In less than 10 minutes, you can have Air Fryer Broccoli with Parmesan! This crispy and healthy vegetable recipe is perfectly flavored with garlic, grated cheese, and a sprinkle of fresh lemon zest. Quick roasted broccoli is the best low-carb side dish for an easy weeknight meal.
Crispy Broccoli from the Air Fryer
In my quest to learn how to use my brand new Air Fryer, I was air frying E-V-E-R-Y-thing I could get my hands on.
Air fryer French fries. And Air fryer chicken wings. But, Air fryer broccoli?!
Yes… broccoli in the air fryer!
As if roasted broccoli could get any better, you toss it in this amazing contraption that circulates hot air and crisps everything up perfectly…
I think you see where I’m going here.
The one hiccup I always ran into with roasting broccoli in the oven was it would get SORTA crispy, but not crispy enough.
And if I cooked it until it got crispy enough, it would almost be burnt.
But not in the air fryer. You can pop those cute little florets into your basket and within 5 minutes you’ll have the crispiest most delicious broccoli you’ve ever tasted.
5 minutes?! Yes! Not only will you get super crispy floret edges, but it will be ready in a fraction of the time it takes to bake it in the oven.
Table of Contents
- Crispy Broccoli from the Air Fryer
- Ingredients
- How to Make Air Fryer Broccoli
- FAQs
- Recipe Tips
- Other Easy Broccoli Recipes
- More Air Fryer Vegetable Recipes
- Air Fryer Broccoli Recipe
Ingredients
- Broccoli: This healthy, green veggie is the star of the show. You will need about 1 pound, which should be roughly one large head or two smaller ones. Remove the stem and then cut into bite-sized pieces.
- Oil: Look for a good quality oil that you enjoy the flavor of, and preferably one with a high smoke point, like avocado oil. Olive oil with work, as well.
- Salt and pepper: This will turn out delicious if you only season it with salt and pepper, so opt for fresh cracked pepper and sea or kosher salt.
- Garlic: These last few ingredients are optional, but TOTALLY worth it! Crushed or minced garlic adds an earthy flavor that is to die for. Or, ¼ teaspoon garlic powder can be subbed, if necessary.
- Parmesan: Fresh grated cheese adds a creamy and tangy bite.
- Lemon: A little bit of lemon zest gives this recipe a fresh facelift, but is not required.
How to Make Air Fryer Broccoli
Please see the recipe card below for more detailed ingredient amounts.
1. Cut Broccoli into Florets
Much like when cutting cauliflower, you’ll want to cut broccoli into bite-sized florets.
Try to make them all as close to the same size as possible so they will cook up evenly in your air fryer.
You can also leave as little or as much of the stems on as you’d like.
2. Toss in Sauce
Once you have the broccoli cut into florets you’ll want to mix it together with the oil and seasoning ingredients.
Whisk together oil, garlic, salt, and pepper in a large bowl.
Add the broccoli florets and stir until they are well coated in the sauce.
Sprinkle 2 tablespoons of Parmesan cheese and toss to coat. (This step is optional if you’re vegan or dairy-free)
3. Cook in Air Fryer
The air fryer is sort of like the oven in that it needs a little bit of time to heat up. At a minimum, you always want to heat your air fryer to 375°F for at least 3 minutes before adding in your food for the best results.
Place the broccoli in the heated air fryer and cook at 375°F for 5-6 minutes. Shake basket halfway through cooking.
For extra crispy broccoli edges, turn up the heat to 390°F, give the basket a good toss, and return it to the air fryer for an additional minute.
Serve broccoli with freshly grated lemon zest and more Parmesan cheese.
FAQs
What is the best cooking technique for broccoli?
The best technique is your personal preference! If you like a crispy outside with a perfectly tender inside, then roasting or air frying is best. However, steamed broccoli results in a flavorful dish, as well.
Does air frying vegetables remove nutrients?
Whenever you cook vegetables, you lose some of the nutrients. However, air frying removes less nutrients than other cooking methods, particularly frying.
Is broccoli healthier steamed or roasted?
During steaming, broccoli comes in contact with water, which can leach more nutrients. Cooking methods that are dry, including roasting, grilling, and air frying typically retain more nutrients.
Recipe Tips
- Bite-sized chunks. Small pieces of broccoli ensure perfect crisping and texture.
- Do it early. You can cut broccoli a day or two ahead of time to save some prep-work when you’re ready to cook.
- Get it hot. Be sure to preheat the air fryer so the veggies get super crispy.
