Have you ever had perfect roasted broccoli? I’ll be honest, I thought I had until I tried making broccoli in the air fryer. 😉 This recipe is about as simple as it gets with broccoli, a little bit of oil, parmesan, and a couple of seasonings but the result is deliciously flavorful and perfectly tender yet crispy broccoli. I don’t think I will ever cook broccoli any other way again! We love serving this broccoli with a big plate of Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo or Air Fryer Steak and a crispy Baked Potato! You could even just serve it with a bowl of Homemade Cheese Sauce and call it dinner 😉 Looking for more ways to use your air fryer? Check out these Air Fryer Green Beans, 15 Air Fryer Recipes for Beginners or 50 Best Air Fryer Recipes!
Air Fryer Broccoli Ingredients:
This Air Fryer Broccoli is made up of super simple ingredients. My guess is you’ve got most of these already in your kitchen!
Broccoli Florets: be sure to chop the broccoli evenly in size — if you have smaller pieces they may burn, and larger pieces may not be tender. Oil: I use canola oil since it has a very neutral flavor but other types of oil will work as well. Parmesan Cheese: use freshly grated parmesan for the best texture. You can omit the cheese to make this recipe dairy free. Seasonings: I use a simple blend of garlic powder, salt, and pepper. This adds great flavor but keeps this side dish versatile — it goes with anything! Water: you’ll add a splash of water to the inside of the air fryer to prevent burning. You can omit the water for crispier broccoli, but you may find they take longer to cook and the edges burn.
How to Make Broccoli in the Air Fryer
This simple yet delicious side dish takes a total of just 12 minutes to throw together.
How Long Should I Put Broccoli in the Air Fryer?
This depends on how well-done you like your broccoli. I air fry the broccoli for an initial 4-5 minutes, flip it, then air fry for another 2-3 minutes and it comes out perfectly crisp-tender. If you like the broccoli with more crunch, cook for less time. If you like it extra crispy, add an extra minute or two.
Tips and tricks
Preheat the air fryer. If the air fryer is preheating while the broccoli is inside, the outsides will likely burn before the inside is cooked through. Cut evenly. I recommend cutting the florets about 1″ in size and similar in size so they cook fully and evenly. Add water. Adding a splash of water to the bottom of the air fryer helps create a little bit of steam to prevent burning. Spread in a single layer. If the broccoli florets are layered on top of one another, they won’t cook all the way around. I recommend cooking in a single layer and air frying in batches if need be. Play with seasonings. You can totally customize this air fryer broccoli depending on how you want to serve it. Toss with taco seasoning and serve with tacos, toss with teriyaki, sesame oil, or soy sauce and serve with your favorite Asian dishes, brighten it up with a squeeze of lemon juice, spice it up with Sriracha, chili powder, red pepper flakes, or cayenne. The seasoning possibilities are endless!
Serving Suggestions
This Air Fryer Broccoli is perfect with so many different entrees. Serve it next to your favorite pasta, soup, or an air fried protein! Try air fryer chicken breast, air fryer pork chops, air fryer salmon, or air fryer steak. You can also use it to top an Air Fryer Baked Potato with some cheddar cheese and sour cream.
More Air Fryer Side Dishes
Air Fryer Potato Wedges
Air Fryer Potatoes
Air Fryer Bacon
Air Fryer Baked Potato
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