This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy. If you’re reading this post, you are probably already a fan of brussels sprouts. To be honest, I didn’t always love them and I’m certain it’s because the ones I tried were bitter and not prepared correctly. I avoided them for years until I learned the basics. Read through these tips and suggestions and you’ll be on your way to making Brussels Sprouts that you will crave. Our entire family loves these now and they are a staple like Roasted Potatoes for us.
What are Brussels Sprouts?
Brussel sprouts are a member of the Gemmifera group of cabbages, also known as Brassica Oleracea. Although they look like mini cabbages, they are different. Cabbage has large leaves while Brussel sprouts are buds and they are denser in texture while cabbage is milder in flavor. There are so many ways to cook brussels sprouts. If you love Brussels Sprouts, make sure to try our Roasted Brussels Sprouts, or Brussels Sprouts in Alfredo Sauce.
Ingredients for Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts
The ingredients for this recipe are so simple and you most likely already have them on hard.
Brussels Sprouts – Use fresh, not frozen. Garlic Powder – We used garlic powder because it’s less likely to burn, but you can use thinly sliced garlic instead. Salt – We use fine sea salt and you can add more to taste. Pepper – Fresh or ground pepper will work, add more or less to your personal preference. Oil – Olive oil keeps the buds from drying as they are cooked and adds crispiness. We used light olive oil but vegetable oil or peanut oil will work just fine.
Are Brussels Sprouts Nutritious?
Brussel Sprouts have so many benefits and we love any excuse to eat them from these crispy Air Fryer Brussel Sprouts to Shaved Brussels Sprout Salad. Here are just a few reasons why the vegetables are so loved:
High in Nutrients High in Fiber Has Anti-Inflammatory Properties High in Vitamins
See the nutrition label estimates in the recipe card below
How to Make Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts
Pro Tip: The most time-consuming part of preparing brussels sprouts is in trimming. You can trim them several hours or even 2 days ahead, then cover and refrigerate until you’re ready to start cooking.
Variations
There are so many different variations to serving and cooking Brussels Sprouts, here are some of our favorite flavor combinations:
Bacon – Cut bacon into bite-sized pieces and add to the basket when cooking. Cheese – Grate fresh parmesan cheese when serving. Mushrooms – Halve mushrooms and add into the basket halfway through cooking. Nuts – Garnish the cooked Brussels Sprouts with toasted pecans, walnuts, pine nuts, or almonds. Glaze – Drizzle with Balsamic Glaze when serving.
Tips for the BEST Brussels Sprouts
Buy Fresh – Always use fresh and not frozen vegetables and cook within 3 days of buying brussels sprouts for the best flavor. They tend to get bitter with longer storage. Uniform in Size – For even cooking, keep the size the same. If you have different-sized buds in the bag, half the larger ones and keep the smaller ones whole so they cook evenly. Soak for Softness – If you want the insides soft and outsides crispy, soak in water 8-10 minutes before cooking, then drain the water and pat dry before seasoning. This is an optional step and we often skip it.
Serve With
Brussels Sprouts are a great side dish for major holidays like Thanksgiving, but also a simple side dish for a weeknight dinner. An Air Fryer is a great shortcut to get these on the table fast. These sprouts are also very versatile and pair well with many main courses, such as:
Pan-Seared Steak Oven-Baked Chicken Breast Juicy Roast Turkey Instant Pot Ribs Homemade Meatloaf
Make-Ahead
Prep Ahead – you can trim and cut your fresh brussels sprouts, store in an airtight container and refrigerate them for 1 to 2 days. Refrigerate Leftovers – once sprouts are cooled to room temperature, cover and refrigerate for 3-4 days. Reheat – As a rule of thumb, the best way to reheat is to use the same method that was used to cook the food. To re-crisp brussels sprouts, it’s best to reheat them in the air fryer. A microwave will work quickly but won’t re-crisp the brussels sprouts. Freezing – We don’t recommend freezing uncooked Brussels Sprouts as they will get mushy. You can freeze the cooked buds for 3 months in a freezer bag.
More Air Fryer Recipes
If you enjoyed this recipe, try more Air Fryer Recipes:
Crispy Air Fryer French Fries Air Fryer Baked Potatoes Perfect Air Fryer Bacon Recipe Juicy Air Fryer Shrimp Air Fryer Salmon Filets
title: “Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts” ShowToc: true date: “2024-10-03” author: “Charlotte Roylance”
It’s an easy vegetable recipe that pairs with practically any main dish. Plus, our honey mustard dressing will make them a family favorite! Check out our best vegetable sides recipe collection!
