"It" Air Fryer Broccoli with Cheese Sauce

Get ready to groove in the kitchen with our easy air fryer broccoli topped with a velvety cheesy sauce, a dish that’s sure to make your taste buds dance like it's 1999!

This funky, flavorful side is a celebration of crispy, golden broccoli crowned with a luscious cheese sauce, blending healthy and indulgent in perfect harmony. So put on your chef's hat, turn up the tunes, and let this purple-pleasure dish take center stage at your dinner table!

This air fryer broccoli is topped with a big cheesy cheese sauce for a simple, fast and delicious side bringing you a bit of comfort to your weeknight dinner or holidays.

Related Posts:

• Oven Roasted Whole Broccoli Head
• Air Fryer Broccolini
• Roasted Broccoli with Garlic (traditional style oven roasted broccoli)

Why You'll Love It

You'll love air fryer broccoli with cheesy sauce as it combines the best of taste, texture, and nutrition in an easy-to-make dish that’s perfect for any occasion. Whether you’re cooking for family, friends, or just yourself, this dish is sure to become a favorite in your culinary repertoire.

The air fryer gives broccoli a delightful crispiness on the outside while keeping it tender inside. The cheesy sauce adds a rich, creamy layer that perfectly complements the crisp texture of the broccoli.

The combination of slightly charred, nutty broccoli and the savory, melted cheese creates a mouthwatering flavor profile. You can easily customize the cheesy sauce with your favorite cheeses and seasonings to match your taste preferences.

Air frying uses less oil than traditional frying, making this dish a healthier option without sacrificing flavor.

This dish is quick to prepare, perfect for busy weeknights or when you want a delicious side without a lot of fuss. The cheesy sauce also makes broccoli more appealing to kids, helping to encourage them to eat their veggies.

Why I Made It

I used to work for Kraft Foods on the Velveeta product. It had the best ever melt but was made with very little real cheese. It's mostly a lab product made with a lot of chemicals. I wanted to create a cheesy sauce that melted as well as Velveeta and had an awesome taste profile too so that I could pair with vegetables like this broccoli to add a bit of excitement to "boring" air fryer vegetables.

Beats and Eats (music to pair with cheesy broccoli)

Prince's song "It" pairs well with air fryer broccoli for several fun and intriguing reasons, creating a delightful culinary and auditory experience:

"It" has an energetic and funky beat that can make the cooking process more enjoyable and lively. The vibrant rhythm mirrors the quick and dynamic process of air frying broccoli, making the kitchen feel like a dance floor.

The song, like much of Prince’s music, is bold, unapologetic, and full of flavor. Air fryer broccoli topped with cheesy sauce has a bold, savory flavor that stands out, much like Prince's dynamic sound.

"It" conveys a sense of desire and indulgence. While air fryer broccoli is healthy, the cheesy sauce adds an indulgent twist, balancing health with pleasure, akin to the indulgent vibe of the song.

Prince’s music, including "It," is timeless and continues to be enjoyed by new generations. Broccoli with cheese is a classic combination, and air frying brings a modern twist, making it both nostalgic and contemporary.

What you need for cheesy broccoli:

• Broccoli
• Olive Oil
• Salt
• Pepper
• Butter
• Flour
• Heavy Cream
• Worcestershire sauce
• All spice
• Paprika
• Mustard Powder
• Sharp Cheddar Cheese
• Manchego Cheese
• Garlic Powder (optional)

broccoli and cheese sauce cooking directions

cook the broccoli

Chop the broccoli into florets. Season with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Set the air fryer to 330 degrees F, place fresh broccoli florets in the air fryer basket, and air fry for 3-5 minutes.

make the cheese sauce

Grate the cheddar and Manchego cheese. Melt butter in a saucepan. Add flour, cream, Worcestershire sauce, and spices mixing well. Add in the cheese and stir as needed until the sauce is at a smooth but thick consistency.

Top the air fried broccoli with the cheese sauce.

I don't recommend the typical fresh lemon juice or minced garlic adds at serving, but red pepper flakes for a bit of complexity and heat would be great.

