Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts (Italian-style) that are cooked in just 12 minutes and come out super crispy and golden brown, without needing a ton of oil or fat! Serve them as a low carb side dish with our air fryer steak or air fryer chicken legs!
How about a quick and healthy side dish that you can prepare in just 20 minutes from beginning to end?
Our Brussels Sprouts in air fryer have comforting Italian flavors that we crave and are dairy-free, gluten-free, low carb, vegetarian, and vegan!
REASONS TO MAKE THESE BRUSSELS SPROUTS IN AIR FRYER
- Healthy– this vegetable recipe is low-fat, low carb, and gluten-free. Plus it is quite nutritious and rich in dietary fiber (1/2 cup of asparagus contains 3.3 grams of fiber, which is 13% of your daily needs). It’s one of the best ways to eat your veggies.
- Quick and easy recipe – Prepare and cook them in just 20 minutes!
- Super yummy– It has bright Italian flavors since it calls for Balsamic vinegar, olive oil, oregano, and red pepper flakes.
INGREDIENTS AND SUBSTITUTIONS FOR AIR FRYER BRUSSELS SPROUTS RECIPE
- Fresh Brussels Sprouts – Although you can use frozen Brussels sprouts, I do not recommend them because the excess water may make them mushy. If using frozen Brussels sprouts, make sure to thaw them first and then pat them dry quite well with a paper towel. If using fresh Brussels sprouts, just make sure to remove the damaged leaves and also trim the tough end.
- Olive oil– Just enough to toss them and cook in the air fryer. It will prevent sticking and will make them golden brown. You may replace it with avocado oil if you want.
- Salt and pepper– Just enough to taste (I used a pinch for each). But of course, you are welcome to add extra spices such as garlic powder.
- Balsamic vinegar– This will boost the flavor of this dish!
- Maple syrup – if you are not vegan, you can use honey instead. But if you are on a keto diet, make sure to use sugar-free maple syrup or honey.
- Red pepper flakes – This will give them a kick, making this recipe savory, sweet, and spicy. You can skip it if you are not a fan of spicy foods.
- Parmesan cheese– This is OPTIONAL! I topped mine with it right before serving, but skip it if you are on a vegan diet.
- Garnishes – I sprinkled some fresh oregano on top before serving to boost their flavor and placed lemon wedges on the side. But you can certainly skip any of them or both!
HOW TO CHOOSE BRUSSELS SPROUTS
When buying fresh Brussels sprouts, make sure to look for the following:
- They must be hard when squeezed and with no dark/damaged leaves.
- Try to buy them in as uniform a size as possible so that they can cook more evenly. But if pre-packed, they may come in different sizes: smaller sprouts tend to be sweeter, while larger ones taste more like cabbage.
- You may buy them either untrimmed or trimmed — both keep well for at least one week in the fridge.
- Try to prepare them within 3-4 days of the purchase.
HOW TO CLEAN AND TRIM BRUSSELS SPROUTS
- Remove the stem by cutting it off with a paring knife.
- Remove the damaged and/or loose outer leaves by hand.
- Rinse the remaining layers with cold water to make them fully clean. Soaking in cold water for about 20 minutes only as needed, if they are quite dirty. Once clean, make sure to pat dry the sprouts, especially if roasting or sautéing them! Skip if boiling.
- Depending on how you will prepare your Brussels sprouts, you can leave the small ones whole and cut the larger ones in half.
HOW LONG TO COOK BRUSSELS SPROUTS
Before starting, preheat your air fryer for at least 5-10 minutes and toss the Brussels sprouts in a small amount of olive oil. Season them, too!
Just then, cook fresh Brussels sprouts in the air fryer:
- At 380° F (190° C) for about 16 minutes.
- At 400 ° F (205° C), they cook for 12 minutes.
Shake the basket at least once halfway through!
Also, make sure to leave space inside your air fryer basket so that air can circulate. To do this, lay them in a single layer instead of piling them on top of each other.
This means that if your air fryer is small, divide them into batches to cook.
Can I cook frozen Brussels sprouts in air fryer?
Yes, you can! But be aware the excess water may make air fryer frozen Brussels sprouts end up soft instead of crispy. It also may take less time for them to cook.
HOW TO MAKE AIR FRYER BRUSSELS SPROUTS
- Preheat your air fryer for 5-10 minutes at 400 degrees F (205 degrees C).
- Trim the tough end using a paring knife and remove the damaged leaves.
- Wash Brussels sprouts under cold water and pat them dry with a paper towel. Place them into a bowl and toss with olive oil, salt, and pepper.
