Air Fryer Broccoli: Crispy, Not Soggy!

If you're looking for a quick, easy, and healthy side dish, look no further than air fryer frozen broccoli. This simple recipe yields crispy, tasty, and nutritious broccoli with minimal prep time and almost zero prep work. All you need is a bag of frozen broccoli florets, some olive or avocado oil, and your choice of seasonings. Preheat your air fryer to between 380-400°F, toss the broccoli with oil and seasonings, and air fry for 10-20 minutes, depending on your desired level of crispiness. That's it! You now have a delicious and healthy side dish to accompany any meal.

Don't thaw the broccoli

The secret to making perfect air fryer frozen broccoli is to not defrost the broccoli before cooking. You can cook the broccoli from a frozen state directly in the air fryer. This saves time and actually results in a better outcome.

First, preheat your air fryer to 400°F. While the air fryer is preheating, place the frozen broccoli florets in a bowl. Drizzle avocado oil or olive oil on top of the broccoli and add your desired spices. Mix until everything is well combined and the spice mixture is evenly coating the florets.

Next, spread the broccoli out on the trays or in the basket of the air fryer in a single layer. For basket models, you may want to spray the basket with avocado oil or olive oil spray first to prevent sticking.

Air fry for 10 minutes. Then, if you have a tray model, rotate the trays. If you have a basket model, shake the basket. Air fry for another 8-10 minutes, or until the broccoli is crispy and golden brown. If you are using larger broccoli florets, you may need to increase the cooking time.

Use oil

Using oil is an essential step in making frozen broccoli crispy in an air fryer. While the amount of oil used can vary, it is important to ensure that the broccoli florets are well-coated. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to use oil to make crispy frozen broccoli in an air fryer:

Step 1: Prepare the Broccoli

Place the desired amount of frozen broccoli florets into a large mixing bowl. It is recommended to use florets of similar size to ensure even cooking. Do not thaw the broccoli before cooking, as this can result in sogginess.

Step 2: Add Oil and Seasonings

Add your chosen oil to the bowl of frozen broccoli. You can use olive oil, avocado oil, or any other oil with a high smoke point. Drizzle or spray the oil over the broccoli florets, ensuring they are evenly coated. You only need a small amount of oil, as air fryers require less oil than conventional cooking methods.

After adding the oil, it's time to season the broccoli. You can use a variety of seasonings, such as salt, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, Italian seasoning, or red pepper flakes. Feel free to get creative and experiment with different combinations. Simply sprinkle the seasonings over the broccoli and mix well to ensure an even coating.

Step 3: Air Fry the Broccoli

Once the broccoli is coated in oil and seasonings, it's time to arrange them in the air fryer. Preheat your air fryer to a temperature between 375°F and 400°F. Place the broccoli florets in a single layer in the air fryer basket or tray, ensuring they are not overcrowded. Overcrowding the basket can lead to steaming instead of crisping.

Step 4: Cook and Serve

Cook the broccoli in the air fryer for a total of 10 to 20 minutes, depending on the size of your florets and the desired level of crispiness. Shake the basket halfway through the cooking process to ensure even cooking and browning. Keep a close eye on the broccoli towards the end of the cooking time to avoid burning. Once the broccoli reaches your desired level of crispiness, remove it from the air fryer and serve immediately.

Using oil is crucial to achieving crispy frozen broccoli in an air fryer. It helps to coat the florets evenly and ensures that they crisp up nicely during the cooking process. By following these steps and adjusting the seasonings to your taste, you can enjoy delicious and crispy frozen broccoli as a healthy and nutritious side dish.

Use seasoning

The seasoning you use on your frozen broccoli in the air fryer is completely customisable. The basic ingredients are olive oil or avocado oil, salt, and pepper, but you can add whichever spices you prefer.

Spices

Some suggestions for spices to add to your frozen broccoli include:

• Garlic powder
• Onion powder
• Turmeric
• Smoked paprika
• Italian seasoning
• Red pepper flakes
• Lemon pepper
• Cayenne
• Cumin
• Curry powder

Cheese

You can also add cheese to your broccoli to make it extra tasty. Try sprinkling on some parmesan cheese, or, for a dairy-free option, use paleo parmesan cheese.

Sauces

You could also add a sauce to your broccoli. Try garlic chilli sauce, ranch yoghurt dressing, or a cheese sauce.

Other vegetables

If you want to mix things up, you can add cauliflower to the air fryer with your broccoli, as the two vegetables have similar cooking times.

Preheat the air fryer

Preheating your air fryer is an important step in the cooking process. It ensures that your food cooks evenly and gets crispy. Most recipes recommend preheating your air fryer to around 400°F (204 °C) for about 5 minutes. However, this may vary slightly depending on the model of your air fryer, so it's always good to check the specific instructions for your appliance.

Once preheated, you can then prepare your frozen broccoli by tossing it with oil and seasonings. This step is key to getting crispy broccoli, as the oil helps to coat the florets and ensure even cooking. You can use a variety of oils, such as avocado oil or olive oil, and season with salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, or any other spices you like.

After seasoning the broccoli, it's important to spread the florets out in a single layer in the air fryer basket. This allows the hot air to circulate freely and ensures that your broccoli gets crispy rather than steamed. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cook the broccoli in batches to avoid overcrowding the basket.

By preheating your air fryer and following these simple steps, you'll be well on your way to enjoying delicious, crispy frozen broccoli as a side dish or snack!

Don't overcrowd the air fryer basket

When cooking frozen broccoli in an air fryer, it is important not to overcrowd the air fryer basket. This is because air fryers rely on convection to get food crisp and achieve that desired golden and well-crisped result. When you overcrowd the basket, the hot air cannot circulate properly, resulting in uneven cooking and the food sticking together. This is a common pitfall for anyone who is impatient and wants to cook as much food as possible at once.

To avoid overcrowding, it is recommended to cook in batches. Although this may seem inconvenient, air fryer cooking is generally faster than roasting or frying, so it won't add much time overall. By cooking in batches, you will achieve better and faster results, as there will be better airflow in each batch.

If you want to cook a large quantity of food, divide it into smaller batches that fit comfortably in the air fryer basket without overcrowding. This will allow the hot air to circulate freely, ensuring even cooking and preventing any sticking.

Additionally, when cooking vegetables in the air fryer, it is best to cook them in a single layer rather than stacking them. This will help to ensure that they cook evenly and get crispy, rather than steaming.

Frequently asked questions