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Air Fryer Broccoli is an easy side dish that perfectly cooks the broccoli – it’s like roasted broccoli but easier without turning on the oven! Seasoned with pantry spices, it has the best crisp-tender texture after it’s cooked. Your family will LOVE this!
We make broccoli at least once a week – I absolutely love it. In the past, roasting it in the oven has been a favorite way to make it, but now I use my air fryer! Cooking broccoli in your air fryer takes away all the guesswork so you get perfectly cooked broccoli florets every time. I love roasted vegetables, but sometimes I don’t want to turn on the oven, or I’m using the oven for something else – so, hello, air fryer!
I think air fryer broccoli tastes even better than oven-roasted broccoli. You can use a lot less oil and the broccoli cooks evenly and it’s done in a fraction of the time of roasting: less than 15 minutes!
Ingredients for Flavorful Broccoli
- Broccoli: Use fresh heads of broccoli or buy florets. You can also use frozen broccoli.
- Vegetable Oil or Olive Oil: You only need ½ teaspoon!
- Spices: Garlic powder, Black pepper, Onion powder, and Salt\
- Garlic: If you want to use fresh minced garlic instead of garlic powder, wait to add it to the air fryer until the last three minutes of cooking time.
- Spices: Mix it up by using your favorites. I also sometimes add some red pepper flakes, or sometimes smoked paprika.
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Dorothy’s Expert Tips
- You can also skip using oil and just spray the raw broccoli with nonstick cooking spray.
- To keep broccoli from burning in the air-fryer, add a tablespoon of water to the bottom of the air fryer to help the broccoli cook through before it’s burned or over done.
- Cut fresh broccoli florets into equal-sized pieces, so they cook evenly.
- Top cooked broccoli with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice or a sprinkle of parmesan cheese.
Air Fryer Broccoli Recipe
Video
Ingredients
- 2 cups broccoli florets, (fresh or still frozen)
- ½ teaspoon vegetable oil
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt, (plus more to taste)
- 1 tablespoon water
Instructions
- Wash and trim broccoli.
- Toss with oil, then toss with garlic powder, pepper, onion powder, and salt.
- Spray air fryer basket with nonstick cooking spray. Add a tablespoon of water to the bottom and place broccoli into the air fryer.
- Cook at 400°F for 6 minutes. Shake the container after 3 minutes to make sure it’s cooking evenly. All machines cook differently so yours may cook faster.
- Remove from the air fryer. Toss and serve, adding additional salt and pepper to taste.
Notes
- Optional: when the broccoli is done, sprinkle with freshly grated parmesan or drizzle with lemon juice.
- Trim broccoli to equal sizes to have them cook evenly.
- Broccoli tastes great when it is cooked until bright green or even a little browned
on the edges. - Use an oil that can be cooked at high heat.
- The water helps the broccoli cook without smoking or overheating.
- Use your favorite seasonings. Try chili powder, cumin, curry powder, parsley or anything you like. If you use fresh garlic, don’t add it until the last 2-3 minutes of cooking.
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Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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How to Air Fry Broccoli
- Place the florets in a bowl and toss them with the oil and seasonings.
- Put the seasoned florets in the air fryer basket.
- Cook them at 400 degrees F for three minutes. Shake the basket and then cook for another 3-4 minutes or until the broccoli is tender and crisp around the edges.
FAQs
While you can skip preheating, it is highly recommended for the best texture. Preheating for 2-3 minutes allows the broccoli to start roasting the second it hits the basket, which helps create those crispy, charred edges while keeping the stalks tender. If you don’t preheat, you may need to add 1-2 minutes to the total cook time.
You can use perforated parchment paper liners designed for air fryers to make cleanup easier. However, be sure not to block too many of the air holes, as the circulating hot air is what makes the broccoli crispy. Never place a liner in the air fryer while preheating without food on top, as it can blow into the heating element and catch fire.
Smoking usually happens if the air fryer is too hot or if there is leftover grease in the bottom of the machine. To prevent this, ensure your air fryer is clean before use and follow the tip of adding a tablespoon of water to the bottom of the drawer. The water creates a small amount of steam that prevents the oil or small broccoli bits from burning and smoking.
Sogginess is typically caused by two things: moisture and overcrowding. Make sure to pat your broccoli completely dry after washing it, as excess water will steam the vegetable rather than roast it. Additionally, keep the florets in a single layer with space between them. If the basket is too full, the air cannot circulate, resulting in soft, mushy broccoli.
