heat oil – Sunflower, canola, vegetable, or olive oil will all work as they have a high smoke point.
• Salt, pepper, garlic powder – For flavor
• Water (only for fresh broccoli)- To create steam and to cook the broccoli. Without this, the broccoli will burn on the outside and still be hard on the inside.

Please scroll ⬇️ to the recipe card to see the full ingredient amounts and instructions.

HOW TO MAKE AIR FRYER BROCCOLI

(more detailed instructions in the recipe card)

WHAT TO SERVE IT WITH?

Broccoli is ridiculously versatile. I mean, what doesn’t it go with?! Below are just a few ideas of easy ways to complete your meal any night of the week.

• Instant Pot Mac and Cheese
• Air Fryer Hamburgers
• Instant Pot Mississippi Pot Roast
• Instant Pot Lemon Garlic Chicken

WHAT CAN I DO WITH THE LEFTOVERS?

Believe it or not, leftovers may just be even better! Once it’s been in the fridge and had a chance to sit in its seasoning for longer, it gets even tastier! You can of course heat it up and use it as a side dish again, but you can also enjoy it as a salad topping, use it for broccoli cheddar soup for a bit of a roasted kick, or add it to a quick stir fry.

SEASONING VARIATIONS

If you’re going to have an easy side dish on full rotation, here is some inspiration on different flavor variations. It’ll feel like a different dish every time!

• If you and your kids like a little heat, toss in some red pepper flakes for a little spice.
• Sprinkle with a bit of lemon juice or parmesan cheese before serving. Or both!
• Add some onion powder to the mix along with the garlic powder for another level of flavor.
• Keep it simple with salt and pepper, and omit the garlic powder if that’s not your thing.

TIPS FOR MAKING CRISPY AIR FRYER BROCCOLI

• If you’re using fresh broccoli, don’t forget to wash it and dry it before air frying. If you add them while still wet, it will create steam and won’t have a crispy finish. In this case, you would need to treat it the same way you would frozen broccoli and drain out the extra liquid.
• Cutting your florets into even pieces will allow for even cooking. It’s also a more pleasing bite when they’re all uniform in size, especially for little mouths.
• I opted for powdered garlic for this recipe because minced or finely chopped fresh garlic has a tendency to burn a little too easily using this method. However, it’s totally doable, so go ahead and use fresh if you’d prefer.
• Don’t skip adding the water to the air fryer when using fresh broccoli. It keeps the broccoli tender but also helps to avoid anything burning.
• Make sure to coat all the florets with oil and seasoning so each one gets the full flavor explosion happening.

STORAGE SUGGESTIONS

Once completely cooled, store in an airtight container for up to 4 days. It makes great leftovers if you’re lucky enough to have any. They will lose their crispiness overnight, so you’ll want to pop them back into the air fryer for a few minutes to heat through. You could also use the toaster oven, or the actual oven if you’ve got it on for something else already. For quick heat without the need for a crispy exterior, you can use the microwave.

RECIPE