- Layer the seasoned Brussels sprouts in a single layer inside of your air fryer. If yours is small like mine, you may have to cook them in 2-3 batches.
- Air fry Brussels sprouts for about 12 minutes or until tender inside, and both crispy and golden brown outside. Make sure to shake the basket halfway through. If you enjoy them less crispy and less golden brown, cook them at 380° F (190° C) instead, for about 16 minutes.
- Transfer them back to the bowl and toss them with a mixture of balsamic vinegar, maple syrup, and red pepper flakes.
- Serve them while they are hot with oregano and grated Parm cheese (optional) on top plus lemon wedges on the side.
NOTE: To make air fryer Brussels sprouts with bacon, just serve the cooked veggie with cooked and chopped bacon.
Tips for Cooking Brussels Sprouts in Air Fryer
- Cut Brussels sprouts into even-sized pieces: They are dense veggies. Cut them into uniform pieces to make sure they cook evenly, or even better: leave the small sprouts whole and cut any sprouts that are larger than 1-inch long in half.
- Preheat your air fryer before you cook them. This will make them much crispier. But make sure to toss them with oil to prevent sticking.
- Season them well! Salt and pepper do the trick. But, garlic powder or any of your favorite seasonings can work wonders too.
- Don’t overcrowd the basket: Layer your Brussels evenly in the air fryer tray. If you want to get golden brown, super crispy Brussels, you need to make sure to leave space around them for hot air to circulate in the tray.
- Shake them halfway through: Give the tray a little shake halfway through cooking in order to brown all sides of the veggie and crisp them up.
STORAGE
Store leftovers in an airtight container or freezer plastic bag for about 3 days. Reheat in the microwave (about 60 seconds) or in a preheated air fryer at 350 degrees F (3-5 minutes) or just until hot.
You may easily freeze them for about 1 month and thaw them in the fridge overnight. But be aware that they won’t be crispy any more like when they were first cooked.
OTHER AIR FRYER RECIPES TO TRY:
- Air Fryer Tilapia
- Air Fryer Shrimp
- Yuca Fries
- Air Fryer Chicken Wings
- Air Fryer Salmon
- Also Air Fryer Chicken Thighs
- Air Fryer Asparagus
Other Brussels Sprouts Recipes:
PIN & ENJOY!
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Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts
Equipment
- Air fryer
Ingredients
- 1 lb Brussels sprouts fresh if possible
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste (a pinch each)
- 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
- 1 tbsp maple syrup If on a keto diet, use sugar-free maple syrup. If you’re not vegan, you can replace it with honey.
- Red pepper flakes a pinch
- Oregano about 1 tsp fresh leaves
- Parmesan cheese about 1 tbsp (OPTIONAL). Skip if you are vegan!
- 1 lemon cut into wedges (OPTIONAL)
Instructions
- Preheat your air fryer for 5-10 minutes at 400 degrees F (205 degrees C).
- Trim the tough end using a paring knife and remove the damaged leaves.
- Wash Brussels sprouts under cold water and pat them dry with a paper towel. Place them into a bowl and toss with olive oil, salt, and pepper.
- Layer the seasoned Brussels sprouts in a single layer inside of your air fryer. If yours is small like mine, you may have to cook them in 2-3 batches.
- Air fry Brussels sprouts for about 12 minutes or until tender inside, and both crispy and golden brown outside. Make sure to shake the basket halfway through. If you enjoy them less crispy and less golden brown, cook them at 380° F (190° C) instead, for about 16 minutes.
- Transfer them back to the bowl and toss them with a mixture of balsamic vinegar, maple syrup, and red pepper flakes.
- Serve them while they are hot with oregano and grated Parm cheese (optional) on top plus lemon wedges on the side.
Recipe Video
Recipe Notes
- At 380° F (190° C) for about 16 minutes.
- At 400 ° F (205° C), they cook for 12 minutes.
Nutrition
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Please note that health-focused and diet information provided on easyanddelish.com is for educational purposes and does not constitute medical advice, nor it it intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease. Consult with your doctor or other qualified health professional prior to initiating any significant change in your diet or exercise regimen, or for any other issue necessitating medical advice.
John / Kitchen Riffs says
Although I hated Brussels sprouts when I was a kid (I only had overcooked ones growing up), they’ve become one of my favorite veggies. Particularly at this time of the year. Such a nice recipe! Thanks.
Katerina says
Ohhh, these look so perfectly charred and crispy, Denise! I love brussels sprouts and I’m always looking for a new way of cooking them. Would you believe I’ve never tried making them in an air fryer? Time to correct that I think – thank you for the inspiration!