Air fryer Brussels sprouts are the best, easy side dish. They’re delicious, healthy, hearty and make the perfect pairing for almost any main course. Plus, you’ll only need 5 simple ingredients and 30 minutes to make your sprouts.
A simple veggie side is always a good idea. I especially love making these Brussels sprouts in the air fryer because they cook quickly and come out crispy! It’s also nice to have the oven free, no need to save space for roasting.
If you want to try some more air fryer sides check out these Air Fryer Baby Potatoes, Air Fryer Potato Wedges, Air Fryer Bacon or this easy Air Fryer Asparagus.
These savory sprouts truly go with almost any meal you can think of. I love serving them with Baked Salmon, Rainbow Trout In Foil or these mouthwatering Garlic Butter Chicken Thighs. And honestly, they make a pretty good snack. You can totally eat them solo or dip them in ranch dressing!
how to cook brussel sprouts in air fryer
Ingredients
- Brussels sprouts — You can typically find Brussels sprouts in the grocery store year round, but they’re peak season is late August though early March as they grow best in cold temperatures. This is when they’re likely to be the tastiest (and most affordable)!
- Oil — I generally use extra virgin olive oil but avocado oil will work, too.
- Seasonings — Kosher salt and pepper. I highly recommend using freshly ground black pepper if possible, the flavor is so good.
- Cheese — Freshly shredded parmesan cheese. A grated option would also work just fine.
Instructions
Soak Brussels sprouts:
- Cut sprouts in half lengthwise and remove outer leaves.
- Place halves in a bowl of warm tap water and allow them to soak for about 10 minutes, this will soften them in the middle.
- While sprouts soak, preheat your air fryer to 375°F. Note: some brands don’t require preheating, so be sure to check the manufacturers instructions.
Drain, dry and season:
- Drain Brussels sprouts with a colander and use paper towels, or a clean kitchen towel to dry them really well. You’ll also want to dry the bowl that you used for soaking.
- Return sprouts to the same bowl, drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper.
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Cook Brussels sprouts in air fryer:
- Transfer seasoned sprouts to the air fryer and cook them for 15-20.
- Shake your sprouts halfway through cooking. This is important as it will help with even cooking and browning.
Serve with cheese:
- Transfer air fried Brussels sprouts to a serving bowl and top with freshly grated parmesan cheese. Serve warm and enjoy!
Recipe Tips
- At the grocery store, look for Brussels sprouts that are similar in size. This will help with uniform cooking. You can also quarter larger sprouts rather than just cutting them in half.
- After soaking, it’s important to dry your Brussels sprouts really well. Removing excess moisture will allow the sprouts to become crisp and help to avoid a steaming effect.
- It’s really important to shake your Brussels sprouts halfway through cooking! You’ll get crispier sprouts by redistributing them in the basket.
- Do you have lots of Brussels sprouts to fry? Consider cooking them in shifts. They should be arranged in a single layer at the bottom of your air fryer basket. Some overlap is okay, but avoid overcrowding.
- If you’re feeling adventurous and want more than a simple salt and pepper combo, try adding some onion powder, garlic powder, oregano or paprika!
- Additional toppings can also be added to this recipe. Chopped walnuts, pecans or balsamic glaze are all tasty options.
How To Store Leftovers
- Allow leftovers to cook and place them in an airtight container. Refrigerate for up to 3-4 days.
- Cooked Brussels sprouts also freeze well! Place them in a Ziploc bag and press to remove as much excess air as possible. Store frozen for up to a year.
- To reheat: Preheat your oven, toaster oven or air fryer to 375°F and cook Brussels for 5-10 minutes, until warmed through. You can also use a microwave, but I don’t recommend this as sprouts can become mushy.
More Brussels Sprouts Recipes
Want to put more Brussels sprouts on your table? We’ve got lots of delicious recipes for you to try!
- Pomegranate Glazed Brussels Sprouts
- Roasted Brussels Sprouts With Mayo Mustard Dressing
- Sausage With Brussels Sprouts Skillet
- Parmesan Brussels Sprouts Salad
- Brussels Sprouts Casserole Recipe
Frequently Asked Questions
Brussels sprouts are available in most stores year round, but they’re better when in season (late August through March). Look for small sprouts, which tend to be sweeter. Larger ones won’t necessarily taste bad, but may have a more cabbage-like flavor. Also, when pinched the sprout should be hard and compact, rather than soft.
Soaking sprouts before cooking them in an air fryer will make the center of each more tender.
You may be trying to cook to many at once. Try air frying them in batches to avoid overcrowding, which can lead to a steaming effect due to excess moisture.
You can cook frozen sprouts in the air fryer. However, they may need to cook a bit longer than thawed or raw sprouts.
I would definitely consider air fried Brussels sprouts to be a healthy side or snack. An air fryer makes your veggies crispy without a lot of oil, which means they’re lower in fat and calories.
Serve Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts With…
Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts
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Ingredients
- 1 pound Brussels sprouts ends trimmed and cut in half
- 2 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 3 tablespoon freshly grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Place the Brussels sprouts in a large bowl and cover with warm tap water. This step is important if you like the Brussels sprouts to be tender in the middle. Let sit for about 10 minutes.
- If your air fryer needed to be preheated, preheat at 375 degrees. Please, follow the manufacturer’s instructions of your air fryer since the preheat time will depend on the brand of each air fryer.
- Drain the Brussels sprouts and with a paper towel or regular towel, pat dry well. Using the same bowl for soaking (dry the bowl first) add the Brussels sprouts, drizzle with the oil and season with the salt and black pepper. Mix all well and place it to the air fryer basket.
- Cook for about 15-20 minutes. Shake and gently stir half way through, about 8 minutes into cooking. Please, don’t skip this step. It’s important to make sure it all cooks evenly.
- Place the Brussels sprouts in a serving bowl and sprinkle some parmesan cheese. Serve warm. Enjoy!
Tips
*Tips
- Buy Brussels sprouts that are similar in size to help with even cooking.
- Dry Brussels sprouts really well after soaking.
- For crispier sprouts, it’s important to shake halfway through frying.
- If you have a lot of Brussels sprouts, cook them in batches to avoid overcrowding.
- Try different spices like garlic powder, oregano or paprika if desired.
- Add more toppings like nuts or balsamic glaze if desired.
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.
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