Air Fried Broccoli

Sometimes you just need a quick and easy side dish to go with dinner, and this air fried broccoli with lemon and parmesan is SO easy! We make it at least once a week for dinner to go with air fried salmon. The broccoli comes out tender, with crispy carmelized edges. It is similar to oven roasted brocoli, but only takes a fraction of the time (just 6 minutes!) since most air friers cook faster than an oven. Check out our air fryer broccoli recipe below, or scroll through for some additional tips and tricks.

Should I boil broccoli before frying?

Absolutely not! Broccoli will cook entriely on it’s own in an air fryer. Plus, the texture of air fried broccoli has a nice softened crunch to it with caramelized edges, similar to oven baking broccoli.

Is air fried broccoli healthy?

Air fried broccoli is absolutely still good for you! Air frying isn’t the same as deep frying as it uses hot air to cook food. And air frying uses 70% less oil than deep frying. Air fried broccoli is more similar to roasting broccoli in the oven, only it takes less time to cook in an air fryer.

Why does my broccoli burn in the air fryer?

Broccoli can burn and crisp really fast in an air fryer. If your broccoli is burning in the air fryer, you may need to use more oil, or try air frying at a lower temperature such as 375.

How To Air Fry Broccoli

1. Prep Broccoli

First, start by rinsing the broccoli under cool water to wash and dabbing it dry with a paper towel. Then, cut the broccoli florets into smaller pieces. You can do this with a knife and cutting board, or just tear them apart by hand. Discard or compost the thick broccoli stems.

2. Season Broccoli 

Next, season broccoli florets with oil and spices. There are two ways to to this.

Spray Oil: Using a spray avocado oil is what I do most weeknights when I want to save time. If you have an avocado oil spray, simply add the broccoli to your air fryer basket and generously spray with the oil being sure to coat all sides of the broccoli. Season with salt and pepper as well as any additional spices you enjoy. 

Regular Oil: Add broccoli florets to a plastic zippered bag, such as Ziploc. Then add one Tablespoon of cooking oil to the bag along with 1/4 teaspoon of salt and a 1/4 teaspoon of pepper. You can also add additional spices that you enjoy Zip up and close the bag, then shake it vigourously to coat the broccoli in oil and spices.

3. Air Fry Broccoli

Air fry broccoli at 390 degrees for 5-7 minutes. Check on the broccoli midway through cooking and give the air fryer basket a little shake to stir them up and ensure even cooking.

Once broccoli is done air frying, season with salt and pepper, and top with parmesan cheese.

OPTIONAL: Squeeze a wedge of lemon juice over the air fried broccoli to add a bit of acidity and flavor. Add a pinch of red pepper flakes for added spice.

Here’s an easy Italian-inspired air fried broccoli recipe for you below!