Air Fryer Roasted Brussels Sprouts Recipe
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These air fryer roasted Brussels sprouts were a total experiment that actually worked out quite well.
In my experience, I have found that there are two types of people in this world. People who love Brussels sprouts, and people who hate them. I have never met a single person who is somewhere in the middle.
More often than not, the people that don’t like them dislike them because they have never had them cooked properly. Now I’m not saying there aren’t exceptions to that rule, but in most cases, that seems to be the issue.
Enter the air fryer…
I’ve been having a blast experimenting with this new air fryer of mine. You can read my air fryer review here on my air fryer site where I talk about reasons to get one as well as reasons to NOT get one. But if an air fryer is a good fit for you, then you simply must try Brussels sprouts at least one time.
The air fryer cooks these little, mini cabbages to perfection, each and every time. They end up roasted to delicious crispiness on the outside and are cooked al dente on the inside. They maintain their beautiful color as well as the majority of their nutrients. It’s a delicious win-win and you won’t have to deal with that awful smell you get when you steam them. Ick.
Brussel Sprouts FAQs
Here are some commonly asked questions about brussels sprouts and about air frying them.
Can You Air Fry Frozen Brussel Sprouts?
It’s not recommended. But if you steam the sprouts first (to al dente), then they will work just fine.
Do You Cut Brussel Sprouts Before Roasting?
You do! It’s a good idea to blanch them first, then cut them, and then roast them. It sounds like a lot of work, but I promise, it’s a pretty simple process. I’ll walk you through it below.
Should Brussel Sprouts Be Blanched Before Roasting?
Yep! You’ll definitely want to blanch these or microwave them before air frying. Otherwise, your brussels sprouts won’t be cooked in the middle.
Why Won't My Brussel Sprouts Get Crispy?
All air fryers cook differently. If you are following this recipe and your brussels sprouts aren’t getting crispy, you may need to make adjustments that are appropriate for your own air fryer. In some cases, you may need to raise or lower the temperature, and increase or decrease the cooking time. You will find you need to do this with most recipes the first time you make them in an air fryer.
Are Brussel Sprouts Good For You Roasted?
Yes! In fact, brussels sprouts are a superfood, no matter how you cook them! They have great vitamin and mineral content and are perfectly healthy for most people (There are always exceptions to the rule).
What To Serve With Brussels Sprouts
Brussels sprouts are great as a side dish with so many things! Pick a protein and a carb, and you’ll be good to go! I love mine with chicken and a side of quinoa. But you can use rice, wild rice, millet, or any other whole grain. Brussels sprouts go well with pork and beef as well. Even some fish like Salmon.
Recipe Additions and Variations
Here are a few ideas for switching up this recipe a bit. Try adding:
- Lemon zest
- Pepper
- Minced garlic
- Red pepper flakes
- Other vegetables
About The Ingredients
Brussels sprouts – Cleaned and trimmed. You can get a little over a pound so that you have a full pound after cleaning and trimming them. Or not, your choice.
Dried thyme – Ground thyme is fine too.
Dried parsley
Garlic powder – or 4 cloves, minced. Garlic granules work too.
Salt – I used pink Himalayan salt, but you can use whatever salt you normally cook with.
Oil – Any light-flavored oil will work here. Consider smoke points. Avocado oil is perfect for air frying with a smoke point of approximately 520 F. Avoid olive oil, which generally has a lower smoke point.
How To Make Air Fryer Roasted Brussels Sprouts
Remove any outer leaves of the brussels sprouts that don’t look healthy. Lightly cook your brussels sprouts, either by boiling them for 13-15 minutes or by microwaving them on high for about 3-4 minutes.
Cut them in half.
Place all ingredients in a medium bowl or large bowl and toss brussels sprouts to coat them evenly.
Pour them into the air fryer basket of the air fryer and close it up. If you have a small air fryer basket, you may need to cook these in two batches.
Set the heat to 390 F. and the time to 8 minutes. This setting makes crispy brussels sprouts on the outside while leaving the insides nicely cooked. If you need to adjust the tenderness, that happens during blanching. Air frying won’t do much for the tenderness of the insides. It just crisps up the outside.
Cool the cooked brussels sprouts slightly and serve.
How To Roast Brussel Sprouts In The Oven
If you prefer to roast these in the oven, do everything except put them into the air fryer. Instead, spread them out over a baking sheet, and put them in a preheated oven at 400 F. Cook for about 30 minutes (timing can vary a bit from oven to oven.). They are done when they are nice and crispy on the outside.
How To Garnish Your Air Fryer Roasted Brussels Sprouts
- Pour a bit of balsamic glaze (a balsamic vinegar reduction)
- Sprinkle minced, cooked bacon (bacon bits) over the top.
- Drizzle a little honey or maple syrup over them.
- Squirt a small amount of lemon juice over them.
- Spread some parmesan cheese over them while they are still hot.
How To Store Cooked Brussels Sprouts
Keep these in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
How To Reheat Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts
You can simply toss these back in the air fryer at the same temperature, for about 5 minutes.
My Air Fryer
This is the Instant Vortex Pro I have. This post may contain affiliate links that won’t increase your price but will share some commission.
(Amazon affiliate link)
Instant Vortex Pro Air Fryer Oven 9 in 1 with Rotisserie, 10 Qt, EvenCrisp Technology
More Brussels Sprouts Recipes
Air Fryer Roasted Brussels Sprouts Recipe Card
Air Fryer Herbed Brussels Sprouts
Equipment
- Air Fryer
Ingredients
- 1 lb. brussels sprouts (cleaned and trimmed)
- ½ tsp. dried thyme
- 1 tsp. dried parsley
- 1 tsp. garlic powder (Or 4 cloves, minced)
- ¼ tsp. salt
- 2 tsp. oil
Instructions
- Remove any outer leaves of the brussels sprouts that don't look healthy. Lightly cook your brussels sprouts, either by boiling them for 13-15 minutes or by microwaving them on high for about 3-4 minutes.
- Cut them in half.
- Place all ingredients in a medium or large mixing bowl and toss to coat the brussels sprouts evenly.
- Pour them into the food basket of the air fryer and close it up.
- Set the heat to 390 F. and the time to 8 minutes. This setting roasts them nicely on the outside while leaving the insides a nicely cooked al dente.
- Cool slightly and serve.
Notes
Nutrition
This recipe from the Gracious Pantry® archives, originally posted on 2/20/18.
This looks great, Tiffany. Thanks. What kind of air fryer did you get, and why? Do you have an affiliate link here somewhere? Also, more recipes using the air fryer?
Ohhhhh, and do you have an Instant Pot (and recipes) yet? I just got one and so far made polenta… incredibly easy.
Carol – Thank you! I just updated the post with the exact air fryer I have. And yes, I do have more recipes (with more on the way!). You can find them here: https://www.thegraciouspantry.com/category/recipes/air-fryer-recipes/. I do also have an IP and recipes for that as well, although those are a little slower to come, but I will definitely have more of those coming as well. Here’s what I have so far: https://www.thegraciouspantry.com/category/recipes/pressure-cooker-recipes/
Do you think the air fryer can somehow revamp frozen brussels?
Andrea – I’ve never tried, but my guess is that if you thaw them first and cut them in half, you might get pretty close.
Hi, Did you cut the brussel sprouts in half? Can’t wait to try this recipe!
Tan – Yes! 🙂