I will be honest, I am not a huge broccoli fan, but this changed that for me. Keto air fryer broccoli with garlic and parmesan is genuinely easy, and my family requests it again and again.
Not all air fryers cook the same, so follow your own manufacturer guidelines for time and temperature, and adjust if your model runs hotter than usual.
Use fresh broccoli here, not frozen. Frozen broccoli holds too much water and turns the whole dish soggy.
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Chef Jenn’s Take on Broccoli with Garlic & Parmesan
Cutting the broccoli too small is the easiest way to overcook it in an air fryer. Aim for pieces about 2 to 3 bites each, big enough that you would need to cut them further to eat.
Mince 3 to 4 large garlic cloves, enough for about 3 tablespoons chopped. More is fine if you love garlic, just do not go overboard. Melt the butter and oil together in a skillet and cook the garlic until fragrant, about 2 to 3 minutes, or melt the butter in the microwave and cook the garlic in it for about a minute if you would rather skip the skillet entirely.
Toss the broccoli halfway through the cooking time. Letting some of the tips get golden brown adds real flavor, do not skip that step.
Use fresh broccoli only, frozen broccoli holds too much water and turns the whole dish soggy instead of crisp. Sprinkle the Parmesan on after cooking, not before, so it stays a real finishing touch rather than melting into everything. A pinch of red pepper flakes in the garlic mixture adds heat if you want it.
What You’ll Love About Broccoli with Garlic & Parmesan
- A side dish flavorful enough to win over even reluctant broccoli eaters.
- Genuinely easy, using ingredients you probably already have on hand.
- Golden, crisp tips from the air fryer that regular steaming can’t give you.
Ingredients
- Broccoli – Fresh, cut into 2 to 3 bite-size chunks. Frozen broccoli holds too much water for this.
- Butter – Salted or unsalted, with a pinch of salt added if unsalted.
- Olive oil – Or your favorite cooking oil.
- Garlic – Fresh, minced. About 3 to 4 large cloves.
- Parmesan cheese – Grate your own for the best flavor, though pre-grated works too.
How to Make Broccoli with Garlic & Parmesan
Scroll down for the full recipe card with exact measurements and printable instructions.
Wash the broccoli under cold running water and shake dry. Cut into 2 to 3 bite-size chunks.
Mince the garlic, aiming for about 3 tablespoons chopped. Melt the butter in a skillet, add the oil and garlic, and cook over medium heat for 2 to 3 minutes, until fragrant.
Toss the broccoli with the garlic, butter, and oil mixture until well coated. Add the broccoli to the air fryer and cook at 350°F for about 5 to 8 minutes, then toss and cook another 5 minutes, until tender-crisp.
Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and serve.
Make It A Meal
For more vegetable sides in your rotation, Asparagus with Lemon Sauce and Brussels Sprouts with Bacon & Maple Syrup are both worth adding. This also pairs well with Sausage Parmigiana for an Italian-leaning dinner.
Storage
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat in the air fryer or a skillet to bring back some crispness, since the microwave tends to leave it soft. This has not been tested for freezing.
Frequently ASked Questions
This recipe runs about 5 net carbs per 1/2 cup serving. The number in the recipe card below will recalculate once this post is republished, so use it as an estimate until then.
This isn’t recommended. Frozen broccoli holds too much water and turns the dish soggy instead of crisp.
Yes, add a pinch of red pepper flakes to the garlic mixture before tossing it with the broccoli.
It helps everything cook evenly and lets some of the tips get golden brown, which adds real flavor to the finished dish.
Add Preferred SourceKeto Broccoli with Garlic & Parmesan
Ingredients
- 6 cups broccoli florets
- 4 tablespoons salted butter
- 4 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic chopped finely
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese grated
Instructions
- Clean and prepare the broccoli by cutting it into chunks. Don’t cut it too small or it’ll overcook. Keep the chunks bigger, so that you’d need to cut them to eat them. If you have broccoli stem, cut it into bite-size pieces.
- Melt the butter in a skillet. Add the oil and the garlic. Cook over medium heat for 2-3 minutes or until the garlic starts smelling GREAT.
- Toss the broccoli with the garlic, oil and butter mixture. Toss well so it’s all coated.
- Add the broccoli to the air fryer and cook at 350-F for about 5-8 minutes, then toss the broccoli and cook an additional 5 minutes until the broccoli is tender crisp.
- Sprinkle the broccoli with the Parmesan cheese and enjoy!
Notes
Recipe Card Tips
- Use fresh broccoli only. Frozen broccoli holds too much water and turns soggy instead of crisp.
- Cut the broccoli into fairly large chunks, about 2 to 3 bites each, to avoid overcooking in the air fryer.
- Toss halfway through cooking, and let some of the tips get golden brown for extra flavor.
- Please check the manufacturer’s guidelines for your individual air fryer for cooking times and temperatures. My times and temps may need to be adjusted for your particular air fryer.
Nutrition
A Note on Nutritional Information
Nutritional information for this recipe is provided as a courtesy and is calculated based on available online ingredient information. It is only an approximate value. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site cannot be guaranteed. Erythritol carbs (sugar substitutes) are not included in the carbohydrate counts as they have been shown not to impact blood sugar, and they have zero calories and zero carbs. Net carbs are the total carbs minus fiber.
This looks absolutely delicious! Healthy and easy. I can’t wait to give this a try!
Making tender and crisp broccoli supposed to be this easy. Thanks for the recipe.
I love using my air fryer and making vegetables in them make them have so much flavor.
This looks so good! Can’t wait to try it.
This is another great recipe using an air-fryer. It’s going to be on a repeat. 🙂