How to Make Air Fried Broccoli (3 variations)

Basic Air Fried Broccoli is an easy and fast way to get your veggies on the table! Perfect with a salad, on the side, or just for snacking straight out of the Air Fryer! 

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An Ode to the Air Fryer

I use my air fryer almost every single day.  Yes, you read that correctly.  Almost every single day.  While I love using it to make dishes like my Crispy Air Fried Tofu, Easy Vegan Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts, and Air Fryer Roasted Potatoes with Rosemary, I also love using it just to heat up a bag of veggie nuggets (I’m looking at you, new 365 plant based nuggets!).  It’s so much easier than turning on my oven, waiting for it to preheat, and then cooking the nuggets.  And with it’s handy dandy beeping it keeps me honest about having too many midnight snacks because my children hear EVERYTHING. <facepalm>

Air Fried Broccoli

Lately I have really been into Air Fried Broccoli.  I’ve been on a bit of a broccoli binge over the past year because it tends to hold up pretty well in the fridge for a few days, so it definitely helps space out grocery orders (Be sure to check out my More than 25 Easy Vegan Pantry Staple Recipes and my Emergency Food Prep).  I can also get it pretty reliably in my weekly CSA Produce Box Subscription!  While I love steaming it for a quick meal with rice and Sweet Chili Tofu, cooking broccoli in the air fryer takes it to the next level!

How to Cook Broccoli in an Air Fryer

Cooking Broccoli in the air fryer is really easy.  Like….very!  Simply trim the broccoli into florets, toss with a tiny bit of olive oil (yes, I do use a tiny bit even in my air fryer—I just like it better that way!), and pop it in the air fryer for 5-8 minutes, depending on the size of your florets.  That’s it—easy peasy!  

Air Fried Broccoli, 3 Ways

While I love simple air fried broccoli, I have a couple of variations that I really like too!  (full details in recipe card below)

Basic Air Fried Broccoli—olive oil, salt and pepper

Curry Air Fried Broccoli—Toss broccoli florets with avocado oil, curry powder, agave, and a pinch of salt

Air Fried Broccoli with dipping sauce—One of our favorite ways to eat broccoli is in a black vinegar dipping sauce like we learned at our favorite dumping house Din Tai Fung.  Simply mix up soy sauce and black vinegar, and let it sit for a few minutes with some sliced garlic and ginger (while your broccoli is in the air fryer), and then dip away!

More Vegan Air Fryer Dishes You Will Love!

• Air Fryer Roasted Potatoes with Rosemary
• Crispy Air Fried Tofu
• Easy Vegan Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts

Commonly Asked Questions About An Air Fryer

• Is it too small for a family?  No!  We are a family with a….healthy appetite and we have no problem cooking enough in one pass!
• Does everything have to sit flat on the bottom?  No!  I find that if I give it a good shake every 5 minutes or so it’s no problem at all!
• Is it a pain to get it in and out every time you use it?  I don’t think so!  It’s pretty light weight, so I just keep it in a cabinet and pop it out when I need it.  It’s not heavy like my stand mixer, so it’s no big deal for me.
• Is it the same as a convection oven?  Well, in theory a convection oven cooks similarly to an air fryer.  But I don’t have a convection oven, so a small air fryer is easier than swapping out my oven.    But some of the pros of an air fryer is no preheating, and the ability to cook something even on a warm day without heating up your house!  So for me, it’s a great fit.    

Let’s Make Air Fried Broccoli!

Are you ready for this super easy side dish?  You’re just 10 minutes away from perfectly yummy, fork tender, crispy broccoli!  Serve it up as a side dish, pop it on top of a bowl of greens, or just snack on it straight out of the air fryer basket!  Leave me a note in the comments below and let me know which variation is your favorite!

Print Recipe

Air Fried Broccoli

Basic Air Fried Broccoli is an easy and fast way to get your veggies on the table! Perfect with a salad, on the side, or just for snacking straight out of the Air Fryer! (see notes for other variations)

Prep Time5 mins

Cook Time8 mins

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Keyword: air fryer

Servings: 4 people

Author: Sarah

Ingredients

Basic Air Fried Broccoli (see notes below for other variations)

• 1 pound broccoli florets
• 1 teaspoon olive oil
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

Instructions

• In a medium bowl toss the broccoli florets with the olive oil and salt.
• Place the florets in the air fryer basket.
• Cook for 5 minutes at 370º (the default temperature of my air fryer), shaking once half way through.
• After 5 minutes check for doneness. It you like the broccoli a little al dente it's probably just right! If you like it a little more crispy and fork tender pop it back in for up to 3 more minutes.
• Remove broccoli from air fryer and serve!

Notes

Curry Air Fried Broccoli

• 1 pound broccoli florets
• 1 teaspoon avocado oil
• 1 teaspoon agave
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon curry powder

Toss all ingredients together in a bowl. Prepare according to air frying directions above.

Air Fried Broccoli with Dipping Sauce

• 1 Tablespoon black vinegar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons soy sauce
• 1 piece of ginger sliced thin
• 1 clove of garlic sliced thin
• 1 pound broccoli florets
• 1 teaspoon avocado oil
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

Mix the vinegar, soy sauce together.  Add the ginger and garlic and set aside to marinade while you prepare the broccoli.  Toss the broccoli with the avocado oil and salt in a bowl.  Prepare according to air frying directions above.  When cooked, dip the broccoli in the sauce and enjoy!