My Air fryer broccoli is crispy, never mushy, and oh so easy to make. It’s one of my favorite ways to prepare broccoli — and my toddlers agree 😋😋. They’re perfectly seasoned and air fried to crispy perfection in just 10 minutes. I love this broccoli served alongside sous vide steak and air fryer potatoes. Make this for a quick veggie side on busy weeknights!
Ingredients to Gather
- Broccoli: The star of the show is obviously broccoli for this recipe. I highly recommend using similar sized broccoli florets to ensure even cooking.
- Lemon juice: A little lemon juice brightens up the broccoli. It’s so delicious.
- Olive oil: To cook anything in the air fryer you need a little bit of oil. I chose olive oil because we love the flavor. Feel free to use whatever oil you would like.
- Salt & pepper: I kept things simple for the seasoning for this broccoli recipe. A little salt and pepper did the trick.
Find the list of full ingredients in the recipe card below.
Change up the Flavor
I kept the spice blend for this air fryer broccoli super simple so that you can taste both the broccoli and the salt and pepper. The lemon juice brightens up the flavor without overpowering whatever you’re serving this broccoli with.
If you want to spice things up, feel free to add a teaspoon or two of any of the spice blends below to your broccoli before air frying:
- Don’t use too much oil: If you use too much olive oil in this recipe you will end up with over-crisped broccoli. I highly recommend using the suggested amount of oil and no more.
- Cut broccoli in similar sizes: Make sure to cut your broccoli florets uniformly so that they’re all around the same size. This will make sure they cook at the same rate.
- Cook until brown & not burnt: Air fry your broccoli for around 10-11 minutes or until golden brown. Mine took 10 minutes and came out crunchy on the outside and while not being mushy or burnt (not overdone at all!).
- Air fryers vary: Air fryers come in all shapes and sizes. Like ovens, they can vary in temperature. Be sure to check your broccoli half way through and give the basket a little shake to gauge how much additional time is needed.
Best
Air Fryer
On the hunt for the best air fryer? Our favorite is the Ninja Kitchen Air Fryer. It’s reliable and moderately priced.
What to Pair With Air Fryer Broccoli
I love to serve this air fryer broccoli as a side with my baked lemon chicken or with my grilled skirt steak and baked potatoes. Both are on the regular rotation at my house!
How to Store and Reheat Leftovers
This air fryer broccoli is best served immediately (when it’s at its crispiest!), but will keep in the fridge for 3-4 days in an airtight container.
The best way to reheat this broccoli is exactly the way it was cooked — in your air fryer! Reheat leftovers at 350°F for a few minutes until they’re warmed through and crisp back up.
Can I use frozen broccoli in the air fryer?
Yes! If you go this route, follow the recipe instructions below, but place the frozen broccoli in the air fryer right when you turn it on (not after it’s preheated) to allow for additional warming time to cook the frozen broccoli through.
Can I air fry broccoli without oil?
I don’t recommend it! Oil is needed to create the crispy texture, and without it the broccoli will get dried out when air fried. If you don’t want to use oil, I’d recommend steaming broccoli instead.
-
Preheat the air fryer to 400ºF and drizzle the bottom of the air fryer basket with olive oil.
-
Add the broccoli florets to a large bowl and drizzle the broccoli with olive oil and lemon juice. Season them with salt and pepper. Use your hands to massage the oil, salt, and pepper into the broccoli.
-
Transfer the broccoli florets into the air fryer and cook the broccoli for 5 minutes, toss, and cook for another 5 minutes until the broccoli begins to brown.
-
Remove the broccoli from the air fryer and enjoy.
- Depending on how large your air fryer is you can cook the broccoli in one batch with a larger air fryer or two batches if you have a smaller air fryer.
- Option to season broccoli with a bit more salt when it comes out of the air fryer.
Calories: 125 kcal, Carbohydrates: 6 g, Protein: 3 g, Fat: 11 g, Fiber: 2 g, Sugar: 2 g
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
