Air Fryer Brussel Sprouts
By Carine Claudepierre
Published on 07/20/2022 - Last updated on 05/22/2023
This recipe may contain Amazon or other affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
These Air Fryer Brussel Sprouts are the most delicious crispy bites to serve as a light side dish or healthy dinner.
Plus, they are keto friendly and vegan, made with 6 simple ingredients.
You know by now how much I love air fryer recipes and last time I shared with you my Air Fryer Brussel Sprouts Chips Recipe.
So time to show you how you can air fry Brussel sprouts – much faster than oven-roasted Brussel sprouts for a busy healthy dinner idea during the week.
Plus, Brussel sprouts are fantastic low-carb vegetables and perfect as a low-calorie healthy keto side dish to any meat or seafood.
Why Is Cooking In An Air Fryer Better?
The main difference between an air fryer and a regular oven is that the fan makes the heat circulate in a very precise and controlled way.
This air circulation combined with their size smaller than an oven and the use of a wire basket makes air fryers much faster at cooking the food than a classic oven, even when using the fan-forced mode.
So cooking in an air fryer is much faster than in an oven. But is it healthier?
Air Frying is definitely healthier than deep frying for obvious reasons. The comparison with regular ovens is more balanced.
You would typically use about less oil with air fryer recipes, making them marginally healthier than the equivalent oven-baked recipes.
How To Cook Brussel Sprouts In Air Fryer
It’s super easy to cook your Brussel sprouts in the air fryer.
There are only a few ingredients needed and a few tips to make them crispy every time.
Ingredients
First, let’s see the ingredients you need to make these crispy air fried Brussel sprouts
- Brussel Sprouts – The trick is to trim and cut the Brussel Sprouts in half vertically. Read my full guide on how to cut Brussels Sprouts.
- Olive Oil or avocado oil – You need to use an oil with a high smoke point oil to avoid smoke and deliver the best texture and crispiness.
- Salt and Pepper
- Onion Powder
- Garlic Powder
- Paprika
Preparation
First, trim the Brussel sprouts, discard feet and cut halfway as seen in the picture below. Or pick one of the two ways to do so in my Brussels sprout cutting guide.
If some outer shells fall out, keep these to make Brussel Sprout Chips later.
Place the Brussels sprout halves in a large bowl. Drizzle olive oil on top, crushed garlic, onion powder, salt, and pepper.
Stir to combine then place the Brussel sprouts in the air fryer basket in a single layer.
Air fry for 5 minutes in the air fryer preheated to 395°F (200°C). Open and shake the basket to evenly rotate the sprouts.
Return for 5 more minutes in the air fryer.
Check the texture by inserting a toothpick or knife in the center of the vegetables to check their tenderness.
It should go through easily but still be firm and golden brown on the outside.
If needed keep air frying for an extra 2 to 5 minutes until it reaches your favorite texture.
Serving Cooked Brussel Sprouts
You can eat this side dish straight out from the air fryer, with no add-ons, or play with flavors by adding sauce or herbs and spices as suggested below.
Serving With Sauce
Now you can play with flavor and some add-ons on top of the air-fried Brussel sprouts.
- Asian Flavors – Cook my 3-ingredient stir fry sauce and drizzle on top.
- Italian Flavors – Add Parmesan cheese, fresh basil, or a drizzle of balsamic vinegar reduction on top of the warm sprouts.
- Creamy Sauce – You can smother the cooked Brussel sprouts in Keto Alfredo Sauce or Cauliflower Alfredo Sauce or dip them in keto ranch dressing.
- BBQ Style – Drizzle my 3-ingredient BBQ sauce on top.
- Indian Flavors – Add a pinch of turmeric, curry powder, or Garam masala on top.
Serving With Herbs And Flavors
You can also just add a pinch of the following on top of the cooked vegetables to keep it flavorsome and simple:
- Freshly Chopped Parsley or Basil.
- Chili Flakes
- Spring Onions
- Bagel Seasonings
Best Meals To Pair With Brussel Sprouts
Brussel Sprouts are best paired on the side of a high-protein meal like:
- Cast-Iron Chicken Breast
- Lemon Pepper Chicken Tenders
- Almond Flour Chicken Tenders
- Keto Chicken Nuggets
- Baked Pork Chops
- Steak Marinated in my 3-Ingredient Steak Marinade and cooked at your desired Steak Cooking Levels.
Storage Instructions
You can store the air-fried Brussel sprouts in the fridge in a sealed container for up to 3 days.
You can also freeze leftovers for later and thaw them in the fridge the day before.
The next day, it’s easy to rewarm in the microwave or preheated air fryer at 325°F (160°C).
Frequently Asked Questions
Below are the answers to your most popular questions about Brussel sprouts cooked in the air fryer.
