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    Home » Recipe Index » Vegetables

    Tender Air Fryer Broccolini (single serving)

    May 8, 2022 Updated April 24, 2024 By Rebecca Clyde MS, RDN, CD Cooking for One, Side Dishes, Vegetables

    Jump to Recipe
    broccolini on plate with lasagna

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

    broccolini on plate with broccolini around

    Tender Air Fryer broccolini is an easy side dish to make while making dinner. Cook it with your main, if you're making something like Air Fryer Salmon.

    Broccolini is a tender version of broccoli, it's not necessary for this recipe. Substitute it for regular broccoli if that's what you can find, or want to save some money on fresh produce. Broccolini is usually more expensive.

    Another note about this vegetable, you don't have to make it in an Air Fryer. Sautee it or bake in the oven if that's what you have.

    Cooking food in the Air Fryer makes it more crunchy than crispy in my experience. Although, it's a great way to cook frozen breaded chicken tenders, fish, and vegetables.

    Ingredients

    Scroll down to the Air Fryer broccolini recipe card for the amounts of each ingredient, but here's a quick visual + description of what's in this recipe.

    broccolini, oil, lemon, salt, pepper
    • Broccolini: it's more tender than regular broccoli, you can swap it for regular broccoli too.
    • Olive oil
    • Salt
    • Pepper
    • Lemon: I like to simply season my Air Fryer broccolini, a squeeze of fresh lemon juice is such an easy and flavorful seasoning.

    Instructions

    Scroll down to the recipe card for more detailed instructions. Here's a quick overview + photos to see how to make this recipe in general.

    broccolini on towel

    1. Preheat 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 leaves are fine to leave on.

    broccolini with oil on cutting board

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

    broccolini in air fryer

    3. 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.

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

    Serve 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

    Oven Instructions

    Season your broccolini the same way, and bake in a 425 degree F oven for about 5-10 minutes. Adjust time to your preference and oven.

    Storage/Reheating Tips

    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. Reheat in the Air Fryer or microwave.

    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 longer than Air Fryer broccolini.

    Do you cut the stems of broccolini?

    You can, but they're more tender than regular broccoli, so they're easier to eat and delicious. Try keeping them on and see if you like them.

    How do you cut fresh broccolini?

    You can cut it however you want, but you can slice off the very end of the stem, and cook whole broccolini stalks. Or you can slice the center of each stalk and break the florets apart.

    It depends on preference and if they're evenly sized, which helps them cook more evenly.

    broccolini on plate with lasagna

    Other good side dishes

    • Roasted Broccoli and Mushrooms
    • Instant Pot Potatoes and Carrots
    • Roasted Frozen Butternut Squash
    • Cucumber Beet Salad with Feta
    • Frozen Roasted Green Beans
    • Asparagus and Brussles Sprouts
    • Sheet Pan Broccoli
    • Microwave Frozen Broccoli

    What to do with leftover ingredients

    When you're cooking for one, you often have leftover produce, cans of whatever ingredient, etc. Here are a couple ideas on how to use up the leftover ingredients. It'll help you save money by wasting fewer 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

    Simple Air Fryer Broccolini (single serving)

    Make easy Air Fryer broccolini when you're in the mood for a very quick, flavorful, tender vegetable with crispy edges in just about 10 minutes. It can be made in the oven just as easily too.
    5 from 5 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Side Dish, Vegetable
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 3 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 5 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 8 minutes minutes
    Servings: 1 person
    Author: Rebecca Clyde MS, RDN

    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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    About Rebecca Clyde MS, RDN, CD

    Welcome! I’m Rebecca, a food loving dietitian who has been cooking for one for over 10 years. 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. 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
    2. 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
    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. 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
    5. 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
    5 from 5 votes

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