If you have yet to try air frying frozen broccoli, you are in for a surprise! Air Fryer Frozen Broccoli has a crisp but tender texture, perfect for serving alongside your favorite air fryer dinners. Even better: frozen broccoli in the air fryer is ready in just 15 minutes with no prep time and hardly any effort much like all of our air fryer vegetable recipes!
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Frozen Broccoli in the Air Fryer
There seems to be a bias against frozen veggies, with claims they will always turn out limp and less flavorful than fresh. If you grew up eating steamed frozen vegetables made in the microwave, you might feel inclined to believe those claims, too!
We’re happy to tell you: frozen broccoli can be just as crisp, delicious, and perfectly cooked as fresh broccoli. The secret is to prepare it in the air fryer - and don’t thaw it first!
Much like our air fryer frozen brussel sprouts, Air fryer frozen broccoli turns out lightly browned, flavorful, and ready to complement any meal you pair it with. Serve it with a little melted butter and Parmesan cheese, and we’re sure you’ll agree just how much frozen broccoli has to offer.
Especially considering how budget-friendly this healthy side dish is, and how quickly it cooks!
Ingredients
- Frozen broccoli florets: We used Birds Eye frozen broccoli florets, but you can use any brand.
- Oil spray: Use an oil sprayer with your preferred oil such as olive oil or avocado oil. Do not use a pressurized cooking spray with additives, as it can damage the non-stick surface of your air fryer. Refer to our comprehensive guide about Our Favorite Oils to use for Air Frying.
- Salt and pepper: We like to serve our air fryer frozen broccoli recipe with a simple combination of salt and pepper along with butter and Parmesan. However, you can use any spices you prefer for broccoli, including garlic powder, onion powder, or even red pepper flakes for a kick of spice.
- Unsalted butter, melted (optional): Butter adds richness to the broccoli and is always a great addition!
- Grated Parmesan cheese, for topping (optional): Parmesan is the perfect cheese for pairing with broccoli. It's even better if you're using butter, too! For more serving suggestions, see What to Serve with Broccoli below.
For full measurements, scroll down to the recipe card at the bottom of the page!
How to Air Fry Frozen Broccoli
Step 1 - Spray your air fryer basket with oil. See tips below for which type to use. Alternatively, line with an air fryer parchment paper liner.
Step 2 - Pour frozen broccoli into the air fryer basket. Spray evenly with oil, then season with salt and pepper to your liking. Give the basket a shake to distribute the seasoning.
Step 3 - Air Fry at 400°F for 15 minutes. Shake the basket halfway through the air frying time.
Step 4 - When lightly golden brown and heated through, remove from the air fryer to a serving plate. Drizzle cooked broccoli with melted butter and top with grated Parmesan cheese, if desired. Enjoy!
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Tips
- Cook from frozen – do not thaw first.
- If you don't have an oil sprayer (though we highly recommend getting one for convenience!), toss the broccoli with your preferred oil and seasoning in a large mixing bowl before adding it to the air fryer basket until all the florets are coated and seasoned. Learn more about Air Fryer Oils.
- Cook time may vary depending on the model and size of your specific air fryer oven. You may need to adjust the timing according to your model.
- Recipe time and temperature is based on a cold air fryer (no need to preheat). If cooking multiple batches, check on them early, as they will cook more quickly than the first batch.
- Remember to set a timer if your air fryer does not remind you to turn halfway through cooking.
- As long as you shake the basket halfway through the cook time and when you distribute the seasoning at the start, you should not have to worry about whether your broccoli is spread out in a single layer.
Storing Instructions
Store leftover air fried broccoli in the refrigerator in a shallow airtight container for 3-5 days. For best results, reheat in the air fryer at 350°F for 3-4 minutes, or until heated through.
What to Serve with Broccoli
If you want to make this air fryer broccoli recipe even better, our favorite combination is to serve it with grated Parmesan cheese and butter, as suggested. However, there are plenty of options for variations on how to serve it according to your tastes:
- Lemon and Parmesan: A simple squeeze of lemon juice and a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese makes for a delicious combo that skips the butter.
- Garlic and butter: Butter with a pinch of garlic powder or fresh garlic is delicious over crispy broccoli!
- Teriyaki sauce: Depending on the meal, you might want to serve your air-fried broccoli with teriyaki sauce. We love this combination with our Air Fryer Frozen Potstickers over rice!
- Garlic spread, or Toum: One of our favorite flavor combinations with crispy air fried broccoli is garlic spread, or Lebanese garlic sauce (Toum). Depending on your store, you'll either find this in the international aisle of your local grocery store or in the refrigerated deli section where other dips are kept.
- Tahini: Another amazing choice for pairing with broccoli side dishes is tahini, a Mediterranean sauce made with toasted sesame.
FAQ
Yes! That is the only way to air fry frozen vegetables, so skip thawing and cook them from frozen.
In the air fryer, broccoli is ready when it is lightly browned, crispy, bright green, and tender. Some parts of the floret may be more crisp than others (those bits are our favorite!).
Yes! Broccoli is a gluten-free and vegan snack, it's also low-carb, keto, and dairy-free too! When adding toppings be sure to check the ingredients list of any toppings to be sure they meet your dietary restrictions.
Air Fryer Frozen Recipes
- Air Fryer Frozen Egg Rolls
- Air Fryer Frozen Burrito
- Frozen Biscuits in Air Fryer
- Frozen Garlic Bread in Air Fryer
- Frozen Shrimp in Air Fryer
- Air Fryer Salmon Bites
- Try all of our Air Fryer Frozen Foods!
If you enjoyed this easy air fryer recipe, please leave a comment and a rating below to let us know! And if you have any questions, ask away. We love to help!
Air Fryer Frozen Broccoli
Equipment
- Air Fryer
Ingredients
- 1 pound Frozen Broccoli Florets
- Oil spray we use avocado oil
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter melted (optional)
- Grated Parmesan cheese for topping optional
Instructions
- Spray your air fryer basket with oil. See tips below for which type to use.Oil spray
- Pour frozen broccoli into the air fryer basket. Spray evenly with oil, then season with salt and pepper to your liking. Give the basket a shake to distribute the seasoning.1 pound Frozen Broccoli Florets, ½ teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon pepper
- Air Fry at 400°F for 15 minutes. Shake the basket halfway through the air frying time.
- When lightly browned and heated through, remove from the air fryer to a serving plate.
- Drizzle broccoli with melted butter and top with grated Parmesan cheese, if desired. Enjoy!1 tablespoon unsalted butter, Grated Parmesan cheese for topping
Notes
-
- Cook from frozen – do not thaw first.
-
- We used Birds Eye frozen broccoli florets, but you can use any brand.
-
- Use an oil sprayer with your preferred oil. Do not use a pressurized cooking spray with additives, as it can damage the non-stick surface of your air fryer.
-
- If you don't have an oil sprayer, toss the broccoli with oil and seasoning in a large bowl before adding it to the air fryer basket.
-
- Cook time may vary depending on the model and size of your specific air fryer oven. You may need to adjust the timing according to your model.
-
- Recipe time and temperature is based on a cold air fryer (no need to preheat). If cooking multiple batches, check on them early, as they will cook more quickly.
-
- Remember to set a timer if your air fryer does not remind you to turn halfway through cooking.
-
- As long as you shake the basket halfway through the cook time and when you distribute the seasoning at the start, you should not have to worry about whether your broccoli is spread out in a single layer.
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