Tastiest Air Fryer Roasted Broccoli with Balsamic Vinegar
Best Air Fryer Broccoli Recipe If you are looking for the next suitable vegetable to roast in your air fryer, I got you! My super easy and very tasty air fryer roasted broccoli recipe takes only 8 minutes to cook, and it’s so freaking amazing. It is packed with flavors and is currently our family’s…
Best Air Fryer Broccoli Recipe
If you are looking for the next suitable vegetable to roast in your air fryer, I got you! My super easy and very tasty air fryer roasted broccoli recipe takes only 8 minutes to cook, and it’s so freaking amazing. It is packed with flavors and is currently our family’s favorite! We love serving this air fryer broccoli with my air fryer chicken thigh (highly recommended) and air-fried salmon.
This easy air fryer roasted broccoli with balsamic vinegar is crunchy, tender, tasty, a little tangy, sweet, and will make a great side dish to any main dish. The addition of balsamic vinegar gives this air fried broccoli a unique taste that takes it from boring to banging. Also, to counter the tanginess of the vinegar, I added a little sweetness. I used monkfruit, but you can obviously use sugar or any other sweetener of choice! And when it is all done cooking, drizzle a little balsamic reduction for that rich balsamic color and flavor.
Listen, you can miss me with the boring charred air fryer roasted broccoli that I see everywhere on this internet street typically, seasoned with only salt and pepper! Today we take this simple air fryer broccoli recipe to the next level with balsamic vinegar. Let’s be excited to enjoy our veggies. Shall we?
Why I challenged Myself to make a Perfect Broccoli in the Air Fryer.
First of all, broccoli is my son’s favorite vegetable, and I make them weekly as that is one vegetable I know everyone in the family will love! Usually, I steam my broccoli, after which I will then sauté it. This gives it a crunchy yet tender texture; I also use a bunch of pantry herbs and spices to elevate the taste.
With this in mind, I was very skeptical initially about cooking my fresh, beautiful broccoli in the air fryer. First, I didn’t want them to dry up. Second, I don’t want completely charred broccoli florets. In that case, my challenge became how to make this air fryer roasted broccoli crunchy, tender, tasty, and not completely charred! This led me to use a wet marinade comprising olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Also, monkfruit to sweeten it, onion powder, garlic powder, dry thyme, etc.
The outcome is this mouth-watering air fryer broccoli that we can’t get enough of! LISTEN, cooking broccoli in the air fryer is the truth; and I am a witness. Just look at these!
Why you will Love this Air fryer Roasted Broccoli:
- It is easy to make (takes only 8 minutes)
- Flavorful! This air fryer roasted broccoli is very delicious; it has the right amount of sweetness, tanginess, and crunch. You will never make broccoli any other way!
- This air fryer roasted broccoli recipe is healthy, healthier than most pan-fried ones or other cheesy broccoli recipes.
- Versatile; you can easily eat this broccoli by itself or with air fryer chicken or fish. Equally, you can serve it as a side dish! You choose.
- Vegan; this air fryer roasted broccoli recipe is vegan. Feel free to sprinkle some cheese if you don’t mind it vegetarian.
- Keto; if you are on a keto diet, this one will work perfectly for you! Each serving is about 5g net carb.
- This roasted broccoli recipe is gluten-free; how awesome is that?
Tools you will need:
- An Air Fryer (well, obviously)!🙄
- A silicon spatula (or any spatula at all)
- Knife
- Cutting board
- A bowl
Ingredients to Make this Air Fryer Broccoli:
- Fresh broccoli; chopped.
- Avocado oil
- Balsamic vinegar
- Monkfruit (or any other sweetener)
- Onion powder
- Dry thyme (or fresh thyme)
- Maggi (or Knorr)
- Salt
- Black Pepper
For garnishing:
Lemon slices. Walnuts, and
Balsamic reduction.
HOW TO MAKE VERY TASTY AIR FRYER ROASTED BROCCOLI (STEP BY STEP)
STEP ONE: Wash and cut; wash broccoli very well and dry with paper towels. Then cut in bite sizes. Don’t cut them too small or too big. I include the softer part of the stem and those that are holding the florets. I like how crunchy they become after cooking.
