Garlic Parmesan Air Fryer Broccoli cooks in minutes. It is tender with crispy and roasted edges. The pairing of garlic and parmesan cheese is fantastic! All the flavor of oven roasted broccoli in way less time.

garlic air fryer broccoli on a plate with text

Making broccoli in the air fryer is so simple. Just toss your fresh broccoli florets with a little oil and spices. The process is similar to roasting in the oven except you can use less oil and it cooks way faster.

Ingredients for the Air Fryer Broccoli:

It only takes a few simple ingredients to make crispy, garlicky, cheesy broccoli in your air fryer. Here's what you need:

Fresh Broccoli Florets
Olive Oil - you could swap in a different oil of choice.
Garlic Powder - I actually prefer using garlic powder instead of fresh garlic because I find it less likely to burn in the air fryer.
Grated Parmesan - I actually love making this with the kind in the green can, but you can grate fresh too!
Salt and Pepper

How to Make Broccoli in the Air Fryer

Making vegetables in the air fryer is so easy. Just toss the veggies with a little oil, spices, and in this recipe some cheese. See the instructions below:

Prep Broccoli: Wash and dry your broccoli florets and add to a large bowl. Toss with the olive, spices, and parmesan cheese until evenly coated.
Air Fry: Add coated broccoli to your air fryer basket in an even layer. Air Fry at 375 degrees F for 8-9 minutes until the edges are roasted and the broccoli is fork tender.
Serve and Enjoy: I love to add an extra sprinkle of grated parmesan cheese when serving.

What is an Air Fryer?

An air fryer is essentially a compact countertop convection oven. A fan circulates the hot air at a quick speed which creates a crispy layer on foods without needing to fry in oil. I have this version from Phillips but there are many options on the market! I recommend choosing one with the right size for your family.

Variations

This air fryer broccoli recipe can serve as the base and you can make changes to customize to your tastes! Try swapping in different spices, different cheeses (or omitting all together), in order to mix things up.

Here are some of my things to add or swap in:

Lemon Pepper - You can swap in lemon pepper for the regular pepper for a fun zesty, kick.
Red Pepper Flakes: Like spice? Add a pinch of red pepper flakes for a little heat.
Lemon Juice or Zest: After the broccoli is done air frying, you an spritz on some fresh lemon juice or give a sprinkle of lemon zest for some freshness.

How do you know when broccoli is done?

Broccoli is done when it is fork tender. Fork tender means you can easily pierce the broccoli with a fork. If you prefer more tender broccoli, you can always cook it a little bit longer.

Leftovers, Storage, and Reheating

Air Fryer broccoli is crispiest and best served right after making, but see below for tips on how to store and reheat leftovers.

Leftovers and Storage: Leftover broccoli can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge. It will keep fresh for up to 4 days.

Reheating: For best results, I recommend reheating the leftover broccoli in the air fryer or oven at 300F until warmed through and crispy again. If you microwave the broccoli, it will be softer.

Recipe Notes and Tips:

Prep in Advance! For even faster prep at dinner time, you can toss the broccoli with the oil, spices, and cheese earlier in the day and then air fry right at dinner time.
Double the Recipe to Feed the Whole Family - this recipe can easily be doubled to serve more! Depending on your air fryer size, you may need to air fry in two batches.
Use Even Sized Florets - For even cooking, it's best to use even-sized pieces. If you buy a bag of pre-cut florets you can cut any big pieces in half or thirds to match the other sizes.

close up of air fryer broccoli on plate with fork

More Air Fryer Recipes

Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets - You can easily make crispy chicken nuggets from scratch. The homemade honey mustard sauce is a to die for pairing!
Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Wings - A classic game day snack! Crispy skin but tender on the inside.
Air Fryer Honey Soy Glazed Carrots - easy enough to make for a weeknight meal. The glaze is so delicious. Sticky, sweet, and with a slight kick.
Air Fryer Pork Milanese - so easy to make and pairs great with the fresh arugula salad. It’s a delicious dinner for two that’s easy enough for a weeknight but impressive enough for a date night.

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