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This air fryer Brussels sprouts recipe is all about turning those little green guys into something you’ll actually want to eat – crispy, golden, and just a tad garlicky. It’s super simple, too. Just toss your sprouts with olive oil, a sprinkle of salt, pepper, and garlic powder, and let the air fryer do its thing. No more soggy sprouts, just perfectly crispy bites every time when you use the air fryer.
Jump to Section
- Recipe at a glance
- Ingredients you’ll need to make Brussels sprouts in the air fryer
- Popular substitutions & additions
- How To make Brussels sprouts in the air fryer
- Tips for making the best air fryer Brussels sprouts
- What to serve with air fryer Brussels sprouts
- How to store & reheat Brussels sprouts
- Frequently asked questions
- For more air fryer recipes:
- Air Fryer Brussel Sprouts Recipe
The best part about air fryer brussels sprouts? It’s pretty healthy. Using the air fryer means less oil, so you get all the crunch without the extra calories. Plus, they cook up in just 10-12 minutes. Give them a quick squeeze of lemon before serving, and you’ve got yourself a side that might even out shine the main. Whether it’s a weeknight dinner or a special meal, these air fryer Brussels sprouts are going to steal the show.
“Effortless, crispy and healthy. Will definitely be one of my side dishes.Thanks!” – Amy
Recipe at a glance
Cuisine Inspiration: American
Primary Cooking Method: Air Frying
Dietary Info: Vegan, Gluten-Free
Key Flavor: Earthy & Carmelized
Skill Level: Easy
Summary
- Quick to Prepare: Ready in just 20 minutes, these air fryer sprouts are perfect for a fast and healthy side dish.
- Versatile and Customizable: Easily adjust the seasons to your liking. Whether you want it a bit spicy, more garlic, or spritzed with some lemon juice, the choice is yours.
- Nutrient Rich: Brussels sprouts are high in fiber, vitamins, and antioxidants, making them a perfect choice to add extra nutrition to your day.
- Diet Friendly: If you’re looking to add some healthier dishes to your meal or trying to find good side options for vegan and gluten-free diets.
Ingredients you’ll need to make Brussels sprouts in the air fryer
- Brussels sprouts: To prep the sprouts, trim the ends and remove any tough outer leaves. Cut larger ones in half so that they cook evenly in the air fryer.
- Oil: Toss the sprouts in a little oil before cooking so that they get nice and crispy all over. I like to use olive oil, but any high-heat oil like vegetable or avocado will work well.
- Seasonings: Salt, pepper and garlic powder.
Popular substitutions & additions
- Spicy kick: Add a sprinkle of chili flakes, chili oil, or cayenne pepper for a spicy kick.
- Oils: Swap Olive Oil with Avocado Oil for a different flavor.
- Make It Sweet: Introduce a hint of sweetness with a drizzle of honey or maple syrup or a balsamic glaze before serving.
- Make it cheesy: Top with grated Parmesan, cheddar, or an earthy gouda cheese.
How To make Brussels sprouts in the air fryer
- Start by washing and trimming the Brussel sprouts, then transfer them to a bowl with olive oil, salt, pepper and garlic powder. You can use whatever seasoning you’d like. I love this simple seasoning combination when air cooking Brussel sprouts.
- Place the prepared sprouts into the basket of the air fryer. You an spray the basket with cooking spray, but usually that’s not necessary since the Brussel sprouts are tossed in oil.
- Air fry until they are golden brown and crisp, shaking the basket halfway through.
- Squeeze fresh lemon juice on top and serve immediately.
Tips for making the best air fryer Brussels sprouts
- Halve any Brussel sprouts that are larger than an inch wide. This will help them get extra crispy so there are more edges all around the sprout. It will also help them cook more evenly with the smaller Brussel sprouts.
- Don’t add more oil than needed. The great thing about cooking in an air fryer is that you don’t need a load of oil to get food wonderfully crispy. Just 1 tablespoon for a pound of Brussel sprouts, and you are good to go!
- Preheat the air fryer. I always prefer to preheat my air fryer even if its’ not in the directions, so that everything cooks evenly and the food immediately hits high heat to get crisp edges.
