Air fryer brussel sprouts are the best! They are deliciously crispy, seriously easy to make, and taste far better than their boiled or baked counterparts. These crispy brussels sprouts take 10 minutes to cook and are perfect as a healthy side dish or a low-carb snack.
Contents
🌟 Why this recipe works
This air fryer brussel sprouts recipe is unlike your ordinary brussel sprouts that are mushy with a distinct strange taste. These air-fried brussels sprouts are delicious, cooked to a crisp, and still have that perfect al dente chew in the center.
It's so much easier cooking brussel sprouts in the air fryer compared to the oven or pan, and quicker too. The air fryer machine does all the work for you - all you have to do is put the sprouts in the air fryer basket for 10 minutes. If you want to bake them, try my copycat longhorn brussel sprouts recipe.
I add some parmesan cheese at the end for extra flavor, and believe me - the combination works so well. The crispiness of the sprouts and the saltiness of the melted parmesan cheese are like eating a small bite of heaven!
Sprouts are also versatile with other flavors and work well with savory seasonings like garlic powder, spicy seasonings like chili, or add some sweetness with honey. Although, I think just a sprinkle of salt and pepper is all they need with a handful of parmesan on top.
🍽 Key Ingredients
All you need is a tablespoon of olive oil and seasoning to get these air fryer parmesan brussel sprouts crispy and delicious.
Brussel sprouts - Get fresh sprouts if you can rather than frozen and cut them in half.
Seasoning - I use salt and pepper to bring out the flavor of the crispy sprouts.
Optional - Add a handful of parmesan cheese at the end to melt over the sprouts. It's delicious!
Substitutions
Parmesan cheese
A good substitute for parmesan cheese is asiago cheese. It's a good melting cheese with a similar flavor and is used for many Italian-American dishes.
🔪 How to make
Air fryer brussel sprouts are easy to make in just 10 minutes, and you can learn how to make them in six simple instructions and my helpful top tips.
Preparations
Step 1
Cut sprouts in half and place them in a medium bowl.
Step 2
Add the olive oil.
Add the himalayan salt.
Add the black pepper.
Step 3
Mix very well until brussel sprouts are fully coated.
Cooking Instructions
Step 4
Preheat the air fryer to 345 degrees Fahrenheit (173 degrees Celsius) and place the spouts in the air fryer basket. If you want you can put tin foil in the air fryer for easier clean-up.
Step 5
Cook brussel sprouts for 10 minutes until crispy but not burnt. Shake the basket after 5 minutes.
Step 6
For a cheesy flavor, add parmesan cheese, and cook for 2 more minutes.
💭 Cooking tips
Cut the sprouts the same size.
If you have different-sized brussel sprouts, try and cut them the same size to avoid uneven cooking. The small sprouts are fine, the medium ones cut in half, and the large ones in thirds or even quarter.
Don't burn the sprouts.
Sprouts burn quickly if left unattended for a minute. Around the 8 minute mark, you want to keep your eye on them to see if they're beginning to blacken on the edges. A little bit of crispy black spots on the outside is fine, but make sure they don't burn completely, as they will taste burnt and have a nasty flavor.
Shake the basket.
When you air fry brussel sprouts, they tend to stick to the basket during cooking if you don't shake it, resulting in partially crispy and soft sprouts.
Don't overfill the basket.
Only fill ⅓ of the fryer basket with brussel sprouts if you want them evenly crispy and tender. Overfilling will make the ones on the bottom mushy and untasty.
📖 Recipe Variations
Air fryer brussel sprouts are super delicious and take on other flavors like some of these variations.
Brussel sprouts with balsamic glaze - Toss the air-fried sprouts with 1 tablespoon of balsamic vinegar before serving. Sprouts and balsamic match surprisingly well!
Brussel sprouts with crispy bacon - Chop and cook some crispy bacon, then add it on top of the sprouts with parmesan cheese.
