Air Fryer Chicken and Broccoli

You will love this air fryer chicken and broccoli stir fry with sauce. This one-pot air fryer meal is perfect for a busy weeknight. It is ready in 30 minutes!

The chicken is juicy and tender, and the broccoli and onion are crisp-tender, just as they would be if you ordered your favorite takeout. Serve with my simple homemade egg fried rice or basmati rice.

If you have been holding off on making stir-fry with sauce in your air fryer, now is the perfect time to start. It's simple, delicious, and quick! Aside from the usual stir fry ingredients, all you need is a foil or rimmed silicone tray to line your air fryer basket, similar to how I prepared my air fryer chicken and potatoes. The foil will hold the sauce and all its juices in place, making cleanup a breeze.

I have included a video tutorial below on how to make it. Kindly watch it so you don't miss any vital steps. That said, this is an easy, high-protein chicken stir fry recipe made in your air fryer rather than the traditional stovetop. Enjoy!

Related recipes: Air fryer salmon and asparagus and air fryer shrimp fajitas.

What you will need

• 1 ½ pound boneless, skinless chicken breast cut into bite sizes
• 1 head of broccoli, cut into florets (about 3 cups)
• 1 brown onion, chopped
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• Salt and white pepper to taste
• 1 Tablespoon dark soy sauce to season the chicken
• Sesame seeds for garnish

Stir fry sauce ingredients

• ½ tablespoon garlic paste
• ⅓ cup light soy sauce
• ¼ cup sweet chili sauce substitute with Oyster sauce
• 1 tablespoons Chinese rice vinegar
• ½ teaspoon sesame oil, optional
• 1 ½ tablespoons cornstarch/cornflour
• Red pepper flakes to taste optional

How to make air fryer chicken and broccoli

Prep: Preheat the air fryer to 400F / 200C for 3 minutes.

In a small jug or a bowl, whisk together until combined soy sauce, sweet chili sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil, red pepper flakes, garlic paste and cornstarch. Set aside

Cover the broccoli florets with boiling water (this ensures that the broccoli florets are cleaned properly), drain them immediately, and run them under cold water to stop the cooking process.

Place the chicken in a bowl, season with soy sauce, 1 Tablespoon olive oil, 1 teaspoon garlic, salt, and white pepper, and mix to combine.

Line the air fryer basket with foil or a reusable silicon liner.

Add the seasoned chicken to the lined air fryer basket and spread it out in a single layer. It is ok if they are touching.

Air fry the chicken at 400F/200C for 8 minutes, stirring it halfway through.

Remove the basket from the air fryer, add chopped onions, broccoli florets, and the stir-fry sauce to the chicken, and stir to combine.

Reduce the air fryer temperature to 390F /190C and continue to cook for 6-8 minutes until the chicken is fully cooked and the broccoli crisp-tender, stirring it halfway through.

Remove the air fryer basket and season the chicken and broccoli stir fry with sesame seeds.

Serve over rice or with noodles. Enjoy!

Tips

• If you prefer a thicker sauce, add more cornstarch to the stir fry sauce mixture.
• You can substitute chicken breasts for boneless chicken thighs or use another type of protein, such as tofu, shrimp, beef strips, etc. All you have to do is adjust the cooking time accordingly.
• Don't have an air fryer? No problem! This recipe can also be made on a stovetop. Follow my chicken and pepper stir fry recipe to learn how to do it.
• Not a fan of broccoli. Use any other vegetables like bell peppers, carrots, or snap peas to make it your own.