What To Serve With Broccoli Cheese

Air fryer broccoli cheese is a versatile and flavorful side dish that pairs well with a variety of main courses and complementary sides. Here are some delicious options to serve alongside it:

Main Courses

1. Grilled or Roasted Chicken
   • Herb-Roasted Chicken: The herbs complement the cheesy broccoli.
   • Grilled Lemon Chicken: The tangy lemon flavor balances the richness of the cheese.
2. Beef
   • Steak: A juicy steak pairs perfectly with the cheesy broccoli.
   • beef Tenderloin: The tender, flavorful beef is an excellent match.
3. Pork
   • Pork Chops: Juicy, well-seasoned pork chops enhance the flavors of the cheesy broccoli.
   • Pulled Pork: The savory, slow-cooked pork provides a delightful contrast.
4. Seafood
   • Baked Salmon: The rich, flaky salmon complements the cheesy broccoli well.
   • Shrimp Scampi: The garlicky, buttery shrimp adds a delicious touch.

Complementary Sides

1. Grains and Starches
   • rice Pilaf: A light, flavorful rice dish balances the richness of the cheese.
   • Garlic Mashed Potatoes: Creamy potatoes enhance the cheesy broccoli.
2. Salads
   • Caesar Salad: The crisp romaine and tangy dressing complement the broccoli.
   • Caprese Salad: The fresh tomatoes, mozzarella, and basil add a refreshing contrast.
3. Other Vegetables
   • Roasted Carrots: Sweet, caramelized carrots complement the broccoli.
   • Green Beans Almondine: The toasted almonds and tender beans provide a lovely contrast.

considerations for the air fryer broccoli recipe

Most cheese sauces use just one cheese but I wanted a bit more complexity of flavor so blended the sharp cheddar with the complex but approachable and sweeter Manchego.

If time permits pre-heat your air fryer.

Cook time will vary depending on thickness of the broccoli florets and desired crunchiness. At 5 minutes and slightly over you start venturing into burnt territory so err on the side of caution and stop cooking early if needed. You'll also want to be mindful of the time to keep air fryer broccoli tender.

Eat immediately. The cheese sauce is delicious but doesn’t do well sitting for a while

You don't need an air fryer for this recipe. You can roast conventionally and add the cheese sauce.

Frozen broccoli florets are just fine, as air fryer is perfect for cooking frozen veggies.

mastering cheese sauce

Start with a roux. This is critical to quality cheese sauce. But this isn’t a gumbo roux, as you don’t actually want to brown it. Use butter for your roux to get rid of the floury taste

Make sure your cheese and cream are at room temperature before heating. Adding cold ingredients to a roux leads to clumpy congealed cheese.

Don’t set your stovetop too high. Medium-low is good, you just want the pan just hot enough for the cheese to melt, not any hotter.

Remove the pan from heat before adding the cheese. Don’t worry the milk/cream will be plenty hot enough to melt the cheese. The cheese will get really grainy or even start to separate if it gets too hot.

Add cheese in batches vs all at one time. This makes melting easier so you get more of a creamier melt.

Stir the mixture constantly until the cheese is melted fully and incorporated into your sauce. Frequent stirring also ensures the cheese doesn’t burn. 

If sauce is too thick, whisk in more milk. If too thin, then add more cheese.

Serve the sauce immediately. It will develop that unattractive film on top if it sits. So don’t make it until the dish you plan to use it for is ready.

more recipes

Air Fryer Mahi Mahi

Baked Mac and Cheese

Southern Candied Yams

Easy Roasted Broccoli w/ Garlic

Smoked Whole Cauliflower

For other cheesy dishes try these:

Brisket Grilled Cheese Sandwich

Grilled Cheese with Andouille

Smoked Mac and Cheese

make this crispy air fryer broccoli dish

There you have it - an easy air fryer broccoli dish topped with a luscious cheesy sauce that’s bound to make your taste buds sing. Just like a Prince melody, this dish is timeless, bold, and unforgettable.

With every bite, you'll experience a harmony of crisp broccoli and creamy cheese, hitting all the right notes. So, don your kitchen crown, embrace the groove, and let this vibrant, funky dish take center stage at your next meal. Rock on, chef!

If you make this cheesy air fryer recipe or any other from the site, please come back and leave me a comment below with your feedback. Definitely take a photo of the dish and be sure to tag #foodfidelity so that I can see them.

You can also keep up with my food exploits as well as original recipes! You can find me on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest. If you like any of the music you find on the site, visit me at Spotify to find curated monthly playlists.

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