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This frozen broccoli in air fryer recipe is the quick and healthy side dish dreams are made of! We cook air fry broccoli from frozen—no thawing required!—with minimal, simple ingredients. Follow my tips for super crispy broccoli in half the time it would take to roast in the oven.
Frozen broccoli is great for cooking on a budget, and it pairs well with so many things! Pair it with frozen salmon in air fryer and frozen brussel sprouts in air fryer for an easy and delicious companion dish. Or use it as the base of this lemon garlic butter broccoli —yum!
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Why this will be your go-to recipe
This air fryer frozen broccoli is a staple in my house, and I know you’re going to love it too!
- Zero prep time – This frozen broccoli in the air fryer is both crispy and tasty, and requires no prep time.
- Healthy – Broccoli is a healthy, low-carb, and nutrient-dense side dish option that pairs well with just about any protein.
- Crispy delicious – Frozen broccoli in the air fryer requires minimal oil, and has crunchy and delicious flavor.
Ingredients
Ready to learn how to cook frozen broccoli in air fryer? First, let’s gather our simple ingredients. You probably have them all in your kitchen already!
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- Frozen broccoli florets: A 16oz (454 gram) bag will fit nicely for a 6-quart air fryer basket.
- Olive oil: Use to lightly coat the frozen broccoli florets before air frying.
- Dry spice seasonings: coarse sea salt, black pepper, and lemon pepper seasoning
Ingredient substitutions
- Change up the seasonings: You can really get creative here! Spice things up with chili powder or flakes, or try curry powder, smoked paprika, cumin, garlic powder, or onion powder.
- Add cauliflower: Because they have a similar cooking time, you can add frozen cauliflower florets without changing anything else in the recipe. Please refer to my air fryer frozen cauliflower recipe.
- Use a different oil: Avocado oil is a great option instead of olive oil due to its high smoke points.
How to air fry frozen broccoli
Cooking frozen broccoli in air fryer is so quick and easy! Here’s how to make frozen broccoli in air fryer in just 3 simple steps.
Temperature: Preheat your air fryer to 400°F (204 °C).
- Season: In a bowl, toss frozen broccoli in oil and seasonings.
- Add to basket: Spread broccoli florets in a single layer in the air fryer basket.
- Time (Cook from frozen): Airfry for 10-15 minutes total at 400°F (204 °C), until crispy and shake the basket halfway through cooking. (Cook time will vary depending on your air fryer unit).
TIP: The best way to cook frozen broccoli in an air fryer is simple – toss the florets in frozen, without any thawing. This way, the hot air circulates freely, especially if you don’t line the basket. But, if you’re looking for an easier cleanup, go ahead and line the bottom of the basket with a thin layer of foil. Your broccoli might not end up as crispy, but clean-up will be a breeze!
How to make frozen broccoli extra crispy in air fryer
- Cook from frozen: For best results, don’t thaw the broccoli before cooking. This can make them soggy.
- Little oil: Lightly spray the frozen broccoli florets with a little oil and toss to coat evenly before adding to the air fryer basket will help the broccoli crisp up even further.
- Don’t overcrowd or stack veggies: Spread them into a single layer so they don’t steam.
- Shake the basket halfway through cooking to ensure even crisping.
Variations
Air fried frozen broccoli is a perfect side dish just as it is, but it’s also so easy to modify and spice it up. Here are some fun variations to try:
- Air fryer frozen broccoli and cauliflower: Because they have similar cook times, you can easily add cauliflower to your airfryer frozen broccoli for some added color and flavor.
- Top with a sauce: For added flavor, drizzle some sauce after cooking. This dish would taste great with my garlic chili sauce or Whole30 ranch yogurt dressing.
- Air fryer frozen broccoli and cheese: For parmesan air fryer frozen broccoli, top with parmesan cheese before serving. If you’re dairy-free, try my Paleo parmesan cheese!
- Frozen breaded broccoli in air fryer: Sprinkle Italian-style or gluten-free Japanese panko breadcrumbs to make a breaded, crispy broccoli dish.
Serving suggestions
Air fryer roasted frozen broccoli is a perfect side dish to round out any meal. Here are some ideas to get you started:
- Pair with rice and noodles: Try pairing with classics like air fryer rice or air fryer fried rice for a comforting meal. If you’re up for a bit of a kick, spicy peanut noodles or chili oil ramen will turn up the heat and flavor!
- Serve with proteins: Amp up your meal with some protein-packed favorites. Go for the ocean’s bounty with Frozen salmon in air fryer or air fryer bang bang shrimp. Poultry lovers will adore air fryer teriyaki chicken, Vietnamese air fryer chicken wings, or Frozen chicken wings in air fryer. For a quick bite, air fryer salmon bites are perfect.
- Use as a topping: You can use this airfry frozen broccoli as a crunchy topping. Mix it into my broccoli pesto salad for a fresh twist, or sprinkle over Chicken and broccoli Chinese garlic sauce or Shrimp and broccoli stir fry for added texture and flavor.
You can also download my air fryer cooking times – a free printable cheat sheet – for more resources!
Common FAQ
Broccoli is high in many nutrients, including fiber, vitamin C, vitamin K, iron, and potassium. It also boasts more protein than most other vegetables (source). Frozen vegetables are nutritious and a study found that frozen broccoli has more riboflavin than fresh broccoli (source).
