Air Fryer Frozen Broccoli

Air fry frozen broccoli is the perfect weeknight side dish. No chopping and ready in 16 minutes, you can cook frozen broccoli in the air fryer and it turns out perfectly cooked, tender and crispy! Never eat mushy broccoli again!

The air fryer is my go-to way to get dinner on the table quicky. If you love the air fryer too, be sure to check out all of my air fryer recipes including frozen asparagus in the air fryer and air fryer frozen green beans.

If you’re looking for quick and easy recipes that come together in 30 minutes or less, I’m your girl! I worked one on one with busy women while I was a personal trainer and nutrition coach, so I understand how challenging it can be to get a satisfying meal on the table with a packed schedule. That’s why I created Bites of Wellness—to take the stress out of answering “What’s for dinner?”

Why you will love this recipe

• Cook from frozen, no defrosting needed
• Just 3 simple ingredients
• Easy to add spices to customize it
• The perfect last minute side dish, I bet you always have frozen broccoli on hand

Ingredients

• Frozen broccoli
• Salt
• Avocado oil or olive oil spray (be sure there are no propellants, it can ruin the coating on your air fryer basket).

How to cook frozen broccoli in air fryer

Add frozen broccoli to the air fryer basket, trying to make as much of a single layer as possible.

Spray the broccoli with avocado oil or olive oil spray. Sprinkle with salt. Cook at 390F for 16 minutes total.

After 10 minutes of cooking, pause the air fryer and use tongs to flip the broccoli so that it doesn’t burn at the top.

Cook 6 more minutes, shaking the basket with 2 minutes to go.

Top tips

• Cut down really large broccoli florets so that things cook evenly.
• No need to defrost – When the frozen broccoli cooks, it releases water which actually creates a bit of steam, helping to tenderize the broccoli without burning it.
• Cook in one layer, or as close as you can get to one layer.
  • If you do have to stack the broccoli, be sure to shake the basket often, especially towards the end of the cooking time.
• Keep an eye out during the last 3 minutes for the smaller broccoli florets, they can start to get very crispy around the edges.

Other spices to add

• Add ½ tbsp. taco seasoning when you add the salt
• Add 1-2 tsp. herbs de provence
• Add 1-2 tsp. Italian seasoning and ½ tsp. garlic powder
• Add 1 tsp. turmeric + 1 tsp. smoked paprika + ½ tsp. garlic powder
• Add ½ tbsp. cajun seasoning
• Add ½ tsp. garlic powder and after cooking, add 2 tbsp. chopped sundried tomatoes

What to serve with air fried frozen broccoli

• Serve with a creamy sauce- my two favorites are spicy tahini sauce and lemon tahini sauce.
• Serve as a side dish with pretty much any meal
• Chop up and serve in an omelette or in your eggs
• Add to your favorite pasta recipe for some added veggies

Common questions

How to make the broccoli extra crispy

Add 1-3 minutes of cooking time to the broccoli (take out smaller pieces that already have dark edges). The total cook time will be between 17-19 minutes to get super crispy broccoli.

Can you make this in advance?

Yes! Cook the broccoli 1-2 minutes less than the recipe indicates. Let the broccoli cool and store in the fridge. When you are ready to eat, cook in air fryer at 390F for 3-4 minutes.

What if you don’t have an air fryer?

If you don’t have an air fryer, try my favorite method to cook fresh broccoli on the stove top. Or you could roast the frozen broccoli in a 425F oven for 20-25 minutes, stirring after 15 minutes of baking.

Storing leftovers

Fridge: Store in the fridge in a airtight container for up to 4 days. Reheat in the microwave 1-1:30 or in the air fryer at 390F for 3-4 minutes.