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This quick and easy air fryer broccoli is the absolute BEST. It’s tossed with olive oil, garlic salt, and nutritional yeast. Vegan friendly!
Say Goodbye to Boring Broccoli.
Just here to let you know that your weeknight veggie side dish dilemmas have been forever resolved. This fab broccoli side dish is crunchy, garlicky, and cheesy! Sort of. Nutritional yeast is used in this recipe to add a healthy—and vegan friendly—cheesiness. But believe me when I say you’ll try this once and never look at broccoli the same way. Further to that awesomeness, the ingredients list is short and sweet (I’m talkin’ the 4 ingredient kind of short and sweet), and prep is done in a snap. You’ll also find that you can pair this beauty with pretty much any main. What doesn’t go well with garlic and cheese?
How to Cook Broccoli in the Air Fryer.
I’ve roasted broccoli in the oven for years and thought that was the be-all end-all method for achieving the best broccoli. Then I got myself an air fryer, and here we are. Cooking broccoli in an air fryer is pretty much foolproof.
- Splash some water into the bottom of the air fryer basket, then place the grate on top. The water just adds a bit of moisture to the basket to keep the broccoli from smoking and burning.
- Pop the broccoli pieces into a large mixing bowl. Give them a drizzle of olive oil, then sprinkle them with the garlic salt and nutritional yeast.
- Stir he broccoli well to coat. A little trick: I just cover the bowl with tin foil and give the bowl a good shake to get things mixed up well, then I remove the tin foil and give the broccoli one last stir with a spoon.
- Transfer the broccoli to the air fryer basket and shake it a bit to spread the florets out evenly. Avoid having them toppled over one another or they won’t cook evenly.
- Close up the air fryer and cook the broccoli at 400º F for 7 minutes.
- When they’re done, remove the basket and serve immediately.
You Only Need 4 Ingredients for This.
- Fresh broccoli florets
- Olive oil
- Garlic salt
- Nutritional yeast
Why You’ll Love This Recipe.
- It’s super quick and easy.
- You get cheesy goodness with your broccoli but with the health benefits of nutritional yeast. If you’re lactose intolerant or count calories, you’ll especially love this for that very reason.
- The air fryer results in the perfect tender crunch.
- No burned bits! I love oven-roasted broccoli but you do get some burned bits every once in a while. I love that you can add moisture by putting a bit of water in the bottom of the basket to prevent this.
- It doesn’t require babysitting, and it doesn’t tie up your oven!
What Are the Benefits of Nutritional Yeast?
If you’re wondering why I choose nutritional yeast over cheese when it comes to broccoli, it’s simple: nutritional yeast gives your broccoli a cheesy flavor with all health benefits and no fat. Seems like a good trade off to me! (And trust me, I’m a cheese fiend. So if I say this works, you can trust me.) Here are some of the health benefits of nutritional yeast:
- It contains all nine essential amino acids, which makes it a complete protein.
- It’s rich in B vitamins, and when fortified, it has an extra punch of vitamin B6, vitamin B12, niacin, thiamine, and riboflavin.
- It has trace minerals like selenium, zinc, manganese, and molybdenum, all which aid with metabolism, growth, and immunity.
Useful Equipment for This Recipe:
Recipe Tips + Tricks:
- Add a bit of water to the bottom of the air fryer basket (just enough to cover the bottom) to prevent burning or smoking
- For best coverage, place your broccoli florets in a large mixing bowl. Drizzle the olive oil on top, then add the garlic salt and nutritional yeast. Cover the bowl with a lid or sheet of tin foil, and shake the bowl vigorously. This method coats the florets much better than simply mixing with a spoon.
More Side Dishes to Try:
- Simple Instant Pot Rice Pilaf
- Herb and Garlic Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes
- Lemon Garlic Butter Shrimp with Chilies
- Hot Honey Roasted Carrots
Have You Made This Recipe?
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Easy Air Fryer Broccoli
Ingredients
- 4 cups broccoli florets (about two large broccoli crowns)
- 1.5 TBSP olive oil
- 2 TBSP nutritional yeast
- 2 tsp garlic salt, more to taste if needed
Instructions
- Add about a tablespoon of water to the bottom of the air fryer basket, then place the grate on top. This will add a bit of moisture and prevent the broccoli from burning or smoking.
- Place the broccoli florets into a large mixing bowl. Drizzle the olive oil over the broccoli, then sprinkle the nutritional yeast and garlic salt on top. Secure a lid or sheet of tin foil over the bowl and give the bowl a good shake—this is the best way to ensure even coverage.
- Dump the broccoli into to the air fryer basket and give it a little shake to spread the florets out evenly.
- Close the air fryer, then cook the broccoli at 400º F for 7 minutes. When done, carefully remove the basket and serve the broccoli immediately.
Very easy and delicious! My new way to cook broccoli thank you!
You’re welcome!
This is my absolute favorite way to make broccoli! I’ve used this recipe several times and it always turns out perfectly!
I’m so glad, Taylor!
Making broccoli in the air fryer is a true game changer! My preferred method for eating broccoli was steamed, but now air fryer and steamed are head to head! Thanks for the clear instructions!
I’m with you, Tavo! I still love steamed if I’m throwing it into a stir fry but if it’s as a side, this is the way to go.
Ok – broccoli in an air fryer? SIGN ME UP. I love love love roasted broccoli but am slowly getting to know my air fryer – so excited to be able to mimic that same crispy texture without turning on the whole oven in the middle of summer!
Yes! It’s so awesome. And quicker, too. I’ve always been a sucker for roasted broccoli but, here we are, haha.
I Made for a gathering and it was a hit, everyone loved it! Will definitely make it again!
Fabulous news!
This broccoli turned out perfectly in my air fryer! Crispy on the outside, not overcooked – delicious!
Love to hear it!
The broccoli came out fantastic! They were the perfect side dish for our grilled tofu dinner.
Sounds like a nice super healthy dinner!
My air fryer is responsible for me eating more vegetables! I love them all cooked this way. Love your addition of nutritional yeast. Delish!
Haha, I love it. Air fried vegetables are something to be excited about.
I noticed you don’t add another tbps of yeast after you put it in the basket like you do the oven version. Is this because it will burn? Also my airfryer is an Emeril. So the basket is wire. Should I put a pan on a different shelf w the water do you think?
Hi Stephanie, it shouldn’t burn! The amount of nutritional yeast you use, and adding extra, is personal.
I’m looking at the Emeril air fryer now and it looks like it’s a completely different configuration, but I think this will work by doing what you said, just sliding a pan of water beneath the wire rack! Can you let me know if it works? It would be great to have that info here for anyone else who might have the same air fryer, or similar, as you!
Simple and easy recipe with great tips for cooking broccoli in the air fryer.
Thanks!