Air-Fryer Brocolini: Healthy, Quick, And Delicious?

Air fryer broccolini is a quick and easy side dish that can be made in under 15 minutes. It is a great alternative to oven-roasted broccolini, which can take up to 30 minutes.

Broccolini is a hybrid plant from broccoli and Chinese broccoli. It has a milder flavour than broccoli and requires less preparation time. When cooked in an air fryer, broccolini has a crispy texture and a nice char.

To make air fryer broccolini, first, preheat your air fryer to 370-400°F and lightly grease the basket with non-stick olive oil spray. Rinse the broccolini, pat it dry, trim the ends of the stalks, and cut them into 1-inch sections. Then, toss the broccolini in a mixing bowl with olive oil, minced garlic, salt, and pepper. Place the broccolini in the air fryer basket in a single layer and air fry for 6-8 minutes.

You can customise your air fryer broccolini by adding pesto, balsamic glaze, or soy sauce. It goes well with chicken, turkey, salmon, soups, and pizza recipes.

How to make air fryer broccolini

Air fryer broccolini is a quick and easy side dish that can be made in under 15 minutes. It is a great alternative to oven-roasted broccolini and delivers the perfect texture—crisp on the outside and tender on the inside.

Ingredients:

• Broccolini (also known as baby broccoli)
• Olive oil or avocado oil
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Garlic (freshly minced or powder)
• Lemon
• Optional: Parmesan, red chilli flakes, nutritional yeast, or other seasonings of your choice

Method:

First, preheat your air fryer to between 370-400°F and lightly grease the basket with non-stick olive oil spray.

Rinse the broccolini and pat it dry. Cut off the ends of the stalks and, if needed, trim the broccolini to ensure even cooking.

In a mixing bowl, toss the broccolini with olive oil, garlic, salt, and pepper. You can also add other seasonings like nutritional yeast, red chilli flakes, or soy sauce for an Asian-inspired twist.

Place the broccolini in the air fryer basket in a single layer, ensuring the pieces do not overlap. Cook for 6-8 minutes, checking regularly to ensure the broccolini doesn't burn.

Once the broccolini is tender and crispy, remove it from the air fryer and serve immediately with a squeeze of fresh lemon and a sprinkle of parmesan.

Tips:

• Ensure the broccolini is completely dry before placing it in the air fryer to prevent it from steaming.
• Don't overcrowd the air fryer basket—cook in batches if needed.
• Every air fryer is different, so keep an eye on your broccolini and adjust cooking times as needed.
• For extra crispy broccolini, add a little more olive oil.
• To make it vegan, simply omit the parmesan or substitute it with nutritional yeast.

Air fryer broccolini recipe and ingredients

Air Fryer Broccolini is a quick and easy side dish to make and goes well with almost any cooked meat, from baked chicken to meatloaf. Here is a simple recipe to make this delicious dish:

Ingredients:

• Broccolini (12 oz or 2 bunches)
• Olive oil (1 tbsp) or avocado oil/melted unsalted butter
• Garlic (1 clove, minced) or 1 tsp garlic powder
• Salt (½ tsp)
• Black pepper (½ tsp)
• Lemon (for serving)
• Parmesan (freshly grated, for serving)

Optional Ingredients:

• Red chilli flakes (½ tsp)
• Nutritional yeast

Method:

• Preheat your air fryer to 370-380°F and lightly grease the basket with non-stick olive oil spray.
• Rinse your broccolini, pat it dry, and cut the bottoms of the stalks off.
• Toss the broccolini in a mixing bowl with olive oil, minced garlic, salt, and pepper.
• Add to the preheated air fryer in a single layer. Make sure not to overlap, or else the broccolini won’t get crispy.
• Air fry at 370-380°F for 6 – 8 minutes until tender and crispy. Every air fryer is different, so pierce the broccolini with a fork at the 6-minute mark to check if it is tender and cooked. You can add up to 2 minutes extra cooking time if needed.
• Serve immediately with a squeeze of fresh lemon and a sprinkle of parmesan. Enjoy!

Tips:

• Make sure the broccolini is dry before air frying, otherwise it may get mushy.
• You can make this recipe vegan by omitting the parmesan cheese or substituting it with nutritional yeast.
• For extra crispiness, serve the broccolini straight out of the fryer.

Air fryer broccolini serving suggestions

Air fryer broccolini is a quick and easy side dish that goes well with almost any cooked meat, from chicken to steak. It is a great addition to stir-fries, grain bowls, or pasta. Here are some serving suggestions:

Chicken & Turkey Recipes:

• Chicken Parm Stuffed Sweet Potatoes
• Buffalo Chicken Flatbread
• Balsamic Feta Stuffed Chicken
• Goat Cheese & Pesto Crusted Chicken
• Air Fryer Chicken Thighs (Boneless & Skinless)
• Zucchini Turkey Meatballs

Fish Recipes:

• Everything Bagel Crusted Salmon
• Crispy Salmon with Pesto

Soups:

• Pumpkin Sweet Potato Soup
• Cauliflower Leek Potato Soup
• Crustless Chicken Pot Pie Soup

Pizza:

• Air Fryer Pizza Rolls
• Air Fryer Tortilla Pizza
• Air Fryer Pizza Bagel Bites

You can also add a squeeze of lemon or get creative with some of these suggestions:

• Red pepper flakes
• Vegan parmesan
• Fresh herbs, such as thyme, dill, oregano, or rosemary
• Crushed pecans, walnuts, or almonds

Air fryer broccolini cooking tips

Prep

Before cooking broccolini in an air fryer, it's important to wash and dry the vegetable thoroughly. You should also trim the ends of the broccolini stalks, as these can be tough and chewy.

Oil

Coating the broccolini in oil is a key step to achieving the desired crispy texture. Olive oil is the most popular option, but alternatives such as avocado oil, butter, or even cooking spray can be used.

Seasoning

A simple combination of salt and pepper is often used to season broccolini, but garlic is also a popular addition, whether in the form of fresh cloves, minced garlic, or garlic powder. Other seasonings include onion powder, red chilli flakes, and nutritional yeast.

Cooking

When cooking broccolini in an air fryer, it's important not to overcrowd the basket, as this can cause the vegetable to steam rather than crisp. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cook the broccolini in batches. Cooking time will vary depending on your air fryer, but on average, it should take around 6-8 minutes at 370-380°F.

Serving

Air fryer broccolini is best served fresh, but leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to four days. To reheat, use an air fryer if possible, to restore the crispy texture.

Variations

While broccolini is delicious with simple seasoning, you can also experiment with different flavours. Try adding a squeeze of lemon or lime, or a drizzle of honey. For a spicy kick, add a pinch of cayenne pepper, or sprinkle on some red pepper flakes. For a cheesy flavour, add some parmesan or nutritional yeast.

Air fryer broccolini storage and reheating instructions

Air fryer broccolini is best served straight out of the fryer for maximum crispiness. However, you can store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

To reheat, use an air fryer or a microwave. For best results, use an air fryer set to 350ºF for 3 to 6 minutes until warm and crisp. If you are short on time, you can microwave for 30 to 45 seconds until warm, but this will affect crispiness.

Frequently asked questions