Air Fryer Broccoli

close up shot of pieces of broccolis on a plate

Whip up a batch of 10-minute crispy Air Fryer Broccoli for a quick, delicious side dish. Fresh broccoli florets are seasoned and air fried to perfection, resulting in a flavorful and nutritious addition to any meal.

Prep Time5

Cook Time10

Total Time15

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Air Fryer Broccoli Recipe

Servings:

Calories: 124kcal

Ingredients

4 cups fresh broccoli florets, from 2 small or 1 large head of broccoli cut into bite sized (roughly 1½-2 inch) pieces
3 tablespoons olive oil
½ teaspoon garlic salt
¼ teaspoon black pepper
2 tablespoons water

Optional Garnish

Fresh lemon wedges
Shredded parmesan cheese

Instructions

To a large mixing bowl, add the fresh broccoli florets, olive oil, garlic salt, and black pepper. Toss to evenly coat the broccoli florets in the oil and seasonings.
Preheat the air fryer at 375*F for 3 minutes, then add the water to the bottom of the preheated air fryer. This helps to steam the broccoli and makes it more tender when cooked.
Add the seasoned broccoli florets to the basket of the air fryer in a single layer. Cook for 5 minutes, toss the broccoli so that it is evenly cooked, then continue to air fry for another 3-5 minutes or until cooked through and lightly browned and crisp on the edges. The total amount of time needed will vary depending on the size of your florets.
Transfer the air-fried broccoli to a serving bowl and garnish with an optional sprinkle of shredded parmesan cheese and fresh lemon wedges to squeeze over the broccoli if desired.

Notes

A COSORI brand 6.8 quart sized Air Fryer was used to test and develop this recipe. You may need to adjust this recipe slightly for your air fryer.
When preparing your broccoli, be mindful of the size of the florets you cut. They will shrink in size a little when air-fried. You don't want to cut them too small, but keep in mind that if they are on the larger side then they will take a couple extra minutes to cook.
Not all air fryers can hold water. Make sure this is a feature your air fryer has before you add water! If your air fryer has wire racks and baking trays instead of a basket, you may be able to add a shallow pan of water to the lowest rack to provide steam in your air fryer.
The total amount of time needed will vary depending on the size of your florets. After about 8 minutes, pierce your broccoli with a small fork. Continue to check every minute until the broccoli can be pierced with a fork, but is tender-crisp, not mushy.

Nutrition