Broccoli seems to get the standard operating procedures treatment. A little oil, a little salt, and thrown onto a sheet pan and pray it cooks evenly. What I love about this crispy air fryer broccoli is that it takes half the time when air fried, plus the addition of freshly grated parmesan gives the broccoli a nutty, cheesy coating that makes it irresistible.
I am a huge broccoli fan, and while I love my sautéed broccoli rabe with garlic, or my infamous garlic sugar snap peas, air fryer broccoli hits differently, and takes virtually no time to prep and cook. Hello new meal prep veggie bestie!
TL;DR Summary - Air Fryer Broccoli with Parmesan
- 👩🏼🍳 Cook Level: Easy/Beginner
- ⏱️ Cook Time: 8-10 minutes
- 📖 Dietary Info: Dairy
- 😋 Taste: Crispy, cheesy, nutty, salty
- 💖 Why You'll Love: This is a staple broccoli recipe that serves multiple purposes. From appetizer to side dish, everyone will be fighting over the last licks on the plate.
- 🍽️ Best Paired With: Air fryer broccoli is incredible when served aside pasta with homemade vodka sauce, classic baked stuffed shells, chicken scampi, or alongside sheet pan baked salmon or with Italian baked turkey meatballs.
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Jump to:
- TL;DR Summary - Air Fryer Broccoli with Parmesan
- Top Tips, Tricks, and Key Reminders
- The Main Ingredients
- Super Simple Swaps and Substitutions
- How to make crispy air fryer broccoli parmesan
- Mistakes I've Made (So You Don't Have To!)
- Air Fryer Parmesan Broccoli FAQs
- Looking for more crave-worthy veggies? Check these out:
- Crispy Air Fryer Broccoli Parmesan
Top Tips, Tricks, and Key Reminders
- Broccoli florets come in different sizes, so I would suggest trimming them down to relatively the same size so that the broccoli cooks evenly.
- Keep some room in the air fryer basket or container so that it does not get croweded.
- Use enough parmesan cheese to coat the broccoli evenly after it is finished in the air fryer.
The Main Ingredients
- Broccoli Florets - The reason we're all here! The broccoli crisps in the air fryer while still providing a tender crunch and chew.
- Salt - Enhances the natural flavor of the broccoli.
- Pepper - Adds a gentle kick that balances the richness of the parmesan.
- Garlic Powder - Garlic powder gives a little more flavor to the broccoli.
- Olive Oil - Helps the broccoli get crispy edges and prevents it from drying out.
- Parmesan Cheese - Tossed after air frying, it adds a salty, nutty finish that sticks to the crispy broccoli.
Be sure to check out the recipe card at the end of this post for more information about quantities, measurements, and specific cooking instructions.
Super Simple Swaps and Substitutions
- Add some hot honey or red pepper flakes for a true balance of salt, fat, acid, and heat!
- Use cauliflower or Brussels sprouts if broccoli isn't your cup of tea.
- Avocado oil works really well in substitution of olive oil.
How to make crispy air fryer broccoli parmesan
Step 1: Add broccoli florets to a large bowl. Drizzle with olive oil and toss until evenly coated. Sprinkle with garlic powder, salt, and pepper, tossing again to distribute seasoning.
Step 2: Arrange broccoli in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Fry for 8 minutes. Remove the basket, shake or toss the broccoli, then sprinkle parmesan evenly over the top. Toss to full coat the broccoli with the parmesan cheese.
Mistakes I've Made (So You Don't Have To!)
- If the broccoli florets do not have those slightly charred edges, it's not ready yet. We NEED the char; that's where all the flavor is.
- I've done this more times than I care to admit, and it always leads to soggy or slightly steamed broccoli instead of crispy. Give the florets space so the air can circulate properly.
- A light coating of olive oil is what helps the broccoli get nice and crispy. Too little, and the broccoli dries out instead of roasting. Too much oil and it becomes a hot mess, literally.
Air Fryer Parmesan Broccoli FAQs
If you are nervous about adding too much oil, you can simply spray the broccoli with some nonstick spray or avocado or olive oil spray.
I would suggest storing the broccoli leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-4 days.
To reheat the broccoli, add back to the air fryer on a lower heat so that it doesn't burn, and re-crisp for 5-7 minutes. You can also add the broccoli to an oven or toaster at 350º for several minutes.
While this ideally sounds good, I personally don't recommend it. Why? Because I find that the cheese cooks too quickly and I like having a little hot and cold contrast (hot being the broccoli, cold being the grated parmesan cheese).
Looking for more crave-worthy veggies? Check these out:
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Crispy Air Fryer Broccoli Parmesan
Equipment
- Air Fryer
Ingredients
- 3 cups broccoli florets
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ⅓ cup parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 375°F for 3 minutes.
- Add broccoli florets to a large bowl. Drizzle with olive oil and toss until evenly coated.
- Sprinkle with garlic powder, salt, and pepper, tossing again to distribute seasoning.
- Arrange broccoli in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Cook for 8 minutes.
- Remove the basket, shake or toss the broccoli, then sprinkle parmesan evenly over the top. Toss to fully coat the broccoli with the parmesan cheese.
- Serve immediately or cool completely before storing for meal prep.
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