STEP TWO: Season; place the cut broccoli in a big bowl and add onion powder, salt, black pepper, Maggi, and dry thyme. Use a spatula to combine or toss. Then add the avocado oil to the balsamic vinegar and add the monkfruit. Use a spoon to mix these three ingredients, and then pour on the broccoli. Combine everything with a spatula; taste the raw broccoli and adjust the flavors. Set aside to marinate for 5 – 10 or air fry immediately. Personally, I prefer to allow a little time for the broccoli to soak up all the marinade.
STEP THREE: Air fry, preheat the air fryer at 350. When it is time to add the broccoli, remove the air fryer basket and place a piece of parchment inside the air fryer basket, then pour the seasoned broccoli put the basket back into the air fry to cook. After the first 5 minutes, remove the parchment paper, stir or shake and then air fry for another 3 minutes! Make sure to keep your eyes on this so you are not left with almost charred broccoli.
STEP FOUR: Serve and enjoy; air fryer roasted broccoli are perfect sides during the holidays or Sunday dinners. They are equally fantastic for meal prep; I make plenty on Sunday for use throughout the week! You can serve them alongside a leg of lamb, turkey breast, air fryer chicken thighs, or air fried salmon fillets. You can also eat it by itself. I am guilty of almost finishing these babies before they get to the table.😭
RECIPE NOTE:
The goal of the parchment paper is to keep the broccoli a little moist while its get that crunch yet tender perfection like this one. This gives the illusion that the broccoli steams and fries simultaneously. Additionally, it traps the flavors from the drippings and further makes this air fryer roasted broccolis even tastier!
Personally, I have noticed that when I roast my broccoli in the air fryer without the parchment paper, they become dry.
Pro tips for the Best Air Fryer Broccoli:
- Try to cut the broccolis equal; this helps them to cook evenly. Similarly, cut them into bite-size pieces. I remember one time I had steamed broccoli in the restaurant, and it was big. I had to cut it in other to eat it.
- Dry the broccoli with paper towels after washing. Uniquely, this air fryer roasted broccoli calls for a wet marinade, so it’s essential to dry off excess water from washing it thoroughly. This way, the marinade is not diluted.
- Do not overcook the broccoli unless you are fine with burnt broccoli florets. Unfortunately (or, rather, fortunately, we do not like overcooked broccoli here. My kids wouldn’t eat them if they are charred)! If you indeed cut your broccoli thinner than mine, you shouldn’t cook them for up to 8 minutes. You will be pushing if you do. The best bet is that you keep your eyes on them; if they are cooked to your doneness, remove them asap!
FAQs
Yes, you can absolutely air fry frozen broccoli. Do not thaw them before air frying them. First, spray the air fryer basket with high-smoke point oil like avocado oil spray. Second, air the frozen broccoli for a couple of minutes, say, five. Then season them well as you wish and finish cooking—no need to place broccoli on parchment paper if they are frozen.
Yes, you can surely make this air fryer roasted broccoli ahead. Like I mentioned earlier, I love meal prepping them! You can make them on a Sunday evening to use throughout the week. The only downside to that is that they won’t look as fresh as they were when you made them. However, they will still taste incredible. I always make this recipe ahead as part of my weekly meal prep. This is also very important if you are thinking of losing weight!
You can cook most frozen veggies in the air fryer. And the best part is that you do not need to thaw them!
Yes, you can steam broccoli in the air fryer. To steam broccoli in the air fryer, pour a 1/4 cup of water into the bottom basin of the air fryer; this is right under the rack of the air fryer. Then, add the broccoli to the air fryer basket, close, and cook at 350 degrees for about 5 – 7 minutes.
How to Store Leftover Air Fried Broccoli.
Allow the air-fried broccoli to completely cool down, pack them in a clean, fridge-friendly bowl, and close tightly. It can last up to 4 – 5 days in the refrigerator. I do not recommend freezing any air fryer broccoli recipe. heat up in the microwave whenever you wish to eat them!
HOW TO MAKE VERY TASTY AIR FRYER ROASTED BROCCOLI (STEP BY STEP)
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Tastiest Air Fryer Roasted Broccoli with Balsamic Vinegar
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 minutes
- Total Time: 18 minutes
- Yield: 4 – 6 servings 1x
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Air Fryer
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegan
Description
Cooking broccoli in the air fryer is easy and takes only a few minutes. This easy air fryer roasted broccoli with balsamic vinegar is crunchy, tender, tasty, tangy, and sweet. And will make a great side dish to any main dish. This air fryer broccoli is packed with flavors, and you will honestly never cook broccoli another way! If you are looking for the next right vegetable to roast in your air fryer, this easy broccoli recipe takes only 8 minutes to cook. This air-fried broccoli is truly the best!