Brussel sprouts with garlic - Mix the sprouts with one teaspoon of garlic powder or fresh garlic before air frying.
Spicy brussel sprouts - Any spice works with sprouts. I love a sprinkle of chili powder over mine and sometimes curry powder for a taste of India.
Brussel sprouts with maple syrup - This variation seems odd, but it totally works. Drizzle a tablespoon of maple syrup or honey at the end to give them a sweetness.
🥗 What to serve with
Air fryer brussels sprouts are great served as part of the main course with meats and other veggies, eaten on their own with a dipping sauce, or for lunch with another side dish.
Lunch
I have cooked brussels sprouts many times with bacon over the years, and it works! So it makes sense to use this air fryer recipe to make the sprouts and serve them with super tender and crispy bacon-wrapped asparagus for a healthy low-carb lunch.
Dinner
These parmesan brussel sprouts pair well with meat dishes like parmesan crusted pork chops.
🙋 Frequently Asked Questions
Can I cook frozen brussels sprouts in the air fryer?
Yes, you can air fry frozen brussels sprouts. Although, they will not crisp the same as fresh sprouts and will be softer in the middle. For best results, air fry them for an extra 4 to 5 minutes.
Do you need to wash brussel sprouts before air frying?
Yes, all vegetables should be washed and dried before cooking to remove dirt and pesticides. Rinse them in a cullender over cold running water
🧊 Storing and ♨️ Reheating
You can store leftover air fryer brussel sprouts in the fridge or freezer.
Fridge - Transfer any leftover brussel sprouts to an airtight container or a bowl covered with plastic wrap and place them in the fridge for up to 4 days.
Freezer - Although freezing cooked sprouts is not recommended because they turn slightly mushy once thawed, it is possible nevertheless. Transfer the leftovers to a freezer-safe airtight container and freeze them for up to 3 months.If you have lots of leftovers and want to freeze them to use for another recipe, I recommend making cream of brussels sprouts. It's the best way to make use of mushy sprouts!
Reheating - Preheat the air fryer to 350 degrees Fahrenheit, coat the sprouts with olive oil, and cook the refrigerated brussels for 3-4 minutes until hot and 6-8 minutes for frozen.
To reheat them in the oven, preheat them to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and place the leftover brussel sprouts on a greased baking tray. Cook refrigerated sprouts for 5-6 minutes and 8-10 minutes for frozen.
Note that reheated leftover sprouts will not have the same texture as first cooked due to sprouts becoming softer the longer they cook.
🍳 Related Air Fryer Recipes
Try one of these healthy air fryer recipes as an appetizer, side-dish, or snack.
If you have leftover brussel sprouts you should trry my chicken brussel sprouts casserole. So easy to make and tastes delicious!
👪 Serving Size
This air fryer brussel sprouts recipe will give you approximately 3-4 servings, but it can easily be scaled to cater to more. When I want to make cream of brussel soup, I usually make more of these crispy parmesan brussel sprouts and use any leftovers for the soup. Two meals for the price of one!
Whether you love brussel sprouts or not, you definitely will after trying these air-fried crispy parmesan brussel sprouts! Give them a try and let me know what you think.
📋 Recipe
Air Fryer Brussel Sprouts
Equipment
- 1 Air fryer
- 1 Cuting board
- 1 Knife
- 1 medium bowl
- 1 Fork
Ingredients
- 390 gr brussel sprouts - cut in half
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ¼ teaspoon himalayan salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ cup parmesan cheese - shredded
Instructions
Preparation
- Cut sprouts in half and place them in a medium bowl.
- Add the olive oil, salt, and pepper, and mix well.
Cooking
- Preheat the air fryer to 345 degrees Fahrenheit (173 degrees Celsius) and place the spouts in the air fryer basket.
- Cook brussel sprouts for 10 minutes until crispy but not burnt. Shake the basket after 5 minutes.
- For a cheesy flavor, add parmesan cheese, and cook for 2 more minutes.
Comments
No Comments