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    Home » Recipe Index » Vegetables

    Air Fryer Broccolini

    May 8, 2022 Updated March 13, 2023 By Rebecca Cooking for One, Side Dishes, Vegetables

    Jump to Recipe Jump to Video Print Recipe
    broccolini on plate with lasagna

    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 Air Fryer Broccoli and Cauliflower are great sides.

    broccolini on plate with lasagna

    Table of contents

    • What's the big deal about air fryers?
      • Here are a couple things I like about it:
      • Here are a few things I don't like about it:
    • What makes this broccolini in the air fryer so good?
    • How do I make this broccolini recipe?
    • What do I serve broccolini with?
    • How to I make broccolini in the oven?
    • Substitutions/Tips
    • FAQ
    • What can I make with leftover ingredients?

    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?

    broccolini, oil, lemon, salt, pepper

    How do I make this broccolini recipe?

    broccolini on towel

    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.

    broccolini with oil on cutting board

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

    broccolini in air fryer

    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?

    • Pesto Pasta for One
    • Pan Seared Pork Chops. You can swap the green beans for Air Fryer broccolini
    • One Pot Chicken Parmesan Pasta
    • Ham and Swiss Sliders
    • Lemon Carbonara
    • Pork Chops with Apples

    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

    Can I substitute broccoli for the broccolini?

    Definitely, I'd highly recommend it. Broccolini isn't as widely available and much more expensive than broccoli. Just cut the broccoli up into small, equal sized pieces. You may need to cook it a bit longer than the Air Fryer broccolini.

    broccolini on plate with broccolini around

    What can I make with leftover ingredients?

    • Broccolini: Substitute it for broccoli in this Beef and Broccoli and Chicken Broccoli Casserole.
    • Lemon: Sparkling Berry Lemonade, Lemon Carbonara, Banana Blueberry Oatmeal Muffins, and Arugula Basil Pesto.

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

    green broccolini on plate
    Print Pin
    5 from 5 votes

    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
    Cuisine American
    Prep Time 3 minutes
    Cook Time 5 minutes
    Total Time 8 minutes
    Servings 1 person
    Author Rebecca

    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.

    Video

    AIR FRYER BROCCOLINI

    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.

    Want to get more single serving recipes like this air fryer broccolini delivered to your inbox? Click here to download my Single Serving Cookbook.

    Recipes are great, but you’ll need a simple 3 step process to create a meal plan that make cooking easy & helps you stop wasting food. Check out this expertly developed meal planning guide to get started. 

    More Vegetables

    • roasted broccoli and cauliflower on plate
      Air Fryer Broccoli and Cauliflower
    • shaved zucchini, corn, and feta salad in a bowl
      Zucchini with Feta
    • dill draped over sliced carrots in jar
      Pickled Dill Carrots
    • square image of pink pickled onions with fork
      Spicy Pickled Onions

    About Rebecca

    Welcome! I’m Rebecca, a food loving dietitian. On Nourish Nutrition, you’ll find real, quick, and nourishing recipes for one that'll get you to want to cook for yourself, because you deserve it.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Jess says

      May 09, 2022 at 5:40 pm

      5 stars
      I got a double basket Air Fryer and am obsessed with it! I can make twice as much which makes recipes like this one super easy!

      Reply
    2. veenaazmanov says

      May 09, 2022 at 7:44 pm

      5 stars
      This is definitely a healthy side dish platter. I need to surely try this out.Easy, quick and healthy.

      Reply
    3. Tara says

      May 09, 2022 at 8:27 pm

      5 stars
      First - the photos are so helpful and beautiful! Secondly, this side dish was so easy to make and so delicious! Thank you for sharing this with us.

      Reply
    4. Anita says

      May 09, 2022 at 9:10 pm

      5 stars
      This is such an easy side dish to prepare. I served this with broiled salmon, and the two are perfect together.

      Reply
    5. Tayler Ross says

      May 09, 2022 at 9:21 pm

      5 stars
      After making broccolini in the air fryer, I'll never make it another way! This turned out perfectly!

      Reply

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    At Nourish Nutrition, you'll find bold, flavorful recipes for one. Most are single serving, and all have suggestions to use up the leftover ingredients so you can stop throwing away unused ingredients & leftovers!

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