This post may contain affiliate links. Please see our privacy policy.
Fries made from broccoli stems—who would have thought?! These delicious air fryer broccoli fries are crispy, salty, and perfect for dipping. They make an addictive healthy-ish snack, or a veggie-forward side dish at lunch or dinner.
Lately, we've been making all kinds of air fryer recipes—like Tater Tots, Crispy Tofu, and Sweet Chili Tofu Bowls. After many rounds of testing Air Fryer Broccoli Tater Tots, we'd used up a lot of broccoli florets...leaving behind a pile of unused stalks! Rather than tossing the broccoli stalks, we wanted to turn them into something delicious. And it turns out, air fryer broccoli fries are VERY delicious.
Jump to:
What to do with broccoli stems (stalks)?
People often use the broccoli florets—and then are quick to discard the leftover broccoli stems. But, you can (and should) eat broccoli stems! There's a lot of nutrition and flavor in the stalks. You can reduce food waste at home by making use of the whole head of broccoli. Here are 5 delicious ways to use broccoli stems:
- Salads: Broccoli stems add a crunchy, fresh element to salads. Cut the stalks into thin matchsticks and add them to a cabbage slaw, leafy salad, or grain salad.
- Soups: Adding chopped broccoli stalks to soup will help flavor the stock. You can add the chopped stalks at the same time as you would a hard vegetable, like carrots.
- Stir fry: Growing up, my mom always chopped broccoli stalks and added them to her veggie stir fry. If the stalks are cut into larger chunks, add them to the pan earlier than the florets, because they'll take longer to soften.
- Broccoli rice: Similar to cauliflower, you can turn broccoli into "rice" by chopping up the stalks and pulsing them in a food processor until they are rice-sized. You can eat it raw, lightly steam (or microwave) it, or sauté it with a bit of oil and garlic.
- Broccoli fries: One of our favorite way to use broccoli stalks is to turn them into fries. It's hard to go wrong with french fries, especially when they're made with a healthy vegetable like broccoli—and with very little oil! Keep reading to learn how to make fries from broccoli in an air fryer.
Key ingredients
Here are the main ingredients for making air fryer broccoli fries:
- Broccoli stalks: Save your leftover broccoli stalks from the week. You'll need the stalks from about one bunch of broccoli. The stalks vary in size, so it's easiest to weigh them after the tops have been removed.
- Panko breadcrumbs: Crispy panko gives a bit of crunch to the outside of these broccoli fries. You could use whole grain panko breadcrumbs if you'd like!
- Cornstarch: A light dusting of cornstarch helps crisp the fries as well.
- Garlic powder: A sprinkle of garlic powder adds some extra flavor here (along with salt and pepper). You could substitute garlic powder with onion powder if you prefer.
- Parmesan cheese: We like to add a bit of Parmesan cheese to these fries. The cheese gets nice and crisp in the oven—and you can top it with a bit extra before serving if you'd like! For a vegan alternative, refer to the recipe card at the bottom of this page for two options.
- Easy Dijon Aioli: We LOVE dipping fries into this easy homemade dip. It literally takes minutes to make and can be made vegan (or not).
Find the recipe card below for the complete recipe, including all ingredients and instructions.
Step-by-step instructions (with photos)
Find the recipe card below for the complete recipe, including all ingredients and instructions.
Broccoli fries in an air fryer
We love using our air fryer to get these broccoli fries golden brown in less than 10 minutes!
In developing this recipe we also tested baking the broccoli fries in an oven, rather than an air fryer. In our side-by-side comparisons, we much preferred the air fryer method. The fries were more consistently golden brown and crisp. The oven required a lot more time to bake—and in doing this, the panko on some fries would burn before other fries were done. Here at Evergreen Kitchen we always want you to get the best results, so that's why we are only sharing instructions for the air fryer method. If you're looking to make oven baked fries, we'd suggest making these Parsnip Shoestring Fries.
