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    Home » Recipes » Air Fryer

    Crispy Air Fryer Broccoli Parmesan

    Published: Jan 4, 2022 · Modified: Sep 27, 2022 by Beth Sachs · As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases · 5 Comments

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    Air fryer broccoli pin image.

    Crispy Air Fryer Broccoli Parmesan made in under 10 minutes!

    The perfect quick and easy side dish for chicken, fish, or even roast dinner! It's super healthy too!

    Air fryer broccoli with Parmesan

    My kids absolutely love this roasted broccoli made in the air fryer, and I'd go as far as to say it's one of their very favourite veggie side dishes.

    Cooking it in the air fryer means that the broccoli retains a lot of its nutrient value, is beautifully tender but crispy, and is also deliciously cheesy.

    It's a lot like my roasted Tenderstem broccoli in terms of texture but is roasted in the air fryer rather than the oven. It's a great veggie side for summer, when you don't want to heat the kitchen up!

    👩‍🍳 Love your air fryer? Check out my crispy air fryer Brussels sprouts too!

    Jump to:
    • ✔️ Why you'll love this recipe!
    • 🛒 Ingredients
    • 🥄 Equipment
    • What is an air fryer?
    • 🔪 How to roast broccoli in air fryer
    • 💭 Top tips
    • 🍴 Serving suggestions
    • 📖 Variations
    • Can I make air fryer broccoli ahead of time?
    • 🥡 Storage
    • ❓ FAQs
    • 😋 More air fryer recipes
    • Recipe
    • 💬 Comments

    ✔️ Why you'll love this recipe!

    Here's why this is the best air fryer broccoli recipe!

    • Quick and easy to make.
    • Only 5 ingredients.
    • Great for kids.
    • Nutrient-rich.
    • Tastes just like roasted broccoli.
    • Cheesy and delicious.

    🛒 Ingredients

    Ingredients for crispy air fryer broccoli parmesan.
    • Broccoli - cut any large florets with wide stems in half with a sharp knife to ensure they cook quickly and evenly in the air fryer. You want all florets to be roughly the same size.
    • Olive Oil - 2 tablespoons are all you need.
    • Seasonings - I typically use sea salt and garlic granules but feel free to try different flavourings too. I give some suggestions in the variations section below.
    • Parmesan - freshly grated Parmesan cheese sprinkled over the broccoli before air frying, helps crisp up the florets and gives them a lovely flavour boost. Substitute with a vegetarian hard cheese alternative if you wish.

    🥄 Equipment

    Which air fryer? I use the Ninja Foodi MAX PRO Health Grill, Flat Plate and Air Fryer with 7 customisable cooking functions including grill, flat plate, air fry, roast, bake, reheat and dehydrate! It also comes with a digital cooking probe that precisely monitors your food’s temperature as it cooks.

    What is an air fryer?

    Air fryers are small(ish) kitchen appliances that operate like a convection oven—except in a smaller, more concentrated space.

    The air is circulated at a high temperature and evenly around the food, which makes the food cook more quickly than in a conventional oven and helps give foods a crispy coating without the need for lots of oil and fat.

    🔪 How to roast broccoli in air fryer

    The recipe card with ingredient quantities and detailed instructions can be found at the bottom of the post

    One: Preheat the air fryer to 180°c (375F).

    Two: Place the broccoli florets in a large bowl and mix with the olive oil, seasonings, and freshly grated Parmesan.

    Three: Place the broccoli into the air fryer basket and air fry for 6-8 minutes until crispy (the cooking time depends on the size of your broccoli florets and type of air fryer you are using). Shake halfway through cooking.

    Step by step photos on how to cook broccoli in an air fryer.

    💭 Top tips

    • Air fryers vary quite considerably so I'd set the timer for 8 minutes but start checking to see if the broccoli is done from 6 minutes onwards. A sharp knife should easily glide into the stems.
    • Mix the oil with the broccoli florets thoroughly to ensure the florets are fully coated and don't burn in the air fryer.
    • Make sure you press (I use the back of a spoon) all of the lovely grated Parmesan onto the broccoli florets so it sticks to them.
    Air fryer broccoli in a bowl with Parmesan.
    Crispy Air Fryer Broccoli Parmesan

    🍴 Serving suggestions

    Air fryer broccoli is the perfect veggie side for so many different dishes! I often serve it with cottage pie, air fryer whole chicken, hunters chicken, sweet potato pasta, salmon, or pork chops (alongside some crispy baby roasted potatoes), for quick and easy weeknight dinners.

    It's also great as part of a roast beef dinner at the weekend!

    The kids enjoy it with a dip too (something like red pepper hummus, or sour cream and chive), for a healthy after-school snack.

    📖 Variations

    • Use fresh minced garlic instead of garlic powder but make sure it's coated in oil so it doesn't burn.
    • Vary the seasonings and try smoked paprika or cayenne pepper.
    • Like food spicy? Add half a teaspoon of chilli flakes!
    • Make it vegetarian-friendly and swap parmesan for a vegetarian hard cheese alternative.
    Roasted air fryer broccoli.

    Can I make air fryer broccoli ahead of time?

    You can, but it's so much better fresh out of the air fryer!

    To save time, prepare the broccoli florets the night before and put them in a mixing bowl with the oil, and seasonings. Then all you need to do when you're ready to make it is mix in the grated Parmesan!

    🥡 Storage

    • Leftovers. Store leftover cooked air fryer broccoli in the fridge for up to 3 days.
    • Reheat. Leftovers can be reheated in the microwave, but the broccoli will lose its crispness. It will still taste great though! Alternatively, pop the broccoli back in the air fryer for about 3-4 minutes, and it will crisp right back up again!

