Air fryer broccolini is a simple and healthy vegetable side dish you can prepare in minutes! With its crisp-tender texture, vibrant color, and mellow flavor, roasted broccolini pairs well with so many foods. It's also a tasty treat to snack on straight from the air fryer! Oven instructions included.
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What is broccolini?
Broccolini is a cross-breed of broccoli and Chinese broccoli (gai lan). With its delicate stems and tender florets, it is a nutrient-rich vegetable that lends itself well to roasting, steaming, sauteing, and air frying.
Air frying has become so popular in recent years for its ability to quickly cook all kinds of foods using significantly less oil than traditional deep frying (and often less oil than oven-roasting, too).
By air frying broccolini, you can retain its vibrant green color, preserve essential nutrients, and achieve that delightful roasted flavor that would take twice as long in the oven.
What You'll Need
- broccolini - one bunch of fresh broccolini (about 8 ounces) serves two people. To prepare more, it's a good idea to air fry in batches. Luckily, that's easy to do with broccolini since it cooks so quickly!
- oil - any neutral oil you like to cook with, such as avocado or olive oil
- salt and pepper
- optional: lemon juice or other seasonings like garlic powder, nutritional yeast, or blends like za'atar or herbs de Provence.
See recipe card below for quantities and the full recipe.
How to Air Fry Broccolini
First, preheat your air fryer to 375°F (177°C) or oven to 400°F (204°C). Meanwhile, rinse the broccolini, pat it dry, and trim off any leaves or tough stem ends.
For thicker stalks, slice them lengthwise or even into thirds so they cook evenly. Toss the broccolini in a large bowl with oil, salt, pepper, and any other seasonings you like.
Arrange it in a single layer in the air fryer basket—don’t overcrowd it! If needed, cook in batches. Air fry for 5 to 8 minutes, shaking the basket around the 3-minute mark to ensure even cooking.
Check the tenderness with a fork. If it needs a little more time, pop it back in for another minute or two.
Finish with a squeeze of lemon and a pinch of sea salt. Serve hot—it’s perfect as a side, in salads, or just as a tasty snack.
Tips and Variations
- For added flavor, experiment with different seasonings like garlic powder, dried herbs, or nutritional yeast.
- If you prefer a lighter option, you can omit the oil and simply season the broccolini with lemon juice and your favorite herbs and spices.
Oven Method
Don't have an air fryer? Roasting broccoli in the oven is easy, too! Here's how:
Prep the broccolini as described in the recipe and spread out on a baking sheet.
Bake in a preheated 400°F oven for 12 to 15 minutes or until crisp-tender and beginning to char. Add a squeeze of lemon and sprinkle of salt, and serve hot.
Equipment & Batch Size
I use this 6-quart basket-style air fryer. Any comparable air fryer is fine for this recipe. If you plan to double the recipe, you'll want to work in batches so the air fryer isn't overcrowded.
Top Tips
- Make sure the tips of the broccolini florets are coated with oil to help prevent burning.
- Air fryers vary, so keep a close eye on the food the first time you try any new air fryer recipe. I suspect our Instant Pot Vortex air fryer runs hot, so you may need to adjust the temp or cook time for your appliance.
Enjoy!
More Air Fryer Vegetables
Recipe
Air Fryer Broccolini
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 bunch fresh broccolini - about 8 ounces
- 1 tablespoon oil - such as avocado, grapeseed, or olive oil
- salt and pepper, to taste
- juice from half of a lemon
Optional:
- Seasonings like garlic powder, nutritional yeast, dried herbs, or blends like za'atar
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 375°F (175°C) or oven to 400°F (200°C).
- To prepare the broccolini, rinse well, pat dry, and trim any leaves and tough ends of the stems. Slice thick stalks in half lengthwise so they cook as quickly as smaller pieces. If some are very thick, slice into thirds.1 bunch fresh broccolini
- Place the broccolini in a large bowl and toss with the oil, salt, pepper, and any other seasonings you'd like to add. Make sure the tips of the florets are coated with oil to help prevent burning. Arrange in a single layer in the air fryer basket (or on a baking sheet). Avoid overcrowding so that it cooks evenly and quickly, working in batches if doubling the recipe. Air fry the broccolini for 5 to 8 minutes (or bake for 12 to 15 minutes).1 tablespoon oil, salt and pepper, to taste
- Check the broccolini and shake the basket at the halfway point. After the initial cook time, poke the stalks with a fork to test for doneness. Broccolini tastes best when crisp-tender. If desired, return it to the air fryer for another minute or two. Garnish with a squeeze of lemon and sprinkle of sea salt and serve hot.juice from half of a lemon
Notes
Estimated Nutrition (per serving)
Nutrition information is an estimate and will vary depending on the exact amounts and specific products and ingredients used.
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