Crispy Air Fryer Broccoli

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Crispy Air Fryer Broccoli is made with a SECRET TECHNIQUE to make Crisp cooked florets without burnt edges yet tender and retains the green color.

If you use your air fryer as much as we do, then check out these recipes - Air Fryer Zucchini Bites, Stuffed Mushrooms, Air Fryer Corn on the Cob, Breaded Asparagus in Air fryer, Roasted Green beans, Breaded Mushrooms or Crispy Chickpeas.

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This post was originally published on 10/14/2020 and modified on 02/23/2022 to add more details. However, the recipe, images and video remains the same.

This tastes just like your classic oven roasted broccoli but with much less elbow grease. Once you try this recipe, you may never go back to oven roasted ones. It cooks crispy with slightly charred edges, tender yet retains the green color when compared to oven baking, healthy, packed with nutrients and makes a great side dish for dinner.

It has a crispy texture without being greasy, cooks in less than 8 minutes and few minutes of prep time.

THE SECRET - Add Water

The high heat from air fryer tends to burn few of the florets, by the time they cook tender. So, we came up a technique of Steam-Roasting! A splash of water added in the basket, tends to create steam and prevents the florets from charring too much. It helps with Air fryer not smoking, tender cooked vegetable and not too charred.

If you are new to air fryer, then this is a great recipe to start. It is easy, no-fuss and you end up with delicious side for dinner.

BENEFITS

Being low in calories, it is a power house of nutrients - Fiber, iron, folate, vitamin C, K, B9, potassium, manganese and surprise amount of protein. The bio active compounds in broccoli may help in lowering cholesterol levels and improving eyesight.

Best way to season

A simple seasoning like salt, pepper, red pepper flakes, freshly minced or garlic powder makes a tasty side dish.

Can you put frozen broccoli in the air fryer?

Yes but do not thaw. Cook them frozen in the same temperature, but add seasoning half way through cooking. Please remember to skip adding water into the basket when using frozen ones.

Do you wash broccoli before roasting?

It is a good practice to wash all vegetables before cooking (both organic and inorganic). Simply place the flower under cold running water, making sure to scrub and rinse every nook and cranny. You could also immerse in a bowl filled with a water mixed with a splash of vinegar. Drain water and pat dry before cutting.

How to cut broccoli for roasting?

Begin by slicing off the floret stems, where they meet at the base and then slice large florets in half. To use the stalk (yes, you can eat the stalk too), cut stalk into about 1 to 2 inches measure and peel off the tough skin with a vegetable peeler.

CAN I ROAST IN OVEN?

Don't own an air fryer? Roast in the oven. Prepare recipe as instructed, transfer to a baking sheet (in a single layer) and bake in a pre heated 400 degree oven for 15 to 20 minutes. (Increase oven temperature to 425 degrees if doubling the recipe).

INGREDIENTS

Broccoli - Cut into medium, even sized florets. The stems are delicious as well (peel off the thick outer part).
Olive oil - You don’t need a ton of olive oil, just a couple of tablespoons. That is the beauty of air frying, there isn’t much oil needed at all!
Seasonings - Salt, pepper, garlic powder and red pepper flakes

Pro Tips for success

Here are a few tips to ensure that this is the best roasted broccoli in very few minutes-

Floret size - Cut florets into medium size florets (about 1 and ½ inches) and make sure that all florets are the same size which ensures even cooking.
Coat well - Toss the florets together with seasonings in a bowl prior to transferring to the basket. This allows all the nooks and crannies of the flower to be packed with flavor.
If using lesser broccoli, then reduce oven temperature accordingly (refer recipe for details).
Pat dry– Make sure you dry the florets after rinsing, so the oil and seasonings will adhere better. Otherwise, the oil will bead off the water.
Don’t crowd the basket- Air fryers work by quickly circulating hot air throughout the basket. Leave some space between florets so the air can hit all sides for crisping up.

Variations

Garlic Parmesan - Skip garlic powder and add about 4 cloves of grated garlic (grated garlic tends to adhere better to the florets when compared to chopped ones) along with seasoning and proceed as instructed. Sprinkle grated parmesan cheese over the florets, when done.
Cheesy - Check out this sheet pan roasted broccoli with cheese recipe.
Parmesan - Sprinkle 2 to 3 tablespoons of freshly grated Parmesan on top right after cooking.
Lemon - Toss cooked florets with freshly squeezed lemon juice and finely grated lemon zest.
Spicy - Increase red pepper flakes in the recipe.
Balsamic - Finish the dish with a drizzle of good balsamic vinegar.
Mexican - Toss with taco seasoning for a Mexican twist.
Indian - Mix with turmeric powder, chili powder, black pepper powder, cumin seeds, grated garlic, salt and vegetable oil instead of olive oil.

How to make?

Season - Toss florets with olive oil and seasonings, making sure that the seasoning coats evenly.
Cook - Add 2 tablespoons water into the basket and then place florets in a single layer. Cook at 390° for 8 minutes (giving a shake mid way) and serve hot.

Can you make this ahead of time?

Cook, cool completely before refrigerating in a sealed container for up to 4 days. It can be reheated in the microwave (will loose all its crispiness), for a few minutes until heated through.

How to reheat?