Ingredients
Instructions
Serving Suggestions
Tips
Questions
More Air Fryer Recipes
For instance, Brussels sprouts in the air fryer only take about 10 minutes to transform into delicious, slightly charred sprouts with a nutty and pleasantly bitter-sweet taste. Don’t expect full-on crispy air fryer brussels sprouts. Only the outer leaves will be a little crispy, and the sprouts will have an al dente, tender-crisp texture, which is lovely. Serve them with our tasty honey mustard dressing – its sweet, tangy, mustardy flavor pairs perfectly with the charred, bitter-sweet sprouts. They are the perfect side dish, and our advice is to make a double batch cause you are going to eat half of them before dinner is served. Avoid the soft and bruised ones with brown-black outer leaves, as they are not fresh. If you have bruised sprouts with dark external leaves, you can remove one or two layers until you reach fresher leaves. We haven’t tested this recipe with frozen sprouts.
Olive oil
Extra virgin olive oil is essential in cooking Brussels sprouts because it transfers the heat more evenly and adds a beautiful flavor.
Salt and pepper
Roasted vegetables need salt and pepper, and Brussels sprouts are no exception. So we use sea salt and freshly ground black pepper.
Honey Mustard Dressing
Cut the Brussels sprouts in half lengthwise and add them to a medium bowl. Season with olive oil, salt, and black pepper, and toss well. Preheat your air fryer for 3 minutes at 350°F or 180°F. Add the Brussels sprouts to your air fryer basket. They CAN overlap. There’s NO NEED to arrange them on a single layer. Tip: if you are cooking more than 1 pound (450 grams) of sprouts, we would advise cooking them in batches so that you don’t overcrowd the air fryer. Air fry at 350°F or 180°C for 10 to 15 minutes, depending on how you like them. Then, shake the air fryer basket every 3 minutes to allow even cooking. Cooking time might vary depending on the air-fryer model and on the size of the sprouts; however, check them at the 10-minute mark to ensure they are not burning. Tip: Go for 10-12 minutes if you like them tender-crisp. Go for 15 minutes if you want them softer and more charred. Transfer onto a serving platter and serve as is, or drizzle with our finger-licking honey mustard dressing. Optionally you can sprinkle the cooked brussels sprouts with freshly chopped parsley or red pepper flakes.
Honey mustard vinaigrette
Add extra virgin olive oil, mustard, honey or maple syrup, lemon juice, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper to a small jar. Shake well and pour over the sprouts. You can also make the dressing in a bowl, whisking the ingredients together.
Crostini with olive tapenade or green 5-minute pesto.Tomato Bruschetta: a quick and easy appetizer idea for the whole family.Eggplant pizza with fresh tomatoes or tomato sauce and cheese.Easy kale chips: a wholesome and super crispy alternative to chips.
Serve as a side dish with soup, pasta, or casserole:
Hummus pasta with sautéed mushrooms, a 20-minute weeknight dinner idea. Cauliflower soup: a wonderfully creamy and cheesy soup without cheese.Eggplant Parmigiana: a classic Italian comfort food everyone loves.Lemon pasta: simple, tangy, and delicious; it’s a perfect everyday dinner.
Hummus Pasta
Cauliflower Soup
Kale Chips
Eggplant Parmigiana
Shake the basket: if you, like us, are using a basket air fryer, it is recommended to shake it several times while the sprouts cook. Shaking allows for even cooking of the veggies. Preheat the air fryer: preheating has two benefits. First, the food will cook faster and won’t get soggy. You only need 3 minutes, and you can do so while you prep the veggies. Don’t leave the food in the air fryer: as soon as your Brussels sprouts are cooked, take them out of the air fryer basket and arrange them on a serving plate. Keeping the food in the air fryer – even if the air fryer is off – traps the steam that will make your veggies soggy.
Make Ahead & Storage
Make ahead: to get ahead in the kitchen, you can prep the dressing you can, clean and cut the sprouts a day before, and keep them in the fridge in an airtight container. Refrigerator: keep leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 3 days. Reheat: if with dressing, reheat them in the microwave for 2 minutes. If without dressing, you can reheat them in the oven, air-fryer, or microwave. Freezer: this recipe is not suitable for freezing.
Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad
Roasted Brussels Sprouts
Roasted Vegetables
Braised Red Cabbage
Air Fryer Asparagus
Air Fryer Cauliflower
Air Fryer Tofu
Air Fryer Zucchini
