Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts
Posted: 10/18/2019
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Air fryer Brussels sprouts get crispy and deliciously golden brown with very little oil thanks to the magic of the air fryer!
Recipe Overview
Why you’ll love it: Super easy to make, tasty, and nutritious.
How long it takes: 18 minutes
Equipment you’ll need: sharp knife, mixing bowl, air fryer
Servings: 4
Coming back at you with another air fryer recipe! The air fryer chicken nuggets are so popular so I thought an air fryer vegetable recipe would be welcome. I have a bunch more air fryer recipes that I’m sure you’ll like, too. I think my air fryer is my new bestie!
Of course, if you don’t have an air fryer, I still have you covered with over 1,000 recipes that are not made in this specific kitchen appliance.
In fact, I have lots of Brussels sprouts recipes that are made using other methods. Try these roasted Brussels sprouts with cranberries and walnuts, roasted Brussels sprouts with Asiago, smoked paprika and shallot Brussels sprouts, Brussels sprouts with pancetta, or creamy cheesy Brussels sprouts au gratin. All delicious choices!
Or if you’d rather have salad, try shaved Brussels sprouts salad with grapes and Parmesan or Brussels sprouts salad with green apples and cranberries.
But if you do have an air fryer and want to give these a go, it’s a great way to enjoy Brussels. When you air fry them, they get super crispy with a very small amount of oil. In fact, they’d probably get nearly as crispy with no oil, but I like the flavor that a little olive oil adds.
Brussels Sprouts vs. Brussel Sprouts
There is some confusion about how to spell the name of these tiny green cabbages. Many people use the spelling Brussel sprouts, omitting the “s” at the end of the word Brussels. Brussels sprouts are actually named for the Belgium city of Brussels so that’s why you spell it with the “s” at the end.
How to Prep Brussels Sprouts
It can seem tricky if it’s the first time you’ve done it but it’s really very easy.
- Look for firm, compact, dark green Brussels sprouts that don’t have worm holes and aren’t shriveled.
- Wash them well using a strainer or colander.
- Using a sharp knife, cut off the stem (it’s very tough to chew, so you want to remove it), about even with the edge of the sprout.
- Peel away any wilted outer leaves.
- For this recipe, I cut the sprouts in half lengthwise, but if they’re very large or you want them to cook more quickly, you can quarter them.
- If you’re a visual learner, take a look at this YouTube video, which will show you how to prep Brussels.
Take These Up A Notch
If you want, when they come out of the air fryer, try sprinkling them with freshly grated Parmesan, or drizzling them with balsamic glaze or lemon juice. Toss them with homemade barbecue sauce , sweet and tangy honey mustard vinaigrette, or garlic butter, salt, and pepper.
FAQs
Do you need to soak Brussels sprouts before cooking?
Nope, I have never soaked a Brussels sprout in my life and I’ve cooked plenty of them, believe me. Simply trim the outer leaves and stem off, rinse well, and proceed with the recipe.
Should you cut Brussels sprouts in half before cooking?
The answer to that question totally depends on the size of your sprouts. Some of them are quite large and should be halved or even quartered. On the other hand, some Brussels sprouts are marble-sized and don’t need to be cut at all. The goal is to get them all approximately the same size so they cook evenly.
How do you keep Brussels sprouts from getting mushy?
Roasting at high heat is the best way to avoid mushiness. That’s why the air fryer does such a great job of cooking them. The outsides get brown and crisp and the insides are tender but not mushy.
More air fryer recipes
Looking for more easy recipes for your air fryer? I’ve got you covered! Here’s just a few:
- Air Fryer Hand Pies — enjoy freshly baked individual pies in less than 10 minutes!
- Air Fryer Zucchini Chips — just sliced zucchini, a bit of oil, salt and pepper.
- Air Fryer Tater Tots — yes, you can make your own tater tots from scratch.
- Air Fryer Salmon — probably our favorite way to prepare salmon!
- Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries
- Air Fryer French Fries
- Air Fryer Coconut Shrimp
- Air Fryer Grilled Cheese Sandwich, with variations!
