Air Fryer Broccoli

Ingredients

Scroll down to the recipe card below for full information on ingredients and amounts.

1. Broccoli - When buying broccoli heads, look for tight florets that are evenly dark green in color. Have extra broccoli? Try it in chicken broccoli alfredo or shrimp broccoli stir fry.
2. 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!
3. Seasonings - Salt, pepper, garlic powder and red pepper flakes.

Tip: Cutting evenly sized florets is the key to evenly cooked results and also create plenty of surface area.

Variations

1. 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.
2. Cheesy - Sprinkle grated cheddar on top of the florets in the last minute of roasting. Check out this broccoli with cheese recipe, which is an over cooked version.
3. Parmesan - Sprinkle 2 to 3 tablespoons of freshly grated Parmesan on top, right after cooking, like in chicken pasta bake.
4. Lemon - Toss cooked florets with freshly squeezed lemon juice and finely grated lemon zest.
5. Spicy - Increase red pepper flakes in the recipe.
6. Balsamic - Finish the dish with a drizzle of good balsamic vinegar.
7. Mexican - Toss with homemade taco seasoning for a Mexican twist.
8. Indian - Mix with turmeric powder, chili powder, black pepper powder, cumin seeds, grated garlic, salt and vegetable oil instead of olive oil.

1.Cut broccoli into florets - Trim the woody ends of the stalks and discard. Using the tip of a large knife, cut the florets off the stalks and trim into large florets.

Tip: Did you know the stalks are equally nutritious and tasty? Peel the stalks, using a vegetable peeler, and slice into 1 inches lengths.

2 & 3. Toss florets with olive oil and seasonings, making sure that the seasoning coats evenly.

4. Add 1 to 2 tablespoons water into the basket and then place florets in a single layer on the grill plate. Cook at 390° for 8 minutes (giving a shake mid way) and serve hot.

Tip: The high heat maximizes caramelization while still maintaining a pleasant crunch.

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 include one pot mac and cheese.

Storage and reheating

Cook air fryer broccoli, and cool completely before refrigerating in a sealed container for up to 4 days.

• Reheating in the air fryer - Best for re-crisping! Place the florets, in a single layer, 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.

Helpful tips

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.