We recommend using the air fryer for reheating : Place the florets (without overlapping) in a pre heated 350°F air fryer for 2 to 4 minutes (depends on the quantity), until heated through.

Reheating in microwave - It won’t be as crispy when you heat it in the microwave. Just warm it for 2-3 minutes or until it’s hot all the way through.

How to serve?

Perfect side dish with your favorite pastas , rice, chicken, shrimp, fish, air fryer pizza or other dinner recipes.
More kid friendly meal pairings: Garlic Bread in Air Fryer, Lemon Pepper Wings Recipe in Air Fryer, Chicken Baked Ziti, Pesto Chicken Pasta, Baked Chicken Meatballs, Chicken Alfredo and Chicken Parmesan Pasta.

More cheesy dishes: Garlic Bread Grilled Cheese, Leftover Mac and Cheese Cups, Instant Pot Mac and Cheese, Chicken Broccoli Pasta Bake, Meatless Baked Ziti or Pasta Pizza.

a hand pulling out an air fryer basket with crispy roasted broccoli

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What kind of nutrition are in air fried broccoli?

It is a rich source of vitamins C, K, iron, potassium, manganese, folate, calcium, protein, and fiber. minerals and antioxidants.

Can you put water in air fryer?

It is recommended to add water into the air fryer basket when cooking fatty foods to prevent from it from smoking.

How long to cook broccoli in air fryer?

It takes about 7 minutes to air fry at 390 degrees.

Roasted veggie have always been one of our children's favorite side dishes. My favorite part is that it is freshly available all year round and packed with nutrients.

Oven roasted veggie has always been my go-to method of cooking, until I experimented with my air fryer. It is faster and a great option for folks who do not have access to an oven.

freshly cooked roasted broccoli in an air fryer

More Air Fryer Dinner Recipes to try

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Crispy Air Fryer Broccoli - No Burnt Edges

Yield: 4

Prep Time: 3 minutes

Cook Time: 8 minutes

Total Time: 11 minutes

Crispy Air Fryer Broccoli is made with a SECRET TECHNIQUE to make Crisp cooked florets without burnt edges yet tender and retains the green color.

Ingredients

6 cups chopped broccoli florets (about 12 ounces), cut into medium size
2 tablespoons olive oil
½ teaspoon garlic powder
¼ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
⅛ teaspoon ground black pepper

Equipment used

Air fryer

Instructions

1. Add all ingredients into a large bowl and toss well, until well combined (making sure that the seasonings coats all the nooks and crannies of the broccoli florets).

2. Add 2 tablespoons water into the bottom of the air fryer basket (this will help in cooking them tender and not char too much).

3. Pre heat the air fryer for 7 to 8 minutes at 390°F. When ready, place broccoli florets in a single layer and cook, giving them a good shake half way (broccoli florets in the perimeter tends to brown sooner than the middle. So, shaking once will help in even cooking)

(If using less broccoli, then air fry at:

380°F for 5 cups broccoli

370°F for 4 cups broccoli )

4. Serve as a side dish for dinner.

Make Garlic Parmesan Broccoli - Skip garlic powder and add about 4 cloves of grated garlic (grated garlic tends to adhere better to the florets when compared to chopped broccoli) along with seasoning and proceed as instructed. Sprinkle grated parmesan cheese over the florets, when done.

To make ahead - Cool broccoli completely before refrigerating in a sealed container for up to 4 days. It can be reheated in the microwave (will loose all its crispiness), for a few minutes until heated through.

We recommend using the air fryer for reheating : Place the broccoli (without overlapping) in a pre heated 350°F air fryer for 2 to 4 minutes (depends on the quantity of broccoli), until heated through.

Make roasted broccoli in the oven:
Prepare broccoli as instructed, transfer to a baking sheet (in a single layer) and bake in a pre heated 400 degree oven for 15 to 20 minutes. (Increase oven temperature to 425 degrees if doubling the recipe).

Notes

Floret size – Cut florets into medium size florets (about 1 and ½ inches) and make sure that all florets are the same size which ensures them even cooking.

Mix well – Make sure that the seasonings coats all the nooks and crannies of the broccoli florets well.

Water – Adding 2 tablespoons water into the air fryer basket helps with

Air fryer not smoking
Broccoli is tender
Not too charred

To use frozen broccoli - Do not thaw frozen broccoli. Cook them frozen in the same temperature, but add seasoning half way through cooking (when the broccoli has thawed). Please remember to skip adding water into the air fryer basket when using frozen broccoli.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 4 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 143Total Fat: 8gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 229mgCarbohydrates: 17gFiber: 8gSugar: 3gProtein: 6g

I am not a certified dietician or nutritionist. You are ultimately responsible for all decisions pertaining to your health. This information is provided as a courtesy and should not be construed as a guarantee. This information is a product of online calculator such as Nutrifox.com.. Although Kitchen at Hoskins attempts to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures should be considered estimates. Varying factors such as product types or brands purchased, natural fluctuations in fresh produce, and the way ingredients are processed change the nutritional information in any given recipe. Furthermore, different online calculators provide different results depending on their fact sources and algorithms. Under no circumstances will Kitchen at Hoskins be responsible for any loss or damage resulting for your reliance on the nutritional information. To obtain the most accurate representation of the nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator. You are solely responsible for ensuring that any nutritional information provided is accurate, complete, and useful.

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