EASY AIR FRYER BROCCOLI IS THE PERFECT VEGETABLE SIDE DISH
This easy Air Fryer Broccoli is the perfect vegetable side dish. It’s so easy to make, and it tastes fantastic.
Air Fryer Broccoli
We have been having so much fun making veggies in the air fryer. It is incredible how versatile the air fryer is.
From making frozen French fries to crispy air fryer broccoli, you can make almost anything in the air fryer. I even made air fryer cookies that I am going to share soon.
We have been trying to balance out all of our air fryer recipes and add more vegetables and protein to help balance out all of the frozen appetizers. LOL!
I used to roast all our veggies in the oven, but now the air fryer wins. It is such a time saver not having to wait for the oven to heat up and then wait for the veggies to roast. With the air fryer, I can have crispy broccoli on the table in about ten minutes.
Ingredients Needed
Here is a quick overview of the simple ingredients for making epic Air Fryer Broccoli! The printable recipe card at the bottom of the post includes specific measurements and step-by-step instructions.
- Fresh Broccoli Florets
- Extra virgin Olive Oil
- Salt and Black Pepper
- Garlic Powder
Optional Flavorings: Squeeze of fresh Lemon Juice, Sprinkle a bit of Parmesan Cheese, Fresh Herbs, Minced Garlic, Cheddar Cheese, Red Pepper Flakes, drizzle with balsamic glaze, kosher salt
Equipment Needed
- Air Fryer: We suggest getting an air fryer that is bigger than you think you will need. We found once we started using the air fryer, we ended up using it for more meals and larger meals.
- Kitchen Tongs: We highly suggest getting a good pair of kitchen tongs to remove items from the air fryer and save your hands from getting burned.
- Large Mixing Bowl: We are big fans of this glass batter bowl with a handle. It makes it easy to mix ingredients and keeps the mixing bowl steady on the counter.
How to make air-fried broccoli
I've included complete instructions in the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post, but here's a quick version.
Step 1 - Clean and dry the broccoli. Cut into florets
Step 2 - Toss the broccoli florets in a bowl with olive oil. Season with salt and pepper
Step 3 - Add broccoli florets to the air fryer basket in a single layer.
Add a tablespoon or 2 of water to the bottom of the air fryer. This will help steam the broccoli while it roasts.
Step 4 - Air fry at 300 degrees. Make sure to shake the basket a couple of times.
Preparation and Storage
Make Ahead + Storage: Store any leftover roasted broccoli in an airtight container in the fridge and enjoy them within three to four days. Leftovers tend to get a bit soggy, so it is best to enjoy these fresh.
Freezing/How to Freeze: Freeze any leftover broccoli in an airtight, freezer-safe container and enjoy them within three months.
How to Reheat: We use the air fryer to reheat leftovers to crispy perfection!
Recipe Variations
Substitutions: You can use frozen broccoli, but we suggest air frying it for 3-4 minutes, tossing it in olive oil and seasoning, then placing it back in the air fryer to cook more to help thaw the broccoli and allow the seasoning to stick to it.
Vegetarian + Vegan Option: This recipe is naturally vegetarian and vegan, as the core ingredients are broccoli florets, olive oil, salt, and pepper.
Gluten-Free: This recipe is also naturally gluten-free.
Smaller Serving Size + Larger Group/More Servings: We use three to four cups of broccoli florets to make four servings. Scale the written recipe up or down according to your desired yield, working in batches if your air fryer capacity is smaller and you’re making a big batch.
Make It Spicy: Spice up your roasted broccoli by adding your favorite spice or spicy seasoning blend before cooking or dressing it with your go-to spicy sauce after cooking.
Sugar-Free: The written recipe contains 1 gram of sugar per serving, but the final sugar content will depend on your seasonings and add-ins.
Tips for the Best Air Fryer Broccoli
- We do not preheat the air fryer before making this air fryer broccoli recipe.
- Lower the cooking time for each subsequent batch.
- Cut the florets into even-sized pieces to avoid overcooking any tinier pieces.
- Check out all of our vegetarian air fryer recipes!
- Nutrition information, including calories, protein, calcium, carbohydrates, fiber, vitamin c, potassium, cholesterol, sodium, trans fat, monounsaturated fat, polyunsaturated fat, and more, will vary depending on the products used.
What to Serve with Air Fryer Broccoli
With this guide to making roasted broccoli in your air fryer, you can quickly turn a few cups of this green veggie into a side dish that bulks up any meal with extra nutrition and plant-powered goodness. Here are some pairing suggestions to inspire your menu planning.
Sides: Air Fryer Potato Wedges, Apple Stuffing, Carrot Soufflé, BLT Pasta Salad, Southern Fried Cabbage with Bacon, Hasselback Potatoes, Jiffy Cornbread with Sour Cream, Sweet Potato Casserole with Canned Yams, Southern Style Green Beans, Caprese Pasta Salad
Main Dishes: Cracker Barrel Broccoli Cheddar Chicken, Stovetop Meatloaf, Chicken Casserole with Ritz Crackers, CrockPot Rosemary Pork, Cracker Barrel Chicken & Dumplings, CrockPot Macaroni & Cheese with Ham, CrockPot Salisbury Steak, CrockPot Ham & Cheese Grits, Air fryer salmon
Desserts: Ooey-Gooey Butter Cake, Lemon Bars, Lemon Icebox Pie, Best Rice Krispie Treats, Bisquick Blueberry Cobbler, Magnolia Bakery Banana Pudding, Bisquick Apple Cobbler, Bisquick Peach Cobbler, Molasses Cookies, Banana Bread, Classic Chocolate Brownies
Drinks: Coke Slushie, Red Robin Freckled Lemonade, CopyCat McDonald's Sweet Tea
When to Serve
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Potlucks
- Cookouts
- Family and Friend Gatherings
Great Air Fryer Recipes
Check out all of our Air Fryer Recipes!
Find this featured recipe in our sloppy joe sides collection and our list of easy side dishes with vegetables!
Do you love recipes? Check out our copycat recipes, dessert recipes, and our CrockPot Recipes.
Follow Tammilee Tips on MSN, Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest for our recipe posts.
Head over to Tammilee Tips to print the complete Air Fryer Broccoli