Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts Recipe

By
Leah Maroney
Leah Maroney
Leah Maroney
A recipe developer and food photographer, Leah Maroney is an ardent home cook and food blogger who has written over 300 recipes for The Spruce Eats.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 12/18/22
Air-fryer Brussels sprouts

The Spruce Eats / Leah Maroney
Prep: 5 mins
Cook: 18 mins
Total: 23 mins
Servings: 6 servings
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
77 Calories
3g Fat
13g Carbs
2g Protein
Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 6
Amount per serving
Calories 77
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 3g 3%
Saturated Fat 0g 2%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 376mg 16%
Total Carbohydrate 13g 5%
Dietary Fiber 2g 8%
Total Sugars 6g
Protein 2g
Vitamin C 49mg 246%
Calcium 40mg 3%
Iron 1mg 6%
Potassium 267mg 6%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

If you've been a Brussels sprouts refuser, here's an easy and tasty recipe to make you a believer. You and your family will want to come back for seconds and likely thirds. Air fried Brussels sprouts are sweet and crispy, with the perfect crunch. Tender inside and caramelized outside, these little bites of flavor make an amazing side dish or a delicious appetizer. Our sweet and spicy take on Brussels sprouts makes them the perfect side for pork chops, steak, chicken, or roasted turkey.

Brussels sprouts are a nutritious vegetable found at their peak from early fall to midwinter, but easily available year-round. Sometimes avoided because of their fame for tasting bitter and causing gas, Brussels sprouts simply need to be cooked properly for their sugars to be released and for them to be more easily digested. High in fiber, vitamin C, and potassium, you just need to eat a cup of these veggies, cooked without fat, to get almost 6 grams each of protein and fiber, plus 626 milligrams of potassium.

With a substantially lesser amount of fat than their deep-fried counterpart, the sprouts are tossed with chili garlic paste and honey. By using the hot air in the air fryer, they get very crispy with minimal oil, less time, and less mess. You can save your attention for the stove or oven and make these hands-off sprouts in no time.

Ingredients

  • 1 pound Brussels sprouts, halved

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil

  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt

  • 1 teaspoon white pepper

  • 1/4 cup garlic chili paste

  • 1 tablespoon honey

  • 2 tablespoons water

  • Sesame seeds, for garnish

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Ingredients for air-fryer Brussels sprouts recipe gathered

    The Spruce Eats / Leah Maroney

  2. In a large bowl, toss the Brussels sprouts with olive oil, salt, and white pepper until the sprouts are nicely coated. 

    Toss Brussels sprouts with oil, salt, and white pepper

    The Spruce Eats / Leah Maroney

  3. Place the Brussels sprouts into the basket of your air fryer—they do not need to be in 1 layer, but if you'd like them extra crispy, place them in 1 layer and cook them in batches. Turn your air fryer to 390 F and cook for 9 minutes. Once the time is up, shake the basket and fry for an additional 9 minutes.

    Add Brussels sprouts to the air-fryer

    The Spruce Eats / Leah Maroney

  4. Whisk together the garlic chili paste, honey, and 2 tablespoons of water in a small bowl. Place the bowl in the microwave and heat, covered, for 1 minute or until the sauce is hot. 

    Make the chili garlic sauce

    The Spruce Eats / Leah Maroney

  5. Once the Brussels sprouts are done, place them in a large bowl and toss them with the sauce while hot. 

    Toss the Brussels sprouts with the sauce

    The Spruce Eats / Leah Maroney

  6. Sprinkle with sesame seeds. Serve immediately for the crispiest results.

    Air-Fryer Brussels sprouts

    The Spruce Eats / Leah Maroney

  7. Enjoy!

Flavored Brussels Sprouts

Change up the sauces and seasonings in this easy recipe. Toss the sprouts with olive oil, salt, and pepper, air fry as directed but toss with other flavors to finish up. Here are some ideas on how to flavor the vegetables once cooked:

  • Garlic balsamic: Mince a clove of garlic and toss with 2 tablespoons of balsamic vinegar and 1 tablespoon of honey.
  • Parmesan and breadcrumb: Combine 1/4 cup of grated Parmesan cheese and panko breadcrumbs for a salty crunch.
  • Chili lime honey: Toss 1/4 cup sweet chili sauce with a tablespoon of lime juice and a teaspoon of honey.
  • Dipping sauces: Alternatively, fry the Brussels sprouts as directed and serve them with a dipping sauce such as garlic aioli, tartar, creamy jalapeño, pesto, or rémoulade.

No-Oil Brussels Sprouts

If you are looking to omit as much oil as possible, simply spray the Brussels sprouts with a coating of nonstick cooking spray.

Article Sources
The Spruce Eats uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

  1. Brussel Sprouts, Cooked. FoodData Central. United States Department of Agriculture.