Air Fryer Frozen Broccoli are crispy, delicious, and ready in a snap! Using only 4 ingredients, these family-friendly and healthy little florets of broccoli are the most convenient and time-saving side dish!
Frozen broccoli in the air fryer, you say? Oh yeah, it's the ultimate side dish hack for the busy home cook, like my Air Fryer Frozen Sweet Potato Fries!
There will be no more soggy microwaved broccoli or waiting for a pot of water to come to a boil.
You can have crispy, perfectly cooked broccoli in just a few minutes with an air fryer!
Frozen broccoli cooked in the air fryer is a quick and easy way to enjoy your favorite vegetable.
They're crispy, tasty, and ready in no time. Plus, it's a great way to get your daily dose of vegetables even on the busiest of days.
You can get the same results with Air Fryer Roasted Canned Potatoes!
Table of Contents
🥦 Why You Will Love This Recipe
- Quick and easy to make.
- Perfectly crispy texture.
- A healthy alternative to deep frying.
- Side dish hack for busy home cooks.
- A fun and creative way to make broccoli.
- The kids will love the crunch!
Making broccoli in the air fryer is like having a personal trainer for your taste buds, it's going to whip them into shape in no time!
And if you're worried about the mess, don't be. Air frying is like the Cinderella of cooking methods: no muss, no fuss, and no "broccoli bits" all over your kitchen floor.
So, next time you're short on time or just craving something crispy and delicious, give air fryer frozen broccoli a try.
🥗 Serving Suggestions
Broccoli in the air fryer can be served as a quick side dish to complete a delicious and nutritious meal. Here are some suggestions to get you started:
- Toss it with a simple vegetable pasta for a quick and easy dinner.
- Use it as a topping for a pizza or a salad.
- Add it to an easy quiche filling for a nutritional boost.
- Use it as a topping for a loaded baked potato or a sweet potato.
- Pair it with more side dish recipes to make a main meal such as these air fryer hasselback potatoes.
- Add it to an omelette or scrambled eggs for a delicious and protein-packed breakfast.
- Serve them next to these tasty sweet corn zucchini fritters.
- Add it to a sandwich or wrap for a crunchy and nutritious lunch.
📋 Ingredient Notes & Substitutions
- Frozen broccoli - these can be found in the freezer/frozen aisle of your local supermarket.
- Olive oil - use a neutral cooking oil, olive oil works best. You can use either a cooking oil spray or a liquid.
- Garlic powder - can be substituted with onion powder or another seasoning you may like to try such as cumin, paprika, Italian seasoning or chili.
- Black pepper - to season. I love to use cracked black pepper for the best flavor.
🔪 Step By Step Instructions (with photos)
There is a full and detailed recipe card at the bottom of this post.
Step one: Place frozen broccoli florets in a medium sized mixing bowl.
Step two: Drizzle over the oil and sprinkle over garlic powder and pepper. Toss to coat.
Step three: Place broccoli in the basket of your air fryer. TIP: to ensure crispy broccoli, do not overcrowd the basket, instead, cook them in single-layer batches.
Step four: Set the air fryer temperature to 400ºF (200ºC) and cook for 10-12 minutes, shaking the basket frequently during cooking. Once cooked, remove from the basket, serve and enjoy!
💭 Expert Tips
- Don't overcrowd the basket - cook your broccoli in a single layer, not overcrowding the basket. This will prevent soggy broccoli and it will make sure the hot air is circulating properly and the broccoli cook evenly.
- Shake the basket - to ensure even cooking, shake the basket occasionally as they cook. This will prevent the broccoli from sticking together and ensure they cook evenly.
- Keep an eye on them - keep an eye on the broccoli as they cook, as cooking times may vary depending on the size of each broccoli floret and the power of your air fryer. The tips of the broccoli florets can burn quickly if left too long.
⏲️ Storage Instructions
Store leftover cooked broccoli by first allowing them to cool completely and then placing them in an airtight container and storing them in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
I do not recommend freezing the cooked broccoli as it will turn limp and harbor extra moisture, which isn't as good as when it's freshly cooked!
Reheat broccoli straight from the fridge in the air fryer at 400 degrees Fahrenheit (200 degrees celsius) for 5 minutes or until they are crispy again and heated. Avoid reheating them in the microwave as it can make them soggy.
💬 Recipe FAQ's
They take between 10-12 minutes to cook at 400ºF (200ºC) in the air fryer.
No, you do not thaw frozen broccoli before cooking it in an air fryer. If you do thaw the broccoli, they can turn soggy so it's best to cook them straight from the freezer.
400 degrees Fahrenheit or 200 degrees celsius.
No, you do not need to preheat your air fryer to cook the broccoli. Simply place them in your basket and cook!
If you enjoy this recipe, please consider leaving a ⭐️ star rating and a comment review below. I love to hear what you think and it's much appreciated. Thank you! Your email address will not be published. Sam x
📖 Recipe
4 Ingredient Air Fryer Frozen Broccoli
Equipment
- 1 air fryer
Ingredients
- 3 cups (8oz/250g) frozen broccoli florets
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon cracked black pepper
Instructions
- Place frozen broccoli florets in a medium sized mixing bowl.
- Drizzle over oil and sprinkle over garlic powder and pepper.
- Toss to coat.
- Place broccoli in the basket of your air fryer. TIP: to ensure crispy broccoli, do not overcrowd the basket, instead, cook them in single-layer batches.
- Set the air fryer temperature to 400ºF (200ºC) and cook for 10-12 minutes, shaking the basket frequently during cooking.
- Once cooked, remove from basket, serve and enjoy!
Notes
- Don't overcrowd the basket - cook your broccoli in a single layer, not overcrowding the basket. This will prevent soggy broccoli and it will make sure the hot air is circulating properly and the broccoli cook evenly.
- Shake the basket - to ensure even cooking, shake the basket occasionally as they cook. This will prevent the broccoli from sticking together and ensure they cook evenly.
- Keep an eye on them - keep an eye on the broccoli as they cook, as cooking times may vary depending on the size of each broccoli floret and the power of your air fryer. The tips of the broccoli florets can burn quickly if left too long.
- Store leftover cooked broccoli by first allowing them to cool completely and then placing them in an airtight container and storing them in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- I do not recommend freezing the cooked broccoli as it will turn limp and harbor extra moisture, which isn't as good as when it's freshly cooked!
- Reheat broccoli straight from the fridge in the air fryer at 400 degrees Fahrenheit (200 degrees celsius) for 5 minutes or until they are crispy again and heated. Avoid reheating them in the microwave as it can make them soggy.
Did you make this recipe? Let me know!