Air Fryer Garlic Parmesan Broccoli
This Air Fryer Garlic Parmesan Broccoli is an easy, tasty, 6-ingredient side dish that pairs well with almost any main course. I use a microwave-air fryer combo method that ensures that the broccoli is cooked through perfectly and a bit crispy around the edges. You’ll get the taste and texture of roasted broccoli, but in a fraction of the time without having to turn on your oven. Not only is this Air Fryer Garlic Parmesan Broccoli easy and delicious, but each (2.2 ounce) serving is just 92 calories or 2 WW Point on the current Weight Watchers program! To view your current WW Points for this recipe and track it in the WW app, click here!
Air Frying
I usually roast broccoli in my oven, and I still love that method, but this was a great quicker alternative that I’ll definitely be using again! I do not pre-heat my air fryer for this recipe, but if you do pre-heat then your cook time will potentially be slightly shorter. Just for reference, I have a COSORI brand air fryer and I cooked my broccoli in the air fryer for about 9 minutes, but your timing may vary due to desired doneness or air fryer differences.
Recipe Notes
- Broccoli: I recommend using fresh broccoli for this recipe! One large head of broccoli gave me just over the 12 ounces needed when trimmed down into florets. Try to cut your florets somewhat similarly bite-sized so they will all cook evenly. Try not to make them too tiny or they may burn. The florets will shrink down some when cooked.
- Parmesan: I always shred my own Parmesan cheese from a Parmesan wedge using my box grater. It melts easier and tastes great! However, if you want to skip this step you can buy pre-shredded Parmesan and use that instead. Just make sure you sprinkle the Parmesan on and stir it while the broccoli is still hot, unlike me who took photos of the broccoli in the air fryer first. That’s why my cheese is not melted in the photos! It still tasted great though.
- Microwave Step: Microwaving the broccoli florets covered with a damp paper towel steams them a bit before the air fryer step. Since the air fryer can crisp things up quickly, this ensures that the broccoli is perfectly cooked in the center when it reached the desired crispiness from air frying. Otherwise, you can end up with either broccoli that is crisp but not soft, or broccoli that’s cooked with burnt edges.
- Heat and Timing: My air fryer (COSORI) temperatures go by tens, so I cooked these at 380, but 375 should be fine as well. One of the nice things about using an air fryer is that it’s easy to check often for doneness to make sure you get the texture you prefer. I suggest cooking from 8-12 minutes, depending on how crispy you like your broccoli.
- Serving Size: My cooked broccoli weighed just slightly over 8 ounces, and after adding a half ounce of Parmesan, it made four servings at 2.2 oz each. I thought this was a good portion for a side dish!
More Tasty, Lightened-Up Side Dish Recipes
Looking for more tasty, lightened up side dish recipes like this Air Fryer Garlic Parmesan Broccoli? Check out my Broccoli Salad, Greek Roasted Potatoes with Feta, Bacon Broccoli Side Skillet, Air Fryer Garlic Balsamic Green Beans, Easy Slow Cooker Carrots, Corn and Tomato Salad, Stovetop Cinnamon Apples, Garlic Parmesan Roasted Cauliflower, Air Fryer Ranch Corn on the Cob, Apple Coleslaw, Broccoli Cheddar Twice Baked Potatoes, Stovetop Green Beans with Almonds, Garlic Herb Mushrooms, Easy Salsa Rice, Roasted Fingerling Potatoes, Easy Garlic Knots, and many more in the Side Dishes section of my recipe index!
Air Fryer Garlic Parmesan Broccoli
Ingredients
- 12 oz uncooked broccoli florets, (from a large head of broccoli)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ oz Parmesan cheese, freshly shredded
Instructions
- Place the broccoli florets in a microwaveable bowl and cover with a damp paper towel. Place in the microwave and cook on high for 2 minutes, stirring once halfway through.
- Remove the cover from the bowl and drizzle the par-cooked broccoli with tablespoon of olive oil. Stir to coat the broccoli and then add the salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Stir until well coated.
- Transfer the broccoli florets to the basket of your air fryer and spread into an even layer. Set the air fryer to 375/380 degrees Fahrenheit (mine only goes by tens so I did 380) and cook for 8-10 minutes, stopping once or twice to stir the broccoli, until cooked to your preference.
- When the broccoli is cooked through, transfer it to a serving platter or bowl and immediately sprinkle or toss with the shredded Parmesan cheese while the broccoli is still hot.
Notes
92 calories, 7 g carbs, 2 g sugar, 6 g fat, 2 g saturated fat, 5 g protein, 2 g fiber, 155 mg sodium (from myfitnesspal.com) Weight Watchers Points Plus:
3 per (2.2 ounce) serving (PP calculated using a Weight Watchers PointsPlus calculator and the nutrition information below)
