Crispy Air Fryer Broccoli Recipe

The air fryer is one of the best things to ever happen to kitchen appliances. Not only are most of them super affordable, but they can efficiently heat frozen foods and cook meats like chicken or even steak. They're even great for cooking vegetables. 

If you love broccoli but are looking for another way to cook it, the air fryer is perfect. It crips up the veggies very nicely, and they taste like they're fried, but they're actually low in oil.

Recipe developer Miriam Hahn of YouCare-Selfcare came up with this incredible recipe for air-fried broccoli. It's simple, but has plenty of spices that make it so flavorful. "Broccoli is honestly one of the healthiest vegetables you can eat," Hahn says. "Because it is a cruciferous vegetable, it has sulforaphane in it, which is a powerful compound that helps protect against cancer."

Hahn agrees that the air fryer is a great way to give the broccoli a simple twist. "I eat broccoli all different ways, mostly steamed, so this is a nice change and super easy," she says. "It is so crispy, and the edges get charred, making it so delicious. I honestly can eat a whole bag of broccoli myself when it is cooked this way."

Keep scrolling to find out how to make this yummy air fryer broccoli.

The first item that you need to add to your shopping list is broccoli florets. "Interesting side note, broccoli is not on the EWG dirty dozen list, so this isn't one of the vegetables that needs to be organic," Hahn says. "I typically don't like to buy vegetables pre-packaged, but I do like to buy the cut up bagged broccoli. I find that it ends up being fresher than the whole bunches sitting out." Who knew? 

In addition, you will need olive or avocado oil and a few spices. These include garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Last but not least are avocado oil and lemon for garnish.

Take out the broccoli and a knife and get ready to do some trimming. Make sure to trim the broccoli florets so they are all about the same size. This will help them to cook more evenly. If you have some huge pieces and some that are super small, the result won't be great because the smaller pieces will burn and the bigger ones will be undercooked.

Even if you buy the pre-cut broccoli, it sometimes still needs to be cut in half if the pieces are large. 

Once all of your broccoli is cut, take out a large bowl and throw in the chopped vegetable. Drizzle the olive oil on top, followed by garlic powder, salt, and pepper. This provides the broccoli with the perfect amount of seasoning and flavor. Give the bowl a few good tosses to combine everything. Try to make sure that each piece is coated with seasoning and oil. 

Now, it's time to get out your air fryer. Spray the bottom with avocado oil spray. If there's another type of cooking spray you would like to use, Hahn says that is fine. Add about half of the broccoli to the tray and spread it in an even, single layer. Set the remainder of the broccoli to the side because you will need that shortly when you make the second batch.

Set the temperature of the air fryer to 380 F. Next, turn the timer on for eight minutes. At the four-minute mark, take the tray out and shake the broccoli. This helps move the broccoli so it can cook on all sides. Wait for the remainder of the timer, and then take the first batch out. 

Set it aside and then repeat the same steps with the rest of the broccoli. Once the second batch is finished, you're ready to serve. 

Now, it's time to dig in! You can put the broccoli on the side of each plate or in a big bowl to serve. Hahn recommends using lemon slices as a garnish, but that's totally up to you if you want to add it or omit it. 

"You can serve this with anything," Hahn shares. "It makes a great side dish, and even broccoli haters will like it this way."

It's best to eat the broccoli right away but Hahn says, "If you do save it, I suggest popping it back into the air fryer to reheat. It will crisp up again."