This easy Air Fryer Broccoli recipe will make you rethink how you cook your florets from now on. Ready in under 10 minutes with a soft, tender texture and crispy roasted edges.
10 Minute Crispy Air Fryer Broccoli
Our Air Fryer Broccoli takes a fraction of the cooking time as its conventional oven-roasted counterpart and comes out just as tender with lightly browned and crispy edges.
I love air fryer recipes that rely on hot circulating air to cook up crispy food instead of frying in greasy, messy oil; plus you get the same soft and crunchy results as roasted broccoli in a fraction of the time.
Serve your air fried broccoli as a healthy, low carb side dish for dinner, add it to a burrito bowl, mix it into macaroni, put some in a creamy pasta salad, or simply eat it straight from the air fryer basket – with just a bit of oil and some seasoning, you can turn your favorite floret into the best tasting broccoli!
Why We Love Air Fryer Broccoli recipes
- Quick and easy to make.
- Uses only 4 simple ingredients plus water.
- Air frying food creates a crispy exterior without extra calories and fat from deep frying.
- Broccoli is loaded with fiber, vitamin C, vitamin K, iron, and potassium and has so many health benefits.
- Delicious family-friendly side dish to accompany any meal.
Air Fryer Broccoli Ingredients
- Fresh broccoli florets
- Olive oil
- Garlic salt
- Black pepper
- Water
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
Substitutions and Additions
- Grab A Garnish: Sprinkle your broccoli with shredded or freshly grated parmesan cheese, add a squeeze of fresh lemon juice, or serve with fresh lemon wedges on the side.
- Vary The Veggies: The air fryer can cook a variety of other veggies too! For more fuss-free cooking ideas, try my air fryer zucchini, air fryer cauliflower, air fryer french fries and air fryer home fries, and air fryer sweet potato fries.
- Swap The Seasoning: Feel free to season your florets with some red pepper flakes, garlic powder, onion powder, or your favorite spices.
How to Make Air Fryer Broccoli
- Prepare The Produce: Toss the broccoli with olive oil, garlic salt and black pepper to coat.
- Preheat: Preheat the air fryer to 375 degrees Fahrenheit for 3 minutes, then add water to the bottom of the air fryer.
- Cook: Add the seasoned broccoli to the air fryer basket in a single layer. Cook for 5 minutes, toss, then continue to air fry for 3-5 minutes or until cooked through and lightly browned and crisp on the edges.
Pro Tip: The total amount of time needed will vary depending on the size of your florets. - Serve: Garnish with a sprinkle of shredded parmesan cheese and fresh lemon wedges if desired. Serve and enjoy!
Tips For Making The Best Air Fryer Broccoli
- I like to buy whole heads of broccoli and cut down the florets into bite sized pieces myself. You can buy the pre-cut bags of florets for convenience but make sure that the pieces are similar in size for even cooking. If not, you will want to trim pieces as needed.
- I do not suggest using frozen broccoli florets for this recipe. It works best using fresh broccoli florets.
- Make sure not to overcrowd your air fryer basket or the broccoli florets will steam and soften instead of crisping as they cook. If they don’t fit in a single layer with a bit of space around each one, you many need to work in batches.
- A COSORI brand 6.8 quart sized Air Fryer was used to test and develop this recipe.
How to Store Air Fryer Broccoli
- To Store: This air fryer broccoli is best served immediately. You can refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3-5 days.
- To Reheat: You can reheat leftovers in the airfryer for 2-3 minutes to re-crisp and warm the broccoli.
What To Serve With Air Fryer Broccoli
Serve these florets as a healthier side for your sandwiches and main dish meals. They make a great substitution for french fries or potato chips if you’re looking to cut carbs and calories!
More Easy Air Fryer Recipes
More Delicious Broccoli Recipes
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Air Fryer Broccoli
Ingredients
- 4 cups fresh broccoli florets (from 2 small or 1 large head of broccoli) cut into bite sized (roughly 1½-2 inch) pieces
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- ½ teaspoon garlic salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 2 tablespoons water
Optional Garnish
- Fresh lemon wedges
- Shredded parmesan cheese
Instructions
- To a large bowl, add the fresh broccoli florets, olive oil, garlic salt and black pepper. Toss to evenly coat the broccoli florets in the oil and seasonings.4 cups fresh broccoli florets, 3 tablespoons olive oil, ½ teaspoon garlic salt, ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- Preheat the air fryer at 375*F for 3 minutes, add the water to the bottom of the preheated air fryer. This helps to steam the broccoli and makes it more tender when cooked.2 tablespoons water
- Add the seasoned broccoli florets to the basket of the airfryer in a single layer. Cook for 5 minutes, toss the broccoli so that it is evenly cooked, then continue to air fry for another 3-5 minutes or until cooked through and lightly browned and crisp on the edges. The total amount of time needed will vary depending on the size of your florets.
- Transfer the air fried broccoli to a serving bowl and garnish with an optional sprinkle of shredded parmesan cheese and fresh lemon wedges to squeeze over the broccoli if desired.Fresh lemon wedges, Shredded parmesan cheese
Jenn’s Notes
- To Store: This air fryer broccoli is best served immediately. You can refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3-5 days.
- To Reheat: You can reheat leftovers in the air fryer for 2-3 minutes to re-crisp and warm the broccoli.
- I like to buy whole heads of broccoli and cut down the florets into bite sized pieces myself. You can buy the pre-cut bags of florets for convenience but make sure that the pieces are similar in size for even cooking. If not, you will want to trim pieces as needed.
- I do not suggest using frozen broccoli florets for this recipe. It works best using fresh broccoli florets.
- Make sure not to overcrowd your air fryer basket or the broccoli florets will steam and soften instead of crisping as they cook. If they don’t fit in a single layer with a bit of space around each one, you many need to work in batches.
- A COSORI brand 6.8 quart sized Air Fryer was used to test and develop this recipe.