- Toss it up. Shake the basket so the broccoli is cooked on all sides. To ensure a toasted texture, bump the heat up to 390℉ and cook for another minute.
- Go crazy. You can top this healthy side dish with so many things! Drizzle with this Balsamic reduction, add some spice with red pepper flakes, or mix with bacon.
Other Easy Broccoli Recipes
Still have a bunch of broccoli lying around? Here are a few more easy broccoli recipes you might enjoy:
- Roasted Broccoli and Cauliflower
- Easy Broccoli Salad with Bacon
- Roasted Broccoli with Sriracha and Honey
- Oven-Roasted Broccoli with Garlic
- Smashed Broccoli
More Air Fryer Vegetable Recipes
Once you see how easy it is to air fry veggies, try one of these quick dishes next:
- Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts
- Air Fryer French Fries
- Air Fryer Cauliflower
- Air Fryer Asparagus
- Air Fryer Zucchini
- Air Fryer Eggplant
- Air Fryer Kale Chips
Tap stars to rate!
4.79 from 28 votes
Air Fryer Broccoli Recipe
In less than 10 minutes, you can have Air Fryer Broccoli with Parmesan! This crispy and healthy vegetable recipe is perfectly flavored with garlic and Parmesan and just a sprinkle of fresh lemon zest.
Yield 4 servings
Prep 5 minutes mins
Cook 5 minutes mins
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Ingredients
- 1 lb. broccoli 4-5 cups, cut into bite-sized florets
- 2 Tbsp. oil avocado or olive
- 1 clove garlic crushed
- ½ tsp. salt to taste
- ¼ tsp. black pepper
- ½ tsp. lemon zest optional
- ¼ cup Parmesan cheese grated, divided, optional
Instructions
Season Broccoli: Heat air fryer to 370°F for at least 3 minutes. Whisk together oil, garlic, salt, and pepper in a large bowl. Add broccoli florets and stir until they are well coated in the sauce. Sprinkle 2 tablespoons of Parmesan cheese and toss to coat.
1 lb. broccoli, 2 Tbsp. oil, 1 clove garlic, ½ tsp. salt, ¼ tsp. black pepper, ¼ cup Parmesan cheese
Cook in Air Fryer: Add broccoli to the heated air fryer and cook for 4-5 minutes. Shake the basket halfway through cooking. For extra crispy edges: Turn up heat to 390°F, give the basket a good toss, and return broccoli to the air fryer for an additional minute.
Serve broccoli with freshly grated lemon zest and the remaining Parmesan cheese. Enjoy!
½ tsp. lemon zest, ¼ cup Parmesan cheese
Last step! If you make this, please leave a review letting us know how it was!
Tap stars to rate!
4.79 from 28 votes
Video
Notes
Prep-Ahead Instructions:
If needed, you can slice the broccoli into bite-sized pieces a day or two ahead of time. But this dish is best enjoyed immediately.
Storage Directions:
This dish will keep in an airtight container for up to 3 to 4 days when left in the refrigerator between servings. However, after 24 hours the broccoli will begin to lose its crispness. Flash freeze the broccoli by first freezing the broccoli on a tray in a single layer for a couple of hours before placing it in a container. It will keep for up to 6 to 9 months in the freezer. Pop broccoli back in the air fryer for a few minutes to reheat. Or, you can warm them up in a 350℉ oven for 5 to 10 minutes.
Recipe Tips:
- Bite-sized chunks. Small pieces of broccoli ensure perfect crisping and texture.
- Do it early. You can cut broccoli a day or two ahead of time to save some prep-work when you’re ready to cook.
- Get it hot. Be sure to preheat the air fryer so the veggies get super crispy.
- Toss it up. Shake the basket so the broccoli is cooked on all sides. To ensure a toasted texture, bump the heat up to 390℉ and cook for another minute.
- Go crazy. You can top this healthy side dish with so many things! Drizzle with this Balsamic reduction, add some spice with red pepper flakes, or mix with bacon.
Nutrition
Calories: 131kcal, Carbohydrates: 8g, Protein: 6g, Fat: 9g, Saturated Fat: 2g, Cholesterol: 4mg, Sodium: 377mg, Potassium: 358mg, Fiber: 3g, Sugar: 2g, Vitamin A: 755IU, Vitamin C: 102mg, Calcium: 127mg, Iron: 1mg
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Made this recipe?Leave a comment below!
Categorized as:
Air Fryer Recipes, Dairy-Free, Gluten-Free, Low-Carb, Low-Fat, Lunch, Nut-Free, Recipes, Refined Sugar-Free, Side Dishes, Soy-Free, Vegan, Vegetarian
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