Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts

This Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts recipe is foolproof, healthy and takes less than 20 minutes start to finish! Five different flavoring options to suit any meal. 

A very belated update: Jeff got me an air fryer for Christmas! I’ve actually been using it a ton ever since, but haven’t yet blogged a recipe that uses it.

I will admit that it MOSTLY gets used to heat up toddler meals, as it’s great for cooking small portions of food very fast.

However, I’ve recently started loving air fryer turkey meatballs, too. Another thing that I love to make in the air fryer is brussels sprouts!

Fried brussels sprouts are popular for a reason!

About a decade ago, I started noticing fried brussels sprouts popping up on restaurant menus. At first, it was only at a fancy steakhouse.

Then, they started popping up at breweries and almost every casual restaurant. I thought the trend would die out rather quickly, but everybody seems to love them, so they’re not going away!

And that’s fine with me. I think fried brussels sprouts (and even Brussels sprouts pizza) have made brussels sprouts lovers out of people who previously never would have touched them.

A boiled or steamed sprout just can’t compare to a fried one. It’s all about that deep golden brown deliciousness!

The ingredients for these air fryer brussels sprouts are easy to find:

• brussels sprouts
• olive oil
• salt and pepper

How to make brussels sprouts in the air fryer:

First you’ll want to trim and halve a pound of brussels sprouts, and steam them for a few minutes in the microwave.

It’d be great to skip this step and just go directly to the air fryer, but I’ve never been satisfied with those results.

No matter what temperature or how long I cooked the sprouts in the air fryer from their raw state, they’d always get TOO dark on the outsides before the insides were tender.

So, my favorite method is a quick microwave steam followed by a trip to the air fryer.

After the steam, you’ll transfer the sprouts to the air fryer basket and add olive oil, salt and pepper. Toss that all together and turn the air fryer on.

You’ll want to cook the sprouts at 375 degrees for 12 to 15 minutes or until they reach your desired level of brownness, tossing a few times throughout the cooking process.

How long to air fry brussels sprouts?

I’ve found that 12 to 15 minutes in the air fryer is just about right for average sized brussels sprouts.

If you have very small or very large sprouts, you’ll want to adjust that up or down. Cooking time also depends on your desired state of browness. I like my sprouts to be a very deep golden brown.

What temperature for brussels sprouts in air fryer?

Set your air fryer for 375 degrees.

Add some flavor!

While I love brussels sprouts simply seasoned with salt and pepper, I also like jazzing them up, too. Here are some of my favorite things to season them with.

All ingredients should be stirred into cooked sprouts, a little bit at a time, to taste, just before serving.

• lemon juice + grated parmesan cheese
• balsamic vinegar + sriracha
• the lemon maple glaze from my maple Brussels sprouts recipe
• honey + red pepper flakes
• sweet chili sauce + lime juice

What should I serve with brussels sprouts?

I’ve always liked a side of brussels sprouts with my skillet mac and cheese. They’re also a great accompaniment for grilled lamb chops or pork tenderloin. And I sometimes stir them into my pesto pasta with veggies and chicken.

More great ways to eat brussels sprouts:

• Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Greek Yogurt and Bacon Jam – decadent and delicious.
• Fruit & Nut Brussels Sprout Slaw – shredded sprouts get a new treatment.
• Creamy Roasted Autumn Vegetable Pasta – an amazing vegetarian dinner.
• Roasted Veggie Party Crackers – brussels as appetizers!
• Shaved Brussels Sprouts Gratin with Gruyere from Cooking LSL
• Brussels Sprouts Tacos from Pinch of Yum