If you love restaurant-style crispy Brussels sprouts, I’ve got you covered with two easy recipes. Make my crispy air fryer Brussels sprouts with garlic and balsamic at home in just under 20 minutes!
Air frying is one of my favorite ways to cook veggies, just like air fried cauliflower, air fryer carrots, air fryer asparagus and now these Brussels sprouts and air fryer turnips too!
Why My Friends Always Ask Me for This Air Fryer Crispy Balsamic Brussels Sprouts
Most of my friends have tried this crispy air fryer Brussels sprouts recipe at Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner at my house, and it has even converted some sprout sceptics into fans!
These sprouts always turn out beautifully crispy with caramelised edges while staying tender inside. No wonder they make the perfect side dish for any holiday dinner.
Plus, they’re so much faster to make in the air fryer — ready in under 15 minutes compared to oven-roasted Brussels sprouts, which take about 30 minutes in a Christmas vegetable tray bake.
Jump to:
- Why My Friends Always Ask Me for This Air Fryer Crispy Balsamic Brussels Sprouts
- 👩🏻🍳Sandhya’s Top Tips for Perfect Roasted Brussels Sprouts
- 📋Ingredients
- 🔪How to Make Air Fryer Crispy Balsamic Brussels Sprouts?
- 🍽 How Do I Serve Air Fried Brussels Sprouts?
- 🧂Storing Leftovers
- ❓Recipe FAQ's
- More Vegetarian Christmas Recipes
- Air Fryer Crispy Brussels Sprouts Recipe
👩🏻🍳Sandhya’s Top Tips for Perfect Roasted Brussels Sprouts
- Don’t trim the ends first: Cut the Brussels sprouts in half before trimming the edges. This helps keep most of the leaves intact (and honestly, the few that fall off get super crispy, so it’s not a bad thing!).
- Cut the sprouts in half for more flavor: This gives more surface area to soak up the glaze and seasoning. That means extra flavor and more crispy edges(my favorite part!).
- Give the basket a shake or flip the sprouts halfway while air frying. It helps them crisp up evenly on all sides, which is harder to do with oven roasting.
- Always Cook the sprouts in a single layer: Don’t overcrowd the basket. Spread them out so they cook evenly and stay crispy instead of steaming.
- Avoid using very high heat: It will burn the outside of the Brussels sprouts before the centres get tender. A steady 360°F (180°C) works best.
- Air fryer size makes a difference: A larger air fryer (like my 5.7L Instant Pot Vortex) cooks faster than smaller ones, so adjust the cooking time depending on your model.
📋Ingredients
- Brussels sprouts: I recommend using fresh sprouts. Whether they’re loose, packaged, or even frozen, they all work well. I've detailed in FAQ below on how to air fry frozen Brussels sprouts.
- Garlic seasoning: My go-to is a mix of lemon juice, olive oil, salt, and pepper. Its simple and full of flavor.
- Sweet and tangy glaze: For a balsamic glaze, I skip the lemon juice and add 1 tablespoon of balsamic vinegar instead. And also use 1 teaspoon honey.
- Oil-free option: If you prefer air fryer Brussels sprouts without oil, just skip the oil and add a bit more lemon juice or balsamic glaze to keep them moist.
🔪How to Make Air Fryer Crispy Balsamic Brussels Sprouts?
Step 1: Prep the Brussels sprouts: Wash and dry the sprouts. Remove any discolored or wilted outer leaves. Slice them in half, then trim the ends. If you’re using smaller sprouts, you can leave them whole.
Step 2: Toss with seasoning: In a small bowl, mix olive oil (or skip for oil-free), garlic, salt, pepper, and balsamic vinegar. Pour this over the sprouts and let them sit for about 2 minutes while the air fryer preheats.
Step 3: Air fry: Preheat the air fryer to 360°F (180°C) for 2 minutes. Place the sprouts in a single layer in the basket and air fry for 12–15 minutes, shaking or flipping halfway through.
Tip: You may need to work in batches depending on the size of your air fryer.
Finish and serve: Brush with honey and air fry for another 2-3 minutes until caramelised and crisp. Serve warm and enjoy!
Tip: I like to crank up the heat to 400°F (200°C) after adding the honey to add the final crispiness.
🍽 How Do I Serve Air Fried Brussels Sprouts?
