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This simple and delicious air fryer broccoli is made in minutes with minimal ingredients. Serve this crispy and tender broccoli as a side or a snack.
Reasons to Love This Recipe
- EASY - Minimal preparation needed and quick to make.
- TASTY - Just like roasting broccoli, air frying can transform broccoli into something sweet, tender and so tasty that (hopefully) even fussier eaters are happy to eat.
- ADAPTABLE - I've used a simple coating of olive oil and garlic powder but you can season to suit taste. Flavour suggestions are given below.
- NUTRITIOUS - Broccoli is a nutritional powerhouse and contains a number of vitamins and minerals that babies and kids need for healthy growth and development.
Ingredient Information (with Alternative Suggestions)
- Broccoli Florets - Don't throw away the stem! Use it in stock/soup, grate it and add to salads/slaws.
- Olive Oil - Helps the broccoli to crisp up. You can make it without the oil, but it won't brown as nicely and won't taste as good.
- Garlic Powder - For flavour, you can skip or replace with minced garlic.
- Salt - Skip if making for a baby, however, if you are cooking for older kids, I do recommend adding a little salt because I find it suppresses the bitterness of the vegetable making it more appealing to kids.
Want to try some other ways to flavour the broccoli? Why not try.....
- GARLIC & LEMON: Make as per the recipe but add a squeeze of lemon juice and some lemon zest after cooking.
- TARRAGON & GARLIC: Make as per recipe and sprinkle with some fresh tarragon just after cooking.
- PARMESAN & GARLIC: Add 2 tablespoons of freshly grated parmesan before or after cooking
- CHEDDAR & MUSTARD: Add a teaspoon of mustard to the oil before coating and add grated cheddar after cooking.
- SPICY: Make as per recipe and toss with red pepper flakes after cooking.
Process Shots and Cooking Tips
- CUT BROCCOLI INTO FLORETS & THEN SLICE INTO THINNER PIECES
This not only allows more of the broccoli to be covered in oil and exposed to the heat, making it crispier, but it also allows the broccoli to fully cook before the outsides completely burn.
TIP: Don't throw away the stem, use it in stock/soup or grate it and add to salads or slaws.
- COMBINE INGREDIENTS
Mix everything together in a large bowl (broccoli, oil, salt, garlic powder) before adding the broccoli to the air fryer.
TIP: Make sure the broccoli is fully coated, you may find you need to add a touch more oil the broccoli is still dry.
- AIR FRY FOR 8-12 MINS
These were the timings that worked best for my air fryer, cooking times may vary depending on the make and model of air fryer used.
TIP: Make sure to check the broccoli at 4 mins and give the broccoli a stir / air fryer basket a shake. This makes sure that the broccoli evenly cooks and doesn't burn. Check every couple of mins after.
Serving Suggestions
Air-fried broccoli is best served straight out of the air fryer. It makes a great side dish to accompany many meals like traditional roasts, cottage pie, pasta, hot salads and Buddha style meal bowls. You can also serve it as a snack with a lemon and garlic yogurt dip.
If you want to prepare in advance then I suggest preparing it in the morning but cooking it just when you need it.
You can store leftovers in the refrigerator overnight but it will go soft and won't be as enjoyable. Try popping it back in the air fryer to crisp up or chop and add into frittatas, omelettes on pizzas.
Recipe FAQs
Broccoli can be introduced at around 6 months. It should be cooked to a soft consistency. Broccoli cooked in the air fryer can still be quite al dente inside, so just check this first. I find adding a couple of tablespoons of water to the bowl of the air fryer can help soften.
Yes, it isn't as crispy as fresh broccoli, but it's still tasty and very convenient. Allow the broccoli to thaw for a bit before coating in oil (to help it stick)
Other Air Fryer Recipes
Full Recipe
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Air Fryer Broccoli
Equipment
- Air Fryer
Ingredients
- 1 medium head broccoli
- 1½ tablespoons olive oil
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt skip if serving a baby/ young child. Can be added after cooking for remaining family. Adjust to taste
Instructions
- Cut broccoli away from the stem, into florets. Slice each floret into 2 or 3 slices to produce small even-sized pieces.
- Place the florets in a mixing bowl with olive oil, garlic powder and salt (if adding). Gently toss to coat, making sure the florets are evenly coated.
- Preheat the air fryer to 190°C / 375°F for a couple of minutes.
- Add the broccoli florets into the basket (in a single layer) and cook for 4 minutes. Check/ shake/ flip the florets and cook for a further 4-8 minutes (checking every couple of minutes) until crispy and tender.
Video
Recipe Notes
- GARLIC & LEMON: Make asper recipe but add a squeeze of lemon juice and some lemon zest after cooking.
- TARRAGON & GARLIC: Make as per recipe and sprinkle with some fresh tarragon just after cooking.
- PARMESAN & GARLIC: Add 2 tablespoons of freshly grated parmesan before or after cooking
- CHEDDAR & MUSTARD: Add a teaspoon of mustard to the oil before coating and add grated cheddar after cooking.
- SPICY: Make as per recipe and toss with red pepper flakes after cooking.
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