Air Fryer Broccoli

Perfectly crispy and tender Air Fryer Broccoli in just 10 minutes! Quick, easy, healthy, and made without oil, this simple side dish recipe will transform plain broccoli into delicious perfection! Customized with seasonings, it's a perfect meal prep vegetable or last-minute dinner addition even the pickiest of eaters will love! Naturally gluten-free, vegan, allergy-free paleo, and keto!

Broccoli lovers (and haters) unite! This air fryer broccoli recipe will turn anyone into a broccoli lover! Perfectly crispy, tender, and roasted without the wait! The quickest and easiest way to turn broccoli into addicting veggie candy! Season your florets just how you want and let your air fryer turn your broccoli into melt-in-your-mouth crisp perfection! From side dish to snack and meal prep essential, this broccoli will disappear in seconds!

Why You'll Love This Air Fryer Broccoli Recipe

Maybe you have nightmares of soggy mushy boiled broccoli your mom forced you to eat before you could leave the dinner table as a kid. But don't write off broccoli completely just yet! Let the air fryer do its crispy magic and watch as everyone turns into a broccoli-loving devotee! This broccoli recipe is:

• Gluten-Free
• Vegan & Vegetarian
• Allergy-free (Dairy-Free, Soy-Free, Egg-Free, Nut-Free, Peanut-Free, Wheat-Free, Sesame-Free, Coconut-Free, Corn-Free)
• Keto, Low-Carb, Paleo
• Oil-Free + Sugar-Free
• Kid-Friendly
• Customizable Seasonings
• A Make-Ahead & Meal Prep Essential
• Simple Side Dish, Addition to Salads or Bowls, even a Crispy Snack
• Great For Potlucks & Holiday Gatherings to Feed a Crowd

How Healthy Is Broccoli?

With about 30 calories per cup of raw broccoli, this healthy veggie contains 2.5g of protein, 0g fat, and 3g net carbs. One cup contains just as much Vitamin C as an orange and in just a ½ cup serving you hit 70% of your DV! It's rich in Vitamin K1, folate (B9), potassium, manganese, calcium, and iron as well as other vitamins, minerals, and plant compound antioxidants!

Other Fast Facts

• Broccoli contains a sulfur compound called sulforaphane. This natural compound has been shown to help with and reduce diabetes, cancer cell growth, osteoarthritis, and brain-boosting capabilities.
• In the United States, California produces 90% of the broccoli crop.
• There are two types of broccoli, sprouting and heading. Sprouting is less common and produces smaller florets and usually grows as white or purple. Heading broccoli is the type you'll find at the grocery store with large green heads.
• Broccoli was introduced by Italian immigrants to the United States in the 1800s, but didn't become popular until the 1920s.
• The name "Broccoli" comes from the Italian word "broccolo" which means, “the flowering top of a cabbage”.

Ingredients For This Recipe

• Fresh Broccoli Florets: Choose a large fresh raw head of broccoli. Cut the head of broccoli into small to medium-sized pieces of similar size so they air fry evenly.
• Seasonings: Season the florets however you'd like! Keep it simple and all-purpose with some salt, black pepper, onion powder, and garlic.

No Oil Needed

You don't need to use oil for this healthy air fryer preparation. However, that doesn't mean you can't! You can use 2 to 3 teaspoons of some quality olive oil or your favorite oil work just fine if evenly tossed on the broccoli florets to lightly coat them. Don't use too much, otherwise, the broccoli will become mushy and soft due to steaming.

How To Season Broccoli

While you can always keep the flavors fresh and simple, you can season your broccoli, even more, to match whatever dish you'll be paring it with or using it in!

• Chili Powder to make them spicy
• Smoked Paprika and Cumin for a smokey bbq flavor
• Curry Powder to make them fragrant and lively
• Nutritional Yeast to give them a nice cheesy kick
• Dried Italian Herbs to compliment just about any dish you serve them with
• Asian Flavors like sesame seeds, coconut aminos, and ginger
• Go-To All-Purpose Seasoning because you just can't go wrong
• Lemon Juice or Citrus Zest for some bright flavor

How To Make Broccoli In The Air Fryer

1. Wash and thoroughly dry your fresh broccoli and chop it into small to medium-sized florets.
2. Toss the broccoli florets with your choice of seasonings.
3. Add the seasoned florets to your air fryer basket in a single layer (don't overcrowd).
4. Air fry the broccoli at 400°F for 6-10 minutes, shaking once about halfway through, until the broccoli has reached your desired amount of crispiness.

Can You Air Fry Frozen Broccoli?

Yes, you can! The key to air frying frozen broccoli is to put it directly in the air fryer still frozen! Do not thaw it beforehand! Makes things easier for you and is fantastic as a last-minute "pull from the freezer" option. Just preheat your air fryer to 400°F and air fry the frozen broccoli for 10 to 12 minutes (as much as 15), depending on the size of your florets. Make sure there is plenty of room and your broccoli is not overcrowded in your air fryer, otherwise the broccoli will steam and not come out crisp and browned.

How To Store Leftovers

Store any leftover air-fried broccoli in an air-tight container in the fridge for up to 7 days. It's a great veggie to meal prep, store in the fridge, and use throughout the week by just grabbing a handful as needed (cold or warmed again!)

How To Freeze Air Fried Broccoli

You can freeze the broccoli in a Ziplock freezer bag for 8-9 months.

How To Reheat and Recrisp Leftovers

Some cold air fryer broccoli straight from the fridge is delicious. However, if you want to recrisp your leftovers, whether from the fridge or freezer, here are my tips:

• From the fridge: Toss your cold broccoli back into the air fryer and fry at 375°F for about 3-5 minutes.
• From the freezer: Add frozen broccoli to the air fryer and fry at 375°F for 5-7 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through if the broccoli was frozen together in clumps.
• If you happen to be roasting something in the oven, throw the leftover broccoli on a pan to roast up for a few final minutes with everything else you're cooking to get crispy again!

Final Tips & Suggestions

• Depending on the amount of broccoli you're making and the size of the florets that you cut, make sure there is plenty of room in the air fryer. This will prevent them from getting soggy and mushy due to the crowding. You may need to do multiple batches depending on the size of your specific air fryer.
• How to make broccoli taste good? #1 Air Fry, #2 Seasonings! Don't be scared to flavor these veggies up and experiment with different flavor combos! You can make this green veggie pair perfectly with any dish you're making.
• Remember to dry off your fresh-cut broccoli before putting it in the air fryer. You don't want excess water in the air fryer. The broccoli will steam and get mushy instead.

How To Use & Serving Ideas

• Great to add to buddha bowls, grain bowls, or salads
• A simple healthy side to a pasta dinner like ziti or mac and cheese
• A healthy crispy snack to pair with veggie burgers or sandwiches
• With roasted proteins like chicken or fish
• The easiest potluck side for holidays, parties, and gatherings

More Easy Air Fryer Recipes:

• Crispy Air Fryer Baby Potatoes
• Crispy Air Fryer Potato Latkes
• Air Fryer Fried Green Tomatoes
• Air Fryer Green Beans
• Air Fryer Artichoke Hearts
• Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts
• Air Fryer Asparagus
• Air Fryer Okra

Print

Yes, you can turn any broccoli-hater into a broccoli-lover with this crispy, roasted, tender, air fryer recipe!

So tell me:

+ What's your favorite way to eat plain broccoli? I love just eating it raw!

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