Our Frozen broccoli in an air fryer recipe is a must-have for busy cooks. Preparing healthy meals can be time-consuming, but with this simple recipe, you can transform frozen broccoli into a delicious side dish in no time. With minimal effort and cleanup, the air fryer does the work for you; all you have to do is set it and forget it! You’ll have tasty, crispy broccoli in minutes without turning on your oven.

A serving spoon with a broccoli floret on and a plate of freshly air fried broccoli on.

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When you first start testing air fryer recipes, it’s typically frozen vegetables like frozen fries, frozen onion rings, or frozen Brussels sprouts that you’ll give a go.

This air fryer frozen broccoli florets recipe is simple to make; it tastes good, amkes a change from boiled broccoli, and gives you the confidence to try other recipes!

Why you’ll love this easy recipe

Air frying is cost-efficient, and there’s no need to turn your kitchen oven on.
You can season the frozen broccoli florets to suit your tastes.
A perfect easy side dish or a healthy snack, it’s your choice!
All the ingredients are 100% vegetarian and vegan.

Ingredients for air-fried frozen broccoli

You’ll need all the ingredients shown in the photograph below.

Ingredients needed, frozen broccoli florets, olive oil, garlic powder, kosher salt, and pepper.

How to cook frozen broccoli in an air fryer with step-by-step instructions

Frozen vegetables are easy to cook in an air fryer, and broccoli is no exception, here’s how to do it.

A full printable recipe and the measurements in both US customary and metric are available in the recipe card below.

Preheat the air fryer to 400°F/200°C.

In a large bowl, add your frozen broccoli florets, olive oil (or avocado oil), garlic powder, kosher salt, and pepper, and toss to coat evenly.

Frozen broccoli florets in a mixing bowl with seasoning. — Toss frozen broccoli florets, olive oil, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.

Broccoli florets in an air fryer basket. — Place the broccoli in the air fryer basket in a single layer.

Cooked florets in an air fryer basket. — Cook for 10 minutes, shaking halfway through, then cook more for extra crispiness.

Add a tablespoon of water to the bottom of the air fryer basket to prevent the broccoli from burning.

Add your frozen broccoli florets to the air fryer basket in a single layer and cook for 10 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through to ensure an even cook.

Then cook the broccoli in the air fryer for 5 minutes, it’ll turn a lovely golden-brown color, or until you get your roasted broccoli to your preferred level of crispiness.

Serve immediately with an optional garnish of fresh lemon or vegetarian Parmesan cheese.

Enjoy your air-fried frozen broccoli!

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Take a Look

Broccoli freshly cooked and ready to eat.

Recipe notes and expert tips

Burning
Keep an eye on your broccoli in the air fryer to ensure it doesn’t burn, if you want a softer floret, add a tablespoon of water to the basket before cooking.
Fresh broccoli
Got fresh? This is a great fresh air fryer broccoli recipe.
Watch closely
Every air fryer cooks differently, different brands and capacities can mean that your food will need a longer or shorter cooking time, so make sure you keep a close eye on them.
Storage
Store any leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

How to store leftover broccoli

Store in an airtight container for up to 3 days, it will lose a slight crispiness.

What to serve with broccoli

You can serve your broccoli as a side dish to mushroom wellington, lentil loaf, vegetarian air fryer pukka pie, or nut roast.

Or why not eat it as a snack and dip it in your favorite dipping sauces like sour cream and chives, sriracha aioli, garlic dip, or peri-peri sauce?

Do I need to thaw frozen broccoli before air frying it?

No, you don’t. You can cook broccoli directly from frozen, which turns out super crispy too!

Why did my broccoli burn in the air fryer?

There are two reasons why your air-fried broccoli would burn.

You didn’t coat the broccoli florets with enough olive oil, you need to ensure that they are coated, if you use an olive oil spray, make sure you cover them sufficiently.

Water. If you don’t want them crispy, then add a tablespoon of water to the bottom of the air fryer basket, this prevents them from drying out and burning.

Air fryer frozen broccoli cooked and on a serving plate.

More easy air fryer recipes for you to try at home

If you’re ready to air fry some other easy recipes, give these a try!

Homemade Pizza Rolls in the Air Fryer

Air fryer buffalo cauliflower

Air-fried asparagus with lemon and parmesan on a white plate.

Air Fryer Asparagus (Easy 10 Minute Recipe!)

Air fryer sweet potatoes cooked and ready to eat.

Air Fryer Baked Sweet Potato Recipe – Quick & Easy

Air fryer potato skins freshly made with melted cheese, sour cream, and green onions.

Crispy Air Fryer Potato Skins Recipe

Air fryer frozen broccoli freshly cooked.

Print Pin Recipe

5 from 3 votes

Easy Frozen Broccoli in an Air Fryer

This easy frozen broccoli in an air fryer recipe is the perfect way to make a delicious, healthy meal without all the fuss. With just a few simple ingredients, you can have hot and crispy broccoli ready in minutes. No more spending hours prepping over a stove – now you can cook your veggies quickly and efficiently with an air fryer! This foolproof recipe will ensure each bite of broccoli comes out perfectly golden brown and full of flavor.

Prep Time2

Cook Time15

Total Time17

Servings

Calories73

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: Worldwide

Author: Mandy Applegate | Splash of Taste

Utensils

Air fryer

Ingredients

16 ounces frozen broccoli florets
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon kosher salt
½ teaspoon black pepper freshly cracked

US Customary – Metric

Instructions

Preheat your air fryer to 400°F/200°C.
In a large bowl add your frozen broccoli, olive oil, garlic powder, salt and pepper and toss to evenly coat.
16 ounces frozen broccoli florets, 1 tablespoon olive oil, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, ½ teaspoon black pepper
Add your frozen broccoli to the air fryer basket and cook for 10 minutes, shake the basket halfway through to evenly cook. Then cook for a further 5 minutes or until your desired choice of crispiness. Serve immediately with an optional garnish of fresh lemon or grated vegetarian parmesan cheese – enjoy!

Notes

Burning:
Keep an eye on your broccoli in the air fryer to ensure it doesn’t burn, if you want a softer floret, add a tablespoon of water to the basket before cooking.

Fresh broccoli:
Got fresh? This is a great fresh air fryer broccoli recipe.

Watch closely:
Every air fryer cooks differently, different brands and capacities can mean that your food will need a longer or shorter cooking time, so make sure you keep a close eye on them.

Storage:
Store any leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

Nutrition

Disclaimer

Please note that nutrient values are estimates only. Variations can occur due to product availability and manner of food preparation. Nutrition may vary based on methods of origin, preparation, freshness of ingredients, and other factors.

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