These Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts come out perfectly cooked and crispy around the edges every time! While I adore these green powerhouse veggies cooked any way, this method for crispy Brussels sprouts is easy for anyone to master.
Love Brussels sprouts like I do? Try these Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts with Bacon or this Kale and Brussels Sprouts Salad.
Contents
The Crispiest Brussels Sprouts EVER!
I’ve never understood how these tasty little powerhouse veggies got such a bad rap. When cooked well, they are among my favorite foods.
A little oil, lots of flakey salt (I use Maldon or Kosher salt), and a cooking method that crisps up the outer edge – they are addictive like potato chips! I am pretty sure I ate the whole bowl photographed above while editing the photos.
If you’ve had Brussels sprouts in the past and weren’t a fan, I bet this Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts method will turn you into a convert!
So, get those air fryers preheating, and get ready for a tasty (and healthy!) dinner side dish!
You’ll Need:
- Brussels Sprouts
- Avocado Oil (olive oil is another high quality oil to use)
- Maple Syrup (or honey)
- Lemon Juice
- Kosher salt (or Maldon)
- Black Pepper
What Air Fryer Should I Buy?
I use the Ninja 4 QT Air Fryer, which is smaller, and perfect for cooking for 1-2 people.
If you have a larger family, Ninja also makes a 5.5 QT XL Air Fryer.
You can also look into buying even larger air fryers if you need to cook for 4+ people at a time.
How to Cook Brussels Sprouts in the Air Fryer
Step 1: Cut the ends of the Brussels sprouts, and cut them in half. After washing them, shake off excess water, then drizzle the sprouts with avocado oil, maple syrup, lemon juice, and sprinkle them with salt and pepper. Shake up to mix well.
Step 2: Preheat the air fryer to 390º F for 5 minutes. Add the Brussels sprouts to the air fryer basket, and cook them for 10-12 minutes. Stop at 10 minutes, and check for preferred crispiness. You can return them to cook 2 minutes more if necessary!
*Remember that all air fryers are different, so checking them partially through the cooking time is helpful!
Variations for this Recipe
Balsamic Brussels Sprouts: Add 2 tablespoons of balsamic vinegar to your sprouts when tossing them with oil, lemon juice, and maple syrup.
Lemon Parmesan Brussels Sprouts: Add an additional tablespoon of lemon juice to the sprouts, and then toss them with 1/4 cup of grated parmesan cheese while they are still hot out of the fryer.
Pomegranate Pecan Brussels Sprouts: This recipe is lightly adapted from my Roasted Brussels Sprouts recipe, where I toast pecans with the sprouts and then add pomegranate arils to serve. Prepare the sprouts as directed in this recipe, but add 1/3 cup pecans for the last 3 minutes of cooking time. Serve garnished with 1/2 cup of pomegranate arils.
Cheesy Brussels Sprouts: Add feta, bleu cheese, or shredded extra sharp cheddar cheese to your sprouts for the last 3 minutes of cooking time. This will melt the cheese onto the sprouts. I use about 1/2 cup of cheddar cheese for this amount of Brussels sprouts.
Frozen Brussels Sprouts in the Air Fryer: If using frozen Brussels sprouts, cook a small amount at a time so they don’t steam as they are cooking. Make sure air can circulate around them. Add 2-4 minutes additional cooking time, and remember they won’t get a crispy as fresh Brussels sprouts.
Storage Tips
Store Leftovers: Add Brussels sprouts to an air tight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days.
Reheat Leftovers: Return Brussels sprouts to a preheated 390º F air fryer for about 5 minutes.
What to Serve with Brussels Sprouts
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Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 pound Brussels sprouts ends trimmed, cut in half
- 1 tablespoon avocado oil
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup
- 1/2 teaspoon Kosher salt
- black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 390º for at least 5 minutes.
- Add the washed, trimmed, and halved brussels sprouts to a bowl, and drizzle with avocado oil, maple syrup, and lemon juice. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
- Into the air fryer basket, add Brussels sprouts, and cook for 8 minutes. Pull the sprouts out to see how crispy they are, and return for an addition 2-4 minutes if necessary.
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