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Close up of air fryer brussels sprouts in a white bowl.
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5 from 3 votes

Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts Recipe

Ready in less than 25 minutes, these crispy Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts will be your new favorite way of cooking this vegetable! Soft on the inside, and crisp on the outside, this is the perfect side dish for all occasions. From holiday dinners to weeknight meals, even your picky eaters will love this recipe!
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time12 minutes
Total Time22 minutes
Course: Air Fryer
Cuisine: British
Keyword: air fryer, bacon, brussels sprouts, christmas, easter, family dinner, holidays, side dish, thanksgiving, vegetable side dish
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 75kcal

Ingredients

  • 500 g 1.1lbs brussels sprouts
  • 2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar
  • 2 teaspoons olive oil
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 2 teaspoons maple syrup or honey optional
  • 1 tablespoon parmesan cheese grated (optional)

Instructions

  • Preheat the air fryer to 200 degrees C/400 degrees F.
  • Boil water in a kettle or add hot water to a medium pot on the stove and begin to heat it up.
  • Prepare the sprouts: Wash the brussels sprouts thoroughly and then trim them by slicing off the end with a sharp knife and removing any discolored outer leaves. Slice each brussels sprout in half from top to bottom (vertically) and not through the middle (horizontally). See post for more details.
    A brussels sprout sliced in half on a wooden chopping board with a knife.
  • Add the brussels sprouts to the hot water on the stove, and when the water reaches boiling, boil them for 5 minutes.
    Boiling brussels sprouts in a pot on the stove.
  • Drain the cooked brussels sprouts and carefully pat them dry with a clean kitchen towel or paper towel, squeezing out any excess moisture. Caution: they will be scalding hot.
    Patting the brussels sprouts dry with a kitchen towel.
  • In a large bowl, mix together the salt, pepper, garlic powder, balsamic vinegar, maple syrup/honey (if using), and olive oil.
    Mixing ingredients in a metal bowl with a wooden spoon.
  • Add the brussels sprouts and mix well.
    Mixing brussels sprouts with spices and oil.
  • Add the brussels sprouts to the air fryer basket in a single layer (it's okay if they overlap just a little) and air fry them for 5 minutes.
    Brussels Sprouts in an air fryer basket.
  • After 5 minutes, stir the brussels sprouts and continue cooking for 5 more minutes.
    Stirring Brussels Sprouts in an air fryer basket with a wooden spoon.
  • If after 5 minutes you would like the brussels sprouts to be even crispier, cook them for another 1-2 extra minutes.
  • Remove the brussels sprouts from the air fryer and sprinkle parmesan cheese over them before serving.
    Close up of air fryer brussels sprouts in a white bowl.

Notes

  1. Air fryer brands: Different brands of air fryers will yield results and require different cooking times. For reference, I used a Tower 4.3L air fryer.
  2. Size matters: The size of the sprouts can make a difference in cooking time. If they are larger sprouts, I recommend quartering them instead of slicing them in half.
  3. Keto: To keep these crispy air fryer brussel sprouts as low carb as possible, skip the maple syrup/honey/
  4. Paleo: For a paleo version, skip the parmesan cheese.
  5. Whole30: To make this air fryer brussels sprouts recipe whole30 compliant, skip the maple syrup/honey and the parmesan cheese.
  6. Vegan: Use maple syrup and skip the parmesan cheese or use a dairy-free alternative.

Store

  • Store: Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3-4 days.
  • Reheat: Reheat the brussels sprouts in the air fryer until they are heated through and crispy again. You can also reheat them in the microwave but they won't be crispy.
  • Freeze: Freeze these mini cabbages in an airtight container or freezer bag for up to 4 months. Thaw completely before reheating.
  • Nutrition

    Serving: 1g | Calories: 75kcal | Carbohydrates: 10g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 1mg | Sodium: 317mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 3g