- Air Fryer Peanut Butter Cookies from Air Fryer Eats
Did you make this? Be sure to leave a review below and tag me @rachelcooksblog on Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest!
servings
Air fryer Brussels sprouts get crispy and deliciously golden brown with very little oil thanks to the magic of the air fryer!
Ingredients
- 1 pound Brussels sprouts
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt (or to taste)
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- To prepare Brussels sprouts, rinse well. Trim off bottom (stem) end and remove any brown or tough outer leaves. Cut in half from top to bottom.
- In a medium bowl, toss Brussels sprouts with olive oil, salt, and pepper.
- Turn air fryer to 400ºF. Add Brussels sprouts.
- Cook for 8-10 minutes, or until golden brown, tossing once or twice so they cook evenly.
- Enjoy immediately.
Notes
- I like to use ½ teaspoon kosher salt, but you may want to start with less and add more to taste.
- If you want to take it up a notch, when you remove the Brussels sprouts from the air fryer, sprinkle them with Parmesan cheese, drizzle with balsamic glaze, or toss them with barbecue sauce, honey mustard vinaigrette, or garlic butter.
- Oven Method: Preheat oven to 425°F. Toss sprouts with 1 tablespoon olive oil, salt, and pepper. Roast for 15 minutes, stir, and roast an additional 10 minutes or until golden brown and crisp.
Nutrition Information
Serving: 1serving, Calories: 66kcal, Carbohydrates: 10g, Protein: 4g, Fat: 2g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 1g, Sodium: 174mg, Potassium: 441mg, Fiber: 4g, Sugar: 2g, Vitamin A: 855IU, Vitamin C: 96mg, Calcium: 48mg, Iron: 2mg
This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition data is gathered primarily from the USDA Food Composition Database, whenever available, or otherwise other online calculators.
Jan says
Read the recipe for brussel’s sprouts, new to my vortex air fryer, so can I put them in the rotating basket also? Also can I do the chick peas in there also. Not together.
Rachel Gurk says
I think those recipes should both work in a rotating basket!
Serena says
I use this recipe ALL the time and wanted to say I made them for Christmas day and they were PERFECT. This recipe is actually the only reason I like brussel sprouts! So good! You just have to be mindful of the size.
Rachel Gurk says
I’m so glad to hear it! Thanks for leaving a comment. :)
Pamela Donley says
I made this on Christmas Day. A disaster. The sprouts were burnt on the outside and raw on the inside. Inedible and had to be tossed. I think the 400 degrees was way too hot. Very disappointing.
Rachel Gurk says
Sorry to hear you didn’t love these! I like them a little crispy still, and not mushy.
Charlie says
So delicious recipe!! How much total time take to make this recipe?
Rachel Gurk says
This recipe takes 18 minutes to make!
Cyndi in NC says
This was the first thing I made with my air fryer and it was delicious! We love brussel sprouts and this is the easiest way to do it. Thanks for walking me through the first!
Rachel Gurk says
Oh I’m so glad to hear it! Thanks for taking the time to come back and leave a comment!
Brianna says
Love this website..
Rachel Gurk says
Thanks so much, I appreciate that!
Karen says
I do t have an air fryer but I have an actifry which uses air and has a paddle to slowly love the food around during the cooking. Would this recipe work in the actifry?
Rachel Gurk says
I’m not actually sure because I’m not familiar with that appliance, sorry! I’m guessing it would if it’s similar but I couldn’t say for sure.
Renee E says
Just got an air fryer and this was the first recipe we tried out. So good! We did add bacon to ours and added a few more minutes to the time to make them extra crispy.
Rachel Gurk says
Yum yum! Love the addition of bacon!
denise says
no air fryer, but I’m sure they could be roasted
Rachel Gurk says
For sure :)
Food, Faith, and Other Fabulous Finds says
I’m dying for Brussels sprouts season to come so that I can make these!!! I <3 Brussels sprouts! P.S. I got an air fryer early this year, so keep those recipes coming!!
Rachel Gurk says
Oh perfect! Thanks for the feedback! I hope you love these Brussels sprouts!