Air Fryer Chicken and Broccoli (Easy Teriyaki)

Air Fryer Chicken and Broccoli is my go-to weeknight dinner when I want something healthy on the table in under 30 minutes. Bite-size chicken gets a head start in the basket, the broccoli joins it for the last few minutes so it roasts crisp at the edges instead of burning, and everything gets tossed in a glossy homemade teriyaki glaze. Serve it over rice and you have a takeout-style dinner with about 40 grams of protein per serving.

Why This Recipe Works

• One basket, one small saucepan. That’s the whole cleanup.
• Staggered cooking. Chicken bites need about 14–16 minutes; broccoli florets need 6–8. Adding the broccoli halfway means both finish at the same time.
• The sauce goes on at the end. Honey-based sauces scorch at 400°F. The chicken gets a short soak for flavor, and the broccoli goes in with just oil and salt, so nothing burns.
• A real glaze, not a drizzle. A spoonful of cornstarch and one minute on the stove turns the teriyaki into a thick, shiny sauce that clings.

Ingredients for Air Fryer Chicken and Broccoli

You’ll find exact amounts in the recipe card below.

• Chicken: Boneless, skinless chicken breast or thighs, cut into 1-inch pieces. Thighs stay juicier if you tend to overcook; breast is leaner.
• Broccoli: One large head, about 1 pound, cut into bite-size florets. Keep the florets close to the size of the chicken pieces.
• Oil: Avocado or olive oil, just enough to coat the broccoli so it browns.
• Low-sodium soy sauce: The base of the teriyaki. Use tamari or coconut aminos for gluten-free.
• Honey: For sweetness and shine. Maple syrup works too.
• Rice vinegar, garlic, fresh ginger and toasted sesame oil: The flavor backbone of the sauce.
• Cornstarch: Thickens the sauce into a glaze.
• Garnish: Sesame seeds and sliced green onions.
• Short on time? Swap the homemade sauce for ⅔ cup of your favorite bottled teriyaki and skip straight to the air fryer.

How to Make Chicken and Broccoli in the Air Fryer

Step 1: Make the sauce. Whisk the soy sauce, honey, water, rice vinegar, sesame oil, garlic and ginger. Pour 3 tablespoons over the cubed chicken and toss. Pour the rest into a small saucepan and set aside.

Step 2: Prep the broccoli. Toss the florets with the oil and a pinch of salt. Keep them separate from the raw chicken.

Step 4: Add the broccoli. Add the broccoli to the basket, toss with the chicken, and cook 6–8 minutes more, until the broccoli is browned at the tips and the chicken reads 165°F on an instant-read thermometer.

Step 5: Thicken the glaze. While the broccoli cooks, bring the sauce to a simmer over medium heat. Stir in the cornstarch slurry and simmer 1–2 minutes until glossy and thick enough to coat a spoon.

Step 6: Toss and serve. Toss the chicken and broccoli with the glaze, then top with sesame seeds and green onions.

Tips for Crisp Broccoli and Juicy Chicken

• Don’t overcrowd. In a 4–5 quart basket, cook in two batches. A 6-quart or larger basket fits the full recipe in one layer.
• Dual-basket air fryer? Put the chicken in one basket at 400°F for 15 minutes and the broccoli in the other at 400°F for 7 minutes, and use the sync or match feature so they finish together.
• Dry the broccoli well after washing. Wet florets steam instead of roasting.
• Cut evenly. 1-inch chicken pieces and similar-size florets cook at the same rate.
• Use a thermometer. Air fryers vary a lot. Start checking at 13 minutes total; pull the chicken at 165°F.
• Marinate longer if you have time. The chicken can sit in the sauce up to 4 hours in the fridge.

Making It in a Ninja Air Fryer

I make this in my Ninja air fryers all the time, and the method is the same: chicken first, broccoli later. Use the Air Fry setting at 400°F, not Max Crisp — the hotter setting scorches the honey in the marinade.

