So instead of just steaming broccoli and calling it a day, I started roasting everything in the air fryer with a little olive oil and garlic. My 7yo and 9yo actually asked for seconds. SECONDS. Of broccoli. I don't know what dark magic happened but I'm not questioning it. Also works great with carrots, Brussels sprouts, even cauliflower. Game changer.
SECONDS of broccoli is genuinely insane. Did you do anything else different or was it really just the roasting? I've been steaming like an idiot apparently.
Did the same thing and now my kids ask me to make roasted brussels sprouts as a snack. I genuinely think the 'kids hate vegetables' thing is just that steamed vegetables taste like sadness.
This is so simple but changing the cook method makes such a difference. My kids wouldn't touch raw peppers but roasted with a tiny bit of olive oil and they're gone. The caramelization actually makes it taste good lmao
Saving this post. My 7yo is still in the "vegetables are poison" phase and I'm desperate.
Seconds of broccoli hits different. Did you get any complaints about garlic or did they go full in?
We started doing roasted carrots the same way and it completely flipped the script. Kids would take steamed carrots or leave them, but roasted? Gone in minutes. Texture + flavor combo is key.
air fryer is a game changer for this. Roasted broccoli with a tiny bit of garlic salt and they can't get enough. My 6yo actually reaches for it over chips now.
This is the secret nobody tells you - it's not the vegetable, it's the presentation. Roasting with oil and seasoning makes literally everything better. My 5yo is the same way now.
The air fryer thing is true but honestly even just roasting in a regular oven at 425 for 15 mins gets you like 80% there. You don't need fancy equipment.
The air fryer roast method is a game changer. We do the same thing with brussels sprouts and suddenly they're not the enemy anymore. Crispy edges > sad steamed veggie every time.
Been doing roasted veggies for a while now but the garlic is the secret I was missing. Trying this tonight with carrots and zucchini. How much garlic are you using per batch?
Sign in to join the conversation.
okay but how much garlic are we talking? Because I tried this and mine said it was "too garlicky" which feels like a massive personal attack