Plug in the air fryer to experience a new way to enjoy broccoli with crispy, slightly charred florets. While meant to be served as a side dish, you'll find it makes for an addictive snack on its own. Ready in just 12 minutes!
Broccoli has always been one of my favorite vegetables. It is so versatile in the number of ways to prepare it that I seriously never get sick of it. You can sauté it, steam it or even smash it up and roast it!
In fact, I make so much broccoli that my kids think it's completely normal to hold steamed broccoli by the stem (like a lollipop), dip it in olive oil and munch away at the florets. I mean... everyone does that, right?
Oven-roasted broccoli is usually my go-to method, but oftentimes on busy weeknights I need to cut down on cooking time and get food on the table quickly. And without compromising on quality, there is no better way to do that than by using the air fryer.
This easy air fryer recipe crisps up the broccoli in a fraction of the time and also uses roughly half the amount of olive oil. The use of oil is key to this recipe, so we're definitely not skimping on it - we just don't need to use quite as much when using the air fryer.
Ingredients
Similar to my air fryer recipes for asparagus and cauliflower, this recipe uses simple seasonings to fully appreciate the natural taste of broccoli.
Look for broccoli with dark green (or purple) flower buds that are tight together rather than spread out. Yellow buds indicate that the broccoli is no longer fresh.
How to Cook Fresh Broccoli in the Air Fryer
1. Cut the broccoli florets small and evenly-sized pieces. Smaller florets tend to crisp up better for that beautiful crunch.
2. Dry the florets thoroughly. This is probably the most important step that I cannot emphasize enough! Removing the moisture is key to achieving crispy rather than soggy broccoli.
3. Toss with olive oil, salt and pepper.
4. Place the florets in the air fryer in one single layer. Overlapping the florets will cause them to steam rather than crisp up. Make in batches if necessary.
5. Air fry broccoli at 350˚F for 12 minutes.
6. Enjoy immediately while hot! Try dipping it in homemade vegan sour cream or my 3-ingredient honey mustard to take it to the next level. It also pairs wonderfully with balsamic vinegar and some vegan parmesan cheese with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice!
Recipe Tips
- Marinate the broccoli for crispier results. Coating the florets immediately before air frying is perfectly fine (and what I usually do), but I've actually found that doing this step a few hours in advance makes them even crispier.
- Cut the florets into evenly-sized pieces. Uneven sizes will result in some of the larger florets turning out slightly undercooked. Making them all the same size ensures even cooking throughout.
- Skip the water. Many recipes call for adding a tablespoon of water to the bottom of the air fryer basket to keep the broccoli tender, but doing so changes the texture for the worse in my opinion!
Storage and Reheating
Air-fried broccoli stores well, making it a great side dish to meal prep for. Store leftover broccoli in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 4-5 days. To reheat, place them back in the air fryer set at 350˚ for about 2-3 minutes for best results. Microwaving will certainly heat them up but you will lose the crunch!
Fresh vs. Frozen Broccoli
I experimented with air frying both fresh and frozen broccoli and it was surprising how different the results were between the two. Cooking frozen florets are fine and I'd have no problem serving them if I didn't have fresh broccoli on hand, but I found they are just not as crispy and have a subtly different taste that I don't enjoy as much.
To cook from frozen, season 3 cups of frozen broccoli florets with salt and pepper and cook at 350˚F for 5 minutes. Then toss and cook for another 3 minutes.
Quick and Easy Air Fryer Broccoli
- Total Time: 17 minutes
- Yield: 2-4 1x
- Diet: Vegan
Description
Plug in the air fryer to experience a new way to enjoy broccoli with crispy, slightly charred florets. While meant to be served as a side dish, you'll find it makes for an addictive snack on its own. Ready in just 12 minutes!
Ingredients
1 large head of fresh broccoli, stem removed
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
¼ teaspoon fine salt
⅛ teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
Using Fresh Broccoli:
- Cut the broccoli florets into small and evenly-sized pieces.
- Dry the florets thoroughly. Removing the moisture is key to achieving crispy rather than soggy broccoli.
- Toss with olive oil, salt and pepper. Add the broccoli, olive oil, salt and pepper to a mixing bowl and toss well to fully coat the florets. I like to use my hands to ensure that I coat every nook and cranny.
- Place the florets in the air fryer in one single layer. Overlapping the florets will cause them to steam rather than crisp up. Make in batches if necessary.
- Air fry at 350˚F for 12 minutes. There is no need to toss halfway or shake the basket as the broccoli should cook evenly without it.
- Enjoy immediately while hot. Use tongs to remove the florets from the basket.
Notes
Feel free to let the broccoli marinate in the oil coating. Coating the florets immediately before air frying is perfectly fine (and what I usually do), but I've actually found that doing this step a few hours in advance of air frying gives me an even better result in terms of crispiness.
- Prep Time: 5
- Cook Time: 12
- Category: Side
- Method: Air Fryer
MacKenzie says
My family loves broccoli and we tried this air fryer recipe tonight. The broccoli was cooked perfectly and I can’t wait to make again.
Elaine Gordon says
This means a lot from a broccoli-loving family! Thank you for sharing!