Air Fryer Broccoli: Fresh or Frozen
This easy Air Fryer Broccoli recipe is a great side dish you can put together in minutes. The broccoli florets are coated in a simple seasoning mix and then air-fried to perfection, resulting in a delicious, subtle-tasting side that you can pair with almost anything. Best of all, you can use either fresh or frozen broccoli for the recipe- which makes it a total winner!
Contents
Why You’ll Love Air Fryer Broccoli
- Quick and Efficient: This Air Fryer broccoli recipe is my go-to because it comes together incredibly fast, making it perfect for those times when I’m short on time or energy.
- Simplicity at Its Best: The ease of preparation means minimal effort is required, which is ideal for days when I don’t feel like putting much work into cooking.
- Versatility with Ingredients: This recipe can be made using frozen broccoli florets or fresh ones.
Recipe Ingredients
- Fresh Broccoli Crowns: The main ingredient of the dish, providing a hearty vegetable base with a satisfying crunch and natural sweetness when air-fried.
- Olive Oil: Aids in achieving a crispy exterior on the broccoli while adding a subtle, earthy flavor.
- Black Pepper: Introduces a hint of heat, enhancing the overall flavor profile of the broccoli.
- Salt: Enhances the natural flavors of the broccoli, making it more savory and delicious.
How To Cook Air Fryer Broccoli?
Step One: Snip the broccoli crowns down to bite-sized pieces using kitchen scissors or a knife. Place them in a large bowl. Drizzle the broccoli with the oil and cover with the salt and pepper. Toss the broccoli around in the bowl to get a nice evenly coating. Meanwhile, preheat the air fryer.
Step Two: Place broccoli in the air fryer basket evenly. Cook at 400 degrees for 8 minutes. Toss the basket halfway and cook for another 8 minutes. Let your crispy air fryer broccoli cool a bit and serve!
Cooking Frozen Broccoli In The Air Fryer
While cooking with fresh broccoli florets is super easy, you might be want to try air frying frozen broccoli. All you need to do is start off with frozen broccoli florets, and toss them in the seasonings right away. Just air fry for a further 5-8 minutes.
Pro Tips For Nailing This Broccoli Recipe
- Grease: Remember to grease your air fryer basket well before you add the frozen broccoli florets and make the air-fried frozen broccoli.
- Cooking Times: The cooking time for this recipe may differ slightly based on the size of the broccoli florets, and the kind of air fryer you are using. I would recommend using either Cosori Air Fryer or Ninja Air Fryer for best results.
- Fresh Lemon Juice: Can be added to the air fryer broccoli recipe for a zesty flavor boost. Toss the broccoli with olive oil, salt, pepper, and 2 tbsp of lemon juice before air frying to enhance taste and add a refreshing brightness.
Substitutions
- Oils: If you don’t have olive oil, you can use avocado oil or any other neutral flavored cooking oil of your choice. Just remember to use an oil that has a high smoke point.
Variations
- Salt & Pepper: I have used a simple mix of olive oil, salt and pepper to season the broccoli florets. You can also take it a step further and add a bit of garlic powder or any of your favorite seasoning to enhance the flavors of the side dish.
- Seasonings: Italian seasoning, onion powder and cayenne pepper are some good choices.
- Add Heat: Red pepper flakes can also be an excellent addition to the air fryer broccoli. They can add a nice kick of heat to the broccoli florets.
- Add Cheese: To make a cheesy version of this broccoli, you can also sprinkle some grated Parmesan cheese towards the end, and cook the broccoli in the air fryer again for a minute until the cheese melts.
Storing Air Fryer Broccoli
- Fridge: If you have some leftover cooked broccoli, you can transfer them to an airtight container and refrigerate them for 2-3 days.
- Reheat: Then, you can either reheat the broccoli in the air fryer or in the microwave depending on your personal preference.
What To Serve With Steamed Broccoli?
- Roasted Potatoes: Crispy spuds tossed in garlic and Parmesan perfectly complement the air-fried broccoli.
- Garlic Mashed Potatoes: Creamy spuds are a great side to serve with broccoli.
- Instant Pot Whole Chicken: Serve your broccoli with rotisserie chicken or another lean meat.
- Instant Pot Mongolian Beef: Serve your broccoli with Mongolian beef as a tasty dinner option.
FAQ’S
What Other Frozen Vegetables Can I Air Fry?
Apart from frozen broccoli, you can replicate this exact recipe and use any other frozen veggie of your choice. I like to use frozen vegetables like carrots, bell peppers, zucchini, baby corn, cauliflower and brussels sprouts are all good options. I like to season these frozen vegetables with some garlic powder and a bit of salt and pepper before I Air Fry them.
Air Fryer Broccoli: Fresh Or Frozen
Ingredients
- 3 Fresh Broccoli Crowns
- 2 tbsp Olive Oil
- 1 tsp Black Pepper
- 1 tsp Salt
Instructions
- Snip the broccoli crowns down to bite-sized pieces using kitchen scissors or a knife.
- Place them in a large bowl.
- Drizzle the broccoli with the oil and cover with the salt and pepper. Toss the broccoli around in the bowl to get a nice evenly coating.
- Meanwhile, preheat the air fryer.
- Place broccoli in the air fryer basket evenly.
- Cook at 400 degrees for 8 minutes.
- Toss the basket halfway and cook for another 8 minutes.
- Let your crispy air fryer broccoli cool a bit and serve!
Notes
Nutrition
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