The flavor of this air fryer roasted broccoli recipe (aka charred or burnt broccoli) is amazing! If you’re not a fan of cooked broccoli (steamed, boiled, etc) then you will want to give this recipe a try. This simple roasted broccoli recipe is one of my favorite vegetables to cook in the air fryer.
Often broccoli haters find the taste of this vegetable to be bitter. Broccoli contains a compound that has a bitter flavor. There are some people that have a gene that makes them more sensitive to tasting this compound. It’s not surprising that these people are not fans of broccoli.
However, over cooking broccoli can also result in it having a more bitter flavor. Which is why this air fryer version of roasted broccoli does not taste bitter like steamed or boiled broccoli.
This recipe uses fresh broccoli. You have probably noticed that raw broccoli has a milder flavor than when it is cooked. By quickly air fryer the broccoli so the tips of the florets get a nice roasted or charred flavor you’ll find that the flavor of the remaining broccoli floret remains mild.
Air Fryer Roasted Broccoli
To make a delicious batch of mild flavored roasted broccoli you’ll want to follow these tips.
How do you pick out a good head of broccoli?
Start by looking at the color of the fresh broccoli. You’ll want to pick broccoli that is dark green in color and has tight florets.
As broccoli gets older, before it’s picked, the florets will start changing color and opening up. Each of those little florets will actually flower as the plant gets more mature. It’s still perfectly edible if the florets are starting to change color and open. However this type of broccoli will also have a stronger flavor.
- Stick with dark green broccoli with tight florets for a milder flavor.
- The broccoli should also not have any black spots or noticeable mold on it. It should be firm in texture.
- Avoid fresh broccoli that is starting to feel soft and has a strong odor. Fresh broccoli is almost odorless. If you smell a strong sulfur (egg like) smell then pass on that head of broccoli. Now let’s take a look at the other ingredient’s you’ll need for this recipe.
Ingredients for Air Fryer Roasted Broccoli:
This recipe doesn’t get any easier and takes just a few ingredients.
- Fresh Broccoli Florets – you can purchase a head of broccoli, pre cut broccoli florets or a whole broccoli (the ones with a long stem/stalk). You’ll only be using the florets for this recipe. But don’t worry if you end up with broccoli stems as they are perfectly edible. Check out the FAQ section below for tips on how to make use of the stalks.
- Olive oil – this recipe uses just a bit of oil. I like olive oil but you can also use your favorite oils such as coconut oil, canola oil or a vegetable oil blend.
- Salt and Pepper – this recipe doesn’t need much in the way of seasoning. Just a dash of salt and pepper will do. You can use your favorite type of salt for this recipe. I like the bigger pieces found in sea salt or kosher salt.
The great thing about this recipe is the broccoli can be seasoned with so many other flavors. See the FAQ section for a few other ideas.
How to make Air Fryer Roasted Broccoli:
Step 1: Prep the broccoli
Start by trimming the thick stalk and the smaller stems off of the broccoli florets. Split larger florets in half or quarters. You want more of the surface area of the floret exposed when cooking in the air fryer so they will get crispy edges.
Wash the florets well. Shake the excess water off and gently pat dry with a paper towel or place them in a salad spinner. If the florets are too wet the broccoli will end up steaming and you’ll end up with softer pieces of broccoli.
If you want crispy broccoli you’ll want to dry some of the excess water before going to the next step.
Step 2: Place the florets in a large bowl and drizzle the oil over them. Shake the bowl or use a spoon/tongs to coat the florets with the oil.
Step 3: Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Step 4: Preheat your air fryer according to your models instructions. Place the broccoli in the air fryer basket in a single layer. Cook in the air fryer at 375 degrees F for 5 minutes. Remove the air fryer basket and shake to move the florets around a bit. This will allow more of the edges to get crispy.
Place the air fryer basket back into the air fryer and cook at 375 degrees F for another 3 to 5 minutes. Your looking for the edges to become browned. If you want the edges even crispier then continue to cook in the air fryer for 2 to 3 minutes at a time until it gets to your desired level of doneness.
Air Frying Tip: I like to take out the smaller pieces as they are done and then continue to cook the larger pieces for another 2 to 3 minutes. While this recipe is also known as charred broccoli or burnt broccoli you don’t want the broccoli florets to turn black. You just want a bit of browned crispiness on the edges.
How to store leftover roasted broccoli:
You can store any leftover broccoli in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days. The roasted broccoli seems to get a stronger flavor the longer it’s stored.
