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    Home » All Recipes

    Author: Donna | Published: Mar 30, 2020 | Modified: Jul 13, 2021

    Lemon and Garlic Air Fryer Broccoli

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    Air fryer broccoli in a white bowl with fresh lemon wedges on top

    Simple yet delicious, lemon and garlic air fryer broccoli makes the perfect quick side dish. The broccoli is perfectly cooked and the lemon really gives the dish a nice pop of flavor. Minimal ingredients make this a great fuss-free option for getting some veggies on the table.

    Air fryer broccoli piled in a white bowl with fresh lemon wedges

    Lemon and Garlic Air Fryer Broccoli

    Air fried broccoli is one of the easiest side dishes you can make, and it tastes delicious in its simplicity.

    All you have to do is:

    • Chop the broccoli into evenly sized florets (roughly even, they do not have to be perfect)
    • Add the rest of the ingredients to a bowl and mix
    • Add the broccoli and stir everything to combine
    • Pop everything into the air fryer and cook for 7-10 minutes depending on how crispy you like your broccoli.

    See, cooking broccoli in the air fryer could not get any more simple.

    Raw broccoli cut into even florets
    Cut the broccoli into even-sized florets.
    Broccoli florets in a bowl and lemon being squeezed over
    Add the florets to a bowl and squeeze over the lemon. Add the oil, garlic, salt, and pepper.
    Lemon and garlic broccoli being removed from the air fryer
    Remove the broccoli from the air fryer and serve when cooked to your liking. If you like it less crispy on the edges cook for 7 minutes. If you like it more crispy then cook for 10 minutes.

    It makes for a great weeknight veggie side, and is usually a hit with the kids, especially if you add the title 'little trees' (works every time for my kids....I make no promises for yours!)

    Choosing The Perfect Broccoli

    Choosing the right broccoli is going to make this simple side dish transform into something phenomenal.

    Look for:

    • Florets that are a nice deep green and are quite tight, you do not want yellow or brown flecks in there;
    • Nice firm stalks, nothing droopy or limp;
    • It should feel heavy for its size;
    • The cut ends of the stalks should be fresh-looking.

    For this recipe, we are only going to use the florets to ensure even cooking.

    However, once you chop them off, do not throw out the stem, it is full of nutrients and should definitely be used in another recipe. Peel it and chop it into 'sticks' and use in a stir-fry, or save it to use as broccoli rice.

    Air fryer broccoli in a white bowl with fresh lemon wedges on top

    Choosing An Air Fryer

    If you don't already have an air-fryer, choosing one can be a bit confusing as there are so many different types on the market.

    My biggest tip would be to consider capacity.

    How many people are you cooking for? I am cooking for a family of 5 and we regularly have people over, so I chose the biggest one I could find on the market with a good brand name and warranty behind it.

    If you are only cooking for yourself, or yourself and a partner, you may benefit from having a smaller unit.

    Also, consider bench space. The big ones can be pretty huge, so you want to make sure you have enough space before adding it to your family of kitchen appliances.

    Air fryer asparagus on a wooden board with lemons in the backgroun
    Next try some Honey Lemon and Sea Salt Asparagus in the Air Fryer.

    What To Serve With Air Fryer Broccoli.

    Now you have your easy side, you need something to serve it with (I mean you can totally just eat the broccoli by itself, and we regularly do this as a snack because we love broccoli in this house...but for a meal, you will want to add something else.)

    As the flavors in lemon and garlic air fryer broccoli are so simple, you can pair it with almost anything:

    • chicken (try crusted sage and macadamia nut chicken breasts)
    • fish (how about beside some easy poached salmon burgers)
    • a nice steak
    • on top of some mashed potatoes or inside a baked potato with a nice dollop of sour cream

    The possibilities are endless, use your imagination and you can't go wrong.

    Sliced Sage and Macadamia Nut Chicken Breasts on a wooden board surrounded by sprigs of fresh rosemary
    Serve air fryer broccoli up with some macadamia nut chicken breasts.

    Need More Air Fryer Recipes?

    Once you start using the air fryer you are going to be hooked, it is such an easy device to use, and can make dinner so much easier.

    If you loved this air fryer broccoli recipe then you should definitely check out these other air fryer recipes:

    • Honey Lemon and Sea Salt Asparagus
    • Air Fryer Paleo Meatloaf Sliders
    • Simple Cinnamon Air Fryer Apple Chips
    • Herbed Turkey Air Fryer Meatballs
    • Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets
    • Air Fryer Butternut Squash from Upstate Ramblings
    • Air Fryer Potatoes from Bless Her Heart Y'all

    Happy Eating

    xx

    air fryer broccoli

    Lemon and Garlic Air Fryer Broccoli

    Simple yet delicious, lemon and garlic air fryer broccoli makes the perfect quick side dish. The broccoli is perfectly cooked and the lemon really gives the dish a nice pop of flavor. Minimal ingredients make this a great fuss-free option for getting some veggies on the table.
    5 from 5 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 5 mins
    Cook Time 10 mins
    Total Time 15 mins
    Course Side Dish
    Cuisine Anytime
    Servings 4 serves
    Calories 181 kcal

    Equipment

    • Airfryer

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 head broccoli chopped into florets
    • ¼ cup avocado oil
    • ½ lemon juiced
    • 1 ½ tablespoons miced garlic
    • 2 teaspoons sea salt
    • freshly cracked black pepper to serve
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions
     

    • Combine all the ingredients in a bowl and toss together well.
      1 head broccoli, ¼ cup avocado oil, ½ lemon, 2 teaspoons sea salt, 1 ½ tablespoons miced garlic, freshly cracked black pepper
    • Place in the air fryer basket and cook at 375 degrees for about 7-10 minutes, stopping halfway through to toss. If you like your broccoli less crispy on the edges cook for 7 minutes, if you like little bits of crispiness, go for the whole 10 minutes.

    Notes

    • Store: allow leftovers to cool completely before storing in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 181kcalCarbohydrates: 12gProtein: 5gFat: 14gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 10gSodium: 1214mgPotassium: 511mgFiber: 4gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 950IUVitamin C: 144mgCalcium: 81mgIron: 1mg
    Keyword air fryer broccoli
    Tried this recipe?Leave a comment HERE and let us know how it was!

    The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

    The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Sean@Diversivore says

      May 05, 2020 at 4:54 am

      Fantastic to have another way to make broccoli that's simple and flavourful, yet healthy! Broccoli is one of the few green veggies that all three of my kids seem to agree on (or to agree in a positive sense at any rate!), so we're always eager to cook it up and do something interesting. Hooray for air-frying simplicity!

      Reply
    2. Gloria says

      April 29, 2020 at 11:54 pm

      I love broccoli....and my air fryer. With ALL the time I have these days, I think I need to give this a try. It would be the perfect side to a beer can chicken for the weekend.

      Reply

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    Hello and welcome, I'm Donna!

    I am so glad you are here!

    Since I have a part-time job, 3 little kids, and a love of good food (as do you I assume), I have learned how to get the most out of the kitchen in the smallest amount of time.

    Forget about hunting down weird ingredients and making trips to specialty shops.

    We are going to make the most of what is available at the store and farmer's markets all whilst enjoying some delicious meals the whole family (hopefully...if you have fussy eaters I guarantee nothing) will enjoy.

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