Frozen Broccoli in Air Fryer
by 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 Whole30 broccoli recipe—yum!
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!
- Frozen broccoli florets
- Olive oil
- 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 cook time, you can add cauliflower 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 make the dish
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.
- Preheat your air fryer to 400F. In a bowl, toss frozen broccoli in oil and seasonings.
- Spread broccoli florets in a single layer in the air fryer basket.
- Airfry for 10-15 minutes, until crispy. (Cook time will vary depending on your air fryer unit)
Air Fryer Tips For Extra Crispy Broccoli
- Cook from frozen: For best results, don’t thaw the broccoli before cooking. This can make them soggy.
- 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!
- 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 breaded, crispy broccoli dish.
Serving suggestions
Air fryer roasted frozen broccoli is a perfect side dish to round out any meal. You can serve it with rice, a protein, and a sauce for a quick, easy, and well-balanced meal.
You can use this airfry frozen broccoli as the base for my broccoli pesto salad or add it to Paleo chicken and broccoli or Shrimp and broccoli stir fry.
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.
Cook times will vary between air fryer models, but generally total time will be around 10-15 minutes. It’s easy to check for doneness in an air fryer— just keep an eye on the florets until they’re crispy!
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.
Storage and make-ahead
Frozen vegetables can be stored for 8-12 months. After this, they begin to lose some nutrients.
Once cooked, air fry frozen broccoli can be stored in an airtight container for up to 4 days in the fridge. But it really tastes best when eaten immediately!
Related recipes
Now that you know how to make frozen broccoli in air fryer, check out some of my other delicious veggie dish recipes!
If you’re loving the air fryer, try my air fryer brussels sprouts with maple syrup or my Asian brussel sprouts recipe.
For some mouthwatering side dishes perfect for the upcoming holidays, check out my keto stuffed mushrooms and this garlicky Chinese broccoli recipe!
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 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.
- Feel free to experiment with your own favorite seasonings and spices!
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
Made a dish and love it? Please remember to rate the recipe and leave a comment in the comment section below! It helps my blog grow organically so I can continue sharing free and awesome content with you. Thank you!
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!