Air fryer brussels sprouts are crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. With five simple ingredients, they can be prepped and on your table in under 15 minutes!
While the air fryer is a great way to cook your proteins, it also works amazingly well to cook your vegetable side dishes! From air fryer cauliflower to air fryer broccoli to brussels sprouts and more, your vegetables get brown, crispy, and just plain delicious!
I'm a total snob when it comes to brussels sprouts because I know just how delicious they are when they're done right! I went through 5 pounds of brussels sprouts when I got my new air fryer, just looking to nail the perfect crispy exterior with a soft interior. Luckily, we landed on a super easy, 2-step process that gave us the ideal crisp-yet-soft brussels sprouts in under 15 minutes! Don't be intimidated; this is the perfect simple side dish that can be adjusted for any cuisine, flavor profile, and dietary preferences!
With simple flavors, these brussels sprouts are great paired with a variety of meals, from baked bruschetta chicken to chili rubbed salmon and more.
Why You'll Love Brussel Sprouts in the Air Fryer
- they have the perfect texture: soft on the inside but crispy on the outside
- they are simple to prepare and can be on your table in under 15 minutes
- they are low carb, vegan, gluten-free and paleo-friendly
Video: Watch How to Make Brussel Sprouts
Watch the video below to see exactly how I prepped these sprouts. It’s so easy! You can find more of my recipe videos on my YouTube channel, or on Facebook.
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Ingredients Needed for Brussel Sprouts in the Air Fryer
For this recipe, you need five simple ingredients.
- Olive Oil - While I've used olive oil, avocado oil is another great oil to use in the air fryer
- Salt
- Water
- Onion Powder and Garlic Powder season the brussels sprouts, while still allowing their natural flavors to shine through.
How to Make Air Fryer Brussel Sprouts
- Start by cutting ¼ inch or so off the bottom of the brussels sprout, removing its stem. Then slice in half. Note- see above for notes on small brussels sprouts.
- Place in a large microwave-safe bowl and add ¼ cup of water.
- Microwave on high for 3 minutes, then carefully drain off the water.
- Add the olive oil, salt, garlic powder and onion powder. Toss until evenly coated.
- Heat air fryer to 200°C/ 390°F. Add brussels sprouts to the basket.
- Cook for 7-8 minutes, shaking up the basket occasionally, until edges of brussels sprouts are brown and crispy.
Prepping The Brussel Sprouts
Brussels sprouts come in all shapes and sizes. If you have the normal-sized brussels sprouts (1.5 - 2 inches), you'll want to trim the stem off and slice in half. Occasionally, the brussels sprouts at the store are extremely small (1 inch), in which case I would advise leaving them whole.
Steam before cooking
To avoid tough, chewy brussels sprouts, we take the time to steam them slightly before cooking. To do this, I've used a large glass measuring cup and added ¼ cup of water. Cover with the lid and microwave on high for 3 minutes. This cooks the centers of the brussels sprouts, making them tender and soft.
Can you skip this step? Yes you can, but expect your brussels sprouts to have a chewy texture to them.
Air Fryer Brussel Sprouts Recipe Variations
This is a great all purpose recipe, but you could certainly get creative with it! Here are some ideas:
- balsamic- add 1 tablespoon of balsamic vinegar to the oil and toss the brussels sprouts
- OR drizzle with balsamic reduction for a sweet and tangy flavor booster
- parmesan cheese- to serve, sprinkle with 2-4 tablespoons of freshly grated parmesan cheese
- Asian-inspired- add 1 tablespoon of soy sauce to the oil when tossing and sprinkle with sesame seeds to serve
- lemon garlic- add 4 cloves of crushed garlic and serve with fresh lemon wedges
What to Serve with Brussel Sprouts
The all-purpose seasoning used means this side dish goes with everything! We love it especially with
- Cottage Cheese Gnocchi
- Pulled Pork Zucchini Boats
- Sweet Potato Wild Rice Salad
- Instant Pot Pork Tenderloin
- Chipotle Chicken Recipe
How to Store Air Fryer Brussel Sprouts
Allow the sprouts to cool completely, then store in an airtight container in the fridge up to 4 days. Line container with paper towel to soak up any excess moisture. I do not recommend freezing.
How to Reheat Brussel Sprouts
Reheat brussels sprouts in the oven (350 degrees F for 5-10 minutes) or air fryer (390 degrees F for 3-4 minutes). Avoid the microwave as it makes them soggy and will overcook them quickly.
Crispy Air Fryer Brussel Sprouts FAQs
Yes, you can. Skip the steaming step in this case as they have already been cooked before freezing and are softer coming out of the freezer. Toss frozen brussels sprouts in oil and seasonings, and roast at 200°C/390°F until they are heated through and slightly browned.
Note that they will not get as crispy as brussels sprouts cooked from raw, but they are still super tasty this way! The air fryer is definitely my favorite way to cook frozen vegetables.
I've been using a Phillips air fryer (similar to this one) for several years and it is still working great. However, if I could do it over again, I would buy the XL model, which fits more food. We also recently purchased the Instant Pot Vortex air fryer, but haven't used it enough to comment on it.
Yes, you can skip the steaming step and bake halved brussels sprouts for 20-25 minutes in an oven preheated to 400 degrees F. They will not be as crispy, but they will be tender and delicious!
More air fryer recipes
- Air Fryer Salmon
- Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Wings
- Ultra Crispy Air Fryer Tofu
- Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Thighs
- Air Fryer Chicken Breast
- Honey Lime Air Fryer Shrimp
Did you make this? Tag me on social @sweetpeasandsaffron and be sure to leave a comment and rate the recipe!
Crispy Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts
Video
Ingredients
- 1 lb brussels sprouts stem trimmed off and sliced in half; see note 1
- ¼ cup water
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Prepare brussels sprouts by trimming off the bottom ¼ inch of the stem and slicing in half.
- Place brussels sprouts in a large microwave safe bowl, and add ¼ cup water. Cover and microwave for 3 minutes.
- Carefully drain off the water, then toss the brussles sprouts in olive oil, garlic powder, onion powder and salt.
- Heat air fryer to 200°F/390°F.
- Add the brussels sprouts to the basket and cook for 7-8 minutes, shaking the basket every 3 minutes, or until the brussels sprouts are golden and crispy on the outside.
- Serve.
Tips:
- balsamic– add 1 tablespoon of balsamic vinegar to the oil and toss the brussels sprouts
- OR drizzle with balsamic reduction for a sweet and tangy flavor booster
- parmesan cheese– to serve, sprinkle with 2-4 tablespoons of freshly grated parmesan cheese
- Asian-inspired– add 1 tablespoon of soy sauce to the oil when tossing and sprinkle with sesame seeds to serve
- lemon garlic– add 4 cloves of crushed garlic and serve with fresh lemon wedges
Nutrition Information
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Hi, I'm Annie. With a Bachelor of Science degree, a minor in nutrition and nearly 20 year of both classical training, and self-taught experience, I've spent my career proving that home cooking can be practical, delicious and inspiring. What started in 2013 as one food blog has grown into a full-time business. Today, my husband Clayton and I run five food websites that connect with millions of home cooks every month.
When I'm not in the kitchen or behind the camera, I'm using fueling my love of travel, or chasing down new ideas that keep food fun and fresh.
Joe Ballaro says
Very good.. I made a maple mayo to complement these awesome Brussels! Delicious!!
Christine says
These are SO good, and were so easy to make! Even my kids loved them.
Denise Bustard says
Hi Christine! I'm so happy to hear the recipe was successful, and wow, kids are the toughest of critics! Thanks so much for taking time out of your day to leave a review 🙂