Air Fryer Frozen Broccoli
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Looking for a fast, no-fail way to cook frozen broccoli that actually gets crispy? This Air Fryer Frozen Broccoli comes out perfectly golden on the edges, tender in the middle, and ready in about 10 to 12 minutes with no thawing needed.
You’ll love this Air Fryer Broccoli Recipe
If you’ve ever found yourself in a pinch with an empty fridge but still need a quick, healthy side dish, frozen broccoli is about to become your best friend. The problem is that when it’s microwaved or steamed, it can turn out soft and a little… meh.
Not exactly what we’re going for.
The fix? Air frying.
Cooking frozen broccoli in the air fryer is so much faster than roasting, and the florets come out perfectly golden on the edges with tender centers every time. It’s one of my favorite easy veggie sides, right up there with my Air Fryer Green Beans and Air Fryer Ranch Carrots.
This simple side also pairs perfectly with quick mains like my Air Fryer Salmon Bites or Air Fryer Chicken Tenderloins when you need dinner on the table fast.
Here at The Skinnyish Dish, I’m all about making healthy eating easier without sacrificing flavor, and this air fryer frozen broccoli is truly one of those small kitchen wins that makes weeknights feel way more manageable.
Ingredients for Air Fryer Frozen Broccoli
- Frozen broccoli florets- be sure whatever you purchase says florets and not just broccoli or broccoli cuts. I’ve found when I get something that says broccoli cuts it’s A LOT of stem pieces.
- Avocado oil cooking spray
- olive oil
- Seasoning- I use a blend of smoked paprika, Italian seasoning, and garlic powder
- Red pepper flakes- just a pinch, but omit if kiddos are eating and are not big fans of spicy food
- Kosher salt and black pepper
How to cook Frozen Broccoli in the Air Fryer
Honestly, cooking frozen broccoli in the air fryer is as easy as opening the freezer, cutting the bag open, adding seasonings, then throwing into the air fryer for several minutes. Boom! Healthy side dish. Here’s what I do..
Step one: Get your air fryer ready! Preheat for at least 5 minutes at 380 degrees.
Step two: in a bowl add seasonings and oil to frozen broccoli. Make sure to stir everything together really well so the oil and seasoning is evenly distributed.
Step three: For the best results, pick out the super small florets and set the aside. Keep them separate to add the the air fryer at the half way point of cooking. Those little guys can burn up quick if you cook’m the whole time and while I like crispy broccoli, we don’t want pieces that turn to dust when you pick’m up, right? Haha
Step four: Spray Air Fryer basket with avocado oil spray. Place frozen broccoli in the air fryer in a single layer. Air fry for 6 minutes, then remove basket add in the small florets (if you have them). Shake the basket really well then put it back and continue to cook for 5-6 minutes until you have broccoli that’s lightly brown with crispy edges. Serve hot! Store any leftovers in an airtight container.
Top Air Fryer Tips
Preheat your air fryer.
Just like you would preheat the oven, it’s important to preheat the air fryer. This helps food cook evenly and get crispy.
Use avocado oil spray, not regular cooking spray.
Avocado oil spray has a higher smoke point, so it doesn’t create that weird residue that’s hard to clean.
Don’t overcrowd the basket.
This is probably the most important rule. When the basket is too full, air can’t circulate properly and food can turn out soggy instead of crispy.
Shake the basket.
Always shake at least once during cooking. I usually do it halfway through to promote even browning.
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Spice Variations
While I make the “classic” version with my favorite simple spice mixture the most. I love changing it up with different flavors depending on my mood and what’s for dinner. No matter which version you choose- you’re going to love this air fryer frozen broccoli!
- Lemon pepper: Add some freshly minced garlic, lemon zest, and extra pepper to your broccoli before cooking for a bright and flavorful twist.
- Garlic Parmesan: Using the same spices in the recipes, but end it by tossing cooked broccoli in a few tablespoons of freshly grated parmesan cheese.
