Air Fryer Broccoli

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This simple air fryer broccoli cooks up in just 6 minutes! It’s crispy, flavorful and perfect for busy weeknights when you’re looking to make a healthy side dish.

This air fryer broccoli is such an easy and delicious side dish and it tastes so dang good! The broccoli comes out crispy and flavorful and is addicting. I’m not kidding, I had to refrain from eating it all before I could take the photos. It makes a great snack if you’re craving that crispy and salty combo!

Plus, the broccoli cooks up in just 6 minutes, which is way faster than cooking broccoli in the oven. Yay for easy and simple side dishes!

Seasoned air-fried broccoli in an air fryer basket.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

  • Cooks quickly– This broccoli cooks up in about 6 minutes, which is way less than half the time it takes to cook in the oven, making it the perfect side for busy weeknights.
  • Addicting – No mushy broccoli over here! This recipe results in crispy and tender broccoli that’s absolutely addicting!
  • Customizable – This is a great base recipe. Feel free to add your favorite seasonings to switch it up as desired!
Ingredients measured out to make air fryer broccoli: garlic powder, salt, pepper, olive or avocado oil and broccoli.

Ingredients Needed

  • broccoli – chop up 1 large head of broccoli or use a bag of pre chopped broccoli. You want about 4 cups cut into 1-inch florets.
  • olive oil – avocado oil would also work.
  • seasonings – garlic powder, salt and black pepper. Add some crushed red pepper for an extra kick!
  • lemon – a squeeze of fresh lemon juice adds a nice touch of acidity but it’s optional and still delicious without it!
Side by side photos of broccoli in an air fryer basket, before and after being cooked.

How to Make Air Fryer Broccoli

Are you ready for how easy this air fryer broccoli recipe is?! Here’s how to make it:

Step 1: Start by washing and chopping your broccoli into 1-inch florets.

Step 2: Toss the broccoli in a large bowl with the oil, garlic powder, salt, pepper and if using, the red pepper flakes. Make sure the broccoli florets are evenly coated.

Step 3: Preheat or turn your air fryer on to 360ºF and add the broccoli to the basket. Cook for 6-8 minutes, giving them a good toss halfway through. Remove from the basket and serve with a slice of lemon.

Recipe Tips:

  • For a shortcut, use a bag of pre-cut and pre-washed broccoli from the store.
  • If you want your broccoli a bit more tender, add 1 Tablespoon of water to the base of your air fryer before adding the broccoli.
  • Make sure to cut all your broccoli florets close to the same size to ensure they cook evenly.
  • Don’t over-crowd your air fryer basket! Make sure to cook your broccoli in a single layer. You may have to cook multiple batches, depending on the size of your air fryer.
Seasoned air-fried broccoli in a large bowl with lemon wedges.

Air Fryer Broccoli Variations

This recipe is super simple and produces delicious and easy broccoli but you can definitely have fun and mix up the seasonings! Here are some ideas:

Parmesan â€“ Add a sprinkle of fresh parmesan cheese when you take them out of the air fryer for some cheesy goodness.

Sweet + spicy â€“ Go for a sweet and spicy combo by drizzling with honey and sprinkling with red pepper flakes.

Balsamic vinegar â€“ Simply drizzle some balsamic vinegar after cooking for an extra boost of flavor.

Slivered almonds – Bump up the crunch factor and add some toasted slivered almonds! It’ll make this easy recipe feel super elevated (and will still be so easy!)

Seasoned air-fried broccoli in an air fryer basket.

How to Serve Air Fryer Broccoli

I tend to eat all of this broccoli before I can serve it with anything and I’m guessing you’ll have the same problem as me – it’s so good! However, here are some ideas to serve alongside the broccoli for an easy weeknight meal!

Seasoned air-fried broccoli in a large bowl with lemon wedges.

How to Store

One thing I don’t recommend is making a big batch of air fryer broccoli to store as meal prep. Air fryer vegetables tend to lose their crispiness after you refrigerate them, which in my opinion is a big reason to use the air fryer in the first place!

However, you can absolutely store leftovers in the fridge to enjoy later, they’ll still taste delicious they’ll just lose that crispy crunch. After cooling, place leftovers in an airtight container and keep them in the fridge for 2-3 days.

Air Fryer Broccoli FAQ’s

Why is my broccoli burning in the air fryer?

If you notice that your broccoli easily burns in your air fryer, next time try adding 1-2 Tablespoons of water to the bottom of your air fryer before cooking. This helps to steam the broccoli a bit helping it to get tender and cook without burning or getting too crispy.

Can I air fry frozen broccoli?

While I definitely recommend using fresh broccoli you can also air fry frozen broccoli. You might just need to cook it for a few minutes longer and it won’t end up as crispy as fresh broccoli.

More Air Fryer Recipes

Be sure to check out all of my broccoli recipes and the full collection of air fryer recipes here on EBF.

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3.82 from 22 votes

Air Fryer Broccoli

A simple recipe for air fryer broccoli that tastes just like oven roasted broccoli but cooks up in just 6 minutes! It's crispy, flavorful and perfect for busy weeknights when you're looking to make a healthy side dish.
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 6 minutes
Total Time: 11 minutes
Servings: 2

Ingredients  

  • 1 large head broccoli, about 4 cups of florets, cut into 1-inch florets
  • 2 Tablespoons avocado or olive oil
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ¼ teaspoon salt, plus more to taste
  • ¼ teaspoon pepper, plus more to taste
  • sprinkle of crushed red, optional
  • slice of lemon, for serving, optional

Instructions 

  • Wash and chop broccoli into 1-inch florets. Try to make all the florets about the same size so that they cook evenly.
  • Add broccoli to a bowl and toss with oil, garlic powder, salt, pepper and crushed red pepper, if using.
    Seasoned broccoli in a large glass bowl with a large wooden spoon.
  • Preheat air fryer if required. Add broccoli to the air fryer and cook on 360°F for 6-8 minutes, tossing once halfway through.
    Seasoned air-fried broccoli in an air fryer.
  • Serve broccoli immediately with a slice of lemon, if using.

Notes

  • For a shortcut, you can use a 12 oz bag of pre-cut and pre-washed broccoli from the store.
  • If you want your broccoli a bit more tender, add 1 Tablespoon of water to the base of your air fryer before adding the broccoli.

Nutrition

Serving: 1/3 recipe | Calories: 125kcal | Carbohydrates: 10g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Sodium: 239mg | Potassium: 444mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 2g

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Equipment

Additional Info

Course: Side
Cuisine: American
Keyword: air fryer broccoli
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About Brittany

Hey there, I’m Brittany, the creator of Eating Bird Food, cookbook author, health coach and mama of two littles. Here you’ll find quick and easy recipes that make healthy fun and enjoyable for you and your family!

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2 Comments

    1. Sorry to hear the ads bothered you, Claudette. The ads allow me to put this content out for free and keep the blog going so I hope you understand. 🙂