Air Fryer Roasted Broccoli

For so long, I thought the only way to get amazing roasted broccoli was in a super hot oven. Well, my air fryer proved me wrong! This air fryer roasted broccoli gets those deliciously crispy, slightly charred edges that I absolutely love, and it does it in half the time. I promise, this will be your favorite way to make this simple veggie irresistible!

Make this simple and sweet broccoli recipe al dente or crispy, depending on how you prefer your roasted vegetables.

💡Hint: Try adding or subtracting a couple of minutes from the cooking time – it makes all the difference. Try both to taste test for yourself! 

🥦 Ingredients

This is another great way to cook a classic side dish that’s perfect for all occasions. Serve this with any of your favorite dishes for a low carb, low-calorie option.

✅Broccoli – The recipe calls for half of a head of broccoli for two servings, but if you need more, you can work it in batches. This is also a great dish for leftovers for easy lunch ideas too.

✅Minced Garlic – So much of the flavor comes from the garlic. It’s a wonderful addition to the already amazing broccoli. We usually use one teaspoon, but adjust to your liking.

✅Salt & Pepper – Play with it and add as much or as little salt and pepper as you like. We add some before we cook and a little bit more right before serving.

✅Spray Olive Oil – A light coating of olive oil is what makes the broccoli florets get some crispy edges.

📝 Instructions 

👉Step 1: Cut the broccoli into bite-sized florets and put them in a bowl.

👉Step 2: Spray a very light coating of olive oil on top of florets. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. If you plan on using garlic, toss some in now.

👉Step 3: Lay broccoli on a tray or in a basket with room in between so they get crispy from the air flow.

👉Step 4: Heat up the air fryer to 390°F and cook for 4-7 minutes depending on how crispy you like them. **4 minutes for us is a hint of crispy with a more al dente result** I used my Instant Pot Vortex Plus air fryer and I put the tray on the middle shelf.

Serve and enjoy!

🍲 Variations

While I love this broccoli with just simple garlic, salt, and pepper, it’s also a fantastic blank canvas for other flavors! Here are a few of our family’s favorite ways to dress it up:

⭐Cheesy garlic parmesan – Follow the recipe as written. Once the broccoli comes out of the air fryer, immediately toss it with 2-3 tablespoons of grated Parmesan cheese. The heat will melt the cheese slightly – it’s SO good!

⭐Spicy chili garlic – Add ¼ to ½ teaspoon of red pepper flakes along with the minced garlic, salt, and pepper before air frying for a nice kick.

⭐Lemon herb – Use Italian seasoning instead of just garlic powder before cooking. Once it’s done, squeeze the juice of half a lemon over the hot broccoli and toss.

⭐Asian sesame ginger – Instead of olive oil, toss the broccoli with 1 teaspoon of sesame oil. Season with garlic powder, a pinch of ground ginger, salt, and pepper before air frying. You can even drizzle a tiny bit of soy sauce or coconut aminos on top after cooking and sprinkle with sesame seeds!

⏲️ Cooking Time

There are differences between the Toaster Style Air Fryer and a Basket Air Fryer (affiliate links). The Toaster style with the slide trays seem to cook faster.

I have the Instant Pot Vortex and my mom has the Ninja basket style.

This is why I like to give a range for cooking. Always, always, start with the lower time in the range. 

If you don’t want to go this route, you can always buy an olive oil spray mister. I’ve used these for years and love them! Use the normal jar of olive oil and pour it into these misters and spray using the exact same concept.

🥘 Meal Prep Instructions

Being a hard core meal prepper, there is always something to prepare ahead of time. For this recipe, there are two things that can make this go even faster:

• Wash the broccoli the day before
• Cut the broccoli florets off of the stalk and put them in a sealed container until ready to use. By doing this, I prep veggies for about 4-6 days. So prepping on Sunday will keep the food pretty good through Thursday. 

🐔Expert Tips

🔸After washing your broccoli, make sure to pat it really dry with a paper towel. Excess moisture creates steam, which is the enemy of crispy edges!

🔸Don’t overcrowd the basket/tray. This is my most important tip for anything you air fry. The broccoli needs space for the hot air to circulate. Cook in batches if necessary to make sure everything gets nice and crispy.

🔸Use fresh or frozen broccoli. I prefer the fresh.

🔸Cut the florets to a similar size, so it has an even cooking time.

🔸Do not use cooking spray on your air fryer tray, as it can ruin coating and rust.

🔸Add cauliflower with the broccoli for a fun variation.

❓ Recipe FAQs

🐔 More Air Fryer Recipes

Tried this recipe? Please leave a star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating in the recipe card below and/or a review in the comments section further down the page. You can also stay in touch with me through social media by following me on Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook!