Air fryer Broccoli and Cauliflower is a simple yet elegant recipe to enjoy these amazing veggies. Smothered with cheddar cheese, olive oil, and black pepper, this air fryer version of broccoli is a perfect side dish for any occasion!
I am always looking for curating recipes that need minimum prep time and are inherently easy to gather. With simple ingredients from the pantry, this Air Fryer Cauliflower and Broccoli recipe is packed with so much deliciousness.
In India, Broccoli is a new vegetable. Maybe a decade old. I remember it being an exotic veggie, the most expensive from our vegetable vendor. Although it's of the same family as that of cauliflower (gobhi), I took some time to adjust to its taste.
This fuss-free recipe helped me introduce Broccoli to my daughter. While one may use an oven too, this air fryer method is an easy way to make crispy veggies in less cooking time.
Team it with air-fried garlic bread or a warm tomato soup for a lazy weekend!
More Air Fryer Recipes: Air Fryer Broccoli and Potatoes, Crispy Air Fryer Rice Paper Rolls, Air Fryer Cucumber Chips, Air Fryer Paneer.
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Ingredients
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
- Broccoli and Cauliflower
- Olive Oil
- Fresh Garlic: I love the flavor that comes from fresh garlic cloves. You may use garlic powder too.
- Salt
- Black Pepper
- Cheddar Cheese: Shredded cheddar cheese is sprinkled over the cooked broccoli and cauliflowe. Feel free to use Mozzarella or Parmesan cheese.
How To Make Air-Fried Broccoli Cauliflower
Step 1. Prepare the Broccoli and Cauliflower
Wash the broccoli and cauliflower thoroughly under cold water. Pat them dry with a paper towel or kitchen towel. Cut the broccoli and cauliflower into bite-sized florets. You can also include some of the stems if you prefer. Make sure to preheat the air fryer to 190°C for about 10 minutes.
Step 2. Seasoning
Place the broccoli and cauliflower florets in a large mixing bowl. Drizzle olive oil over the florets, making sure they are evenly coated.
Season with salt and pepper to taste. Top with chopped cheddar cheese. You can also add other seasonings like garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, or grated Parmesan cheese for extra flavor.
Step 3. Air Frying
Once the air fryer is preheated, place the seasoned broccoli and cauliflower florets in the air fryer basket in a single layer, making sure not to overcrowd them. You may need to cook them in batches depending on the size of your air fryer.
Cook at 375°F (190°C) for about 10-15 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through to ensure even cooking.
They are done if they are fork-tender and lightly browned around the edges.
If they're not cooked to your desired level of crispiness, you can cook them for an additional 2-3 minutes.
Step 4. Serve It.
Once cooked, remove the air-fried broccoli and cauliflower from the air fryer basket and transfer them to a serving dish.
Serve immediately as a side dish or snack. They're delicious on their own or with a dipping sauce like soy sauce, ranch dressing, or hummus. You may top them with fresh lemon juice.
Expert Tips
- Cut the broccoli and cauliflower into uniform-sized pieces to ensure they cook evenly. Make sure not to overcrowd the air fryer basket.
- If broccoli and cauliflower are not thoroughly dried, the moisture will lead to steaming and won't have a crispy texture.
- If you are air frying in batches, the first batch will have more cooking time as compared to the rest.
- For Frozen Broccoli-Thawing frozen broccoli before air-frying is optional but recommended for better texture. Thaw it by leaving it in the refrigerator overnight or using the defrost setting on your microwave. However, if time is limited, you can skip the thawing step and adjust the cooking time accordingly.
Storage Suggestions
To store leftovers, place them in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days. Reheat in the air fryer for a few minutes until warmed through. Avoid freezing as it can affect the texture.
Recipe FAQs
To prevent broccoli from burning in the air fryer, ensure it's evenly coated with oil, avoid overcrowding the basket.
Cauliflower and broccoli generally have similar cooking times when steaming, with cauliflower taking a bit more time. However, when air frying broccoli and cauliflower can be cooked together.
More Air Fryer Recipes:
- 11 Easy Vegan Air Fryer Recipes
- Easy Air Fryer Broccoli and Cauliflower (Cheddar Cheese)
- Air Fryer Eggplant Fries-No Breadcrumbs
Have you tried this recipe? Please leave a comment below and let me know what sides you served it with! If you loved it, feel free to share this post with your friends who love simple vegetarian cooking.
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Easy Air Fryer Broccoli and Cauliflower
Equipment
- 1 large mixing bowl
- 1 Chopping board
- 1 Air Fryer same recipe can be made in an oven
Ingredients
- 3 cups Broccoli florets
- 3 cups Cauliflower florets
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- 2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon Garlic powder
- 2 slices cheddar cheese
- salt as per taste
Instructions
- Wash the broccoli and cauliflower thoroughly under cold water. Pat them dry with a paper towel or kitchen towel. Cut the broccoli and cauliflower into bite-sized florets. You can also include some of the stems if you prefer. Make sure to preheat the air fryer to 190°C for about 10 minutes.
- Place the broccoli and cauliflower florets in a large mixing bowl. Drizzle olive oil over the florets, making sure they are evenly coated.
- Season with garlic powder, salt and pepper to taste. Top with chopped cheddar cheese. You can also add other seasonings like onion powder, paprika, or grated Parmesan cheese for extra flavor.
- Once the air fryer is preheated, place the seasoned broccoli and cauliflower florets in the air fryer basket in a single layer, making sure not to overcrowd them. You may need to cook them in batches depending on the size of your air fryer.Cook at 375°F (190°C) for about 10-15 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through to ensure even cooking.They are done if they are fork-tender and lightly browned around the edges.If they're not cooked to your desired level of crispiness, you can cook them for an additional 2-3 minutes.
- Once cooked, remove the air-fried broccoli and cauliflower from the air fryer basket and transfer them to a serving dish.Serve immediately as a side dish or snack. They're delicious on their own or with a dipping sauce like soy sauce, ranch dressing, or hummus. You may top them with fresh lemon juice.
Notes
- Cut the broccoli and cauliflower into uniform-sized pieces to ensure they cook evenly. Make sure not to overcrowd the air fryer basket.
- If broccoli and cauliflower are not thoroughly dried, the moisture will lead to steaming and won't have a crispy texture.
- If you are air frying in batches, the first batch will have more cooking time as compared to the rest.
- For Frozen Broccoli-Thawing frozen broccoli before air-frying is optional but recommended for better texture. Thaw it by leaving it in the refrigerator overnight or using the defrost setting on your microwave. However, if time is limited, you can skip the thawing step and adjust the cooking time accordingly.
| Nutrition Facts | |
|---|---|
| Serving size: 1 bowl | |
| Servings: 3 | |
| Amount per serving | |
| Calories | 86 |
| % Daily Value* | |
| Total Fat 2.8g | 4% |
| Saturated Fat 0.4g | 2% |
| Cholesterol 0mg | 0% |
| Sodium 64mg | 3% |
| Total Carbohydrate 13.5g | 5% |
| Dietary Fiber 5.6g | 20% |
| Total Sugars 4.3g | |
| Protein 5.1g | |
| Vitamin D 0mcg | 0% |
| Calcium 76mg | 6% |
| Iron 2mg | 9% |
| Potassium 647mg | 14% |
| *The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calorie a day is used for general nutrition advice. | |
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