Ingredients
Scale
one 12-ounce bag broccoli florets (or, one head of broccoli cut into about 3 cups of florets)
2 tablespoons water
1–2 tablespoons avocado oil or olive oil
1 teaspoon coarse kosher salt
Instructions
- Prep Your Broccoli Grab your broccoli florets and place them in a mixing bowl. Add the water, oil, and salt directly to the bowl. Break any larger pieces into bite-sized chunks (this helps everything cook evenly!). Now comes the fun part, gently massage the broccoli for about 30-60 seconds. You’ll notice it turning a brighter green as it soaks up that flavorful mixture. This quick massage makes all the difference in the final texture!
- First Air Frying Stage Transfer your seasoned broccoli to the air fryer basket. Don’t worry about the little bit of liquid left in the bowl, that’s totally normal! Set your air fryer to 350°F and cook for 5 minutes. Give the basket a quick shake halfway through. At this point, your broccoli should look vibrant green and slightly steamed.
- Crisp to Perfection Here’s where the magic happens! Increase your air fryer temperature to 375°F and cook for another 2 minutes. Watch as your broccoli transforms, the edges will start to brown and crisp up beautifully. Feel free to add another minute if you love extra-crispy florets, or pull it out sooner if you prefer them more tender.
- Serve and Enjoy That’s it! Your broccoli is ready to devour, perfectly fluffy and tender inside with those irresistibly crispy, golden-brown edges outside. I love serving mine with a sprinkle of freshly grated Parmesan cheese or alongside your favorite dipping sauce. The contrast between the crunchy tips and tender stems is absolutely addictive!
Notes
- You can skip the bowl part if you’d like and do this all in the air fryer, you’d massage your broccoli with the oil and salt directly in the basket. Then pour the water into the air fryer, so it falls below the grates and stays there during the cooking process. Just another way to achieve a very similar result (and save a dish).
- Every air fryer is different both in capacity and in temps. You may want to do this in smaller batches depending on the size of the air fryer you’re using. I use this air fryer.
- If the broccoli overlaps in the basket a bit at first, that’s okay, it’ll reduce in size to eventually make a single layer for the last few minutes of roasting.
- If you’re not getting enough crisping at 375, go up to 390 or 400! Different air fryers have different heat intensities, so don’t be afraid to adjust.
- If you don’t have a basket air fryer, that’s fine! Just follow step 1 and then transfer to a baking sheet. I almost think of this as “marinating” the broccoli with some moisture. The broccoli will hold onto that moisture (even if it doesn’t absorb it completely) and it helps keep it tender while roasting.
- Prep Time: 3 minutes
- Cook Time: 7 minutes
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Air Fryer
- Cuisine: American
