Air Fryer Broccoli is tossed with avocado oil, spices, and shredded parmesan cheese for a crispy, flavorful side dish or healthy snack. This quick and easy veggie side dish is ready in less than 15 minutes! (This recipe is gluten-free and easily customizable.)
Try more yummy air fryer vegetable recipes like our Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts and these Air Fryer Asparagus next!
Air fryer broccoli is fresh broccoli chopped into tender bite-size pieces. They’re packed with flavor and have a light crunch around the edges. If you love roasted broccoli, you’ll love this quick alternative. Less hassle, less clean up, and no oven!
Say goodbye to boring, bland broccoli. With the crispiness of the florets and the toasty taste of the parmesan, this is a delightfully addictive side dish!
Reasons This Air Fryer Broccoli Recipe Works
- Super Easy! You’ll always have a quick vegetable on the table in time for dinner. Just clean, cut, toss with oil and seasonings, and air fry. It’s that simple!
- Nutritious! Made with less oil than roasted or fried broccoli, air fryer broccoli is a healthy side dish. Broccoli is packed with fiber and vitamins, plus it’s a great low-carb addition to dinner.
- Perfect for Meal Prep! Add it to a variety of preplanned meals throughout the week.
- Easily Customizable. Make it vegan, whole30, and paleo by simply omitting the cheese!
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Fresh broccoli florets: They should be cut/torn into bite-size pieces. Make sure they are roughly the same size for even cooking.
- Avocado oil: Use this or olive oil.
- Seasoning: I use a tasty blend of garlic powder, Herbs de Provence, sea salt, and freshly ground black pepper.
- Parmesan cheese: This is added to the broccoli before the air fryer and after as garnish.
- Lemon juice: This adds a pop of brightness to this side dish.
How to Make Air Fryer Broccoli
WASH, TRIM & SEASON. Wash and trim the fresh broccoli florets. Then transfer them to a large bowl. Add spices, parmesan cheese, and cooking oil, and toss until all the florets are evenly coated.
AIR FRY. Add broccoli florets evenly to the air fryer basket in a single layer. Then cook at 380°F for 6-8 minutes, flipping halfway through.
GARNISH & SERVE. Once the timer goes off, remove the broccoli and place on a serving dish. Finally, drizzle fresh lemon juice over the broccoli and add a sprinkle of fresh parmesan cheese. Enjoy!
Tips To Nail the Recipe
- Air fryer broccoli is best served fresh so if you’re making a meal, prepare this just before everything else is done.
- This recipe only requires a couple of tablespoons of oil. Don’t douse the broccoli in oil or it could burn. But make sure the oil evenly coats the florets for crispy air fryer broccoli every time!
- It’s tempting to just dump the broccoli in the air fryer and throw your seasonings on top but it’s best to season broccoli in a bowl. This way you can ensure the florets are evenly coated.
- Work in batches if necessary. If you have a smaller air fryer, you don’t want to overcrowd the air fryer basket. The broccoli should lay in single later with a bit of space between each floret.
Variations
- Want to make this vegan? Use nutritional yeast instead of parmesan. It has a cheesy taste and crisps nicely.
- Spice things up by adding red pepper flakes and chili oil.
- Make an Asian-inspired broccoli by tossing the florets in sesame oil and soy sauce (or coconut aminos), then garnish with sesame seeds.
- Make it saucy! Serve this as an appetizer or snack with a side of dipping sauce like this Vegan Chipotle Cashew Cream.
How to Serve Air Fryer Broccoli
Air-fried broccoli works well as a snack but if you want to pair it with something to make it a meal, here are some ideas!
- Pasta: Want a vegan meal? This would be delicious with Cashew Cream Pasta.
- Wild Rice: For a hearty vegetarian meal, serve it with this Wild Rice Salad.
- Protein: Serve air fryer broccoli with chicken, fish, or any protein you’d prefer. (Like Air Fryer Chicken Thighs or Air Fryer Salmon.)
- Salad: Throw cooked broccoli in a Superfood Salad for some added nutrients and texture.
Storage and Reheating
Store leftover broccoli in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week. When you are ready to reheat, throw them in the air fryer for 3 minutes at 350°F.
I don’t recommend freezing air-fried broccoli because it gets mushy when reheated.
Common Questions
Can I air fry frozen broccoli?
You can but it won’t be as crisp as fresh broccoli that has been air fried.
How long does broccoli take in the air fryer?
Air fryer broccoli takes approximately 6-8 minutes to cook at 380°F. Keep in mind that the cooking time may vary depending on your air fryer.
Is air fried broccoli still healthy?
Yes. All cooked vegetables may lose some nutritional value during the cooking process. However, air frying is still a healthier option when compared to other methods.
I Hope You Enjoy This Air Fryer Broccoli Recipe!
If you try the recipe, don’t forget to rate the recipe and let me know what you think in the comments. Leave a quick review & star rating ★ below! Take pictures, tag #goodfoodbaddie, and share them with me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest! I love seeing my recipes come to life in your kitchen.
More Side Dish Air Fryer Recipes To Try!
- Easy Air Fryer Potatoes
- Air Fryer Green Beans
- Best Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries
- Air Fryer Butternut Squash
- Crispy Air Fryer Chickpeas
Air Fryer Broccoli
Ingredients
- 12 oz Broccoli florets cut/torn into bite-size pieces
- 2 tbsp Avocado oil
- ¼ tsp Garlic powder
- ½ tsp Herbs de Provence (or Italian Seasoning_
- ¼ tsp Sea salt
- ⅛ tsp Freshly ground black pepper
- ¼ cup Parmesan cheese optional
- 1 tbsp Fresh Squeezed Lemon juice
Instructions
- Wash and trim the fresh broccoli florets. Transfer them into a large bowl. Add spices, parmesan cheese, and cooking oil, and toss until all the florets are evenly coated.
- Add broccoli florets evenly to the air fryer basket in a single layer. Cook at 380°F for 6-8 minutes, flipping halfway through.
- Once the timer goes off, remove the broccoli and place on a serving dish. Drizzle lemon juice over the broccoli and a sprinkle of fresh parmesan cheese. Enjoy!
