If you love restaurant-style sprouts, try my crispy air fryer Brussels sprouts. I make them two ways: with garlic and lemon, or balsamic and honey. Both versions cook in around 20 minutes with caramelised edges and tender centres.
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 — cooks in just 15 - 18 minutes compared to 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 Brussels Sprouts
- 🍽 How Do I Serve Air Fried Brussels Sprouts?
- 🧂Storing Leftovers
- ❓Recipe FAQ's
- More Vegetarian Christmas Recipes
- Crispy Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts (2 Ways)
👩🏻🍳Sandhya’s Top Tips for Perfect Roasted Brussels Sprouts
- Halve before trimming: Cut brussels sprouts through the stem first, then trim the ends if needed. This helps keep most of the leaves together and gives the sprouts more edges to brown. (And honestly, the few that fall off get super crispy, so it’s not a bad thing!)
- Dry the sprouts well after washing so they roast rather than steam.
- Cook in a single layer: Leave room around the sprouts and work in batches if your basket is small.
- Shake the basket halfway through for more even browning.
- Start at 180°C (360°F): This gives the centres time to soften. For the balsamic and honey version, increase to 200°C (400°F) only for the final few minutes.
- Check your air fryer: Cooking time can vary with the size of the sprouts and the capacity of your air fryer. I use my 5.7L Instant Vortex.
📋Ingredients
- Brussels sprouts: Use 450 g of fresh sprouts. Halve them so they cook evenly and get those caramelised edges.
- Garlic and lemon option: Toss the sprouts with olive oil, minced garlic, lemon juice, salt and pepper for a fresh, savoury flavour.
- Balsamic and honey option: Use olive oil, garlic, balsamic vinegar, salt and pepper, then add the honey towards the end of cooking.
- Choose one flavour option for each 450 g batch of sprouts. The full quantities are in the recipe card below.
🔪How to Make Air Fryer 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: Season the sprouts. Toss the sprouts with olive oil, garlic, salt and pepper. Add lemon juice for the garlic and lemon version or balsamic vinegar for the balsamic and honey version. Leave the honey for the final few minutes of cooking.
Step 3: Air fry. Preheat the air fryer to 180°C (360°F) for 2 minutes. Arrange the sprouts in a single layer and air fry for 12–15 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through. Cook in batches if needed.
Tip: You may need to work in batches depending on the size of your air fryer.
Step 4: Finish and serve. The garlic and lemon sprouts are ready once tender with browned edges.
For the balsamic and honey version, brush the cooked sprouts with honey, increase the heat to 200°C (400°F) and air fry for another 2–3 minutes, watching closely until caramelised. Serve warm.
🍽 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 Vegetable and 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
I preheat mine to 180°C for 2 minutes while I season the sprouts. This way, they start cooking as soon as they go into the basket.
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.
I cook them at 180°C (360°F) so the centres have time to soften while the edges brown. I’ve tried cooking them at 200°C (400°F) from the start, but the outside darkens before the middle is tender. For the balsamic and honey version, I only increase the heat to 200°C for the final few minutes, once the sprouts are cooked through.
They may be too wet or crowded in the basket. Dry the sprouts well after washing, spread them in a single layer and shake the basket halfway through. If you’re cooking a larger quantity for Christmas dinner, work in batches.
More Vegetarian Christmas Recipes
Ingredients
Base Ingredients
- 450 g brussel sprouts 1 lbs
- 2 tablespoon olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon salt or to taste
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
Garlic and Lemon
- juice of ½ lemon
Balsamic and Honey
- 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
- 1 teaspoon honey
Instructions
- Prepare the sprouts: Wash and dry the Brussels sprouts. Slice them in half through the stem, then trim the ends if needed.
- Season: Toss the sprouts with the olive oil, garlic, salt and pepper. Add the lemon juice or balsamic vinegar, depending on which version you’re making. Keep the honey aside for now.
- Air fry: Preheat the air fryer to 180°C (360°F) for 2 minutes. Arrange the sprouts in a single layer and air fry for 12–15 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through. Cook in batches if needed.
- Finish: For the garlic and lemon version, serve when the sprouts are tender with browned edges. For the balsamic version, brush the cooked sprouts with honey, increase the heat to 200°C (400°F) and air fry for another 2–3 minutes, watching closely until caramelised. Serve warm.
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.
- Cooking times may vary with the size of the sprouts and your air fryer. For crisp edges, dry the sprouts well and give them room in the basket.
- 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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