Cooking veggies in an air fryer is easy as a breeze. You can cook both frozen and fresh veggies in an air fryer. You only need some frozen veggies, a pinch of spices, and olive oil.
Frozen broccoli also goes well in the air fryer and results in a crispy and delicious texture that is not easily achievable with other cooking methods. The high heat in the air fryer cooks broccoli uniformly while preventing the mushy texture that occasionally occurs when boiling or steaming frozen broccoli.
Additionally, cooking frozen broccoli in an air fryer is more convenient and time-saving. There is no need to thaw the broccoli before cooking, and the air fryer can cook the broccoli in just a few minutes without the need for any additional oil or seasoning.
Air-frying broccoli is a fantastic alternative for a quick and healthy side dish on weeknights when you’re busy.
How To Air Fry Frozen Broccoli?
Ingredients
1 lb. frozen broccoli
½ tsp salt
1 tsp Black pepper
½ tsp Garlic powder
½ tsp Onion powder
½ tsp Cumin (optional)
½ tsp Fresh parsley leaves
Olive oil spray
Equipment
Step-By-Step Cooking Guide for frozen broccoli recipe
Step-1: Take out frozen broccoli from the fridge.
Step-2: Take a small bowl and add black pepper, salt, garlic powder, onion powder, and parsley leaves. Mix them together and then add the broccoli to spices bowl and coat the broccoli well.
Step-3: Preheat the air fryer to 400 F for 2 mins.
Step-4: Spray your air fryer basket with olive oil and place the broccoli florets in the basket.
Step-5: Set the temperature to 390 F for 8 mins. After 4 minutes, take out the basket from the air fryer, spray the broccoli with olive oil again, shake them and put the basket again in the air fryer.
Step-6: Cook again for the remaining 4 minutes.
After 3 minutes, the frozen broccoli is ready. Serve and enjoy.
Tips & Notes
Shake the air fryer basket after halftime.
Don’t overfill the air fryer basket with frozen broccoli.
Keep an eye during the cooking process as veggies get quickly cooked in the air fryer.
Don’t thaw the broccoli, it tastes best when cooked in frozen form.
Cooking time may vary slightly as different air fryers have different capacities and show varied performance.
Why Does My Broccoli Burn In The Air Fryer?
Broccoli can burn in the air fryer due to various reasons. The first and most obvious reason is cooking it without oil. If you don’t spray the oil on frozen broccoli, it will stick to the air fryer basket and can burn. But sometimes it can even burn with the use of oil as well. Other reasons causing it to burn are as follows:
Temperature: Different air fryers gain temperature differently, so it’s important to make sure that you are cooking your broccoli at the correct temperature according to your air fryer’s instructions. If the temperature is too high, the broccoli will burn.
Timing: If you cook broccoli for too long it can also cause it to burn. Be sure to check the broccoli frequently while it’s cooking to make sure it’s not getting too crispy or brown.
Crowding: Don’t overcrowd your air fryer basket as broccoli may not cook evenly, which can cause some pieces to burn while others remain undercooked. Make sure to leave enough space between the broccoli florets to ensure even cooking.
What To Serve With Broccoli?
You can enjoy broccoli as a snack or side dish. There are plenty of options to complement frozen broccoli. Some of my favorite dishes that I love to have with frozen broccoli are:
How Long Does It Take To Cook Frozen Broccoli Florets?
The exact cooking time of frozen broccoli will depend on the cooking method and appliance that is being used for cooking them. It will also depend on the size of the florets. Here are some general guidelines for cooking frozen broccoli florets:
Boiling: Bring a pot of water to a boil and add the frozen broccoli florets. Cook for 3-4 minutes or until tender.
Microwaving: Microwaving frozen broccoli is not the best method to try but still a method if someone wants to try it. The process is simple, add a bag of frozen broccoli florets to a microwave-safe dish. Add some water, salt, and black pepper to taste. Cover with plastic wrap and microwave on high for 5 minutes or until tender.
Air frying: Preheat the air fryer to 400°F (200°C) for 2 mins and then add the frozen broccoli florets. Spray them with olive oil and sprinkle salt and pepper to taste. Cook for 8 minutes or until crispy and tender.
Air Fryer Frozen Broccoli And Cheese
Sometimes it’s worth trying any traditional dish with the unique addition of some complementary ingredients. One such combination is frozen broccoli and cheese.
The rest of the cooking process is the same as mentioned above. Only you have to add shredded cheese to broccoli. Take a bowl add frozen broccoli to it, spray with olive oil, and add salt and black pepper to taste. Air fry it for 3 mins at 390 F. Then toss shredded cheese to semi-cooked broccoli and again air it for 4 mins. Your frozen broccoli and cheese casserole are ready.
Recipe: Frozen Broccoli in Air Fryer
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 lb. Frozen broccoli
- 1/2 tsp Salt
- 1 tsp Black pepper
- 1/2 tsp Garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp Onion powder
- 1/2 tsp Cumin (optional)
- 1/2 tsp Fresh parsley leaves
- Olive oil spray
Instructions
- Take out frozen broccoli from fridge.
- Take a small bowl and add black pepper, salt, garlic powder, onion powder, and parsley leaves. Mix them together. Then add frozen broccoli to mixture and coat well.
- Preheat the air fryer to 400 F for 2 mins.
- Spray your air fryer basket with olive oil and place the broccoli florets in the basket.
- Set the temperature to 390 F for 8 mins. After 4 minutes, take out the basket from the air fryer, spray the broccoli with olive oil again and shake and stir it then put the basket again in the air fryer.
- Cook again for the remaining 4 minutes. After 4 minutes, the frozen broccoli is ready. Serve and enjoy.
Nutrition
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