This air fryer broccoli and cauliflower is a tasty and very healthy vegetable side dish to add to your evening meal! So easy to make, it comes together in just 15 minutes.
Who doesn't love an easy healthy side dish?! Making this air fryer broccoli and cauliflower couldn't be more simple, and we add some delicious flavor with garlic and thyme. It's super healthy and works perfectly with meat, fish or plant-based meals.
If you're looking for some carbs to serve with these vegetables, I think you'll enjoy my easy cauliflower rice and my creamy potato cauliflower mash!
Love all things air fryer? Do check out my tasty air fried boneless chicken thighs, air fried bok choy and air fryer spiced pears too!
Jump to:
⭐ Why this recipe is so good
Super healthy. Both broccoli and cauliflower are bursting with healthy vitamins, and we add garlic and thyme for even more nutrients! If broccoli is your favorite, have a peek at my healthy broccoli zucchini soup too!
Easy air fryer vegetable side dish. Using an air fryer is always so simple, and means we don't have to turn on the oven.
Quick side dish. Making this broccoli and cauliflower side takes just 15 minutes!
🥦 Ingredients
All the ingredients and their quantities are set out in the recipe card below.
Some notes on a few of them:
- Broccoli and cauliflower - this recipe is for fresh rather than frozen produce. As always, pick fresh unbruised veggies!
- Garlic powder - gives so much flavor, and do up the quantity if you are a garlic lover!
📖 Swaps and variations
Leave out or swap the dried thyme. A little dried parsley, rosemary or sage would also be delicious!
Add more garlic. If you like a very fragrant vegetable side, add an extra sprinkle of garlic powder!
🔪 Step by step instructions
Making this air fryer broccoli and cauliflower is very simple, and has just a few steps:
Step 1
Prepare the vegetables. Dice the broccoli and cauliflower into small bite-size florets (image 1).
Step 2
Season the broccoli and cauliflower. Add the vegetables to a large mixing bowl. Drizzle with olive oil, and season with garlic powder, thyme, salt and black pepper. Toss to coat the broccoli and cauliflower (image 2).
Step 3
Cook the vegetables. After preheating the air fryer, add the cauliflower florets to your basket in an even layer. Air fry for 2 minutes. Then add the broccoli florets and air fry for a further 6-7 minutes, shaking the air fryer basket every 3-4 minutes.
If you like very 'roasted' vegetables, set these air fried broccoli and cauliflower to cook for a few more minutes.
💭 Recipe tips and notes
- Cauliflower takes a little longer to cook than broccoli, which is why we air fry for 2 minutes before adding the broccoli. If you like quite 'roasted' broccoli you can air fry them together for 7-8 minutes.
- Dice the cauliflower and broccoli into roughly similar sized pieces to allow for a more even cook time.
- Be sure to coat the vegetables in olive oil as that helps get them the tasty roasted 'char'.
- The thyme is optional, but does give a lovely flavor (and some healthy vitamins too!).
📋 Frequently asked questions
No, no need to cook first - the air fryer does all the work for you!
You can use frozen vegetables, but they won't come out as crispy.
Air fryer broccoli and cauliflower is a little crispy on the edges, which is so good and similar to roasted vegetables. Adjust the cook time for how crispy you like it!
🍽 How to serve air fryer broccoli and cauliflower
A side of vegetables is always healthy and delicious, and goes with so many main dishes. Why not try:
- Pair with chicken and turkey dishes such as my baked blueberry chicken, my paprika chicken skillet, turmeric chicken thighs and turkey vegetable rissoles.
- Enjoy as a healthy side for soups including my vegetable quinoa soup and my cauliflower corn chowder.
- Add to your salads for even more vegetable goodness! They go perfectly with my pesto orzo salad and my sweet potato couscous salad.
🥕 More vegetable sides
Find easy and tasty ideas on my sides page, including my fun garlic spaghetti squash and roasted potatoes and zucchini. Some recent recipes to enjoy:
I'm always in the kitchen, so come join me on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest to be the first to hear of new recipes! And I love to hear from you - so please do leave a ⭐ star rating ⭐ if you loved the recipe!
📖 Recipe
Air Fryer Broccoli and Cauliflower
Equipment
Ingredients
- 3 cups broccoli florets cut into bite-size pieces
- 3 cups cauliflower florets cut into bite-size pieces
- 1.5 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder more to preference
- pinch salt
- pinch black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer at 380F / 190C for three minutes.
- Cut the broccoli and cauliflower pieces into small bite-size pieces. Add to a large mixing bowl, pour in the olive oil and sprinkle in the garlic powder, dried thyme, salt and black pepper. Toss to coat the vegetables.
- Tip the cauliflower florets into the air fryer in an even layer, with a little space between them. Air fry for 2 minutes at 380F / 190C.
- Add the broccoli florets into the air fryer basket alongside the cauliflower and air fry for 6-7 minutes, giving the basket a good shake every 3-4 minutes. Check the texture of the vegetables and continue to air fry for a few more minutes to preference.
- Be very careful removing the vegetables from the air fryer as it will be very hot.
Notes
- Cauliflower takes a little longer to cook than broccoli, which is why we air fry for 2 minutes before adding the broccoli. If you like quite 'roasted' broccoli you can air fry them together for 7-8 minutes.
- Dice the cauliflower and broccoli into roughly similar sized pieces to allow for a more even cook time.
- Be sure to coat the vegetables in olive oil as that helps get them the tasty roasted 'char'.
- The thyme is optional, but does give a lovely flavor (and some healthy vitamins too!).
- Nutritional information is given as a courtesy. It is auto-generated and should be considered to be an estimate.
- garlic, which scores 1.
Leave a Reply