Air Fryer Broccoli is simple and delicious. The air frying process creates crispy florets with tender stems.
Broccoli in the Air Fryer
The air fryer is one of the easiest small appliances to use that imparts great flavor. Follow these tips for making your air fryer broccoli:
First, cut the broccoli into even-sized pieces. This will allow them to cook at the same rate and fry evenly. I like to use pieces that are 1-2 bites when you eat them.
You don’t need to cut the stem parts off. It all fries up nice and crispy, no need for it to go to waste.
Second, drizzle or spray your vegetables with oil before putting them in the air fryer. Toss them with your salt and pepper or other desired seasoning. Be sure to have a single layer and allow for good air circulation on all sides.
Third, when cooking you are looking for an end result of broccoli that is slightly crispy and brown and evenly cooked.
How to Air Fry Broccoli
Prep the Air Fryer: Preheat your air fryer to 400°F.
Prep the Broccoli: Cut broccoli into bite-sized pieces and place the broccoli in a bowl. Toss with olive oil. Season with salt and pepper, toss again to coat.
Air Fry the Broccoli: Place the broccoli in a single layer in the basket or directly on the rack. Fry the broccoli for 6-7 minutes. If you are using a basket-style air fryer toss the basket at about 3 minutes for even cooking. The pieces should be slightly crisp on the outsides when done.
How Long to Cook Broccoli in Air Fryer
Cooking time in an air fryer always depends on the size, quantity, and spacing of your items.
Bite-sized broccoli works best, spread into just one layer and allowing for enough airflow around the pieces. Doing this will give you a cook time of about 6-7 minutes.
I use the COSORI Air Fryer for all of my air fryer recipes. I’m partial to a square basket air fryer as I find it easier to fit more food into the basket. This is a 5.8QT air fryer, one of the largest machines I’ve found that works effectively.
The machine is a bit retro with simple knob controls. It turns out that I really like the basic settings and ability to set the time and temp like a traditional appliance. I’ve used a few different air fryers with pre-programmed settings and I found I was still tweaking the times.
This air fryer is surprisingly easy to clean and the two-part basket locks together (it’s literally impossible for it to detach the way some do) until you open the latch and then push the button to release it. I simply wipe down the baskets with a sudsy dish scrub brush or sponge, rinse and let them air dry on the counter.
There are so many great ways to cook broccoli! Once you’ve mastered air frying, you may want to try roasting, boiling, sauteeing, or even steaming it.
Pan Roasted Broccoli with Parmesan is a classic cheese and broccoli combination that is elevated with a sweet note from a sprinkling of brown sugar.
If you’re lucky enough to have leftover broccoli, toss it into this creamy, rich, and extra saucy stovetop broccoli mac and cheese. You can make it completely from scratch in the same amount of time it takes to cook a box of mac and cheese.
The air fryer is a quick and easy way to make almost any vegetable. Here are some vegetables to try: onions, cabbage, cauliflower, asparagus, sweet potatoes, and even carrots.
Air Fryer Broccoli
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound broccoli cut into bite-size pieces
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt adjust to taste
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground pepper adjust to taste
Instructions
- Preheat your air fryer to 400°F. Place the broccoli in a bowl and toss with olive oil. Season with salt and pepper, toss again to coat.
- Place the broccoli in a single layer in the basket or directly on the rack. Fry the broccoli for 6-7 minutes. If you are using a basket-style air fryer toss the basket at about 3 minutes for even cooking. The pieces should be slightly crisp on the outsides when done.
Nutrition
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