Perfect Air Fryer Broccoli Recipe
- By Amy Dong
- Updated Jun. 18, 2024
I started making this Air Fryer Broccoli on the regular, once I discovered my kids and teens devoured broccoli this way. It cooks in just 6 minutes. I have a method to achieving tender and roasted edges similar to oven-roasted broccoli. Start making broccoli the entire family actually loves.
In This Article
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Video: Watch Me Make Air Fryer Broccoli
Amy’s Notes
Sure, when the kids were tiny, they would eat pretty much anything I put on their plates. When they got a bit older, broccoli wasn’t as tempting. This air fryer broccoli, though was a vegetable game changer in our house, and it’s been a favorite for years.
- Really Easy: With simple ingredients you likely already have, this is an easy side dish for any busy weeknight.
- Really Fast: With your air fryer set at 400F, it takes just 6 minutes of cook time.
- Tastes Oven-Roasted: Air fryer broccoli tastes like oven-roasted broccoli, but in a fraction of the time.
- Kids Will Eat it: With its lightly crisp edges and delicious flavor, the whole family will actually eat their broccoli.
Like Oven-Roasted, But Faster
If you love roasted vegetables, this recipe was destined to meet you. It tastes just like your classic roasted broccoli but with much less elbow grease.
We’ve been making Sheet Pan Roasted Vegetables for years, and its savory flavors never disappoint. While the oven is unparalleled for a large batch diversity of vegetables, the air fryer works wonders for super quick broccoli florets that taste like they’ve been oven roasted. Serve it up with all your favorite dishes such as this easy salmon recipe.
Key Recipe Ingredients
- Fresh Broccoli Florets: Use fresh and not frozen broccoli florets. Be sure to cut/tear them into very small even pieces. This is key to having all the broccoli cook up evenly in 6 minutes.
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil: Use 2 TB oil or enough to lightly coat the broccoli.
- Seasonings: We use garlic powder and onion powder in place of minced garlic and chopped onion, as the powder seasonings won’t burn in the air fryer. Minced fresh garlic tends to burn easier.
- Garnishes: Feel free to serve with fresh lemon slices or a sprinkling of freshly grated parmesan cheese.
Super Easy Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in a bowl; toss well to fully incorporate seasonings into the broccoli florets.
- Pour a tablespoon of water into the bottom of air fryer pan – this small but important step prevents burning and smoking.
- Add broccoli mixture evenly into the air fryer basket. Be sure not to overcrowd – ensure broccoli is arranged in a single layer. Set to 400F for 6 minutes. Immediately remove basket when done.
- Serve with a sprinkle of fresh lemon juice or freshly grated parmesan cheese.
prep Ahead
- Tear fresh broccoli into mini-florets up to 3 days ahead of time and store in an airtight container in fridge until ready to use.
- Buy freshly packaged, pre-torn broccoli florets without stems, and cut/tear them into mini-florets.
Pro Tips For Success
Here are a few tips to ensure that the best air fryer broccoli emerges from your air fryer in just 6 short minutes:
- Use broccoli florets that are cut/torn into roughly even-sized, very small pieces. Think mini-florets. Very small even pieces of broccoli will ensure even cooking and nicely roasted edges.
- Toss the broccoli florets together with seasonings (olive oil, garlic and onion powders, kosher salt, and black pepper) in a bowl prior to transferring to air fryer basket. This allows all the nooks and crannies of the air fryer broccoli will be packed with flavor.
- We use powdered garlic and onion in lieu of freshly chopped, as the powdered seasonings are much less likely to burn. Powdered seasonings also get into the nooks and crannies of the roasted broccoli florets perfectly.
- Always cook broccoli in a single, even layer inside the air fryer basket; cook in batches, if needed. If broccoli is over-crowded, it won’t roast evenly.
- Add just a bit (one tablespoon) of water to the bottom of the air fryer; this helps keep air fryer broccoli tender and prevents burning.
- Use at least a 6-quart air fryer or larger, for feeding a family.
What to Serve With Air Fryer Broccoli
This dish is typically served as a side dish recipe that is gloriously easy to pair. Here are some ways we love serving broccoli:
- Grains: We suggest serving air fryer broccoli with whole grains such as Instant Pot Brown Rice or a quinoa recipe.
- Risotto or Pasta: This healthy broccoli dish pairs beautifully with Risotto in the Instant Pot or your favorite pasta dish.
- Proteins: This dish is delicious when served alonside grilled chicken, sauté shrimp, or Teriyaki beef.
- Potatoes: We love a side of Garlic Herb Roasted Potatoes or roasted sweet potatoes. Also try Crispy Baked Sweet Potato Fries.
Did you make this?
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Air Fryer Broccoli
Ingredients
- 12 oz broccoli, fresh florets, cut into even, very-small pieces
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder
- ⅛ teaspoon kosher salt
- ⅛ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- Optional garnishes: fresh lemon slices, freshly grated parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Combine broccoli, olive oil, garlic powder, onion powder, kosher salt, and black pepper in a bowl; toss well to fully incorporate seasonings into the broccoli florets.
- Pour 1 TB water into the bottom of air fryer pan (this helps prevent contents from smoking.)
- Add broccoli mixture evenly into the air fryer basket. Set to 400F for 6 minutes. Once timer goes off, immediately remove basket and serve.
- Optional: sprinkle with a dash of fresh lemon juice or freshly grated parmesan cheese.
Equipment
Notes
- Try these air fryer french fries for a crispy, healthier french fries on the side.
- Air fryer chicken wings are amazingly crisp, and takes less time than the oven.
- Use broccoli florets that are cut/torn into roughly even-sized, very small pieces. Think mini-florets. The tiny, even pieces will result in quick cooking and even browning.
- We use garlic powder and onion powder in lieu of freshly chopped, as the freshly minced garlic can burn easily.
- Toss the broccoli florets together with seasonings in a bowl prior to transferring to air fryer basket. This allows all the nooks and crannies of the air fryer broccoli will be packed with flavor.
- Garnish with freshly grated parmesan cheese or a sprinkle of lemon juice, or even some lemon zest for bright flavors.
- This recipe is part of our Air Fryer Recipes Collection.
Nutrition (per serving)
Frequently Asked Questions
A tablespoon of water helps prevent burning of the broccoli and prevents unwanted smoking of air fryer.
Yes, this recipe can be made a couple of hours in advance, though it tastes best when served right away.
If it takes broccoli longer than 6 minutes to cook, it could be due to overcrowding of the pan or the size of the broccoli florets. Be sure to cut/tear the florets into very small pieces so they’ll cook faster.
This recipe is best adapted for broccoli florets, but you can replace half of it with small pieces of cauliflower if you’d like.
We recommend using only fresh broccoli florets with this recipe, as frozen broccoli contains too much excess water content.
Broccoli takes only 6 minutes in the air fryer, as long as you cut the florets into tiny, even sized pieces. The extra-small florets will cook quickly and brown evenly.
More to Cook and Eat
- Air Fryer French Fries, Extra Crispy – you can enjoy crispy, delicious french fries that you feel great about.
- Air Fryer Chicken Wings – Extra Crispy – the family and all the friends love these crispy air fryer chicken wings! They’re so good, you can eat them with or without the sauce.
- Cinnamon Roasted Butternut Squash – always one of our reader favorites, for good reason. Butternut squash has never tasted so incredible.
- Garlic Herb Roasted Baby Potatoes – these potatoes are lightly crisp on the outside and tender on the inside, and totally packed with flavor.
- 5-Minute Garlic Rosemary Roasted Cashews – these are an amazing healthy snack; we have them on hand for parties and pantry alike.