This air fryer broccoli recipe is ready in under 15 minutes and tastes amazing. The broccoli is coated in soy sauce, garlic and sesame oil and cooked until it's perfectly crispy and delicious. Broccoli lovers will love this as a tasty side dish or added to salads.
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Broccoli is one of my favourite vegetables and I try to get it into as many dishes as I possibly can. Whether it's a Broccoli Pasta Bake or a creamy Broccoli and Cauliflower Soup, we have broccoli at least twice a week, if not more. Roasted broccoli, though, is one of my all-time favourite ways to eat broccoli.
Using the air fryer to roast broccoli is a game changer, you can achieve a lovely crispy texture while keeping the vibrant colour and the nutritional value of the broccoli. It's ready in a fraction of the time, and best of there's no need to turn on your oven! I add sesame oil and soy sauce to bring a tasty umami flavour to this air-fried broccoli.
🛒 What You'll Need
- Broccoli - I use a head of broccoli for this recipe. It should be cut into florets.
- Olive oil - I prefer a lighter olive oil for this recipe.
- Sesame Oil - This adds that extra flavour to the broccoli.
- Soy Sauce - I use a light soy sauce for this recipe.
- Garlic Salt - For extra flavour I add a little garlic salt, you could also use garlic powder. I would avoid fresh garlic though as it tends to burn quickly from the high heat in the air fryer.
- Fresh Lemon Juice - This lifts the flavours to another level and is added just before serving.
- Other Ingredients Needed - Salt, freshly ground black pepper, red pepper flakes (optional)
🔪 How To Make The Best Air Fryer Broccoli
Please see the recipe card below for full instructions and an ingredient list.
1. Wash the broccoli head then cut it into florets. Don't be tempted to cut the broccoli into small bite-size florets. They need to be on the bigger side.
2. Next, add the olive oil, sesame oil, soy sauce, garlic salt and salt and freshly ground black pepper to a large bowl and mix well. Now add the broccoli florets to the bowl and give it a good toss. Making sure that the broccoli is covered in the oils and seasonings.
3. Finally, place the broccoli in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Cook at 200°C (390°F) for 8-10 minutes. Halfway through cooking turn the broccoli using metal cooking tongs. The broccoli will be brown at the edges and have crispy edges. Transfer the broccoli to a serving dish add a squeeze of fresh lemon juice and serve immediately. We love these with a pinch of red pepper flakes.
👩🍳 Top Tips
- Don't overcrowd the basket - The seasoned broccoli florets should be in a single layer in the air fryer basket. This allows the hot air to circulate each piece of broccoli, resulting in better browning and crispiness.
- Cut broccoli into equal-sized florets - The broccoli should be cut into similar sizes if possible this will help the broccoli cook evenly. Smaller sizes can end up overcooked and even burned if they are too small.
- Turn the broccoli - Flipping the broccoli halfway through cooking will ensure they are evenly cooked.
- Cooking time may vary - This largely will depend on the size of the florets and personal preference. You will also need to adjust cooking times and temperatures based on the specific model and wattage of your air fryer. Keep an eye on them to avoid overcooking.
- Air Fryer - I have a Ninja Max basket style air fryer. You may need to cook this in two batches depending on the size of your air fryer.
🔄 Variations
- Make them cheesy - this air-fried broccoli is also great with a sprinkling of grated vegetarian parmesan cheese, trust me on this one.
- Swap the flavours - if you're not a fan of sesame oil and soy sauce you can easily swap them out for some herbs or have it plain with just salt and pepper.
- Make them nutty - try adding sesame seeds or toasted almond slivers for extra crunch!
💭 FAQs
For best results, I recommend using fresh broccoli. That said if you wanted to use frozen broccoli I would thaw the broccoli first and pat it dry before cooking.
It depends on the type of air fryer you use. My air fryer does not require preheating.
This really is best eaten fresh. If you do have any leftovers, keep them in an airtight container and store them in the fridge. You can reheat them in the air fryer, but please be aware that they will not be as crispy as they were when they were first cooked.
Yes you can, this will save you some time too!
🍽 Serving Suggestions
We love this as a healthy side dish to go with my Cottage Pie or my Spinach Quiche. It's also great added to salads or to dishes like this Falafel Bowl.
More Easy Air Fryer Recipes
- Easy Air Fryer Halloumi Fries
- Air Fryer Baked Potatoes
- Air Fryer Butternut Squash
- Air Fryer Baby Potatoes
- Air Fryer Sweet Potato Cubes
More Tasty Side Dishes
Air Fryer Broccoli
Ingredients
- 1 medium head of broccoli
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ½ tablespoon sesame oil
- ½ teaspoon light soy sauce
- ¼ teaspoon garlic salt
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
- ⅛ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- ½ a lemon the juice of
- a small pinch red pepper flakes (for serving) optional
Instructions
- Wash the broccoli head. Then using a sharp knife cut the broccoli into medium-sized florets.
- Add one tablespoon of olive oil to a large mixing bowl. Whisk in half a tablespoon of sesame oil, half a teaspoon of light soy sauce and stir in a quarter teaspoon of garlic salt, a pinch of salt and a pinch of freshly ground black pepper.
- Add the broccoli florets to the mixing bowl and toss it into the oil mixture. Making sure that the broccoli is covered in the oils.
- Place the broccoli in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Cook at 200°C (390°F) for 8-10 minutes, depending on your air fryer. Using metal cooking tongs turn the broccoli halfway through cooking.
- Once the broccoli is cooked transfer it to a serving bowl and add a good squeeze of lemon and a pinch or red pepper flakes, if you like.
Notes
- Air Fryer - I use a Ninja Air Fryer MAX, it is a basket style air fryer.
- Nutritional Information - all nutritional information shared is an estimate based on third-party calculations. If calorie count and/or nutritional values are important to you, we recommend putting the ingredients through whichever online nutritional calculator you prefer. Calories can vary depending on which brands were used. Each recipe and nutritional value will vary depending on the brands you use, measuring methods and portion sizes per household.
- Weights and measurements - For US readers, I use Cuisipro measuring cups and spoons, and a Pyrex measuring jug for liquids. These are the industry standard. Cup/spoon volumes can differ from brand to brand, for accuracy, I recommend weighing all ingredients if possible for the best results.
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