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Air fryer broccolini is a quick and easy side dish that’s full of flavor and nutrition. In just 10 minutes, you’ll have perfectly crisp yet tender broccolini topped with shaved parmesan and a drizzle or fresh lemon juice. It’s simple to make with few ingredients, and it’s seriously delicious.
Broccolini can dry out and overcook easily in the air fryer, but not with my game-changing tip! No more dry or overcooked ends, they’re the perfect texture every time.
Table of Contents
Ingredients
Air fried broccolini is bursting with the perfect combination of flavors: garlic, lemon, salt, and parmesan. It’s simple and so addictive! Plus, it pairs with anything.
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- Broccolini: Select two bunches that look fresh, bright, and firm to the touch. Make sure the leafy end isn’t too dry.
- Olive oil: To moist and season the broccolini.
- Coarse sea salt and garlic granules to season the broccolini.
- Water: 1 tablespoon to add to the bottom of the air fryer basket—scroll down for more on this.
- Lemon wedges and grated parmesan to garnish
How to cook broccolini in air fryer
Air frying broccolini could not be simpler! This zesty roasted broccolini air fryer dish is ready in just 10 minutes with minimal prep.
- Prep broccolini: Trim the bottom ends a little less than ¼ inch (5-6mm). Give them a quick rinse and set aside to drain.
- How to season: Lay out the broccolini over a large, lined sheet pan. Toss with olive oil, salt, and garlic granules. Lightly massage in the seasonings and add more oil if needed. Broccolini can dry out in an air fryer, so coat them well with oil.
- How to air fry to tender-crisp yet not dry: Add 1 tbsp (15ml) water to the bottom of the air fryer basket. Place the broccolini in the air fryer rack in a single layer (a slight overlap is fine). If the basket is too crowded, air fry in two batches.
- Broccolini air fryer time and temp: Air fry at 350°F (175°C) for 5 to 6 minutes. Check after 5 minutes to avoid overcooking.
For thinner or thicker broccolini:
- For thinner stems: 5 to 6 minutes is more than enough.
- For thicker stems: Add an extra minute and check again.
- How to serve it: Transfer air fryer baby broccoli to a large serving plate. Sprinkle grated parmesan cheese to taste and serve warm with lemon wedges on the side.
Tip
How to prevent dry, overcooked broccolini in air fryer
Ever noticed that when you air fry broccolini, the leafy tops turn dry and brittle while the stems are still too firm? It’s frustrating because by the time the stalks cook through, the florets are practically burnt.
I ran into this problem, too! So, I took inspiration from oven-roasting and added 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of water to the bottom of the air fryer basket. The result? Much better air fried broccolini.
The inspiration came from oven-roasting with moisture – a light layer of steam that keeps the tops from drying out while the stems cook through.
But here’s an important tip: Do not add more than 1 tablespoon. Too much water can splash into the heating element and mess with how the air fryer works.
Flavor variations
Sauces are a great way to kick up the flavor of your air-fried broccolini! This dish is great with garlic chili sauce, honey sriracha sauce, gluten-free teriyaki sauce, or my creamy ginger dressing.
What to serve with air fryer broccolini
This baby broccoli air fryer recipe uses simple seasonings that pair well with all your favorite mains.
- Protein mains: Air fryer salmon bites would go perfect with broccolini! My air fryer honey sriracha chicken or an air fryer whole chicken are great, too.
- Pasta and noodles: Try some gochujang pasta or my shrimp pasta with tomato cream sauce for an Italian vibe or these hibachi noodles for a Japanese steak house feel.
ChihYu’s helpful notes
- Trim the stems: Trim about ¼ inch (5-6 mm) from the bottom of the stems before cooking. The ends are often tougher and can dry out in the air fryer.
- Season well with oil: Coating the broccolini thoroughly helps it cook evenly and prevents the crowns from drying out or becoming brittle. Massage the oil in until the broccolini turns a shiny, deep green—it’s worth the extra minute!
- Add a very small amount of water (no more than 1 tbsp): A tablespoon of water to the bottom of the air fryer basket creates a gentle steaming effect, keeping the broccolini tender. Too much water can splash into the heating element, so stick to the recommended amount.
- Adjust cooking time and temperature based on the air fryer model: In my 6-quart Instant Vortex, 5-6 minutes at 350°F (175°C) works perfectly. If your air fryer runs hotter or cooks faster, check the broccolini a little earlier to avoid overcooking.
FAQs
Yes! Just cut the broccoli into bite-sized florets for even cooking. Air fry at 350°F (175°C) for 7 to 9 minutes and check at the 7-minute mark.
Yes, you can, though the process will be slightly different. Check out my zero-prep frozen broccoli in air fryer recipe for the details.
You can, if you don’t mind the broccolini crowns might get overcooked a bit. A very small amount of water (1 tbsp | 15 ml) creates light steam that helps keep the tops tender and prevents them from drying out.
More air fryer vegetable recipes
Here are some more vegetable recipes using the air fryer—they’re easy, healthy, and delicious!
- Air fryer bok choy with garlic and sesame. Perfectly crisp and tender juicy!
- Air fryer zucchini and squash is super easy to make and loaded with delicious garlicky flavor.
- Din Tai Fung green beans air fryer is a famous Taiwanese restaurant dish, made in an air fryer and loaded with garlicky deliciousness!
Air fryer broccolini recipe
Ingredients
- 10.5 oz broccolini 2 bundles
- Drizzle olive oil roughly 1.5 tbsp
- ½ tsp coarse sea salt or to taste
- ½ tsp garlic granule
- 1 tbsp water to add to the bottom of the air fryer basket
- Lemon wedges
- Grated parmesan cheese from the block
Instructions
- Broccolini prep: Trim away the bottom end, about a little less than ¼ inch (5-6mm). Give them a quick rinse under running water. Shake away the water and set aside to drain.
- How to season: Lay out the broccolini over a large, lined sheet pan. Drizzle with olive oil, salt, and garlic granules. Use your hands to lightly massage and rub the broccolini with oil on all sides, especially the crowns. After massaging, the broccolini should turn from a pale green to a shiny, dark green color. Drizzle with more oil if needed. Broccolini can dry out in an air fryer, so it’s important to coat them well with oil.
- How to air fry to tender-crisp yet not dry: Add 1 tbsp (15ml) water to the bottom of the air fryer basket. Place the broccolini on top of the air fryer rack inside the basket in a single layer. A slight overlap is totally okay. You might need to air fry in 2 batches if the basket looks too crowded.
- Air fryer time and temp: Air fry at 350°F (175°C) for 5 to 6 minutes. Check after 5 minutes to avoid overcooking.– For thinner stems: 5 to 6 minutes is more than enough.– For thicker stems: Add an extra minute and check again.
- How to serve it: Transfer the broccolini onto a large serving plate. Top with grated parmesan cheese and serve with lemon wedges on the side. Serve warm.
Notes
- Why add 1 tbsp of water? Adding 1 tablespoon of water to the bottom of the air fryer basket creates a light steam that helps prevent the broccolini crowns from turning dry and brittle. It keeps the tops tender while the thicker stems cook through. Don’t add more than 1 tablespoon (15 ml)—too much water can splash into the heating element.
- Storage: Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 4 days. They taste great cold and no need to reheat!
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
