If an easy side dish is what you’re looking for, look no more than our air-fryer broccoli. Broccoli gets the special treatment before going in the air fryer: a healthy glug of olive oil, a squeeze of lemon juice and a sprinkling of salt and pepper. It’s air-fried to golden perfection, then dressed up even further with almonds and lemon zest. It’s so quick and simple to air-fry broccoli, this side will be on the table before you know it.
Ingredients for Air-Fryer Broccoli
- Broccoli florets: Our air-fryer broccoli recipe calls for fresh florets, but you can sub in frozen here.
- Olive oil: Olive oil helps the broccoli cook and tenderize while promoting browning for a more flavorful dish.
- Lemon juice: Lemon juice creates a bright acidity in the broccoli.
- Salt: Salt brings out the natural flavors of all the ingredients.
- Pepper: Pepper adds a wonderfully deep and piney taste to food.
- Almonds: A sprinkling of almonds adds a nice crunch and a nutty taste.
- Lemon zest: Lemon zest adds a touch more lemony taste and a beautiful bright-yellow color.
- Lemon wedges: Lemon wedges are optional, but freshly squeezed lemon juice on just-cooked vegetables is always out of this world.
Directions
Step 1: Prepare the broccoli
Preheat the air fryer to 400°F. In a large bowl, whisk together the oil, lemon juice, salt and 1/8 teaspoon pepper until blended. Add the broccoli, and toss to coat. Arrange the broccoli in a single layer on a greased tray in the air-fryer basket.
Step 2: Air-fry the broccoli
Cook the broccoli in the air fryer until tender, 8 to 10 minutes. Transfer the broccoli to a serving dish. Sprinkle the broccoli with almonds, lemon zest and the remaining 1/8 teaspoon pepper, and toss to combine. If desired, serve with lemon wedges.
Test Kitchen Tip: We found that cook times vary dramatically, even among the best air-fryer brands. As a result, we give a wider than normal range on suggested air-fryer cooking times. Begin checking at the first time listed, and adjust as needed.
Air-Fryer Broccoli Variations
- Add some heat: Like a little kick in your food? Shake some crushed red pepper flakes over the finished broccoli for a touch of spiciness.
- Grate in some cheese: Toss the warm broccoli with a sprinkling of Parmesan, Gruyere or cheddar cheese for extra deliciousness.
- Drizzle with balsamic: Once the broccoli comes out of the air fryer, drizzle with balsamic vinegar or a balsamic glaze for a sweet, tangy flavor.
- Try different seasonings: There’s nothing quite as easy as a premade spice blend, so grab your favorite from the pantry, and shake it onto cooked broccoli. Everything seasoning, berbere, za’atar and Jamaican jerk seasoning are all great spice blends for this recipe.
What to Serve with Air-Fryer Broccoli
The best dishes to serve with air-fryer broccoli are ones that are equally easy to make. Try our spicy apricot-glazed chicken for a spicy, sticky, sweet dish, or go with something fresher like our aluminum foil-baked salmon. If you need a kid-friendly dish, you can’t go wrong with buttermilk chicken tenders.
How to Store Air-Fryer Broccoli
To store, allow air-fryer broccoli to cool to room temperature, then place in an airtight container for up to four days. Reheat the broccoli in an air fryer or oven set to 350°F until warmed through, about five minutes in the air fryer or 10 to 15 minutes in the oven.
Air-Fryer Broccoli Tips
Can you cook frozen broccoli in the air fryer?
Yes, you can cook frozen broccoli in the air fryer. For this recipe, you may want to cook the broccoli for half the time before tossing in the oil mixture. This will ensure the oil adheres better. Continue cooking as directed, and remember that you may need to extend the cooking time. Keep in mind more air-fryer cooking tips to help all your air-fried foods come out perfectly.
Why does my broccoli burn in the air fryer?
Your broccoli may burn in the air fryer if the setting is too high. Also, make sure you dress the broccoli with enough oil to promote browning instead of burning.