- Spicy: Add extra red pepper flakes to the seasoning + lightly drizzle some buffalo wing hot sauce on top when broccoli is finished cooking.
- Everything but the bagel: When the broccoli is finished cooking, add 1 tablespoon of everything bagel seasoning to the broccoli and toss together.
Recommended tools
Air Fryer – I love this Air Fryer and have used it for many years now.
FAQ
Nope! For best results, cook frozen broccoli straight from the freezer. Thawing first can make the broccoli release too much moisture and turn soft instead of crispy.
The most common reason is overcrowding the basket. Air fryers need space for hot air to circulate. Spread the broccoli in a mostly single layer and make sure to shake the basket multipe times during cooking.
I recommend 380°F for the best balance of tender centers and crispy edges. If you want extra browning, you can increase to 400°F for the last 1–2 minutes.
My top tips are to toss with a little olive oil, don’t overcrowd the basket, shake basket multiple times while cooking, and finish with 1–2 minutes at a higher temperature, if needed.
Store leftover broccoli in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3–4 days. Reheat in the air fryer at 370°F for 3–4 minutes to warm and bring back the crisp edges.
More Air Fryer Recipes to love
Air Fryer Frozen Broccoli
Ingredients
- 4 cups frozen broccoli
- 1 tsp Italian Seasoning
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1/4 tsp smoked paprika
- 1/2 tsp kosher salt
- pinch of red pepper flakes omit if you don't want any spice
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- avocado oil spray
- freshly cracked pepper
Instructions
- Preheat Air Fryer to 380 for about 5 minutes.
- In a bowl add olive oil and seasonings to frozen broccoli. Stir together really well to make sure it's evenly distributed. *For the best results, pick out the super small florets and set the aside. Keep them separate to add the the air fryer at the half way point of cooking. Those little florets can burn up quick if you cook'm the whole time.
- Spray Air Fryer basket with avocado oil spray. Place frozen broccoli in the air fryer. Cook for 6 minutes, then remove basket add in the small florets (if you have them). Shake the basket really well then put it back and continue to cook for 6-7 minutes until you have broccoli that’s lightly brown with crispy edges. Serve hot!
- You can double the batch easily, but be sure to not overcrowd the Air Fryer basket you may need to do two batches if you do this.
Notes
102 calories, 2g fat, 74g sodium, 4g carbohydrates, 4g fiber, 2g sugar (go added sugar, 0g sugar alcohol, 0.4 net carbs, 5g protein
Okay, I’ve probably made this 100 times by now. I barely buy fresh broccoli anymore because this way is just so easy. Nothing goes to waste and it turns out great every time. I’ve tried the garlic parmesan and lemon pepper version too. Thank you! Definitely a staple side dish in our house!
Jennie! What a thoughtful post! Thank you so much! I love making frozen broccol in the air fryer, Its just so simple! I’m so glad you found this recipe so helpful.
I think you added an extra number to the calories 😉
This recipe sounds great I will be buying broccoli today. Can I use Olive Oil spray instead of Avocado?
Love all your recipes, thank you for sharing
Susan B
Hi Susan! You can definitely use olive oil spray in place of the avocado oil spray. I prefer using the avocado oil spray because it has a higher smoke point and it doesn’t leave residue as on the air fryer basket itself as much as olive oil spray does. I hope you love this recipe!
I just tried this recipe, and it was a game changer! The broccoli came out perfectly crispy and flavorful. So quick and easy—definitely adding this to my regular rotation. Thanks for sharing!
Yesss! So happy you enjoyed it!
I am not a frozen veggie person but I have over 30 broccoli plants and I will have to blanch and freeze them for long term storage. I tried this recipe using the same season but added a pinch of red pepper flakes and it was better than when I roast fresh broccoli. The texture was still firm with crispy edges. I think this is the only way I will make it from now on but occasionally switch up the seasoning. Thanks for posting this recipe.