    ❓ FAQs

    Can I air fry frozen broccoli?

    Yes, you can use fresh or frozen broccoli in the air fryer. If using frozen broccoli use it straight from the freezer and do not let it thaw! You may also need to increase the cooking time.

    Do I need to use oil to air fry broccoli?

    A small coating of oil prevents the broccoli from burning in the air fryer. You won't need much, so it's still a very healthy recipe!

    😋 More air fryer recipes

    • Air fryer baked potatoes
    • Air fryer asparagus
    • Air fryer stuffing balls
    • Air fryer sweet potato fries
    • Air fryer chicken breasts

    You might also like my stir-fried garlic green beans!

    Tried this recipe? Leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ star rating in the comments!

    Recipe

    Air fryer broccoli parmesan in a bowl.
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    5 from 5 votes

    Crispy Air Fryer Broccoli Parmesan

    Crispy Air Fryer Broccoli Parmesan made in under 10 minutes!
    Course Side Dish
    Cuisine British
    Keyword air fryer broccoli, air fryer broccoli parmesan, crispy air fryer broccoli, roasted broccoli in air fry
    Prep Time 4 minutes
    Cook Time 8 minutes
    Total Time 12 minutes
    Servings 4
    Calories 136kcal
    Author Beth Sachs
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Equipment

    • Air Fryer

    Ingredients

    Metric - US Customary
    • 1 Broccoli broken into florets. Cut any large florets in half so they are all roughly the same size.
    • 2 tablespoon Olive Oil
    • 1 teaspoon Garlic Powder
    • ½ teaspoon Sea Salt
    • 4 tablespoon Parmesan grated

    Instructions

    • Preheat the air fryer to 180°c (375F).
    • Place the broccoli florets in a large bowl and mix with the olive oil, seasonings, and freshly grated Parmesan.
    • Place the broccoli into the air fryer basket and air fry for 6-8 minutes until crispy (the cooking time depends on the size of your broccoli florets and type of air fryer you are using). Shake halfway through cooking.

    Notes

    Top Tips:
    • Air fryers vary quite considerably so I'd set the timer for 8 minutes but start checking to see if the broccoli is done from 6 minutes onwards. A sharp knife should easily glide into the stems.
    • Mix the oil with the broccoli florets thoroughly to ensure the florets are fully coated and don't burn in the air fryer.
    • Make sure you press (I use the back of a spoon) all of the lovely grated Parmesan onto the broccoli florets so it sticks to them.
     
    Variations:
    • Use fresh minced garlic instead of garlic powder but make sure it's coated in oil so it doesn't burn.
    • Vary the seasonings and try smoked paprika or cayenne pepper.
    • Like food spicy? Add half a teaspoon of chilli flakes!
    • Make it vegetarian friendly and swap parmesan for a vegetarian hard cheese alternative.
     
    Storage:
    • Leftovers. Store leftover cooked air fryer broccoli in the fridge for up to 3 days.
    • Reheat. Leftovers can be reheated in the microwave, but the broccoli will lose its crispness. It will still taste great though! Alternatively, pop the broccoli back in the air fryer for about 3-4 minutes, and it will crisp right back up again!
     
    Nutrition:
    The nutritional information provided is approximate and is calculated using online tools. Information can vary depending on various factors, but we have endeavoured to be as accurate as possible.
     
    Nutrition Facts
    Crispy Air Fryer Broccoli Parmesan
    Amount per Serving
    Calories
    136
    % Daily Value*
    Fat
     
    9
    g
    14
    %
    Saturated Fat
     
    2
    g
    13
    %
    Polyunsaturated Fat
     
    1
    g
    Monounsaturated Fat
     
    6
    g
    Cholesterol
     
    3
    mg
    1
    %
    Sodium
     
    422
    mg
    18
    %
    Potassium
     
    494
    mg
    14
    %
    Carbohydrates
     
    11
    g
    4
    %
    Fiber
     
    4
    g
    17
    %
    Sugar
     
    3
    g
    3
    %
    Protein
     
    6
    g
    12
    %
    Vitamin A
     
    986
    IU
    20
    %
    Vitamin C
     
    136
    mg
    165
    %
    Calcium
     
    131
    mg
    13
    %
    Iron
     
    1
    mg
    6
    %
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Dannii

      January 05, 2022 at 11:53 am

      5 stars
      I love cooking broccoli in the air fryer. It's so deliciouly crispy.

      Reply
    2. Gina

      January 05, 2022 at 12:24 pm

      5 stars
      Another reason to love the air fryer! This cooks up broccoli so nicely and the parmesan, garlic powder, and seal salt make it for one delicious side dish!

      Reply
    3. Farah Abumaizar

      January 05, 2022 at 12:38 pm

      5 stars
      Love my air fryer, and love broccoli. Perfect combination! Parmesan makes everything better, can't wait to try this out!

      Reply
    4. Nic

      January 05, 2022 at 1:19 pm

      5 stars
      YUM YUM YUM! I love broccoli and parmesan. Thank you for this delicious and amazing recipe!

      Reply
    5. Erin

      January 05, 2022 at 1:29 pm

      5 stars
      I love this air fryer broccoli! It's so easy to make and the sprinkled parmesan makes it so yummy.

      Reply

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    Beth Sachs Food Blogger

    Hi, I’m Beth, a Mum of three (and one crazy dog), living in Cornwall, UK. I love creating easy, delicious and fuss-free recipes, perfect for busy families, just like my own.

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