Last Updated on September 18, 2023 by Harry & Johan. This post may contain affliate links, see privacy policy
Making this perfectly cooked air fryer frozen broccoli recipe is easier than you think! Frozen broccoli is so convenient and makes a great green side for any meal. Ready in under 20 minutes!
Making broccoli in the air fryer is really the best way! Air frying is super quick and easy and makes the broccoli come out perfectly cooked with crispy edges. Serve as a healthy side dish or eat as a quick snack!
Making quick and easy vegetable side dishes is one of my favorite ways to use my air fryer. It makes getting vegetables on the table the most convenient ever!
For more super easy vegetable sides, check out my Air Fryer Broccoli Parmesan recipe, Air Fryer Portobello Mushrooms and Air Fryer Corn on the Cob in Foil.
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🥦 Ingredients
Frozen broccoli, some oil and seasonings are all you need for this recipe. I like to change up the flavors sometimes so check out my ideas on variations below!
To make air fryer frozen broccoli, you'll need:
- Frozen broccoli florets
- Olive oil
- Garlic powder
- Sea salt
- Black pepper
See the recipe card for precise quantities and instructions.
📖 How to Make Frozen Broccoli in the Air Fryer
This air fryer frozen broccoli recipe couldn't be simpler, it takes no prep time at all and your broccoli will be ready to serve in a little less than 20 minutes!
Place the frozen broccoli florets in an even, single layer in the air fryer. The broccoli florets shouldn't be on top of each other and should have a bit of space around them for air circulation.
Air fry the broccoli for 10 minutes at 400 °F (200 °C).
Open the air fryer and drizzle the olive oil over the cooked broccoli. Then sprinkle the seasonings over the broccoli evenly. Turn the broccoli florets over and repeat with oil and seasonings on the other side.
Air fry again at 400 °F (200 °C) for 5 - 10 minutes until slightly browned on the edges and cooked to your preference. Serve immediately!
Hint: I don't season the frozen broccoli while it is still frozen. I tried once but the seasonings become watered down as the ice melted and the broccoli had less flavor. So I first cook the broccoli, then season it before air frying further for maximum flavor.
🙋🏻♂️ FAQs
Frozen vegetables are fantastic in the air fryer! Frozen vegetables crisp up very nicely and cook through evenly in an air fryer, with less oil and quicker than an oven too!
Yes, frozen broccoli is very healthy once cooked. It was picked fresh and frozen quickly so it has a lot of nutrients still. Made in an air fryer is even better as it uses less oil to make the broccoli cooked and slightly crispy!
400 °F (200 °C) is a good temperature for air frying frozen broccoli. It's hot so the broccoli cooks quickly but doesn't burn the broccoli either. Use an oven thermometer to check your air fryers temperature to make sure it's correct.
15 to 20 minutes is a good amount of time for air frying broccoli. You can use the last 5 minutes to check on your broccoli and make sure it doesn't burn as every air fryer is different!
🥣 Substitutions
Here are some suggestions for substitutions you can make to this recipe and it will still come out great!
- Broccoli and Cauliflower - you can use frozen cauliflower for this recipe as well as a mix of broccoli and cauliflower if that's what you have. They will all work great for this recipe!
- Oils you can use - I use olive oil, canola oil or avocado oil for air fryer recipes as they have high smoke points and neutral flavors.
- Fresh garlic - I don't recommend substituting the garlic powder with fresh minced garlic as it will burn in the air fryer. Fresh herbs and garlic burn easily in the air fryer so I prefer to use dried versions!
🥘 Variations
You'll definitely want to make this easy vegetable side dish again so why not try out some of these variations?
- Want some spice? - Add ½ a teaspoon of cayenne pepper for a spicy kick!
- Cheesy Air Fryer Broccoli - Make a cheesy version of this recipe by sprinkling shredded cheddar cheese over the broccoli at the end of the air frying time. Then place the air fryer basket back into the warm air fryer and leave for a couple of minutes to allow the cheese to melt. Don't switch on the air fryer at this point as the loose cheese will fly everywhere!
- Deluxe - To make the the tastiest broccoli ever, serve the hot broccoli with cheddar cheese, crispy bacon bits and chopped green onions for a side dish that won't be forgotten!
Here is a recipe for air fryer broccoli that is seasoned with parmesan cheese and lemon juice that you have to try!
⏲ Equipment
Air Fryer: This recipe has been made and tested using a Cosori Max XL Large Cooker. It has a capacity of 5.8 quarts which is quite large. You can use any air fryer for this recipe, but all air fryers are different so adjust cooking times accordingly.
Oven Thermometer: Another piece of equipment I find useful for air fryer cooking is an oven thermometer. It can be placed inside the air fryer and measure the temperature very accurately. You can also use it in your test batch as mentioned to make sure the temperature is perfect for this recipe.
Air fryer temperatures vary a little between air fryer models so a thermometer is the best way to make sure your air fryer is the correct temperature for each recipe.
🍶 Storage
Store any leftover broccoli once it has cooled to room temperature. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
I follow the general rule when it comes to frozen foods and freezing them again and that is not to! I do not recommend re-freezing the broccoli as it will not stand up well.
👨🏻🍳 Top tips
- Don't overcrowd the air fryer: Overcrowding the air frying means your broccoli won't cook through well and will make the cooking time much longer. Rather cook in 2 or 3 batches.
- Seasoning broccoli after air frying: Season the broccoli after air frying first otherwise when the ice melts on the broccoli it will wash away the flavor too!
- Checking in last 5 minutes: Check the broccoli a couple of times in the last 5 minutes of cooking to make sure they don't burn.
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Air Fryer Frozen Broccoli Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- Frozen broccoli florets as many as will comfortably fit in your air fryer basket
- 1 Tbsp. Olive oil
- 1 tsp. Garlic powder not fresh garlic, see notes
- 1 tsp. Sea salt
- ½ tsp. Black pepper
Instructions
- Place the frozen broccoli florets in an even, single layer in the air fryer. The broccoli florets shouldn't be on top of each other and should have a bit of space around them for air circulation.Frozen broccoli florets
- Air fry the broccoli for 10 minutes at 400 °F (200 °C).
- Open the air fryer and drizzle the olive oil over the cooked broccoli. Then sprinkle the seasonings over the broccoli evenly. Turn the broccoli florets over and repeat with oil and seasonings on the other side.1 Tbsp. Olive oil, 1 tsp. Garlic powder, 1 tsp. Sea salt, ½ tsp. Black pepper
- Air fry again at 400 °F (200 °C) for 5 - 10 minutes until slightly browned on the edges and cooked to your preference. Serve immediately!
Notes
Nutrition
This recipe was tested with these air fryers:
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