Serving suggestions
We highly recommend you serve these air fryer broccoli fries fresh and piping hot—and with the Easy Dijon Aioli for dipping. The aioli only takes a few minutes to make, so you can do it while the fries are baking. If you love aioli as much as we do, make a double batch. Extra Dijon Aioli can be used in sandwiches, in burgers, for dipping Air Fryer Broccoli Tater Tots into, or anywhere else you'd love a creamy sauce or dip.
These broccoli fries make a yummy snack. But, they also make a great side dish, paired with one of these dinner/lunch mains:
- Roasted Veggie Sandwiches with Peri Peri
- Lemon and Dill Chickpea Sandwich
- BBQ Pulled Mushroom Sandwiches
- Smoky Mushroom Tacos
- Chipotle Black Bean Burgers
Frequently asked questions
Broccoli stems have a thick fibrous exterior that is best removed before using. You can peel the broccoli stalks using a vegetable peeler or a small paring knife. As you peel away the outer layers, you'll notice that the stalk starts to get lighter in colour and more tender—this is what you want! See the photos above as a reference.
If the broccoli in your fridge has turned yellow, it means it is past its prime. As broccoli starts to age and degrade, the bright green color will fade to yellow. Broccoli that has started to yellow doesn't necessarily mean it's rotten (unless you see mold/slime, in which case, it is!). But while you could technically eat yellow broccoli, it won't taste very good (likely bitter), so we usually recommend skipping it and starting with fresh, green broccoli.
Yes, you can easily make this recipe vegan by using a vegan Parmesan cheese or leaving it out altogether. If using a vegan Parmesan cheese, we recommend buying a finely grated cheese—the kind that are usually sold in shaker containers. If you're trying to use a shredded parmesan (ie. larger, stringy pieces), first run it through a food processor or blender to crumble it into smaller pieces. This will help more of the cheese stick to the fries. Refer to the recipe card below for full details.
📖 Recipe
Air Fryer Broccoli Fries
Ingredients
- 8 oz broccoli stems (2 to 4 stems/stalks)
- 2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon fine sea salt (more to taste)
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 1½ teaspoons cornstarch
- 2 teaspoons panko breadcrumbs (gluten-free if needed)
- 2 tablespoons finely grated Parmesan cheese (see note 1)
- Oil spray (such as olive oil or grapeseed oil)
- Easy Dijon Aioli (about 2 tablespoons for dipping, optional)
Instructions
- Prep broccoli: Peel the broccoli stems to remove the tough outer skin. Cut into ¼-inch (0.6 cm) wide fries (about 3-inches/8 cm long). Transfer fries to a medium bowl.
- Coat fries: Drizzle olive oil over fries and toss to coat. Sprinkle garlic powder, salt, pepper, and cornstarch. Toss to coat. Sprinkle in panko breadcrumbs and Parmesan. Toss to coat.
- Bake in air fryer: Arrange the fries in a single layer (see note 2). Spray with oil. Bake at 400°F (200°C) in an air fryer (no need to preheat) for 8 minutes or until golden brown (see note 3). Season with more salt and pepper to taste. Garnish with extra Parmsan (optional). Serve hot with dipping sauce, if using.
Notes
- Parmesan cheese: The cheese will stick best if its finely grated (either using a microplane or the small holes on a box grater). If vegan, use store bought vegan Parmesan (ideally shaker-style—otherwise, if using larger shreds, first pulse them in a food processor or blender to form small powdery crumbles).
- Don't overcrowd the air fryer basket: Arrange the fries in a single layer with space around each fry (no fries overlapping or touching), so that the air can properly circulate around each fry to help crisp them. If doubling the recipe, or if you're using a small capacity air fryer, you may need to bake the fries in two batches.
- Air fryer bake time: Baking time will vary if you cut your fries larger/smaller. If your fries aren't yet golden-brown, pop them in the air fryer for another 1-3 minutes, but watch carefully so they don't burn!
Leave a Comment & Rating!