Can I make this roasted broccoli in the oven?
Yes you can. It will take longer to cook in the oven than in the air fryer. But you still can get that delicious roasted flavor by cooking in the oven. Follow the same directions as above to prepare, oil and season the broccoli.
Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Place the broccoli florets in a single layer on a sheet pan. Bake in the 425 degree oven for 10 minutes. Remove from the oven and turn the pieces over. Return the baking sheet to the oven and bake for another 10 minutes. Check the level of doneness. If you would like the pieces crispier then continue to cook for another 5 minutes.
Can I freeze this air fryer roasted broccoli?
Sure you can freeze it. When you reheat the broccoli it will be softer in texture and not as crispy as they were when you first air fried them.
Often times if I have left over roasted broccoli I will freeze it to use when making broccoli cheddar soup. It gives the soup such great flavor.
Instead of making a lot of broccoli and then freezing leftovers, this recipe is so quick and easy to make that you can simply prep the fresh florets, store them in the refrigerator and then take out the amount you need to make your meal.
Often I keep the prepped florets on hand and my family members will end up making a single serving sized amount just for themselves when they want a quick snack. I never would have thought my family would “snack” on vegetables but this broccoli is so delicious they actually enjoy eating it.
How to serve this roasted broccoli:
Everyone seems to enjoy their roasted broccoli topped with different things once they are cooked. Try some of these variations:
- Top with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice, some lemon zest and some shredded parmesan cheese
- Top with some crushed red pepper flakes and a little bit of garlic powder
- Drizzle with a bit of ranch dressing or sprinkle with ranch dressing seasoning mix
- Serve with cheese dip
Can you eat the broccoli stems / broccoli stalks?
Yes you can! The smaller stems and even the larger stalk can all be eaten. As the stems get thicker then will need to cook a bit longer to make them soft.
Have you eaten broccoli slaw before? Then you’re eating the large stalk of the broccoli. To use it, peel the outer skin off the large stalk. The peel of the stem is a bit tougher so I like to remove it before shredding the rest of the stalk to be used in recipes.
You can finely dice or slice the stems to use in soups, stir fries and other dishes. You can “rice” the broccoli and use it as you would cauliflower rice in your favorite recipes.
Don’t want to eat the stalk? You still can put it to good use by making it into homemade soup broth.
Keep a bag in your freezer and place all the bits and pieces of vegetables that you are going to throw out in the bag. Add in potato peels, end pieces of carrots, onion skins, etc You can even add in left over cooked vegetables. Once you have a full bag in the freezer place the vegetables in a large stock pot, cover with water and simmer over a low heat to create your own homemade vegetable broth.
Using the air fryer is such an easy way to make your favorite side dishes. Check out some of these other easy recipes:
Copycat Air Fryer Chipotle Chicken
Try this recipe and love it? Review it by clicking the star rating ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ on the recipe card! This helps other readers to find this recipe since the recipe rating will encourage search engines, such as Google, to suggest it to others. This helps support Remake My Plate as we are a reader supported publication.
Air Fryer Roasted Broccoli Recipe (Charred, Burnt)
Equipment
- Air Fryer
Ingredients
- 16 ounces Broccoli florets
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon Salt
- 1/4 teaspoon Black Pepper ground
Instructions
- Start by trimming the thick stalk and the smaller stems off of the broccoli florets. Split larger florets in half or quarters. Then wash the florets and dry well.
- Place the florets in a bowl and drizzle the oil over them. Shake the bowl or use a spoon/tongs to coat the florets with the oil.
- Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Preheat your air fryer according to your models instructions.
- Place the broccoli in the air fryer basket in a single layer. Cook in the air fryer at 375 degrees F for 5 minutes. Remove the air fryer basket and shake to move the florets around a bit. Place the air fryer basket back into the air fryer and cook at 375 degrees F for another 3 to 5 minutes or until the edges are crispy.
Nutrition
You might also enjoy these recipes:
Lemon Mediterranean Herb Chicken
Strawberry Cream Cheese Crescent Rolls
Want to get new recipes sent directly to your inbox? Then subscribe to our newsletter (see below) and be the first to know when we post a new recipe as well as get weekly shopping, cooking and meal planning tips. Follow me on Pinterest where you can find links to our recipes as well as other recipes you and your family will enjoy.
This post may contain affiliate links. Please see our disclosure policy. If you click on the banner below you will be taken directly to my Etsy shop to see the digital items currently listed.
