Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts – The Almond Eater

Keep it simple tonight with these crispy Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts, a simply seasoned 15-minute side dish. Crispy, salty, and dressed in a balsamic honey sauce, you won’t be able to stop at just one!

All it takes is one big CRUNCH from these Crispy Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts to get you hooked on this notoriously underrated veggie. It doesn’t hurt that the recipe is extremely simple and quick to make, too!

 

As a mega-fan of classic fried brussels sprouts, I never thought you could get brussels sprouts evenly golden and tender without a smoking hot pan. Boy, was I wrong! The air fryer is not only a convenient way to cook crispy brussels sprouts, but it also gives you the same mouthwatering results as pan-frying and roasting in the oven.

All it takes is a little bit of oil and simple seasonings to make these roasted brussels sprouts practically addictive. I personally love taking them up a notch with the balsamic honey sauce drizzled over top, but you can easily swap this for another sauce or garnish you love. 

Recipe features

• Cooking brussels sprouts in the air fryer is one of the easiest and fastest ways to make them crispy, tender, and mouthwatering!
• A simple 4-ingredient side dish you can serve with anything, from this everyday chicken meatloaf to this holiday-ready vegan cauliflower gratin.
• Served with a 2-ingredient balsamic honey sauce to take the sweet-tangy flavors over the top.
• It’s one of my favorite easy air fryer recipes, along with my air fryer tilapia, air fryer tempeh, and air fryer sweet potatoes!

Ingredients

Brussels sprouts – Make sure you pick up fresh brussels sprouts, not frozen. While you can technically air fry frozen brussels sprouts, they won’t be as tender in the middle as fresh ones.

Seasonings – Olive oil, salt, and black pepper are all you need to crisp up the sprouts and bring out their natural flavors. For more ways to season brussels sprouts, head to the Variations section below.

Honey balsamic sauce – This optional sauce, made from a 1:1 mix of honey and balsamic vinegar, makes the roasted sprouts glisten and gives them a boost of sweet and tangy flavors. You can always swap this sauce for a balsamic reduction, garlic butter, a drizzle of honey, brown butter, or the sweet and spicy honey sriracha sauce from my honey sriracha brussels sprouts recipe.

Instructions

Step 1: Prep the sprouts. Trim the ends off the sprouts and remove any loose leaves. Slice each one in half, add them to a large bowl, pour the olive oil over top, and season with salt and pepper. Toss to combine.

Step 2: Air fry. Air fry the brussels sprouts until they’re crispy and browned in some spots.

Step 3: Make the sauce. Meanwhile, whisk the balsamic vinegar and honey together until smooth. Drizzle it over the air fried brussels sprouts, then enjoy!

Tips and FAQs

• Slicing the sprouts in half will help them cook faster and make the inside nice and tender. If some of the sprouts are larger than others, cut them into quarters for even cooking.
• Air fry the sprouts between 375ºF and 380ºF. Any higher and the outer leaves will burn.

Variations

Brussels sprouts are one of those vegetables you can throw a ton of flavors at and you’ll still have an unforgettable side dish. If you’re feeling creative, use these seasoning and garnish ideas to take this recipe from ordinary to extraordinary:

• Mix and match the seasonings – In addition to salt and pepper, go ahead and season your sprouts with 1 teaspoon of garlic powder, onion powder, Italian seasoning, and/or paprika. Even a pinch of nutmeg will give them a complementary warmth (a welcome flavor at your holiday dinners).
• Cook with aromatics – Toss the sprouts with two minced garlic cloves or half of a shallot before air frying.
• Add bacon – Pairing crispy bacon or pancetta with cooked brussels sprouts is a savory, salty match made in heaven.
• Top with cheese – Serve with crumbled blue cheese, goat cheese, or shaved parmesan to make this brussels sprouts recipe pop.
• Honey substitute – Swap the honey with maple syrup in the sauce. The flavor profile will be a little warmer, but you won’t miss out on the sweetness.

Serving suggestions

These brussels sprouts are so caramelized and crisp, you’ll want to eat them every day! 

For weekly dinners, serve them as a side dish next to this air fryer whole chicken and a hefty scoop of cheesy mashed potatoes. During the holiday season, you can’t go wrong with pairing the sprouts with all the classics, like sweet potato casserole, roasted turkey, green bean casserole, and beetroot salad.

Can you air fry frozen brussels sprouts?

Yes, you can air fry frozen brussels sprouts, but they will be slightly softer in the middle compared to fresh sprouts.

How long do you cook brussels sprouts in an air fryer?

In this recipe, it took approximately 8 to 10 minutes to air fry 1 pound of brussels sprouts at 380ºF. This time may vary depending on the size of your sprouts and the functionality of your air fryer.

Storage

Refrigerator: Once they’re cool, pack the leftover brussels sprouts into an airtight container and refrigerate them for up to 4 days.

Reheating: The easiest way to reheat leftover brussels sprouts is in a 380ºF air fryer. Cook for about 5 minutes or until they’re warm and crispy again.

More brussels sprouts recipes

If you made this recipe, be sure to leave a comment and star rating below. Thanks!