Air Fryer Broccoli
Air Fryer Broccoli is tender on the inside, crispy on the outside, and made with fresh broccoli and savory spices with olive oil in only 10 minutes!
I love making broccoli in the air fryer because the flavor and texture are absolutely perfect! This also pairs really well with Air Fryer French Fries, Crispy Air Fryer Tofu, or Crispy Air Fryer Salmon!
This is the perfect healthy side dish for a busy weeknight because it’s really quick to make and requires minimal simple ingredients! It’s also the perfect way to keep the oven free if you’re using it for other things. I think this method even beats out my other broccoli recipes, Garlic Parmesan Roasted Broccoli, and Instant Pot Steamed Broccoli!
This recipe will also work for other air fryer vegetables like green beans or Brussels sprouts, but the sprouts may need a few extra minutes to cook.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Fresh Broccoli. I usually buy the pre-cut fresh bag of broccoli florets from the produce section. You want to get the freshest broccoli you can find.
You can also buy a whole head of broccoli and cut the broccoli into florets, but pre-cut is great for days when you want something fast.
Extra Virgin Olive Oil. I keep a bottle of olive oil by my stove, so we drizzle olive oil on the broccoli and toss to coat. You can also use olive oil spray. Alternative oils that would work are vegetable oil and avocado oil.
Spices. I use a combination of onion and garlic powder, paprika, salt, and black pepper. You can use your favorite spice combination here if you want to try something different.
Try ranch seasoning, curry powder, or Italian seasoning. The cooking method itself gives the broccoli an amazing flavor, and whatever additional flavors or seasoning you use will just add to that.
How to Make Air Fryer Broccoli
- Wash and dry the broccoli completely before air fryer. Add broccoli to a medium bowl. In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil and spices. Drizzle over broccoli and toss to evenly coat.
- Place broccoli with seasoning in the air fryer basket. Turn the air fryer on at 375°F.
- After 5 minutes, take the basket out and shake the broccoli mixture, then place back in to finish cooking (9-10 minutes total). You can add an additional 5 minutes of cooking time for crispy broccoli, shaking the basket every 5 minutes.
Frequently Asked Questions
It tastes a lot like roasted broccoli, but I find that it is more tender on the inside and has more crispy edges on the outside than traditional roasting.
I don’t recommend using no oil in the air fryer, because the broccoli will turn out very dry. With the air fryer you’re using a lot less oil than the traditional deep fryer, but you should still use a small amount. I try to stick with heart-healthy oils, like olive oil or avocado oil.
Broccoli may burn if the temperature is too high, or the cook time is too long. Watch your broccoli closely, and be careful not to cook it for too long.
Storage
Refrigerate in an airtight container for 2-3 days.
Freeze in an airtight container for 2-3 months. Reheat in the air fryer.
More Veggie Recipes
- Crispy Garlic Parmesan Roasted Potatoes
- Instant Pot Cabbage
- Cauliflower Au Gratin
- Broccoli Cauliflower Casserole
Recipe Variations
- Add 1/4 cup fresh parmesan cheese and 2-3 cloves of minced garlic for garlic parmesan broccoli.
- Add fresh minced garlic, a tablespoon lemon juice, and fresh lemon zest for a garlic lemon version. Serve with an additional slice of lemon.
- Add a handful of sliced almonds just before serving for additional crispy texture.
Cooking Tips
- Mixing the spices together with the olive oil helps give a more even spice distribution.
- How much you can make at a time depends on the basket size for your air fryer. I made 1 pound of broccoli comfortably in a smaller sized air fryer.
- Cook for an additional time of 5 minutes for a crispy broccoli. Take out the air fryer basket and toss the broccoli every 5 minutes to help it get crispy.
- Make this spicy with 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes.
- I don’t recommend making this recipe with frozen broccoli, because it will turn out very soft. If you do want to try it, make sure the defrost and drain the broccoli thoroughly before using.
- You can make this ahead of time, but I find that it has the best crisp-tender texture right out of the air fryer.
- Try to keep all of the broccoli pieces roughly the same size, so they cook at the same time.
- You can use this recipe in the regular oven instead by spreading the broccoli out on a sheet pan and baking it at 375°F for 20-25 minutes.
- Add salt and pepper as needed to the broccoli after air frying.
If you loved this recipe, be sure to leave a 5 Star review below, and tag me with a photo of your finished recipe on Instagram @Jacqui_DishingDelish!
Air Fryer Broccoli
Ingredients
- 1 pound broccoli florets, washed
- 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, or to taste
Equipment
- 1 Air Fryer (with basket)
Instructions
- Add broccoli to a medium bowl. In a separate small bowl, whisk together olive oil and spices. Drizzle over broccoli and toss to evenly coat.
- Place broccoli mixture in the air fryer basket. Turn the air fryer on at 375°F and cook. After 5 minutes, take the basket out and shake the broccoli, then place back in to finish cooking (9-10 minutes).
- You can add an additional 5 minutes of cooking time for crispy broccoli, shaking the basket every 5 minutes.
Notes
- How much you can make at a time depends on the basket size for your air fryer. I made 1 pound of broccoli comfortably in a smaller sized air fryer.
- You can make this ahead of time, but I find that it has the best crisp-tender texture right out of the air fryer.
- Try to keep all of the broccoli pieces roughly the same size, so they cook at the same time.
Nutrition
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