Air Fryer Broccoli | How to Cook Broccoli in the Air Fryer (Fresh or Frozen!)
If you love crispy broccoli,
you should try cooking it in your air fryer.
Air fryer broccoli cooks in just about 10 minutes,
so it's faster than roasting it in the oven,
and it's definitely crispier too.
The air fryer actually has a tendency
to almost cook vegetables too quickly,
to the point that they get super crispy on the outside,
but not quite tender enough on the inside.
So the key to making perfect air fryer broccoli
is making sure that you cut the broccoli
into smaller pieces first.
This is important even when you're working
with a bag of pre-cut broccoli florets from the store.
I like to cut the broccoli stems in half
when working with smaller pieces,
and if you have some broccoli florets
that are on the larger side,
I cut those into four pieces to help promote even cooking.
The smaller the broccoli is,
the more tender and crispier it will turn out.
I'm using about 12 ounces of broccoli today,
but you can cook up to one pound of broccoli
in a six-quart air fryer at once.
Out of curiosity, I also tried cooking
a full two pounds of broccoli in my six-quart air fryer,
and it took twice as long
and didn't turn out nearly as crispy,
so definitely don't overcrowd your air fryer
if you want crispy results.
Now that the broccoli is chopped,
preheat your air fryer to 360 degrees.
Add the broccoli to a large bowl
and drizzle it with one to two tablespoons of olive oil.
I also like to add one tablespoon
of freshly squeezed lemon juice,
which not only adds flavor,
but it also adds a little moisture
to help prevent the broccoli from drying out as it cooks.
Also add in a quarter teaspoon of garlic powder,
or you can use one clove of minced garlic instead,
and a quarter teaspoon of salt.
Toss that together until the broccoli feels evenly coated.
I like to use my hands to do this
because I think it's just easier
to distribute the seasonings this way.
Once the air fryer is preheated,
add in the broccoli and arrange it in a single layer.
It's okay if it overlaps a little bit,
but you'll get the crispiest results
if you don't overcrowd your air fryer.
This is what it looks like when you use 12 ounces of broccoli
in a six-quart air fryer basket.
Cook the broccoli at 360 degrees for 10 minutes.
When the timer goes off,
check on the broccoli and test it for tenderness.
It might be ready at this point,
or you might want to cook it
for an additional two to three minutes until it's tender.
Luckily, it's easy to add more cooking time if you need to.
As soon as the broccoli is done, it's ready to serve.
This seasoning is delicious on its own,
or you can also top it with a little Parmesan cheese
and black pepper if you'd like to add even more flavor.
If you're wondering how frozen broccoli
works in your air fryer,
I actually like it just as much as the fresh version,
if not more.
First, you'll need to thaw the frozen broccoli
by cooking it for five minutes at 360 degrees.
At this point, the broccoli shouldn't feel cold anymore.
Now you can toss it with your favorite seasonings.
I'm using a drizzle of olive oil and some salt and pepper
just to keep it simple.
Return the thawed broccoli to the air fryer
and cook for another five minutes at 360 degrees.
That's usually all my frozen broccoli needs,
but you can always add another minute or two if you need it.
The edges should be nice and crispy,
and I think the frozen broccoli turns out
a little more tender than the fresh version does,
so this is one of my favorite ways
to cook frozen veggies now.
I hope this tutorial has been helpful,
and if you'd like the printable version to save for later,
you can grab that over on my website, Detoxinista.com.
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