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A tasty veggie side dish that goes from freezer to table in no time at all, this air fryer frozen broccoli is a total hit with the whole family. Lightly seasoned then crisped to perfection using a quick and easy method. What could be better?

Previously frozen broccoli florets, resting in an air fryer basket after being cooked until some spots are dark brown and crisp.

🥦 What Makes This Recipe So Good

  • The air fryer cooks frozen broccoli florets to crisp, browned perfection! Cooking broccoli has seriously never been so easy. You don’t even need to defrost the florets first. The air fryer’s faster than the oven, and the broccoli won’t turn to mush like they would in the microwave. Plus there’s basically no prep. It’s great!
  • The seasonings are totally customizable! Southwest, cajun, or Italian seasoning would be delicious. Or, match it with whatever main course you’re planning for a perfect pairing. However you decide to season this broccoli, it’s sure to pair perfectly with any meal you have planned.
  • Air fryer frozen broccoli is the perfect side dish to any meal. Whether you’ve got a busy weeknight, or just want a quick and healthy side, just grab your veggies and toss them in the air fryer.

👩🏼‍🍳 Chef’s Tips

  • Every air fryer behaves differently, so go by the look of your broccoli rather than my specific cook times! Pause your cooking every so often to check how done the broccoli is. This recipe’s written so you end up with crispy, browned air fryer frozen broccoli. If you don’t like your broccoli that done, though, then stop cooking it when it’s as done as you like!
  • My cook times are based on cooking two 12-ounce bags of frozen broccoli florets. If you’re not cooking that much broccoli at one time, you’ll need to adjust your cook time accordingly! 12 ounces of broccoli won’t need to cook as long as 24 ounces of broccoli would. Start checking on them after 5 minutes rather than 10 to make sure you don’t overcook them!
Air fryer frozen broccoli with crisp brown spots piled on parchment paper.

🍴More Air Fryer Recipes We Love

Recipe By: Cheryl Malik

Air Fryer Frozen Broccoli

Prep 10 minutes
Cook 20 minutes
Total 30 minutes
This easy air fryer method is one of my favorite ways to cook frozen broccoli. Super quick with foolproof results!
4 servings

Equipment

  • air fryer
  • large mixing bowl
  • Silicone spatula

Ingredients

For the Air Fryer Frozen Broccoli

Serving Suggestions (All Optional)

  • grated fresh parmesan
  • lemon zest

Instructions

  • Preheat air fryer to 400° Fahrenheit.
  • Add 2 12-ounce bags frozen broccoli florets to large mixing bowl. Pour 1 tablespoon avocado oil over broccoli, then add 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, and ½ teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper. Stir or toss to fully coat florets in oil and seasonings.
  • Transfer broccoli to air fryer basket and spread florets out evenly across basket. Return basket to preheated air fryer.
  • Air fry broccoli 10 minutes, then pause air fryer and remove basket. Shake basket gently to toss and flip florets, then return basket to air fryer.
  • Air fry broccoli 5 minutes, then check doneness. Continue air frying as needed, checking doneness every 60 seconds, until broccoli is browned and crispy.
  • Once broccoli is ready, remove basket from air fryer. Immediately sprinkle grated fresh parmesan and lemon zest onto broccoli florets if desired. Serve immediately.
  • Cook Time: Exact cook times will vary from one air fryer to another. If you’re cooking less than 24 ounces of broccoli, you’ll want to reduce the cook time to accommodate, as less broccoli will cook much faster. Shake the basket and check the doneness of the broccoli for the first time at 5 minutes (instead of 10), then every 60 seconds after.
  • Keep it Dairy Free: Use a dairy-free parmesan or skip it entirely.
  • Keep it Whole30: Skip the optional parmesan and do not replace it with any parmesan alternatives.
  • Keep it Paleo: Use a paleo-friendly parmesan alternative or skip it entirely.
 

Flavor Variations

  • Neutral oil, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper
  • Neutral oil, minced garlic, dried rosemary, salt, and pepper
  • Neutral oil, lemon pepper seasoning, salt, and pepper
  • Neutral oil, minced garlic, salt, and pepper, finished with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice
  • Neutral oil, minced garlic, crushed red pepper flakes, sea salt, and pepper, finished with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice and a sprinkle of lemon zest
  • Neutral oil, minced garlic, Italian seasoning, crushed red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper

Approximate Information for One Serving

Serving Size: 1servingCalories: 44calProtein: 1gFat: 4gSaturated Fat: 0.4gSodium: 592mgPotassium: 102mgTotal Carbs: 3gFiber: 2gSugar: 1gNet Carbs: 1gVitamin A: 1IUVitamin C: 0.01mgCalcium: 27mgIron: 0.3mg
Nutrition Disclaimers
Number of total servings shown is approximate. Actual number of servings will depend on your preferred portion sizes.
Nutritional values shown are general guidelines and reflect information for 1 serving using the ingredients listed, not including any optional ingredients. Actual macros may vary slightly depending on specific brands and types of ingredients used.
To determine the weight of one serving, prepare the recipe as instructed. Weigh the finished recipe, then divide the weight of the finished recipe (not including the weight of the container the food is in) by the desired number of servings. Result will be the weight of one serving.

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