One clever trick and a few minutes is all it takes to air fry Brussels sprouts that are tender with the most delicious, roasted brown bits and crispy leaves.
If you’ve ever cooked Brussels sprouts in the air fryer, you may have ended up with a batch where the sprouts browned too quickly, almost burning before they were fully cooked inside. I definitely suffered from it myself.
The trick I found (and this recipe uses) is to soak the Brussels sprouts in water before seasoning and toss them in the fryer. During soaking, water gets trapped between the leaves, which turns to steam in the heat of the air fryer. This will ensure they don’t have an uncomfortable, raw bite.
Tips for the Best Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts
Just like ovens or stovetops, all air fryers work a little differently. Soaking the sprouts will help the sprouts cook through, but will also slow the rate at which the sprouts brown, reducing the chance of burning them.
Since all air fryers are different and some can get hotter, it doesn’t hurt to keep an eye on the sprouts as they cook.
CONTINUE READING:
Slight variations
I simply season Brussels sprouts with olive oil, salt, black pepper, and crushed red paprika, but you can easily dress it up with nutty Parmesan or bright lemon zest.
- Lemon: Before serving, finely grate half a lemon over the sprouts.
- Balsamic: After air frying, drizzle with balsamic glaze.
- Parmesan: In the final minutes of cooking, grate the Parmesan over the Brussels sprouts in the air fryer. Continue cooking for the last few minutes until the sprouts are crisp and tender and the cheese is toasted and beginning to brown. Sprinkle with more grated Parmesan if you like.
- breadcrumbs: Top the cooked sprouts with toasted, garlic-like breadcrumbs.
How to heat Brussels sprouts in the air fryer
- Preheat the air fryer to 375°F (if needed) on the air fryer setting (if your model has multiple settings).
- Place the leftover Brussels sprouts in the basket of the air fryer in a single layer.
- Place basket back in fryer and reheat until sprouts are warmed through and crisp on the outside, about 3 minutes. Serve immediately.
More fun with the hot air fryer
- Air fryer chicken tenders
- Air Fryer Chinese Spring Rolls
- Crispy Air Fryer French Fries
- Air fryer mozzarella sticks
- Avocado fries from the air fryer
Air fryer Brussels sprouts
This recipe was developed in a 6L air fryer large enough to hold the halved Brussels sprouts in a single layer. If your air fryer is smaller, you may want to cook the sprouts in batches, or cook them a few minutes longer (shake the basket several times during cooking) to allow all halves to crisp up.
ingredients
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12 ounces (3/4 lb) Cauliflower
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1 tablespoon olive oil
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1/4 teaspoon kosher saltmore or less to taste
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1/4 teaspoon fresh ground black peppermore or less to taste
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prize crushed red pepper (Optional)
method
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Prepare the Brussels sprouts:
Cut the tough stalks from each Brussels sprout and remove any shriveled and/or yellowed outer leaves. Cut each sprout in half lengthwise through the stem and core. You should have about 4 cups of Brussels sprouts halves.
Place the chopped Brussels sprouts in a medium bowl and cover with hot water. The water doesn’t have to boil; The hottest temperature water that comes out of your faucet is fine.
Let the Brussels sprouts soak for about 15 minutes. Soaking the sprouts reduces some of the bitterness and traps moisture between the leaves, which turns to steam as it cooks, ensuring the sprouts are tender and cooked through.
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Prepare the air fryer and strain the sprouts:
Meanwhile, if your air fryer needs preheating, preheat the air fryer to 375°F. If your air fryer has different settings, use the air fryer setting.
Place the soaked sprouts in a colander and shake over the sink to remove excess moisture from the outside of the sprouts. Rinse and dry the medium bowl used to soak the Brussels sprouts and place the trimmed sprouts back in the bowl.
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Season the Brussels sprouts:
Toss the Brussels sprouts with the olive oil, salt, pepper, and a pinch of crushed red pepper (if using) until well coated.
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Air fry and serve:
Place the Brussels sprouts in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Place basket back in fryer and cook at 375°F until sprouts are tender and outer leaves are crisp and golden brown in spots, about 12 minutes, tossing halfway.
Place the Brussels sprouts on a plate and serve immediately crispy.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
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| nutritional information (per serving) | |
|---|---|
| 61 | calories |
| 4g | Fat |
| 6g | carbohydrates |
| 2g | protein |
