Learn how to make the perfect air fryer brussels sprouts that are tender on the inside and incredibly crunchy on the outside.
» You might also like these Air Fryer Parmesan Sweet Potatoes and Air Fryer Asparagus.
If you haven’t found a way of cooking brussels sprouts that you adore, you’ve not tried this air fryer recipe yet. It really is the perfect way to cook brussels sprouts to get them crispy without the sogginess or limpness you might have had in the past.
Why Cook Brussels Sprouts in the Air Fryer?
The joy of the air fryer is that the air inside circulates around the food to crispy all sides at once. In fact, brussels sprouts are kind of the perfect vegetable for the air fryer because of all the layers and nooks that can be crisped.
Roasting brussels sprouts in the oven can be good, but they often will turn out mushy on the inside because you had to cook them too long to get the lovely crispy effect you want on the outside.
At restaurants, where crispy brussels sprouts are a huge hit, it’s because they are deep fried and the hot oil helps to crisp them to perfection. The air fryer will help you reproduce this deliciousness without all that oil.
Try adding this honey sriracha sauce when they are finished cooking for a blast of flavor.
How to Make Crispy Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts
Place the Brussels sprouts in a bowl. Add the olive oil, salt, and pepper and mix well. You want to get the oil and seasoning into some of the grooves of the leaves, if possible.
If you wanted to add additional seasonings, like garlic salt, seasoned salt, or Cajun seasoning, now is the time to do it. The only thing you don’t want to add at this point is fresh garlic or Parmesan cheese, as they will burn.
Spread the Brussels sprouts evenly in the air fryer basket. It’s not necessary to spray the basket or pre-heat it at all. Cook at 350° F (175C) for 10 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through the cycle.
If you notice that they’re starting to brown too fast, turn the heat down by 5 degrees and continue cooking. It’s rare that they will burn at 350°, but it is possible.
Since everyone likes their Brussels sprouts cooked to different degrees inside, at the end of cooking, taste one to make sure it’s cooked to your preferred softness. If not, cook an additional 2-3 minutes.
Remove the Brussels sprouts and serve the right away while they’re still hot. Now is the time to add any additional toppings like garlic and Parmesan cheese.
Cooking Brussels Sprouts From Frozen
If you’ve purchased frozen brussels sprouts instead of fresh, you can still cook them in the air fryer. Since they started out potentially with a higher water content, it might be possible to get them as crispy as you like.
Make sure to leave plenty of space between the sprouts in the air fryer basket. If you stack them up, it will be difficult for them to all cook at the same speed. You will also need to add a few extra minutes to the cooking time.
Why Use an Air Fryer
An air fryer is an incredibly easy way to cook just about anything. You place the food in a fryer-style basket and hot air rapidly circulates all around the food, making the food crisp – much like deep-frying, but without the oil. You can cook anything you’d make in the oven.
- I use a Ninja MaxXL air fryer (pictured left). If you don’t have an air fryer yet, check out these options to find one that fits your needs.
- See reviews and prices for air fryers on Amazon.
- Here’s a printable Air Fryer Cooking Times Cheat Sheet to get you started.
- Click to find more recipes to make in your Air Fryer.
- Learn how to make fun things in the air fryer, like potato wedges, pork belly bites, and chicken wings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why won’t my brussels sprouts get crispy?
Make sure to add enough oil so that all of the brussels sprouts are lightly coated. This helps them get nice and crispy. Then spread them out in a single even layer and shake the basket during cooking.
How do you keep brussels sprouts from burning in the Air Fryer?
We recommend cooking them at 350° F (175C) for 10 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through the cycle. If you notice that they’re starting to brown too fast, turn the heat down by 5 degrees and continue cooking. It’s rare that they will burn at 350°, but it is possible.
Should I cut the brussels sprouts in half before cooking?
We always cut our brussels sprouts in half before cooking. It is easy to do while you are cleaning them and pulling off the outside leaves. Smaller, thinner sprout halves cook faster than whole brussels sprouts.
What to Serve with This Dish
There are so many options for main dishes to serve with this dish. You can make these all in the air fryer or in the oven, if you wish.
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Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 pound Brussels sprouts trimmed and halved
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
- Place the Brussels sprouts in a bowl. Add the olive oil, salt, and pepper and mix well.
- Spread the Brussels sprouts evenly in the air fryer basket. Cook at 350 degrees F (175C) for 10 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through the cycle. At the end of cooking, taste one to make sure it’s cooked to your preferred softness. If not, cook an additional 2-3 minutes.
All air fryers have different wattage and may cook at different rates. You may need to adjust the time or temp for the best results.
Nutrition
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Laura is a passionate foodie and owner of Air Fry Anytime She is dedicated to sharing delicious recipes and helpful tips for using air fryers at home. With years of experience in the kitchen and a love for healthy, flavorful cooking, Laura has become an expert at using air fryers to create amazing meals that are both nutritious and delicious.
These were super easy!
Super easy to make!
This dish looks so deliciously good. I wish I could eat that right this minute!
Made These! ABSOLUTELY AMAZING! I Actually have a Ninja Foodie Pro Four Air Oven/ Air Fryer – So finding Recipes that have the time and temp settings are definitely a learning curve- But on this Brussel Sprout Recipe- it Was Super Easy – I just added some Smoked Paprika and Bacon pieces (Our Family has Firm Belief that BACON Always makes everything Better- Especially Brussel Sprouts- Lol) to the – Olive Oil, Salt & Pepper mix – and IT turned out AMAZING!!! I LOVE THIS SITE – Can’t Wait To Try More Recipes on the Site!
Glad they turned out so good for you. We firmly believe that bacon makes everything better too!