- Avoid overload the air fryer basket. If you overload the basket, the Brussels can steam rather than fry, and they won’t come out as crispy.
What to serve with air fryer Brussels sprouts
These air fryer Brussels sprouts are super versatile and can easily be served alongside meat, chicken, fish, and veggie mains. Try them with:
How to store & reheat Brussels sprouts
To maximize freshness, store leftover cooled Brussels sprouts in an airtight container.
How long will air fryer Brussels sprouts last in the fridge?
When stored properly in an airtight container, your air fried Brussels sprouts will maintain their quality for up to 4 days in the fridge. After this time, they may start to lose some of their crispiness and flavor.
Can I freeze air-fried Brussels sprouts?
Freezing Brussels sprouts that have been air-fried isn’t generally recommended. While you can freeze them, their texture will change upon thawing and reheating. They tend to become soft and lose their crispiness. If possible, enjoy fresh and refrigerate until you need to reheat.
Reheating Brussels sprouts: For the best results, reheat leftovers in an air fryer set at 350 for about 3-5 minutes until heated evenly.
Frequently asked questions
Brussels sprouts can be found in stores all year round, but their peak is September through to mid-February. No Thanksgiving or holiday table is complete without them, but they are so good that they deserve to be enjoyed outside of the big celebrations!
Yes, you can use frozen Brussels sprouts, but the texture and cooking time will vary. It’s important to defrost and thoroughly dry them before air frying to get them as crisp as possible. You may also need to adjust the cooking time, as frozen sprouts can take longer to cook.
This sprouts are best served as soon as they are cooked so that they are perfectly crispy. If you have leftovers, they will keep covered in the fridge for about 4 or 5 days. It’s best to reheat them in the air fryer for 3 to 4 minutes to get them nice and crispy again.
Even if you think you don’t like Brussels sprouts, you have to try this air fryer version! They come out so perfectly cooked, and even my kids devoured them! They are so effortless to make and ready to serve in minutes!
For more air fryer recipes:
- Air Fryer Potatoes
- Pickle Brined Chicken Tenders
- Air Fryer Chicken
- Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries
- Air Fryer Hard Boiled Eggs
- Air Fryer Fish and Chips
If you try this healthy-ish feel good Air Fryer Brussel Sprouts recipe or any other recipe on Feel Good Foodie, then please come back to rate the recipe and leave me a comment below! I would love to hear about your experience making it. And if you snapped some shots of it, share it with me on Instagram so I can repost on my stories!
Air Fryer Brussel Sprouts
Ingredients
- 1 pound brussel sprouts
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 lemon for serving
- Cooking spray
Instructions
- Heat an air fryer to 380ºF and spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray.
- Prepare the Brussel sprouts by trimming their stems and cutting larger ones in half so they are relatively equal in size.
- Place the cleaned trimmed Brussel sprouts in a large bowl along with the olive oil, salt, pepper and garlic powder. Toss to combine.
- Transfer the Brussels sprouts to the air fryer and arrange in a single layer. You may need to cook in two batches. Cook until crisp tender with browned edges, shaking the basket halfway through, 10-12 minutes total.
- Squeeze fresh lemon juice on top and serve immediately.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information provided is an estimate. It will vary based on cooking method and specific ingredients used.
HELLO – I haven’t tried your recipe, but I can’t wait to. My question is: I read an article that said to not trim the stem because that will help keep the leaves on. Cut the stem after they are cooked? If it can be done that way, will it change the taste? Or even, is it a good idea to do? I hope to hear from you soon. Thank You for your time. PATTY
That’s not a bad idea so you can definitely do that. I find it harder to cut them though after they are cooked and oily and slippery. Also, it’s hard to wait to cut them after and resist eating them right away. I also think that any leaves that fall off get ultra crispy and I enjoy those that fall off. I personally would recommend cutting them before air frying, but you can try both ways and see what you prefer.
Have you tried this recipe with frozen? They sure look delicious!
I haven’t, but I’m sure it would work! I would add it to the air fryer while it’s frozen and cook it for slightly longer (maybe 14 minutes?).
Effortless, crispy and healthy.
Will definitely be one of my side dishes.Thanks
Yay! So glad to hear it!