Serve air fryer broccoli as a side dish, or add it to your next vegan bowl recipe. This air fryer broccoli recipe cooks in just 6 minutes. Tender with roasted edges, it tastes just like oven-roasted broccoli in a fraction of the time. You'll love it!
I could eat broccoli every day! But, when I discovered air fryer broccoli, it was a game changer. Since getting my air fryer, I love experimenting with cooking different vegetables. And when I can cook broccoli for 6 minutes in the air fryer, I fell in love. This air fryer broccoli recipe cooks the broccoli perfectly on the inside with crispy, tasty edges.
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Health Benefits
One of broccoli's most significant advantages is its nutrient content. It's loaded with many vitamins, minerals, fiber, and other bioactive compounds.
One cup (91 grams) of raw broccoli packs (1):
- Carbs: 6 grams
- Protein: 2.6 gram
- Fat: 0.3 grams
- Fiber: 2.4 grams
- Vitamin C: 135% of the RDI
- Vitamin A: 11% of the RDI
- Vitamin K: 116% of the RDI
- Vitamin B9 (Folate): 14% of the RDI
- Potassium: 8% of the RDI
- Phosphorus: 6% of the RDI
- Selenium: 3% of the RDI
Broccoli can be eaten cooked or raw — both are perfectly healthy but provide different nutrient profiles.
Recipe Ingredients
- Broccoli: Broccoli's flavor can best be described as herbaceous and earthy.
- Lemon: I prefer fresh lemon juice when available. To add more citrus flavor. Zest the lemon as well as use the juice.
- Garlic Powder: Garlic powder, also known as ground garlic, is dehydrated garlic that has been pulverized and turned into a powder.
- Herbs de Provence: There are many herbs (and spices) that can be called herbes de Provence, but the basic recipe includes fennel, marjoram, parsley, rosemary, tarragon, and thyme. Other recipes include (or omit) basil, bay leaves, savory, chervil, sage, oregano, mint, and lavender.
Recipe Ingredient Substitutions
- Purchase pre-cut broccoli florets in the produce section of the grocery store.
- Use frozen broccoli florets. See tips for using frozen broccoli in the air fryer.
- Use bottled lemon juice when fresh lemon juice isn't available.
- Use minced fresh garlic instead of garlic powder.
- If you don't have Herbs de Provence seasoning, make your own or substitute with Italian seasoning.
Preparation
I suggest buying organic broccoli, even though it was recently removed from the dirty dozen list. I also recommend washing it thoroughly regardless if you buy organic or not.
I cut the florets from the broccoli head and reserve the stems for later use for broccoli slaw. I try not to waste any food if possible.
Then, place the washed broccoli in a bowl, squeeze the lemon over the broccoli and toss to coat.
For the best results, toss the seasonings into the lemon-coated broccoli instead of seasoning while the broccoli is on the air fryer pan.
Transfer the broccoli to the air fryer pan in a single layer. To avoid any mess, I always use parchment paper beneath the basket. If you have a small air fryer, batch cook the broccoli in a single layer in the base of the air fryer.
- Preheat the air fryer to 370 degrees
- Cook for 6-8 minutes (depending on the size of the broccoli florets)
Serving Suggestions
Although this air fryer broccoli recipe is delicious without sauce, my kids love broccoli with mustard dipping sauce. Another way to get the kiddos to eat their broccoli is to serve it with nacho cheese sauce.
Recipe FAQs
YES! Air Fryer Roasted Broccoli is great because it uses less oil than roasting in the oven, and the air fryer helps crisp the broccoli. One cup of broccoli contains 61 calories, 2 grams of fiber, and 3 grams of protein.
This air fryer broccoli recipe tastes like oven-roasted broccoli.
According to the Mayo Clinic, it helps to normalize bowel movements, lower cholesterol levels, control blood sugar, maintain bowel health, and aid in achieving a healthy weight.
Tips
- Waste not, want not. Instead, save the broccoli stems for salad or slaw. Grating broccoli stems and adding them to salads and slaws adds a lot of nutrients.
- If you are in a hurry, buy broccoli florets already cut and bagged in the product section of your grocery store.
- Buy organic when possible to avoid pesticides.
- Preheating the air fryer is a great way to avoid undercooked food.
- If batch cooking, with smaller air fryers, prepare a baking sheet and preheat an oven to 325 degrees to keep food warm while cooking the other batches.
- For best results, toss the broccoli in seasoning instead of seasoning while the broccoli is on the air fryer pan.
- Try a variety of seasoning combinations.
- If you don't like lemon, leaving the broccoli wet after washing will allow the seasonings to stick without using oil.
You will love this air fryer broccoli recipe. Eat it plain, with mustard sauce or nacho cheese sauce, or add it to your next grain bowl or salad.
More Air Fryer Recipes to Try!
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📖 Recipe
Air Fryer Broccoli
Ingredients
- 1 head broccoli, cut into equal sized florets
- 1 lemon, juiced
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 2 teaspoons Herbs de Provence
Sauce Options
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 370 degrees.
- Cut broccoli into equal-sized florets.
- Wash the broccoli florets and transfer to a bowl.
- Squeeze the lemon juice onto the broccoli florets and toss, coating the florets.
- Sprinkle seasonings and toss the florets again.
- Place broccoli florets on an air fryer pan, or in the base of the air fryer in a single layer.
- If batch cooking, preheat an oven to 325 degrees and prepare a baking sheet to keep the cooked batches warm.
- Cook for 6-8 minutes ,depending on the size of the florets.
- Serve with mustard dipping sauce or nacho cheese sauce.
Notes
- Cut the florets into equal-sized pieces, so they cook evenly.
- Smaller florets require less cooking time.
- Preheating the air fryer helps to prevent ender cooking.
- Use parchment paper under the basket to make cleaning up easier.
- Save the broccoli stems to grate into slaws and salads, or chop them and add them to stir-fries or soups and stews.
- Choose different seasoning blends to make different versions of air fryer broccoli.
- Kids love the vegan nacho cheese sauce!
Nutrition
Hi! My name is Kathy, I am a retired high school English teacher & vegan enthusiast and blogger. My entire blog is fully plant-based vegan. I truly believe what we eat & how we live determines our health & the preservation of our planet! 🙂
Pam
Sounds yummy! I love broccoli. I usually buy it frozen since no one else in my family will eat it. What tips do you have for airfrying frozen broccoli? Thanks!
Kathy Carmichael
Hi Pam, if using frozen broccoli, turn the temperature up to 400 and add cook for an additional 4 minutes. Make sure to check it, as the sizes of the florets may be larger than others.