Air Fryer Broccoli

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Air Fryer Broccoli comes together in just 8 minutes! It’s tender and crisp around the edges. Just like oven roasted broccoli, but better.

Looking for more air fryer vegetable recipes? You are really going to love these Air Fryer Zucchini Chips and these Air Fryer Pickles!

air fryer broccoli in a white bowl and lemon wedges

Air Fryer Broccoli Recipe

If you love your veggies and are looking for a healthy side dish, this recipe was meant for you!

Vegetables are a staple in my house for both lunch and dinner. Why?
Because honestly, they are delicious and so full of color!

But also, there are so many health benefits to getting in your veggies, why not add them to your meals?

So you’ve probably been roasting your broccoli in the oven for most of your life, right? Or maybe you like to make a one pan meal out of some sheet pan chicken with broccoli all around.

This broccoli recipe is going to be a game changer for you. After trying this one, you might never want to make it the old way again!

Air Fryer Broccoli Ingredients

Healthy greens: you will need two heads of broccoli (about 2 cups) to make this delicious broccoli recipe!

Herb and spices: to get those amazing flavors, you will need garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, black pepper, kosher salt, and crushed red pepper flakes.

broccoli florets in a glass bowl, seasoning, and black measuring spoons

Dairy: grated parmesan cheese.

Wet ingredients: for that final touch of flavor, you will need some lemon juice and for cooking you will need a touch of olive oil and water.

*for a detailed list of ingredients, see the recipe card down below.

How to make Air Fryer Broccoli

1. Prepare broccoli and seasoning. Preheat the air fryer to 390ยฐ F and cut the broccoli into small florets. In a small bowl, combine the garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt, and pepper.

2. Season the broccoli. Place the broccoli florets in a mixing bowl and toss with olive oil, then add the seasoning mixture and toss to coat.

3. Cook the broccoli. Pour water into the lower basket and place the seasoned broccoli in the air fryer basket and cook for 5-6 minutes, until tender and slightly charred.

I served mine with these Honey Jalapeรฑo Chicken Thighs and it was a delicious combination!

broccoli in an air fryer basket

4. Serve the broccoli. Transfer the broccoli to a serving bowl and garnish with red pepper flakes, parmesan cheese, and a squeeze of lemon juice.

Tip!

Keep your broccoli in a single layer when air frying, this will give you the best (and most tender) broccoli!

What to Serve With Broccoli

Broccoli is one of my absolute favorite (and go-to) vegetables because it pairs so perfectly with beef, fish, chicken, and more!

Here are some of my favorite main dish recipes to prepare with your Air Fryer Broccoli.

air fryer broccoli in a bowl with a silver fork

Questions You Might Have

Can you steam vegetables in an air fryer?

No, youย can’tย steamย food inย an air fryer. Anย air fryerย is designed to circulate air around the food with a minimal amount of oil. A steamer heats water to create steam.

Is it better to boil or fry broccoli?

Deep frying broccoli requires a lot of oil and is not the healthiest way of cooking. However, air frying broccoli requires less oil and is a much healthier option. If you are looking for a really healthy option, boiling broccoli keeps in the most nutrients.

Can you put aluminum foil in an air fryer?

Yes, you can put aluminum in the air fryer. It makes the clean up easier, but make sure you poke holes in it so the air can still circulate.

Can I cook frozen broccoli in air fryer?

Yes! I recommend adding the seasoning after cooking the broccoli in the air fryer for a few minutes to let it thaw out.

More Vegetable Side Dishes

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5 from 7 votes

Air Fryer Broccoli

Air Fryer Broccoli comes together in just 8 minutes! It's tender and crisp around the edges. Just like oven roasted broccoli, but better.
Prep Time2 minutes
Cook Time6 minutes
Total Time8 minutes
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Servings: 4
Calories: 73
Author: Jordan

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Preheat the air fryer to 390ยฐ F and cut the broccoli into small florets. In a small bowl, combine the garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, black pepper, and salt.
  • Place the broccoli florets in a mixing bowl and toss with olive oil, then add the seasoning mixture and toss to coat.
  • Pour the water in the lower basket and place the seasoned broccoli in the air fryer basket and cook for 5-6 minutes, until tender and slightly charred.
  • Transfer the broccoli to a serving bowl and garnish with red pepper flakes, parmesan cheese, and a squeeze of lemon juice.
If you tried this recipe, please leave a review letting me know how it was!
Keywords: air fryer broccoli

Nutrition

Calories: 73kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 1mg | Sodium: 173mg | Potassium: 176mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 388IU | Vitamin C: 42mg | Calcium: 34mg | Iron: 1mg
Nutrition information is approximate and was calculated using a recipe nutrition label generator.
Tried this recipe?I’d love to see your dish, mention @jzeats or tag #jzeats!

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5 from 7 votes (2 ratings without comment)

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9 Comments

  1. I have the air fryer oven and have trouble with the smoke during the process. Is there any way to avoid the drippings to not cause smoke? Can I use a foil lined pan underneath the basket?

    1. Hi! I also have the oven type but I don’t use it much for the same reason. Mine lets out a lot of steam (not necessarily from drippings) and it bothers me too. You can try putting something on the rack below if yours has two racks but you don’t want to put anything that isn’t perforated directly under the food or it won’t crisp. Hope this helps ๐Ÿ™‚

  2. 5 stars
    Oh yummmmmm! This broccoli recipe looks simple and easy but so healthy too! Can’t wait to try it with some chicken wings.

  3. 5 stars
    I love how you can make almost everything in the air fryer. This is such a delicious and simple recipe, great side dish.

  4. 5 stars
    This is our new favorite way to cook broccoli! So delicious and easy! Making this to go with our lunch now!

  5. Lisa Crowe says:

    Looks great and I want to make it but I’m curious about the tablespoon of water. What purpose does that serve please? TYIA

    1. Hi Lisa – the tbsp of water creates a little bit of steam within the air fryer, just enough to steam your broccoli!