CRISPY AIR FRYER BROCCOLI

When it comes to most vegetables my go-to method of cooking is roasting. I love the sweetness it brings out in the vegetables. And while I’m not a fan of boiled or steamed broccoli I LOVE it roasted. After recently purchasing an air fryer I decided to try cooking broccoli in it. It’s now the only method I use. It cooks the stalks perfectly al dente while slightly charring and crisping the florets just the way I like it. Air fryer broccoli is so easy and a lot quicker than cooking it in the oven.

What Ingredients Do I Need To Make Air Fryer Broccoli?

You only need a handful of ingredients to make this broccoli recipe, most of which you probably have in your pantry.

• Broccoli – One whole head of fresh broccoli.
• Extra virgin olive oil
• Garlic – 1 Clove.
• Chili flakes – Optional.

How Do You Make This Recipe?

It’s a very simple process. You don’t even need to preheat the air fryer. I like to start with raw broccoli (although you can cook frozen broccoli if you prefer – see below) cut into 1-inch pieces. After washing and draining the broccoli well, coat it with a little extra virgin olive oil mixed with garlic, chili flakes (optional), and S &P and mix until the broccoli is well coated. Add the broccoli to the fryer basket. Set the temperature to 400F (205C) and set the timer to 7 -10 minutes. Check for doneness after 5 minutes and continue cooking if it needs more or if you like your broccoli a little crispier. If you only have one layer of broccoli there is no need to turn the broccoli as the air circulates under the basket. However, if you have more you might want to shake the basket or stir the broccoli to ensure that it all cooks evenly.

Crispy Air Fryer Broccoli

A quick & easy way to prepare perfectly cooked al dente broccoli with crispy charred edges.

www.comfortandpeasant.com

5 from 5 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 10 minutes mins

Total Time 20 minutes mins

Course Dinner, Side Dish

Cuisine American, Italian

Servings 4

Equipment

• 1 Air Fryer

Ingredients

  

• 330 g (1lb) fresh broccoli (cut in medium-sized pieces)
• 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• 1 clove garlic (finely chopped)
• 1/2 tbsp (7g) chili flakes (optional)
• 1/2 tsp (3g) salt
• 1/4 tsp (1.5g) pepper

Instructions

 

• In a medium-sized bowl add garlic, chili flakes & salt & pepper to the EVOO & combine. Allow to rest for 10 minutes for the flavors to meld.
• Add the broccoli to the bowl with the EVOO mixture and toss to combine well.
  
• Add the broccoli to the air fryer and set the timer for 10 minutes. Cook at 205C (400F) for 5 minutes then stir broccoli or shake the basket. Continue cooking for another 5 – 7 minutes until preferred doneness. The broccoli is done when the edges are crispy but the stalk is still fairly firm.
  
• Remove the broccoli from the air fryer & arrange on plates.
  

Notes

See the “How To Make This” & “Tips For Success” sections above the recipe for more detailed information on the process. 

Keyword brocolli, chili flakes, Easy, garlic, olive oil, quick

Variations;

There are numerous ways you can customize this recipe. Sometimes I like to grate fresh Parmigiano Reggiano on the broccoli after it comes out of the air fryer. You could also drizzle it with a little lemon juice and/or grate a little lemon zest on top. If you don’t like heat leave the chili flakes out, it will still be delicious. If you like things sweet you could add a little drizzle of honey to the cooked broccoli. It’s also nice tossed in a simple tahini dressing. Of course, you can also swap out the EVOO for your oil of choice such as coconut, avocado, or vegetable oil.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS;

Can I make my broccoli extra crispy in the air fryer? Absolutely! Just cook it a little longer checking frequently for doneness until it's how you like it.

Do I need to preheat the air fryer? There is no need to preheat if you are cooking raw broccoli, however, if you are cooking frozen broccoli you may want to preheat the fryer for a few minutes first (see below).  

Can I cook frozen broccoli in the air fryer? Yes but for best results don't thaw the vegetables first. Cook straight from frozen. Cook them at 400F (205C) for 10 minutes and then stir or shake the basket and cook again until desired doneness. This could be another 10 - 15 minutes depending on how much broccoli you are cooking and the size and wattage of your air fryer.  

Leave A Comment & Rate This Recipe

If you like this recipe I would be so grateful if you left a star rating along with a comment! Ratings help other people find my recipes so they can enjoy them too. Thanks! I appreciate your support!

For more easy vegetable recipes check out my Best Roasted Asparagus or Roasted Fennel With Parmesan recipes.