How Long Should I Cook Brussel Sprouts In An Air Fryer?
As a general rule, you need to air fry halved Brussel sprouts for 10 to 15 minutes at 395°F (200°C). The timing depends on:
- Preheating – if you preheat the air fryer you can shorten the time by 2 to 3 minutes.
- Texture you expect – for a crispy texture, harder in the center, 12 minutes is the ideal cooking time. For a softer center, air fry a little bit longer up to 15 minutes.
Can I Cook Frozen Brussel Sprouts In An Air Fryer?
You can use this recipe for cooking frozen Brussel sprouts in the air fryer, and you only need to thaw the vegetables before coating them with olive oil and spices.
However, keep in mind that frozen vegetables cooked in the air fryer are never as crispy as fresh vegetables. They always stay a little soft, mushy, and watery.
Can I Use A Different Oil?
Yes, any high-smoke point oil is great in the air fryer including avocado oil or grapeseed oil.
More Brussel Sprouts Recipes
Below are some more Brussel sprouts recipes for you to try:
More Air Fryer Recipes
Below are some more healthy air fryer recipes for you to try next time:
Did you try to cook Brussel sprouts in your air fryer and love it? Share a comment or review below.
Did You Like This Recipe?
Leave a comment below or head to our Facebook page for tips, our Instagram page for inspiration, our Pinterest for saving recipes, and Flipboard to get all the new ones!
Air Fryer Brussel Sprouts
Ingredients
- 1 pound Brussel Sprouts
- 1 ½ tablespoon Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- ¼ teaspoon Garlic Powder
- ½ teaspoon Paprika
- ¼ teaspoon Onion Powder
- ¼ teaspoon Salt
- ⅛ teaspoon Ground Pepper
Instructions
- Trim the feet of the Brussels sprouts, discard them, then cut the sprouts in half. If some outer leaves fall off, keep them to make Brussel sprout chips later.
- Slightly oil the air fryer basket before starting. Preheat the air fryer to 395°F (200°C) for 5 minutes before adding the Brussel sprouts halves.
- Place the sprout halves in a large bowl, and drizzle olive oil, garlic powder, paprika, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Stir well to coat evenly.
- Place the sprout halves in a single layer in the air fryer basket.
- Air fry at 395°F (200C) for 10-12 minutes, shaking the basket halfway. Insert a knife in the center to check the texture if too hard keep air frying in extra 1-minute bursts.
- Serve as a main or side dish with a pinch of fresh parmesan or chili flakes.
Storage
- Store leftover in the fridge in an airtight container and rewarm in the air fryer the next day at 150°C (300°F) for 3-5 minutes.
Tools
Getting Started What Is Keto? Macro Calculator Sweetener Converter Meal Plans Recipe Ebooks Intermittent Fasting Keto Fruits Keto Vegetables Keto Flours Fighting Keto Flu Healthy SweetenersWant My Kitchen Equipment?
About The Author
Hi, I'm Carine, the food blogger, author, recipe developer, published author of a cookbook and many ebooks, and founder of Sweet As Honey.
I have an Accredited Certificate in Nutrition and Wellness obtained in 2014 from Well College Global (formerly Cadence Health). I'm passionate about sharing all my easy and tasty recipes that are both delicious and healthy. My expertise in the field comes from my background in chemistry and years of following a keto low-carb diet. But I'm also well versed in vegetarian and vegan cooking since my husband is vegan.
I now eat a more balanced diet where I alternate between keto and a Mediterranean Diet
Cooking and Baking is my true passion. In fact, I only share a small portion of my recipes on Sweet As Honey. Most of them are eaten by my husband and my two kids before I have time to take any pictures!
All my recipes are at least triple tested to make sure they work and I take pride in keeping them as accurate as possible.
Browse all my recipes with my Recipe Index.
I hope that you too find the recipes you love on Sweet As Honey!
Disclaimer
The recipes, instructions, and articles on this website should not be taken or used as medical advice. You must consult with your doctor before starting on a keto or low-carb diet. The nutritional data provided on Sweetashoney is to be used as indicative only.
The nutrition data is calculated using WP Recipe Maker. Net Carbs is calculated by removing the fiber and some sweeteners from the total Carbohydrates. As an example, a recipe with 10 grams of Carbs per 100 grams that contains 3 grams of erythritol and 5 grams of fiber will have a net carbs content of 2 grams. Some sweeteners are excluded because they are not metabolized.
You should always calculate the nutritional data yourself instead of relying on Sweetashoney's data. Sweetashoney and its recipes and articles are not intended to cure, prevent, diagnose, or treat any disease. Sweetashoney cannot be liable for adverse reactions or any other outcome resulting from the use of recipes or advice found on the Website.
Share this post!
If you enjoyed this post, share it with your close ones!
Leave a comment