Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts

Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts are the perfect healthy side dish or appetizer for any meal. Cooking these brussels sprouts in the Air Fryer creates a crisp outer crunch with a juicy and flavorful middle.

With less than 20 minutes needed from start to finish, these air fryer brussels sprouts deserve to be at the top of your side dish list.

Not only does air frying vegetables bring out a whole new flavor that you never knew was possible, but it makes a breeze for cleaning up the kitchen, too. So long are the days that you have to clean up pots and pans or oil splatters from actually pan-frying or roasting foods for the kids. The air fryer uses LESS oil and still gets the job done perfectly every single time. That’s why I love my Air Fryer!

I know what you’re thinking, it doesn’t matter how the brussels sprouts are cooked – you’re still not going to eat them. Well, dare I say that this recipe just might change your mind? Make sure to check out another of my favorite green veggies to cook – Air Fryer Broccoli.

Some other easy air fryer recipes to make are air fryer french fries, air fryer cauliflower, and air fryer chicken wings.

Why You Will Love This Recipe

1. Less oil is needed. You’ll love how easy it is to get that fried flavor and crunch in the air fryer with minimal oil used.
2. They’re fun to pick up and eat. I know we all grew up being told not to eat with our hands, but brussels sprouts make it okay to break that rule.
3. Simple clean-up. The air fryer is literally one of the easiest appliances to keep clean.
4. Great side dish or appetizer. This air fried veggie pairs perfectly with any main entree or can stand alone on its own as a fun and healthy appetizer.

The Ingredients

• Brussels sprouts – You can buy these easily at the store either in a prepackaged bag in the grocery aisle or per pound in the produce section.
• Garlic cloves – Using garlic as one of the main flavor enhancers pairs perfectly with a little bit of added salt and pepper.
• Olive oil – Just a tad bit of oil is needed, but it’s minimal compared to what you’d be using if you were actually frying these in a pan. I like to use olive oil, but avoid extra virgin olive oil as you need an oil that has a high smoke point.
• Balsamic glaze – Adding this glaze on top gives a tanginess that you just won’t find anywhere else. Drizzle lightly, as you can always add more if needed.

How to Air Fry Brussels Sprouts

1. Preheat. Preheat the Air Fryer to 370°F/190°C for 5 minutes.
2. Prepare the brussels sprouts. Be sure to wash them well and trim off any ends. The ends will be tough to chew, so it’s better to cut them off before cooking.
3. Add seasonings. Once the brussels sprouts are cleaned and ready, toss them in a bowl with olive oil, garlic cloves, salt, and pepper.
4. Cook. Add to the air fryer basket and cook for 5 minutes. Once that time is up, shake the basket a few times and cook for another 5 minutes. Shake the basket again and air fry for 2 minutes or until the desired doneness/crispiness is achieved.
5. Serve. Serve with a drizzle of balsamic glaze.

Recipe Tips

• Shake off as much water as you can. You’re going to be washing off the sprouts, but you don’t want them to have a ton of water on them. You can set them on a paper towel to dry a bit before cutting them and adding the oil and spices.
• To keep the brussels sprouts intact and not falling apart, cut them in half first and then trim off the end. This little trick helps to hold them in their halved shape so that they’re easier to scoop or pick up and eat.
• Don’t overcrowd. This is the golden rule of cooking in the air fryer. Be sure that there is space and that you’re not layering or overcrowding. You can always cook another batch for more.
• Cook them until you think they’re done. The great part about this air fryer recipe is that there is flexibility in the amount of time that you can cook it. Some like the edges super crisp while others don’t. Go in spurts of time and eat them when you want to.
• Add more seasonings. You can easily change up the flavor of this recipe every time you make it. Adding chili powder would be a great way to add heat, or you can easily sweeten up this dish by drizzling honey over the top once they’re cooked.

What to Serve With

Keep in mind that this dish is a chameleon of options. It can be a side dish, appetizer, or even a main dish if you add in some protein to “beef” it up.

I think that a plate full of brussels sprouts and Roasted Turkey Breast sounds pretty great for an easy weeknight meal. There is always room on the plate to include your very own Instant Pot Baked Potato as well.

You can also try my Instant Pot Mashed Sweet Potatoes for another delicious side dish.

Recipe FAQs

I hope that you and everyone in the house love these brussels sprouts in the air fryer! They’re the perfect way to get that fried flavor without that fried guilt!

Did you make this? Be sure to leave a review below and tag me on Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest!