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This Air Fryer Tenderstem Broccoli recipe is a delicious and easy side dish! It only takes one minute to prep and the cooking time is just 6 minutes! The simple ingredients bring life to the tender, yet crispy broccoli. It’s the perfect side dish!

Air Fryer Tenderstem Broccoli served on a plate.

Recipe Difficulty – Very Easy

Why this recipe works

It can sometimes be hard to remember to make a healthy side dish for dinner. If you do remember, it’s sometimes difficult to juggle making the main dish along with the side. This Air Fryer Broccolini recipe is here to save you as it’s a super easy recipe that you can throw in the air fryer in no time.

Tenderstem Broccoli air fryer style is one of my favourite ways to air fry broccoli. It doesn’t overcook the tender broccoli, making it soft inside, but gives a nice crispy texture on the outside. Air fryer cooking is so great because of this! In addition, the broccolini keeps its health benefits.

Ingredients to make Air Fryer Tenderstem Broccoli

Ingredients to make Air Fryer Tenderstem Broccoli.
  1. Tenderstem Broccoli – is the start of this air fryer broccoli recipe.
  2. Extra Virgin Olive Oil – helps the seasoning to stick to the broccolini.
  3. Garlic Powder – is one of the best umami flavours to use in cooking.
  4. Onion Powder – pairs perfectly with garlic powder.
  5. Red Pepper Flakes – gives this versatile vegetable a nice kick.
  6. Lemon Juice – is best fresh from a lemon.

See recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.

Substitutions

  • Tenderstem Broccoli – could be replaced with regular broccoli (see my Air Fryer Broccoli recipe), broccoli rabe, cauliflower, or asparagus.
  • Extra Virgin Olive Oil – Any neutral oil with a high smoke point, such as avocado oil, will work for this recipe.
  • Seasonings – These are easy to play around with to match the flavours to your main dish.

Variations

  • Spicy – Increase the chili flakes and add some cayenne pepper to bring up the spice level on this broccolini air fryer style.
  • Deluxe – Drizzle some balsamic vinegar on top or sprinkle with some parmesan cheese to bring these to the next level.
  • Kid friendly – Have some cheese on hand to sprinkle on top or a favourite sauce for your kids to dip the broccolini in. This recipe has such simple instructions, that many kids can even help to prepare it.

How to make Air Fryer Tenderstem Broccoli

broccoli florets on a wooden cutting board.

Step 1: Firstly, chop about 1 inch off the bottom of the broccoli florets and preheat the air fryer to 195°C (380°F).

mixing broccoli florets with olive oil, garlic powder, onion powder, red pepper flakes, lemon juice and a generous pinch of salt and pepper.

Step 2: Add to a large bowl along with the olive oil, garlic powder, onion powder, red pepper flakes, lemon juice and a generous pinch of salt and pepper and toss to combine.

tenderstem broccoli in the air fryer basket.

Step 3: Place in the air fryer basket and spread so they have space and are not sat on top of each other. Air fry for 6 minutes at 195°C (380°F).

Hint: When using the air fryer, it’s very important to lay everything in a single layer and be sure there is space in between everything.

Leftovers

Store leftover broccolini in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-5 days. Reheat in the air fryer or microwave for a few minutes.

Recipe FAQs

What is the difference between regular broccoli and tenderstem broccoli?

Tenderstem broccoli is also known as broccolini, baby broccoli, or Aspabroc. It is a hybrid of broccoli – a mix between regular broccoli and Chinese broccoli (also known as Chinese kale or Gai Lan). The size of the florets are smaller than regular broccoli and the stems are much longer. Another difference is that you can eat the stem of tenderstem broccoli as it is much more tender.

Why did my broccoli burn in the air fryer?

If your broccoli is burning instead of cooking nicely, you may not have had enough oil on the broccoli or the heat too high. Another option to keep in mind is that air fryers differ in cook time. You may need to use less cook time than the recipe calls for.

Why are my vegetables not crispy from the air fryer?

One really important thing to remember when air frying is to keep everything in a single layer and to leave space between items. If you have a smaller air fryer, you may need to cook your vegetables in multiple batches. The air needs to be able to reach everywhere. Another problem may be that you used too much oil, making them too soggy to crisp up.

Perfecting Air Fryer Vegetables

If you’re looking to perfect how to cook vegetables in the air-fryer then these recipes will really help you!

Air Fryer Tenderstem Broccoli on a plate as a side dish.

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4.50 from 2 votes

Air Fryer Tenderstem Broccoli

Perfectly crisp and tender Air Fryer Tenderstem Broccoli ready in just 6 minutes!
Prep Time: 1 minute
Cook Time: 6 minutes
Total Time: 7 minutes
Servings: 4
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Equipment

Ingredients 

  • 300 g tenderstem broccoli , (or broccolini)
  • 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp onion powder
  • 1 pinch red pepper flakes
  • ½ lemon

Instructions 

  • Firstly, chop about 1 inch off the bottom of the broccolini florets and preheat the air fryer to 195°C (380°F).
  • Add to a large bowl along with the olive oil, garlic powder, onion powder, red pepper flakes, lemon juice and a generous pinch of salt and pepper and toss to combine.
  • Place in the air fryer basket and spread so they have space and not sat on top of each other. Air fry for 6 minutes at 195°C (380°F).

Notes

Step-by-Step Photos: My blog post includes helpful step-by-step photos to help guide you through making this recipe.
Substitutions & Variations: I have included a list of these in the post above.
To Store: Store in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-5 days. Reheat in the air fryer or microwave.
To Freeze: Store in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Reheat in the air fryer or microwave.
Tip 1: You can use an air fryer liner for easier cleanup. You may need to increase cooking time slightly if you use this.
Tip 2: It is important to have equal sized florets and stems when cooking in the air fryer, so cut some down if necessary.
Tip 3: While this is great as a side, you can also mix this air fryer broccolini into a salad or rice/quinoa bowl.

Nutrition

Calories: 98kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g
Did you make this recipe? Tag me Today!Tag @HealthyLivingJames on Instagram and use #HealthyLivingJames!
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About James Wythe

Hey, I'm James! A fully qualified health coach, cookbook author, full time food blogger and new dad with over 1 million followers. I started this journey after a sudden illness left me bed bound for 2 years and housebound for 4 years! I’m here to help you make healthy and delicious food for you and your family in less time!

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Recipe Rating




4 Comments

  1. 4 stars
    The flavors were lovely but I just found the broccoli a little tough on the stems but the remainder was perfect. I think I may boil them next time for a minute or two before air frying.

    1. Hey Rachael, it can depend a little on how thick the stems are as this can vary. You could also slice thick stemmed tenderstem broccoli down the middle to help it cook the stem faster.

  2. 5 stars
    These came out perfect! A little crisp on the outside and still tender inside. Will be making again 🙂