• Ninja basket air fryers (4 qt to 5.5 qt Max XL): In a 4-quart basket, cook in two batches. The 5.5-quart Max XL fits the full recipe in one layer.
• Ninja Dual Zone: Chicken in Zone 1 on Air Fry, 400°F for 15 minutes. Broccoli in Zone 2 on Air Fry, 400°F for 7 minutes. Press Smart Finish (Sync on UK models) so both finish together.
• Ninja Foodi with the crisping lid: Use Air Crisp in the Cook & Crisp basket at 390°F. Add 1–2 minutes to the chicken.
• Ninja Foodi Grill or Woodfire: Air Crisp with the crisper basket, same times as above.

Do you need to preheat a Ninja? For this recipe, yes. Let it run 3 minutes, or add 1 minute to the chicken if you skip it.

Variations

• Honey garlic chicken and broccoli: Swap the teriyaki for ¼ cup honey, 3 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce, 4 cloves minced garlic, 1 tablespoon butter and 2 tablespoons water. Thicken with the same cornstarch slurry and cook exactly the same way.
• Swap the protein: Shrimp (add with the broccoli; total cook about 8 minutes), cubed extra-firm tofu (pressed, 12–14 minutes), or sliced sirloin.
• Add more vegetables: Red bell pepper, snap peas or sliced carrots go in with the broccoli. Carrots need the full 8 minutes.
• Make it spicy: Add 1–2 teaspoons of sriracha or chili garlic sauce to the glaze.
• Lower-sugar: Use a sugar-free maple-flavored syrup or allulose in place of honey, and serve over cauliflower rice.
• Garlic-parmesan version: Skip the teriyaki. Toss chicken and broccoli with olive oil, garlic powder, salt and pepper, then finish with grated parmesan and lemon zest.

What to Serve With Air Fryer Chicken and Broccoli

• Jasmine rice: My Copycat Panda Express White Rice cooks in the Instant Pot while the chicken air fries.
• Brown rice: Instant Pot Garlic Brown Rice adds extra fiber and a little garlic flavor.
• Fried rice: Make Air Fryer Fried Rice from leftover rice, or use the shortcut of Frozen Fried Rice in the Air Fryer.
• Noodles: Toss with lo mein noodles or spaghetti and a little extra glaze, the same way I do in my Easy Air Fryer Beef Lo Mein.
• Cauliflower rice or quinoa: For a lower-carb or meal-prep bowl.
• Dumplings on the side: Air Fryer Ginger Pork Dumplings make it a full takeout-style night.

Storing and Reheating

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat in the air fryer at 350°F for 3–4 minutes, which keeps the broccoli from going limp. The microwave works too; heat in 1-minute bursts at 50% power. You can freeze cooked chicken and broccoli for up to 3 months, but the broccoli softens after thawing. For meal prep, keep the glaze in a separate container and toss right before eating.

FAQs

Do I need to preheat the air fryer? I recommend it here. A 3-minute preheat helps the chicken brown instead of steam. If your model doesn’t have a preheat setting, add 1–2 minutes to the chicken.

Can I make air fryer chicken with frozen broccoli? Yes. Don’t thaw it. Toss the frozen florets with oil and salt and add them for the last 9–10 minutes instead of 6–8. They’ll be softer than fresh but still good.

Can I use frozen chicken? Thaw it first. Frozen cubes cook unevenly and won’t absorb the marinade.

Can I marinate the chicken and broccoli together? I don’t recommend it. The broccoli would sit in raw chicken juices, and the honey on the florets burns in the air fryer. Oil and salt on the broccoli, sauce on the chicken.

Can I serve this with pasta instead of rice? Absolutely. Toss it with cooked spaghetti or lo mein noodles and a little extra glaze.

Is air fryer chicken and broccoli healthy? Yes. Each serving is roughly 330 calories with about 40 grams of protein, and it uses just 1 tablespoon of oil for the whole batch. For less sodium, use low-sodium soy sauce (as written) or coconut aminos.

Can I cook the rice in the air fryer at the same time? Not reliably. Rice needs to simmer in water, and the basket can’t do that. Start a pot of rice or your rice cooker before you cube the chicken, and everything will be ready at once. Microwave rice pouches work too. For meal prep, portion chicken, broccoli and rice into containers with the glaze on the side.

More Easy Air Fryer Chicken Dinners

• Broccoli and Sausage in Air Fryer
• Air Fryer Chicken Thighs and Vegetables (One Basket)
• Air Fryer Chicken Yakitori
• Air Fryer Panda Express Sweet Fire Chicken Copycat