Crispy Air Fryer Broccoli with a Lemon Dressing

My air fryer broccoli is crispy, tender, and full of nutty, sweet, and earthy flavor. Elevated with the heat of chili, zest of lemon, and olive oil, you can have this side ready in no time at all.

Broccoli is so good for you, but it can be so hard to cook with it. There’s also a high chance your partner and/or kids flat-out refuse to eat it!

With my recipe, you can really make it crisp and tasty. Enjoy it with grilled meat, use it as a salad topper, or give it a try with my rosemary salt potato wedges and blackened salmon.

Ingredients

To make my air fryer broccoli, you’ll first need to assemble the following ingredients:

Broccoli – 1 head of broccoli
Salt – 1/2 tsp kosher salt
Pepper – 1/4 tsp black pepper
Olive Oil – 2 tbsp of extra-virgin olive oil
Lemon – 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice and zest from one lemon
Chili Flakes – a pinch of chili flakes
Optional Add-ons (to enhance flavors): toasted pumpkin seeds, freshly grated parmesan, and/or truffle oil.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1 – Cut the broccoli into florets and then rinse them in cold water. Dry the broccoli florets by patting them dry.

Step 2 – Season the broccoli florets with salt and black pepper, and toss with 1 tbsp of olive oil.

Step 3 – Preheat the air fryer according to the manufacturer’s instructions (or for about 3 minutes if unsure).

Step 4 – Place the broccoli florets in the air fryer in one layer and cook at 390°F (200°C) for about 5-6 minutes. Then flip and cook for another 5-6 minutes until nicely charred on the outside (for a total of about 10-12 minutes).

Step 5 – Mix the remaining 1 tbsp of olive oil, 1 tbsp of lemon juice, and zest from one lemon, a pinch of chili flakes, salt, and pepper.

Step 6 – Toss the air-fried broccoli florets with the lemon dressing (from step 5).

The broccoli is now fried, dressed, and ready to be served.

What to Serve it With

Step 7 – Optional: Serve with toasted pumpkin seeds, parmesan, and/or truffle oil.

For me, broccoli always goes well with salmon or chicken. Blackened salmon and crispy chicken tenders are two of my favorites.

You could also pair this with plenty of other vegetable sides, as part of a big spread. I’d recommend my roasted peppers and air-fryer baked potato recipes.

If you make this simple side, please leave a review below. Also, let me know in the comments what you paired it with.

Recipe Card

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