This Crispy Frozen Broccoli in Ninja Foodi Air Fryer is quick and easy to make! All you need is a bag of broccoli and some simple seasonings! It's the perfect side dish for busy weeknights!
Want to save this recipe?
Enter your email & I'll send it to your inbox. Plus, get great new recipes from me every week!
Not only is my Ninja Foodi air fryer ideal for cooking boneless skinless chicken thighs in the air fryer, but it's also a great way to cook frozen vegetables. And this is my favorite way to cook broccoli for Chicken Alfredo Stuffed Shells With Spinach.
If you are a big broccoli fan like me, make Air Fryer Broccolini seasoned with lemon zest next!
Jump to:
💗 Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Air fryer frozen broccoli is an easy side dish.
- No chopping or washing like you have to do with fresh produce.
- The broccoli is perfectly cooked, not undercooked or mushy, and always crispy.
- You can use your favorite seasonings.
- The cooking time is just 16 minutes.
- Use it to make Panda Express Beef and Broccoli.
🥦 Recipe Ingredients
This air fryer broccoli recipe just uses a few ingredients:
🥦 Ingredient Notes:
- Broccoli. Use a package of frozen broccoli florets (or take out however much you want). You can also use fresh broccoli florets - but cook for 8-10 minutes total.
- Olive oil. You can also use avocado oil or cooking spray.
- Garlic powder. You can also onion powder, sea salt, and black pepper.
See the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post for quantities and a full list of ingredients.
Variations
- Top with shredded cheese and air fry for one more minute until melted.
- Season with Italian seasoning and serve with a drizzle of fresh lemon juice and a sprinkle of parmesan cheese.
- Toss with soy sauce and garnish with sesame seeds.
- Spice it up with a sprinkle of red pepper flakes.
⏲️ How To Make Frozen Broccoli In A Ninja Foodi Air Fryer
Step-By-Step Instructions
Step 1: Preheat the air fryer to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Open a bag of frozen broccoli pieces and place them in a bowl. Toss with olive oil and garlic powder.
Step 2: Place broccoli in the air fryer basket in an even layer. Air fry broccoli for 16 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through cooking, at 8 minutes. Check a few minutes before the end of cooking to ensure it does not overcook.
Step 3: The broccoli is done when it starts to brown a bit on the edges.
Step 4: Serve immediately with sea salt and black pepper to taste.
Expert Tips
- The cooking time will depend on how much broccoli you cook at a time and how hot your air fryer cooks.
- Shake the basket to break up large pieces of broccoli as it is cooking.
- Shake the basket a couple of extra times near the end of the cooking time.
🧂 Serving Suggestions
I love serving broccoli with Teriyaki Salmon, Tilapia in Air Fryer, and Maple Glazed Salmon with Instant Pot Jasmine Rice.
You can also air these crispy florets with a flaky fillet of Air Fryer Parmesan Tilapia for a full meal made entirely in your air fryer.
🌡️ Storage
Store leftover broccoli in the refrigerator for 3-4 days in an airtight container.
These ingredients don't stand up well to freezing; they would get mushy in the freezer.
📋 Recipe FAQ's
Yes! It is so easy to do, and you will love the crispy texture!
Broccoli turns out great because the air fryer uses convection technology to circulate hot air around the broccoli; this way, the food cooks quickly and evenly, and the veggies don't get soggy.
Frozen broccoli cooks much faster than fresh broccoli, so be careful not to overcook it. I cooked frozen broccoli in my Ninja Foodi air fryer, and it was cooked perfectly in 16 minutes, with shaking the air fryer basket halfway through the cooking time.
No. Keep it completely frozen and add directly to the air fryer basket.
Frozen broccoli has ice crystals on the outside that will evaporate while cooking in the air fryer. Therefore, it is essential to have enough space around the broccoli for air to circulate so that the ice crystals evaporate. If the broccoli are piled on top of each other, there will not be enough air movement and it may turn out mushy.
⭐ More Easy Air Fryer Recipes
Love This Recipe?
... check out these easy Air Fryer Recipes next:
Thanks for stopping by!
I love sharing my recipes with you!
Please share the recipe on social media and DON'T FORGET TO SIGN UP FOR MY NEWSLETTER - where I share all my latest recipes!
Printable Recipe
Crispy Frozen Broccoli in Ninja Foodi Air Fryer
Ingredients
- 500 g frozen broccoli
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- sea salt to taste
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 375 degrees F.
- Toss the desired amount of frozen broccoli in a mixing bowl with olive oil and garlic powder. Place broccoli in the air fryer basket in a single layer.
- Air fry for 16 minutes, shaking the basket halfway.
- When the broccoli is done, remove it from the air fryer and sprinkle it with sea salt to taste. Serve immediately.
Save This Recipe 💌
Enter your email below and I'll send the recipe straight to your inbox! Plus, you'll get new recipes from me each week!
Notes
- If your air fryer has no preheat function, set it to 375 degrees F for 3-5 minutes before adding the broccoli.
- Shake the basket a few times near the end of the cooking time to ensure it doesn't overcook.
- All air fryers cook differently, so keep an eye on it to ensure it doesn't burn.
Nutrition
The provided nutrition information is automatically calculated. Accuracy is not guaranteed.
**This post was originally published in November 2021. It has been recently updated with more information and helpful tips, but the recipe remains the same.
Jessica says
I love how easy it is to pop stuff in my air fryer - it worked perfectly for frozen broccoli. I wasn't sure what the texture would be like but to my surprise, it turned out great!
Jeri says
Broccoli is so easy to make in the air fryer! It's my favorite method!
Liz says
i love broccoli and always looking for good ways to cook it! Whenever I bake it it comes out to dry and whenever i microwave it it comes out soggy so excited to try this method
Jeri says
I know you will love making it in the air fryer!
Brynn says
I love my air fryer but have never tried frozen veggies... This looks like the perfect weekday meal..
Jeri says
Thanks, Brynn! Frozen veggies are so easy in the air fryer.
Megan Ellam says
This is great thanks Jeri. I really want to use my air fryer so much more.
Jeri says
Awesome! I love my air fryer!
Kayla DiMaggio says
Yes! I love using my air fryer to help keep things out of the oven! This was so easy!
Jeri says
I'm glad you liked the recipe, Kayla! Thanks for commenting!