Easy Air Fryer Broccolini

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Whether you’re hosting a little house party or are just looking for a healthy side dish to your main, this Air Fryer broccolini recipe will win your heart.

It is a classic, easy to make recipe that needs minimal ingredients and kitchen time, and is super healthy too!

You’ll be using your Air Fryer to put this super side dish together, which is another plus.

What is Broccolini?

Broccolini stems are baby broccoli. They have delicate florets and thin stalks as opposed to regular broccoli.

Broccolini also has a much milder flavor, which is why, it can also be eaten raw.

Remember not to confuse broccolini with broccoli rabe, which has a slightly bitter taste.

What I Love About this Air Fried Broccolini Recipe

While you can always try putting traditional broccoli to use and turn it into a nice side dish, this recipe uses broccolini stalks, which are healthier than the regular broccoli you’ve been using.

Another fact that I love about this recipe is the fact that it needs minimal cook time thanks to the air frying process.

The broccolini comes out perfectly crispy without losing a lot of nutrients, and you’ll have a versatile side dish ready to be paired with any of your favorite meals.

Air Fryer Broccolini Cook Time

Prep time: <5 minutes

Cook time: 12 minutes

Air Fryer Temp: 375 degrees Fahrenheit

Servings: 4

Ingredients For the Air Fryer Broccolini Recipe

To make the Air Fryer broccolini, you’ll need just 5 simple ingredients.

• 1 lbs. broccolini heads
• 2 tbsp light olive oil (or extra virgin olive oil)
• Dash of salt (or Kosher salt)
• Dash of black pepper
• Lemon juice, optional

How to Make Broccolini in Air Fryer

Once you have all your ingredients ready, here’s the process you’ll need to follow to make broccolini in the Air Fryer.

Step 1: Rinse Broccolini

Wash your broccolini and let the water drain. Pat dry using paper towels. Meanwhile, preheat the Air Fryer.

Step 2: Prepare the Broccolini Stems

Remove the leaves off the stems. Cut off the end of the stems and the thicker stalks.

Step 3: Get the Seasoned Broccolini Ready

In a large bowl, add the broccolini, olive oil, salt and pepper. Mix until everything is evenly coated.

Step 4: Transfer Broccolini in Air Fryer

Add to the broccolini to the Air Fryer basket and air fry for 12 minutes on 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Remember to flip the broccolini over halfway to ensure that the broccolini cook evenly.

The key is to get the broccolini to be al dente.

Step 5: Squeeze Lemon Juice & Serve Immediately

Remove from the Air Fryer and squeeze some fresh lemon juice, if preferred. 

Tips & Tricks to Make the Air Fryer Broccolini

Making broccolini in the Air Fryer may be super easy, but having these little tips and tricks handy can really help.

• We’ve used olive oil for this recipe, but you can also use a simple olive oil spray to grease the Air Fryer basket and crisp up the broccolini stalks a bit.
• If you don’t have either of these, avocado oil is your next best bet.
• To air fry broccolini to its best, remember not to overcrowd the Air Fryer basket, and leave a bit of space between the broccolini stalks.

What Other Variations Can I Try to this Air Fryer Broccolini Recipe?

While you can make Air Fryer broccolini in a few simple steps and a few minutes of time, you might also want to try out some other variations to this simple recipe to lend some more flavor to the baby broccoli.

• If you have a few extra minutes, consider adding some minced garlic into the mix. If you don’t have fresh garlic, you can use garlic powder instead.
• Grated Parmesan cheese can be another excellent addition to this Air Fryer broccolini. It lends a nice bit of crunchiness and some cheesy flavor to the classic salt and pepper base.
• If you’re like me and love the heat, you might want to add some red pepper flakes as well. Black pepper has a milder flavor, and adding the red pepper flakes can really spice things up and make the broccolini more flavorful.
• I also like to sprinkle some sesame seeds, a bit of garlic powder, some black pepper and extra sprinkle of Parmesan cheese on the baby broccoli right before I serve.

How Do I Store the Leftover Broccolini?

Your leftover Air Fryer broccolini can be stored in an airtight container and refrigerated for 2-3 days, if not more.

How Do I Reheat Broccolini in Air Fryer?

The best way to reheat this baby broccoli is to air fry it again for a few minutes to get that nice and crispy texture.

Doing this will leave the stalks slightly charred, but that’s actually great!

How Do I Serve the Air Fryer Broccolini

The Air fried broccolini pairs wonderfully with almost any main dish of your choice. You can top the dish with some lemon zest, right before you serve- the lemon zest adds an extra punch of tanginess.

I love teaming it up with a protein or a grilled meat, or even just a rice dish.

You can also add the broccolini into your salad and rice bowls, or into your curries and stews to make them more nutritious and healthy.

More Air Fryer Recipes

Loved trying out this roasted broccolini recipe? Ready to try some more interesting ways to put your Air Fryer to use? Here are some great Air Fryer recipes you might want to try out.

• Easy Air Fryer French Toast Recipe With Blueberries
• Delicious Air Fryer Citrus Butterfly Chicken
• Scrumptious Air Fryer Cheesy Bread
• Air Fryer Potato Wedges: Healthy And Delicious
• Best Almond Crusted Chicken Air Fryer Recipe