This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
Have you tried air-fried broccoli?
After our success with these Air Fryer Roasted Beets with Feta, we were ready to experiment with more vegetables in the air fryer. This Air Fryer Garlic Parmesan Broccoli was another winner.
The broccoli gets tender inside with lightly charred, crispy edges, while Parmesan and garlic add plenty of flavor. And because it cooks in just 7 to 8 minutes, it’s an easy vegetable side dish for those nights when you need something on the table quickly.
A squeeze of fresh lemon at the end is optional, but especially good.
Table of Contents
- Why You’ll Love This Air Fryer Broccoli
- Ingredients
- How to Make Air Fryer Garlic Parmesan Broccoli, Step-by-Step
- Recipe Notes & Variations
- Serving Suggestions
- Storing Leftovers
- How Many Calories and WW Points in Air Fryer Garlic Parmesan Broccoli?
- Air Fryer Garlic Parmesan Broccoli Recipe
- More Easy Broccoli Recipes
Why You’ll Love This Air Fryer Broccoli
- Quick and easy. The broccoli cooks in about 8 minutes.
- Crispy edges, tender centers. One of the things the air fryer does especially well.
- Just a handful of ingredients. Broccoli, Parmesan, olive oil, garlic powder and pepper.
- Lots of flavor with very little oil. One tablespoon is enough for the whole recipe.
- Easy to change up. Add red pepper flakes, lemon, different cheeses or your favorite seasonings.
- Goes with almost anything. An easy vegetable side for chicken, fish, meatloaf, pasta and more.
Ingredients
Broccoli – One medium head of fresh broccoli, washed and cut into florets. Try to keep the florets fairly similar in size so they cook evenly.
Parmesan cheese – Grated Parmesan adds salty, savory flavor and helps create those tasty browned edges.
Olive oil – You only need 1 tablespoon to lightly coat the broccoli.
Garlic powder – I prefer garlic powder or granulated roasted garlic here because it coats the broccoli evenly and won’t burn as easily as fresh garlic.
Black pepper – Just a pinch is enough. Add salt if needed after cooking; Parmesan already provides quite a bit of salty flavor.
How to Make Air Fryer Garlic Parmesan Broccoli, Step-by-Step
Step 1: Gather Your Ingredients
Gather and prepare all the ingredients.
Step 2: Preheat the Air Fryer
Preheat the air fryer to 375°F.
I used the Cosori TurboBlaze™ with the crisper plate.
Step 3: Season the Broccoli
In a large bowl, toss the broccoli florets with Parmesan, olive oil, garlic powder and black pepper until evenly coated.
Step 4: Air Fry
Arrange the broccoli in a single layer in the air fryer basket.
Air fry at 375°F for 7 to 8 minutes, until the broccoli is fork-tender with lightly browned and charred edges.
Check after about 5 minutes since air fryers can vary quite a bit. Smaller florets will cook more quickly, while larger ones may need another minute or two.
Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cook the broccoli in batches.
Step 5: Serve
Transfer the broccoli to a serving dish or divide among four plates.
Add a squeeze of fresh lemon juice, if desired, and serve warm.
Recipe Notes & Variations
Cut the florets evenly. Similar-sized pieces will cook more evenly. Small florets may be ready sooner, while large ones may need another minute or two.
Use more olive oil if you prefer. I use just 1 tablespoon to keep the calories and WW Points lower, but you can certainly add more.
Garlic powder works especially well. It’s my preference because it distributes evenly over the broccoli. Granulated roasted garlic is another good choice. Fresh minced garlic can also be used, but watch it carefully since it can burn in the air fryer.
No Parmesan? Asiago or Pecorino Romano would both be delicious.
Make it spicy. Add a pinch of crushed red pepper flakes.
Brighten it up. Finish with lemon zest and a squeeze of fresh lemon juice. A drizzle of balsamic vinegar would also be good.
Serving Suggestions
This easy broccoli goes with all kinds of simple meals.
Try it with Whole Roasted Air Fryer Chicken, Salmon Cakes, Mini Meatloaf Muffins or Mom’s Hamburger Macaroni Goulash.
Storing Leftovers
Store leftover broccoli in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
For the best texture, reheat it briefly in the air fryer rather than the microwave (affiliate link). A few minutes at 350°F should warm it through and help crisp the edges again.
How Many Calories and WW Points in Air Fryer Garlic Parmesan Broccoli?
According to my calculations, each serving of crispy air fryer broccoli with parmesan has about 83 calories.
To see your WW Points for this recipe, track it in the WW App!
(You must be logged into WW on a smartphone or tablet.)
If you’ve made this Air Fried Garlic Parmesan Broccoli, please give the recipe a star rating below and leave a comment letting me know how you liked it. And stay in touch on Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for the latest updates.
Air Fryer Garlic Parmesan Broccoli
Ingredients
- 1 medium head broccoli, washed and cut into florets
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 pinch black pepper
Instructions
- Gather and prepare all ingredients.
- Use the Preheat function to heat the air fryer to 375F degrees. (The air fryer model I used was the Cosori TurboBlaze™ with the crisper plate.)
- In a large bowl, stir together broccoli florets, cheese, oil, garlic powder and pepper until well coated.
- Place broccoli in air fryer basket on crisper plate and arrange florets in a single layer. Press the Air Fry button and cook at 375F degrees for 7-8 minutes, until lightly charred and tender. Be sure to check broccoli after 3 to 4 minutes, as cooking times for different air fryers may vary. (Depending on size of your air fryer, you may need to cook in batches. Buttons and cooking functions on your specific model may be different.)
- Add broccoli to a serving dish or divide evenly between 4 plates.
- Store any leftover roasted broccoli in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
Notes
(Must be logged into WW on a smartphone or tablet.) 2 PointsPlus (Old plan) Be sure to roast the broccoli stems too. Don’t toss out the stems from your head of broccoli. Carefully peel the tough skin from the stems and chop. Toss in with the florets, olive oil, garlic powder and Parmesan until coated and cook as directed. Cooking time may vary depending on the size of the florets. Small florets will cook faster, where larger ones may need an extra minute or two. We use very little oil in our air fryer recipes to keep the calories and WW Points in check. Of course, you may prefer a more liberal drizzle of olive oil for more even cooking and additional tablespoons of parmesan cheese if you’re not following a low calorie diet. Garlic powder or granulated roasted garlic is my personal preference in this recipe. Feel free to use fresh garlic if you prefer. Some folks like a dash of onion powder too. No Parmesan? Asiago or Pecorino Romano would be great substitutes. Nutritional yeast has a cheesy, nutty flavor and a texture similar to grated Parmesan. It’s a great way to keep this healthy veggie vegan friendly. Spicier? A pinch of red pepper flakes would season broccoli nicely. Brighter? A sprinkle of lemon zest and squeeze of fresh lemon juice would be delicious. A drizzle of balsamic vinegar would also work well.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Recipe source: EatingWell Magazine Special Air Fryer Edition
I have not tried this recipe but want to. We love roasted broccoli-can I use frozen broccoli?
Sure!