Air Fryer Roasted Broccoli
Make crispy yet tender broccoli in the air fryer! They are crunchy on the outside and tender on the inside. Want to know how to keep it from being undercooked? I’ve got a simple tip that works every time.
Air Fryer Broccoli
I’ve been obsessed with my air fryer ever since I got it. It makes healthy meals like this crispy roasted broccoli so quick and easy. Some of our go-to Air Fryer veggie sides are these Crispy Air Fryer Cauliflower, Quick and Easy Asparagus and Air Fryer Sweet Potato Cubes – all family favorites. You can check out even more ideas in my Air Fryer Recipe Collection.
Before the air fryer, I used to roast broccoli in the oven. But let’s be honest, between juggling dinner and everything else, it either never made it to the table, came out burnt, or came undercooked.
The air fryer changed everything. In just 10 minutes, you get perfectly roasted, crispy broccoli every time. And I have a little secret trick that makes it tender inside and crisp on the outside. Keep reading to find out!
How To Roast Broccoli In the Air Fryer
First, cut the broccoli into evenly sized florets. Keeping them similar in size helps them cook evenly.
Toss the florets with a little oil, salt, black pepper, and grated parmesan.
Arrange the broccoli florets in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Don’t overcrowd and cook in batches if needed. I used one large head of broccoli and roasted it in two batches in my 5.8-quart air fryer.
Now, here’s the trick to getting broccoli that’s crispy on the outside but tender inside: add about 2 tablespoons of water to the bottom of the air fryer basket. The steam helps cook the broccoli through without drying it out. Otherwise, you might end up with charred edges but raw centers. Since the air fryer cooks fast, that can happen easily.
Set the temperature to 375°F and cook for 8 to 9 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through.
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When the timer goes off, check for doneness. If they’re not quite roasted to your liking, flip the florets and cook for another minute or two. Depending on your air fryer model, you might need to add a little extra time for those perfectly crisp edges.
How To Roast Broccoli In The Oven
Even though this is an air fryer recipe, I get that not everyone has one. So here’s how you can roast broccoli in the oven instead:
Preheat your oven to 420°F. Toss the broccoli florets with oil and seasoning, then spread them out on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Roast for 15 to 20 minutes, or until the edges are nice and crispy.
Frozen Air Fryer Broccoli
You can also roast frozen broccoli in the air fryer, no need to thaw it first! Just toss the frozen florets with oil and seasonings, then air fry at 380°F for 9 to 10 minutes. No need to add water to the basket for this version, the moisture in the frozen broccoli is enough to help it cook through.
Recipe Tips
- Cut the broccoli florets into similar bite sized pieces so they roast evenly.
- Add a tablespoon or two of water to the air fryer basket to get crispy but tender broccoli.
- Spread the broccoli in a single layer. Cook in batches if needed. After cooking, place all the broccoli in the air fryer and heat up for one minute.
More Air Fryer Vegetable Dishes You’ll Love
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Recipe
Perfect Air Fryer Roasted Broccoli
Equipment
- Air Fryer
Ingredients
- 1 large head broccoli around 1.5 lbs cut into bite sized florets
- 2 tbsp oil
- 1 tbsp parmesan (fresh or pre shredded in a can)
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1/4 tsp salt
Garnishes
- red chili flakes
Instructions
- Toss the broccoli florets in oil, parmesan, salt and pepper. Massage the florets to get the seasonings to every nook and cranny.
- Add about 2 tablespoon of water to the air fryer basket. Place the florets in a single layer on the inner air fryer basket (perforated).
- Roast at 375°F for 8 to 9 minutes. Shake the air fryer basket half way through.
- Garnish with chili flakes and more parmesan.
Notes
- Cut the broccoli into even bite sized pieces.
- Add about 2 tablespoons of water to the air fryer basket to get crispy but tender broccoli.
- Place the broccoli in a single layer on the air fryer basket. Cook in batches. After cooking, place all the broccoli in the basket and heat it up for a minute.
- Leftovers can be stored in the fridge, covered for 2 to 3 days.
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Tried this & it only gave me burnt results
Oh! Sorry about that. Maybe reduce the temperature from 375 to 360. Or try reducing the cooking time for about 5 mins. Shake the air fryer basket halfway through.