Ingredients
- 2 medium – larger heads of fresh broccoli (as per mine, one was bigger than the other); or about 5 – 6 cups of fresh broccoli; chopped
- 1 tablespoon avocado oil (or olive oil)
- 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
- 1 teaspoon monkfruit (or any other sweetener of choice)
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon dry thyme
- ½ – ¾ teaspoon Maggi (or Knorr of equal amount)
- ¼ teaspoon salt
For garnishing:
- A couple of walnuts
- 1 drizzle of balsamic reduction (about ½ – 1 teaspoon)
Instructions
- STEP ONE: Wash and cut; wash broccoli very well and dry with paper towels. Then cut in bite sizes. Don’t cut them too small or too big. I include the softer part of the stem and those that are holding the florets. I like how crunchy they become after cooking.
- STEP TWO: Season; place the cut broccoli in a big bowl and add onion powder, salt, black pepper, Maggi, and dry thyme. Use a spatula to combine or toss. Then add the oil to the balsamic vinegar and add the monkfruit. Use a spoon to mix these three ingredients, and then pour on the broccoli. Combine everything with a spatula; taste the raw broccoli and adjust the flavors. Set aside to marinate for 5 – 10.
- STEP THREE: Air fry, preheat the air fryer at 350. When it is time to add the broccoli, remove the air fryer basket and place a piece of parchment inside the air fryer basket, then pour the seasoned broccoli put the basket back into the air fry to cook. After the first 5 minutes, remove the parchment paper, stir or shake and then air fry for another 3 minutes! Make sure to keep your eyes on this so you are not left with charred broccoli.
- STEP FOUR: Serve; air fryer broccoli are perfect sides during the holidays or Sunday dinners. They are equally fantastic for meal prep; I make plenty on Sunday for use throughout the week! You can serve them alongside a leg of lamb, turkey breast, air fryer chicken thighs, or air fried salmon fillets. You can also eat it by itself. I am guilty of almost finishing these babies before they get to the table.
Notes
Try to cut the broccolis equal; this helps them to cook evenly. Similarly, cut them into bite-size pieces. I remember one time I had steamed broccoli in the restaurant, and it was big. I had to cut it in other to eat it.
Be sure to properly dry broccoli with paper towels after washing. This way, the marinade is not diluted.
Do not overcook the broccoli unless you are fine with charred broccoli florets.
Keep your eyes on them; if they are cooked to your doneness, remove them asap!
What to Serve with Air Fryer Roasted Broccoli?
Braised Short Ribs without Wine:
MORE VEGETABLE SIDES TO CHECK OUT:
While you are still here, grab my FREE (5) spinach salad recipe bundle. It would be a great addition to your dinner table (if you like salads) or you are looking to incorporate more veggies. Get the recipes here.
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I love roasted broccoli. It is my absolute best way to cook broccoli. Yum!
Glad you agree, Mahy! 😊
This is a quick, easy and very tasty side dish recipe. I can even get my picky kids to eat broccoli this way!
So true, Beth!! Hope you can give it a try!
Broccoli is one of my favorite vegetables and I’ve never made it in the air fryer before, so I’m excited to try this out. Thanks for the recipe!
I was initially skeptical about making it in the Air Fryer, but it worked! Hope you can give this recipe a try, Nathan!
I’m loving this easy to make broccoli side dish. It has great flavors and textures. Perfect for my family.
Yes, excited to to hear this! Thanks for stopping by, Andrea!
This recipe has definitely transformed the broccoli from plain to totally banging!! 🤩 Such healthy snacks and full of fibre too. Really loved it.
Awww thanks so much, Tania! Glad you love this!🙌🏾
This looks great! I love the idea of adding walnuts. Yum!
I love air fryer broccoli! I have never tried it with Balsamic Vinegar and can’t wait to make this tonight. I’m looking forward to the yummy flavor!
Loving the seasonings you used on this broccoli. It came out so delicious and was so easy to make!
I love how it turned out! So easy to make and so tasty!
Very delicious the whole family enjoyed this recipe Balsamic was perfect with broccoli!!! and I will be making it often thanks so much!
It got the kids to eat broccoli! 5 stars because its.. delicious! Thanks so much, its going to be a regular for us!♡
Yay!!! SO happy to hear this; am glad the kids enjoyed your broccoli! Congratulations and thanks for rating! 🙂