Air-Fryer Tricks To Make Broccoli Taste Amazing

Air fryer broccoli is a quick, healthy, and delicious side dish that can be whipped up in a fraction of the time it takes to roast in the oven. With just a couple of tablespoons of olive oil and a few simple seasonings, you can transform boring broccoli into something ultra-crispy and flavourful in just 6 to 10 minutes. The high heat of the air fryer draws out moisture, creating a lovely char while keeping the vegetable tender and packed with nutrients.

Seasoning: use garlic, salt, and pepper for a tasty flavour

Using garlic, salt, and pepper is a great way to season your broccoli and give it a tasty flavour. You can use fresh garlic or garlic powder. Fresh garlic will give a stronger taste, but garlic powder coats the broccoli better and is less likely to burn.

You can also add olive oil to your seasoning. This will help the broccoli become tender as it cooks. A couple of tablespoons will be enough – you don't need too much.

How to Prepare the Broccoli

First, cut your broccoli into florets. You can also use the stems, but the florets will give you a better result as they cook more evenly. Make sure the florets are roughly the same size so that they cook evenly.

Place the broccoli florets into a large bowl and drizzle with olive oil. Sprinkle with garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Toss the broccoli so that each floret is evenly coated.

Cooking the Broccoli in the Air Fryer

Place the broccoli florets into the air fryer basket in a single layer. Make sure the basket isn't overcrowded, as this will cause the broccoli to steam instead of crisping up.

Set the air fryer to around 375-400°F and cook for 7-10 minutes. Halfway through the cooking time, shake the basket or toss the broccoli to ensure even cooking.

Your tasty, crispy broccoli is now ready to serve!

Oil: a couple of tablespoons of olive oil will do the trick

How to Make Broccoli Taste Good in an Air Fryer: Oil

A couple of tablespoons of olive oil will do the trick when it comes to making broccoli taste good in an air fryer. Here's a step-by-step guide:

Step 1: Prepare the Broccoli

Cut the broccoli into florets. You can also use pre-cut florets from the refrigerated aisle of the produce section. Ensure the florets are relatively even in size to promote even cooking.

Step 2: Season the Broccoli

Place the broccoli florets in a large bowl. Drizzle with olive oil—about two tablespoons or just enough to lightly coat the broccoli. You don't need a lot of oil, as air fryers require minimal oil.

Add your choice of seasonings. A simple combination of salt, pepper, and garlic powder works well. You can also add onion powder, Italian seasoning, cumin, red chili flakes, or squeeze some lemon juice for a citrusy twist. Toss the broccoli well to ensure each floret is evenly coated with oil and seasoning.

Step 3: Air Fry the Broccoli

Place the seasoned broccoli in the air fryer basket in a single layer. Avoid overcrowding the basket to ensure proper air circulation. If needed, cook the broccoli in batches.

Set the air fryer temperature to between 350°F and 400°F. Cook for 6 to 10 minutes, depending on the desired level of doneness. Halfway through the cooking time, shake the basket or toss the broccoli to ensure even cooking on all sides.

Step 4: Serve

Once the broccoli is cooked to your liking, remove it from the air fryer and serve immediately. You can garnish with freshly grated Parmesan cheese or a squeeze of lemon juice for extra flavor.

Tips:

• If you want the broccoli to be more tender, add a tablespoon of water to the bottom of the air fryer to create a steaming effect.
• Fresh broccoli works best for this recipe, as frozen broccoli tends to have higher moisture content and may not get as crispy.
• Always keep an eye on the broccoli while it's cooking in the air fryer, as cooking times may vary, and you don't want it to burn.
• For easy cleanup, use disposable liners in your air fryer basket.

Enjoy your delicious and healthy air fryer broccoli!

Timing: air fry for 8-10 minutes at 370°F, flipping halfway through

Timing is everything when it comes to air frying broccoli. You don't want to end up with soggy, overcooked broccoli, so it's important to follow the right cooking times and temperatures. Here's a step-by-step guide to help you achieve perfectly cooked broccoli:

Step 1: Prepare the Broccoli

Before you start air frying, it's crucial to prepare the broccoli properly. Cut the broccoli into florets, ensuring they are roughly equal in size. This step promotes even cooking, so your broccoli cooks uniformly. You can also find pre-cut florets in the refrigerated aisle of the produce section if you want to save some time.

Step 2: Seasoning

Place the broccoli florets in a large bowl. Drizzle them with olive oil—just a couple of tablespoons will do—and add your desired seasonings. You can keep it simple with salt, pepper, and garlic powder, or get creative with cumin, red chili flakes, Italian seasoning, or a squeeze of lemon juice. Toss the broccoli well to ensure each floret is evenly coated.

Step 3: Air Frying

Now it's time to air fry! Place the seasoned broccoli florets in the air fryer basket in a single layer. Make sure they are not overcrowded, as this can lead to steaming instead of crisping. Set your air fryer to 370°F and let it work its magic for 8-10 minutes. Don't forget to flip the broccoli halfway through to ensure even cooking on all sides.

Step 4: Serve

Once the timer goes off, it's time to enjoy your delicious, crispy broccoli! Serve it as a side dish, add it to a grain bowl, or toss it with your favourite pasta. Air fryer broccoli is best enjoyed fresh, so dig in while it's hot and crispy.

Tips for Success:

• Keep an eye on your broccoli while it's cooking. All air fryers are different, and you may need to adjust the timing or temperature slightly to get the perfect result.
• If you want to add some cheese, try sprinkling freshly grated Parmesan over the broccoli in the last 4 minutes of cooking for a delicious, cheesy crust.
• For extra crispy broccoli, you can blot the florets with a paper towel before seasoning and air frying to remove excess moisture.

Preparation: cut broccoli into equal-sized pieces to promote even cooking

When preparing broccoli to be cooked in an air fryer, it is important to cut the broccoli into equal-sized pieces to promote even cooking. This is because smaller pieces will cook faster and ensure that all the broccoli is cooked evenly. If the pieces are not roughly the same size, you may end up with some florets being burnt while others are still undercooked.

To achieve this, you can either buy pre-cut florets or cut them yourself. When cutting the broccoli, aim for pieces that are around 1 1/2 to 2 inches in size. You can also tear the broccoli into mini florets to ensure they are all roughly the same size.

By taking the time to prepare your broccoli in this way, you will ensure that your cooked broccoli is perfectly crispy and tender, with no burnt or undercooked pieces.

Serving: air-fried broccoli is best served fresh, but can be stored in the fridge for up to a week

Air-fried broccoli is best served fresh, but it can be stored in the fridge for up to a week. If you're not serving it straight away, allow it to cool, then place it in an airtight container and store it in the fridge for up to three to four days.

When you're ready to eat, you can reheat the broccoli in the microwave for a couple of minutes, or, for best results, pop it back in the air fryer for three to five minutes. This will ensure it's crispy and tasty, just like when it was first cooked.

If you're looking to add a little extra flavour to your air-fried broccoli, you could try sprinkling on some parmesan cheese, squeezing over some lemon juice, or adding a drizzle of sauce.

Frequently asked questions