Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts

It's no secret that Brussels sprouts are one of our favorite vegetable side dishes. Whether they're roasted with maple syrup and bacon or tossed with butternut squash and pomegranate seeds, they're a vibrant side that rounds out any easy dinner or your family's Thanksgiving menu. This preparation, however, may just be the best of all.

Fried Brussels sprouts are hard to beat, but air fryer Brussels sprouts deliver all of that crispy goodness but with far less oil. In this recipe, the sprouts get tossed in a coating of soy sauce, honey, and chili-garlic sauce, giving them a sweet, salty, and spicy twist. This healthy fall recipe tastes like it can straight from a restaurant kitchen!

How long does it take to cook Brussels sprouts in the air fryer?

It only takes about 20 minutes total to cook Brussels sprouts to golden, crisp perfection in an air fryer. But you'll want to pause the air fryer after about eight minutes to give the sprouts a good shake before they finish cooking. This helps them cook evenly!

How do you keep Brussels sprouts from burning in the air fryer?

With their flaky outer leaves, Brussels sprouts have a tendency to burn easily. But there are a few steps you can take to keep from incinerating your sprouts. To start, be sure to cook them at the right temperature. We recommend 380 degrees because it allows the center to get tender and the outer portion to crisp up without either overcooking. Also, don't skip shaking the basket halfway through. This ensures a different part of their surface will get direct exposure to the heat which means even cooking and no burning.

Why won't my Brussels sprouts get crispy?

The high circulating heat of an air fryer makes the perfect environment for roasting Brussels sprouts. In order to guarantee a crispy finish, be sure to follow a couple of air fryer "rules of thumb." First, don’t overcrowd the basket. It's tempting to try to double this recipe to feed a crowd, but one pound of sprouts is the most that should be roasted at a time. Second, keep the sprouts in a single layer to make sure all of the Brussels are getting the same access to the hot circulating air. Third, don't skip the ever-important basket shake halfway through cooking. 

Do you need to soak Brussels sprouts before cooking?

For air fryer Brussels sprouts, you do not need to soak the sprouts before cooking. The best way to clean Brussels sprouts is to trim the cut ends (like the “root” of the sprout) and remove the first couple of outer leaves. Soaking the sprouts in water before cooking will create steam when cooked in the air fryer and prohibit optimal browning.