Air Fryer Broccoli

Air fryer broccoli - one of the quickest vegetables to make in the air fryer. It's easy, quick, and a healthy side dish to add to your busy weekday dinner menu or serve as a healthy snacking. It's delicious too.

Broccoli is a cruciferous vegetable. It's similar to cauliflower but green in color. These are also more tender than cauliflower. Broccoli is one of the healthiest vegetables and we must add this to our diet in any form. And an air fryer is the best way to cook broccoli, i.e. air fry without oil or very little oil.

Air fryer in fact is the best way to cook vegetables. It makes the vegetables crispy on the outer layer without losing their moisture. And, without oil or less oil, the vegetables are healthy to add to your diet even every day. Check out my air fryer roasted vegetables.

Why You Will Love This Broccoli?

- It's super simple.

- Vegan and gluten-free

- fast and quick

- easy side dish in 5 minutes

- perfect for a busy weekday dinner

- healthy snacking

What you will need?

Broccoli - Chop into bite-sized florets. 1 serving may take 1 average size broccoli head.

Olive oil - Avocado oil is a great substitute

Seasonings - garlic powder, salt, and pepper.

Lemon - A dash of lemon juice for extra flavor. Though optional.

How to make air fryer broccoli?

- To roast the broccoli, first, wash and clean the head of broccoli and cut it into evenly sized pieces approx 1 inch.

- Toss the florets in a mixing bowl with oil, salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Make sure to coat the florets evenly. If required, using the hands is the best way (I feel).

- Preheat the air fryer at 400F for 3 minutes.

- Then add 2 tbsp water to the basket end (between the 2 layers). This will give a steaming effect as well and stop quick-burning the crown. However, this step is optional. You can also wash the broccoli before adding seasonings to keep it moist.

- Transfer the seasoned broccoli to the air fryer basket. Set temperature to 375 F (190 C) and cook for 5 - 6 minutes. Check and shake the halfway at 4 minutes mark. Be careful and use your judgment to check for final doneness. The timing may vary by 2 minutes plus or minus.

Please note all the air fryers' timing may not be the same. They may vary 2- 3 minutes. So it's necessary to understand the timing of your air fryer first. I use Philips air fryer (affiliate).

Serving ideas for air fryer broccoli -

- serve as a side dish

- add to a burrito bowl

- add to quinoa salad

- serve with grilled chicken

- serve as any side dish

Storage and reheat

You can store the leftover in the refrigerator for 3 days when stored in an airtight container. However, the vegetables won't stay crispy when stored or refrigerated. But you can reheat and enjoy it in your meal.

To reheat, preheat the air fryer at 400 F. Transfer the content into the air fryer and start for 2 - 3 minutes or till warm enough. Even if they won't turn very crispy, they taste equally delicious.

Important Tips for the perfect air fryer broccoli

Cut the broccoli florets into equal sites. Don't keep the stem long as they take longer than the crown.

Add 2 - 3 tbsp water for a steaming effect and stop quick-cooking of the floret crown. Or wash the florets before cooking to keep the moist level high.

Don't overcrowd the basket. Fill as it can accommodate in a single layer possibly.

Shake in the midway. Keep checking to get the right doneness if doing for the first time (till you know your timing for broccoli in your air fryer). If it cooks faster then either reduce temperature to 360 F (180 C) for the same time or till you get perfectly done crispy broccoli.

Recipe - Air Fryer Broccoli

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