I love serving crispy air-fried Brussels sprouts with pomegranates/ cranberries and pecans for a festive touch. They are delicious as it is with your festive mains like Air fryer Cauliflower Mac and Cheese or Vegetableand Lentil Shepherds Pie.
🧂Storing Leftovers
- In the fridge: I allow the air-fryer brussels sprouts to cool to room temperature and then store them in an air-tight container for up to 3 days.
- In the freezer: For longer storage, I store them in freezer-safe containers or bags and freeze up to a month. Thaw in the microwave or leave it out at room temperature before reheating.
- To reheat: Reheat in the air fryer at 360°F/180°C for 3-5 minutes.
❓Recipe FAQ's
Absolutely. It's a quick and easy way to prepare them.Toss the frozen Brussels sprouts with seasoning and air fry in a preheated air fryer at 190°C for 15-20 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through for even cooking. You may need to adjust the cooking time based on the size of the Brussels sprouts and the specific air fryer model you're using. Enjoy!
I cook Brussels sprouts in the air fryer at 360°F (180°C) for about 15–18 minutes, until they’re tender inside and just starting to crisp up. I give the basket a good shake halfway through. Some leaves may fall off, but that’s actually great because they turn extra crispy! The time also depends on the size of the air fryer.
360°F (180°C) is just the right temperature. It is hot enough to brown the Brussels sprouts without burning them. You want them to be soft inside and nicely browned on the outside.
If the heat is too high, like 400°F (200°C), they’ll turn dark before the insides have a chance to cook through. I've tried it and it burns the sprouts rather than cooking them well.
More Vegetarian Christmas Recipes
Ingredients
- 450 g Brussel Sprouts 1 lbs
Garlic and Lemon
- 2 tablespoon Olive Oil
- 3 Cloves Garlic minced
- Juice of ½ Lemon
- 1 teaspoon salt season to your liking
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
Balsamic and Honey Glaze
- 2 tablespoon olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic
- 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon honey
Instructions
Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts with Garlic and Lemon
- Cut the Brussels sprouts in half through the stem end, leaving the stem intact. If need trim the ends.
- Put the sprouts in a bowl and toss with olive oil, garlic, lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Let them sit for 2 minutes while the air fryer heats.
- Preheat the air fryer to 360°F (180°C). Place the sprouts in the basket in a single layer. Air fry for 12–15 minutes, shaking halfway, until tender inside and and lightly crispy on the edges.
Air fryer Crispy Balsamic Brussels Sprouts
- Cut the Brussels sprouts in half through the stem end, leaving the stem intact. If need trim the ends.
- Toss the sprouts in a bowl with olive oil, garlic, balsamic vinegar, salt, and pepper. Let them sit for 2 minutes while the air fryer preheats.
- Preheat the air fryer to 360°F (180°C). Place the sprouts in the basket in a single layer. Air fry for 12–15 minutes, shaking halfway, until tender inside and slightly caramelised.
- Brush with honey, increase the temperature to 400°F (200°C), and air fry for 2–4 minutes until crisp and deeply browned. Garnish if planning to and serve immediately.
Notes
Expert Tips
- Don’t trim first: Cut the sprouts in half before trimming the ends. This keeps most leaves intact — and the few that fall off turn deliciously crispy.
- Halve for more flavor: More surface area means more glaze and seasoning, giving you extra flavor and crispiness.
- Flip halfway: Shake or flip the sprouts midway for even crisping — it makes a big difference!
- Single layer only: Don’t overcrowd the basket. A flat layer helps them roast, not steam.
- Skip high heat: Too hot, and they’ll burn outside before cooking through. 360°F (180°C) works best.
- Adjust for air fryer size: Smaller air fryer takes longer time compared to bigger capacity ones like my 5.7L Instant Pot Vortex. Always add a couple of minutes as necessary.
Flavor Variations
- SPICY ROASTED BRUSSEL SPROUTS - If you like it spicy, season with cayenne pepper or chilli powder.
- BRUSSELS SPROUTS WITH PARMESAN CHEESE - Marinate the sprouts with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Air fry for 12 minutes. At halftime, sprinkle cheese on top and continue to cook until done.
- ROASTED BRUSSELS SPROUTS AND POTATOES - Toss the sprouts and potatoes separately in seasoning. First, cook the potatoes in the air fryer for 10 minutes, then add the sprouts and cook.
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