Yes! Air fryer broccoli is fast, healthy, and easy. You should put the frozen broccoli into the air fryer without thawing for the best results and air fry at 400°F (204 °C) for 10-15 minutes total until crisp.
Cook times will vary between air fryer models, but generally, total time will be around 10-15 minutes at 400°F (204 °C) for 16oz (454 gram) of frozen broccoli.
Yes, you can, but some foods that don’t naturally contain oil (like frozen broccoli) require some oil to crisp up. The good news is an air fryer requires less oil than conventional cooking. You can use an oil spray to minimize oil further.
Yes, you can put frozen vegetables in an air fryer. Air fry at 400°F (204°C) for 10-15 minutes until crisp. Cook time may vary slightly based on the air fryer brand.
Broccoli burns in the air fryer, especially when it’s fresh because it lacks moisture. Adding 2-3 tbsp of water to the basket helps “steam” the broccoli, preventing burning. This issue is less common with frozen broccoli.
Storage tips
Air fryer frozen broccoli is the simplest dish you can make at the last minute so there’s no need to make-ahead. Once cooked, air fry frozen broccoli can be stored in an airtight container for up to 4 days in the fridge. But it tastes best when eaten immediately!
Unopened and uncooked frozen vegetables in a bag can be stored for 8-12 months. After this, they begin to lose some nutrients.
More air fryer frozen vegetable recipes
Now that you know how to make frozen broccoli in air fryer, check out some of my other delicious veggie dish recipes!
- Frozen brussel sprouts in air fryer: Crispy on the outside, and tender on the inside, these Brussels sprouts are a game-changer for quick, healthy sides.
- Frozen corn on the cob air fryer: Sweet, juicy, and bursting with freshness, this corn on the cob is like a bite of summer any time of the year.
- Frozen asparagus in air fryer: These asparagus spears come out perfectly tender-crisp, ready to pair with any dish.
- Air fryer frozen green beans: These aren’t your average green beans. Expect a mouthful of flavor with a delightful crunch that’s sure to complement any meal.
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Umami Tips
- Cook from frozen: For best results when air frying frozen broccoli, don’t let the veggies thaw.
- Shake the basket: Shake the basket halfway through cooking to evenly cook the veggies and prevent them from steaming.
- Don’t overcrowd the basket: Overcrowding or layering will cause the broccoli to steam instead of roast.
- Easy clean-up tips: Try lining the bottom of your air fryer basket with foil paper. It might affect hot air circulation a tad, but if speedy cleaning tops your list, this compromise is worth it.
- Prevent burning: Not a fan of super crispy broccoli? Adding about 2 tablespoons of water to your air fryer basket boosts moisture, giving you tender florets without the char.
- How long to air fry frozen broccoli: Cooking 16oz (454 grams) of frozen broccoli? Set your air fryer to 400°F (204 °C) for 10-15 minutes. Don’t forget to give the basket a shake halfway through to ensure even cooking.
Frozen broccoli in air fryer recipe
Ingredients
- 16 oz. frozen broccoli florets
- 4 tbsp olive oil
- ½ tsp coarse sea salt
- ½ tsp ground black pepper
- ½ tsp lemon pepper seasoning
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer following the default setting. I use Cosori and the default is 400F for 5 minutes.
- In a large mixing bowl, add the ingredients from broccoli to lemon pepper seasoning. Toss and combine well.
- Pour the florets into the basket and spread them out in a single layer. Some overlap is okay.
- Air fryer for 8 minutes, shake the basket and cook for an additional 6 minutes or until the florets are slightly crisp outside with some brown bits. Serve warm, room temperature, or lightly chilled.
Notes
- No need to thaw the vegetable. Cook directly from frozen.
- Line the basket – I always line a layer of foil paper between the air fryer basket and the tray for easy cleanup.
- Coat the oil evenly – I found that coating a thin layer of oil over the broccoli florets helps them crisp up evenly.
- Cook time varies – Cooking time and temperature can be different, depending on the brand of the air fryer. I have a Cosori at home.
- Flavor variety –
- Spicier: toss the florets with a sprinkle of red pepper flakes.
- Other flavor suggestions: curry powder, smoked paprika, garlic, and onion powder are all great choices.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Made a dish and loved it? Please remember to rate the recipe and leave a comment in the section below! It helps my blog grow organically, allowing me to continue sharing free and awesome content with you. Thank you!
This was delicious! I would have never thought that frozen broccoli could crisp up and taste so good! Thanks for sharing
Thank you so much for sharing it with us! That was my first impression, too! Pleasantly surprised! :))
This was easy and delicious! I added some onion powder and mustard powder and served over baked potatoes with ham and broccoli. My family enjoyed it!
Thank you for sharing! Sounds like a great meal combo for the whole family!
We have quite a few frozen broccoli florets in the freezer and this recipe comes in handy! We’ve experimented with quite a few different flavors – with parmesan cheese or nutritional yeast – all turned out delicious! Also love that this recipe has no butter to keep it light and healthy.
I really appreciate this air fryer frozen broccoli recipe also along with many of your air fryer frozen vegetable dishes. They are really a time saver, taste good, and it helps me eat more veggies, too!
Can you use fresh broccoli and the cook time would be similar?
For fresh broccoli (10 oz), you can cook them at 300F for 10-15 minutes in a Cosori air fryer. 🙂
This dish is so easy! I was thinking the broccoli will be soggy but it turned out crispy and delicious! It’s a keeper!