Air Fryer Broccolini – Nourish Nutrition Blog

Make this Air Fryer broccolini when you’re in the mood for a very quick, flavorful, crispy vegetable in just about 10 minutes. It can be made in the oven just as easily too. Roasted Broccoli & Mushrooms, and Roasted Root Vegetables are other great sides.

What’s the big deal about air fryers?

Air Fryers-they’re all the rage, but are they really worth it? I only have one because one of my videography clients sent it for a project. Honestly, I wouldn’t get one otherwise. Mostly because of it’s deep diet culture ties, and it’s 1 more appliance.

Here are a couple things I like about it:

• It’s really quick. It essentially does the same thing as roasting food in the oven, but faster, so much faster.
• It doesn’t heat up your kitchen, like the oven. Which is great for summer cooking.
• I like how it cooks vegetables, like this Air Fryer broccolini and fish. Fish is really good cooked in the Air Fryer- crispy on the outside and tender inside. But I did find that cooking food in foil helps this a bit, just like in this Air Fryer Corned Beef & Cabbage.
• It’s easy to clean up, but not much easier than a cookie sheet and silicone mat.
• It’s great for cooking for one.
• Works well to quickly reheat foods that you want to be crisp: fries, fried chicken, etc. I had some leftover fried chicken and it was perfect after a few minutes in the air fryer. It would take 3x as long to reheat in the oven.

Here are a few things I don’t like about it:

• It’s yet another small kitchen appliance.
• Since it’s not a deep fat fryer and uses air, food has a different texture cooked in it. It’s really crunchy, but not tender like fried foods and oven cooked frozen foods, like fries. Honestly, I’d pick the regular fries/onion rings over Air Fried ones.
• It can do what the oven can do, although more quickly and efficiently.

So if the pros outweigh the cons, you have space, and money to get one, go ahead and try it out. But it’s nowhere as versatile or useful as an Instant Pot, in my kitchen at least. I’d prioritize getting an Instant Pot instead even though my pro list is longer!

Here are a couple other easy vegetable side dishes: Pickled Dill Carrots, Apple and Cucumber Salad, Roasted Garlic Mushrooms with Pan Sauce, and Red Wine Vinegar Coleslaw.

What makes this broccolini in the air fryer so good?

How do I make this broccolini recipe?

Start to make your Air Fryer broccolini by preheating your Air Fryer while preparing the broccolini. Wash and dry broccolini well. Cut off stems and more, if needed to fit in Air Fryer. Cut off long leaves too, if there are any. Smaller ones are fine to leave on.

Drizzle olive oil, lemon juice, salt and pepper onto broccolini, while it’s on the cutting board. Toss to coat.

Place broccolini in Air Fryer basket and replace in Air Fryer. Set temperature to 380 degrees, or 375, if that’s a setting. Set timer to 4 minutes. Cook, and cook another 1-2 minutes if needed as Air Fryer cooking times vary.

Remove and enjoy your Air Fryer broccolini immediately with your main dish.

Leftovers can be stored in an air-tight container for 3-5 days. You can make extra for other meals, but it cooks so quickly that I recommend cooking it as needed.

What do I serve broccolini with?

How to I make broccolini in the oven?

Substitutions/Tips

• Substitute broccolini for broccoli, just cut into equal sized pieces, and you may need to cook it a bit longer.
• Other great seasonings: Italian seasoning + lemon, top with parmesan cheese after cooking, Herbs de Provence + lemon, etc will all be great on your Air Fryer broccolini.

FAQ

What can I make with leftover ingredients?

Did you make this Air Fryer broccolini? Leave me a comment & rating to share how it turned out!

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Air Fryer Broccolini

Make this Air Fryer broccolini when you’re in the mood for a very quick, flavorful, crispy vegetable in just about 10 minutes. It can be made in the oven just as easily too.

Course Side Dish, Vegetable

Equipment

• cutting board

• knife

• Measuring cups, spoons

• Air Fryer

Ingredients

• 1 small handful broccolini about 4-5 stalks, or enough for one serving
• 1 teaspoon olive oil
• ½ teaspoon lemon juice
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Instructions

• Preheat Air Fryer while preparing broccolini, just use default temperature setting.

• Wash and thoroughly dry broccolini by shaking and then wrapping it in a towel. Cut ends off, and more if needed to fit in your Air Fryer basket. Cut off long leaves.

• Keep broccolini on cutting board, drizzle about 1 teaspoon of olive oil, ½ teaspoon lemon juice, ¼ teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon pepper. Toss to coat with seasonings.

• Remove basket, place broccolini in basket, replace in Air Fryer. Set temperature to 380 degrees, or about that. Set timer to 4 minutes. Cook, and add 1-2 minutes if necessary as cooking times vary.

Notes

• Substitute broccolini for broccoli (or really any vegetable), just cut into equal sized pieces, and you may need to cook it a bit longer.
• You can make more for leftovers or more people, but if possible just make it fresh because it’s best and crispy that way.
• Other great add-ins: Italian seasoning + lemon, top with parmesan cheese after cooking, Herbs de Provence + lemon, etc.

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