Air-Fryer Brussels Sprouts

Brussels Sprouts are a great air-fryer recipe because they cook in half the time of a regular oven! They also get really crispy and charred and become evenly roasted without any flipping involved.

So, if your goal is to get your family to eat more veggies but you’re finding this to be a challenge, try air-frying them! It’s quick, easy, and delicious, too! 

Brussels sprouts are also delicious raw! For a quick and easy recipe, try my Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad. It’s a great side dish for Thanksgiving since you can make it ahead, and it doesn’t compete for oven space.

Tips for Making a Crispy Brussels Sprout

• One of the biggest complaints about making roasted Brussels sprouts in the oven is that they can be mushy! And a mushy Brussels sprout is not good!
• To make them crispy, first make sure that they are completely dry before cooking. In fact, I dry them twice: once after washing and once after cutting.
• Do not crowd the air fryer. Allowing the Brussels sprouts ample room in the fryer will assure even cooking and browning, leading to increased crispiness! 
• Be sure to use enough fat, and that it is evenly distributed on the sprouts. I use at least 2-3 sprays of olive oil on the sprouts and toss them well before putting them in the air fryer.
• Fry at 375°F for 10-12 minutes; this is the perfect temperature for getting a crispy sprout cooked through. 
• Toss them in the air fryer basket mid-way through to ensure they are getting crispy on all sides.

What To Serve with Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts?

• I love to serve this recipe with my Cast-Iron Chicken Recipe or Spatchcock Chicken.
• Air-fryer Brussels is also one of those easy side dishes for Thanksgiving since they don’t require additional oven space! Pair them with my Boneless Turkey Breast with Thyme Lemon Butter.
• You could also pair these sprouts with my Air-Fried Cauliflower recipe and some Homemade Hummus or Baba Ganoush for a delicious Vegetarian Dinner! 

Step#1: Prep the Brussels Sprouts

• Brussels sprouts are pretty dense, so the smaller variety tends to work a bit better for air frying.
• They will cook quickly and be more tender inside.
• If your sprouts are larger, just cut them into quarters. 

Cut Sides Create Better Charring

• Trim off the ends of the Brussels sprouts and any loose or damaged leaves.
• Then slice them in half.
• The cut side creates the beautiful charring and caramelization of the sprouts, which is what makes them so delicious!
• Place them in a large bowl so there is room to coat all the leaves with a little olive oil.

The more cuts you have, the more caramelization you will get, so even if your sprouts are small, you could quarter them and fry them for less time for greater caramelization and crispiness. 

Step#2: Toss with Seasonings

• It’s best not to use too much oil in your air fryer, or it could affect its operation.
• But I find air fryer vegetables need just a bit of oil for the best crispiness.
• The best way to add a little oil without overdoing it is with an olive oil spray bottle.
• This creates just a thin layer of oil, which adds flavor to the crispiness.
• All it takes is 2-3 sprays of olive oil on the Brussels sprouts. You could also use Avocado oil, which comes in a spray can.

It’s all About the Balsamic Vinegar

• What gives these Brussels sprouts so much flavor is the balsamic vinegar.
• It will cook into the Brussels sprouts and caramelize, giving your sprouts a sweet yet savory coating.
• Be sure to toss them well with tongs to allow the olive oil, salt, pepper, and vinegar to coat the sprouts evenly. 

Step#3: Air Fry 375°F 

• Set the temperature at 375°F and air fry for 12 minutes. If your air-fryer basket is small, don’t crowd it; rather, air-fry the sprouts in batches. This will ensure they crisp up instead of steaming up.
• At this stage, they will already be charred and mostly cooked through. Then add the dried cranberries and walnuts and fry for another 1-2 minutes.
• This will allow the nuts to become toasted, bringing out their flavor, and warm the cranberries, softening them.
• This is a wonderful vegetable side dish that comes together so quickly and easily!

Cheese Optional

• Another delicious addition to this recipe would be to add some blue cheese or freshly grated Parmesan cheese on top as soon as the potatoes come out of the air fryer.
• The heat from the sprouts will soften the cheese and warm it too.
• The blue cheese, combined with the walnuts, cranberries, and balsamic vinegar, is a fantastic flavor combination!
• You can also serve them chilled and with a Honey Balsamic Vinaigrette, which makes a wonderful Brussels Sprouts salad for holiday entertaining. For an even easier Brussels Sprouts salad, try my shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad.
• If using Parmesan cheese, try adding some red pepper flakes or crispy bacon on top, which is also a great flavor combination. 

How To Reheat Brussels Sprouts in The Air Fryer

• You can also crisp up leftovers in the air fryer, elevating their mushy texture! 
• Store leftover sprouts in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
• Pat them dry with a paper towel to remove any moisture that may have accumulated due to condensation. 
• Toss them with a few pumps of olive oil spray (2-3 sprays)
• Air Fry at 400°F (since they are already cooked, you can use a higher temperature to get them crispy) for 5-8 minutes. Toss the basket mid-way through. 

More Vegetarian Recipes!

• Mushroom Ragu with Creamy Polenta
• Vegan Cream of Broccoli Soup
• Roasted Tomato and Eggplant Soup
• Thai Red Curry with Sweet Potatoes, Cauliflower, and Kale

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