Air Fryer Frozen Broccoli (Ready in 10 Minutes)

Name: Air Fryer Frozen Broccoli
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 15 min
Ingredients: 4 cups frozen broccoli florets (not defrosted!); 1 tbsp olive oil; Juice of one large lemon (about ¼ cup); ¼ cup parmesan cheese (grated); Salt and black pepper (to taste)

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My air fryer frozen broccoli is the easiest veggie side to compliment any entree. Seasoned with parm, it's simple, savoury and full of crisp.

This year, I'm on a mission to redeem frozen vegetables. For many, they're an affordable and convenient source of nutrition, so there's no need for food shaming from any produce purists.

Additionally, the nutrition content is very comparable to fresh vegetables- in some cases, they may contain more nutrients! Let me explain.

Frozen vegetables are typically picked at peak harvest and flash frozen, meaning they retain most of their nutrients quite well. In contrast, fresh produce may lose some vitamins and minerals through the processing between farm and grocery store.

Obviously this varies by nutrient and vegetable, but it's definitely interesting to note! Contrary to what diet culture says, not all processed foods are bad. In this case, processed foods prove themselves as helpful.

With that being said, I wanted to bring you this air fryer frozen broccoli. It makes the easiest side dish to any recipe (I always make it with my stuffed sweet potatoes), and requires minimal prep since the frozen broccoli already comes in florets.

Once it's ready, you won't even be able to tell it came from the freezer.

Ingredients

Only five ingredients here- it doesn't get simpler than this.

Frozen broccoli
Olive oil
Lemon juice
Parmesan cheese
Salt and pepper

Instructions

Follow the steps below to make air fryer frozen broccoli!

Preheat air fryer to 390F and put your frozen broccoli in a large bowl.

Arrange your broccoli in a single layer at the bottom of your air fryer basket (this may need to be done in batches depending on the size of your air fryer).

Drizzle broccoli florets with olive oil and lemon juice and toss to coat. Sprinkle with parmesan cheese, salt and black pepper and toss again.

Bake for 8-10 minutes or until nice and crispy, shaking halfway.

Susbtitutions & Variations

To make dairy-free: Swap the parmesan for nutritional yeast.

You can honestly switch up this recipe with any spices or herbs you prefer. Think taco seasoning, or a seasoning blend from your favourite restaurant.

Equipment

Air Fryer

Storage

Air fryer frozen broccoli typically lasts up to 3 days in the fridge. Even so, it's best enjoyed right after cooking so none of the crisp is lost.

Top Tip

All air fryers differ slightly, so keep an eye on your broccoli as it cooks. You may need a couple minutes more or less- remove once it's crispy to prevent burning!

Frequently Asked Questions

Is broccoli high in protein?

You may have heard some people say that broccoli is high in protein, and there is some truth to that. Among vegetables, it does have more protein than normal with between 2-3 grams for a cup of raw broccoli.
That being said, I wouldn't consider broccoli a good source of protein. But that's okay! It has tons of other important nutrients, and we can just pair it with another protein-rich food like this sesame chicken or Greek turkey meatballs.

Are frozen veggies cheaper than fresh?

In many cases, yes. Especially as food prices are rising, I find myself turning to the frozen foods aisle more and more. In the case that there's a good deal, you can also buy broccoli on bulk while on sale, and freeze it yourself!

Can I cook this in the oven?

Yes! 450F for around 25 minutes, tossing halfway.

Air fryer broccoli in a bowl with a fork.

More Air Fryer Vegetable Recipes

I think the air fryer might be my fave way to enjoy veggies!

PS. I love seeing my recipes in action! If you decide to make this air fryer frozen broccoli, don't forget to snap a photo and tag me on Instagram- @nourishedbynic or leave a comment and rating below letting me know how you liked it!

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