This post contains helpful tips and tricks! If you’re in a rush, please use the “Jump to Recipe” above! Jump to:💭 Why you’ll love this recipe 📋 Ingredients and notes 📖 Step-by-step instructions👩🏽🍳Top tips for crispy Brussels sprouts🍴 Serving and storage suggestions📖 Recipe💬 Comments
💭 Why you’ll love this recipe
Vegan, gluten-free, and nut-free: I love sharing healthy, wholesome and delicious dishes on this blog, and this is perfect example of that.Simple ingredients without compromising on flavors: This recipe just needs five ingredients, all of which you probably have at home! Brussels sprouts are super nutritious: I could talk for an entire page about how healthy Brussels sprouts are. Few calories, many nutrition benefits including vitamins A, K, C, B-6 and B-9 and potassium.
📋 Ingredients and notes
You’ll need a pound of Brussels sprouts, avocado oil, salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Oh, and of course - an air fryer or an oven with air-frying capabilities. If you don’t have an air-fryer, I have instructions for an oven in the recipe notes as well.
Notes and Variations
Picking Brussels sprouts: You want firm and dark green Brussels sprouts. Make sure to avoid ones that have worm holes. Try to use them up before they shrivel. Seasoning: This is a simple recipe but I’ve included variations in the serving suggestionsType of oil: I don’t like to use olive oil in air fryer recipes because they have a low smoke point (375 to 400F). Instead, I use neutral oils with higher smoke point (e.g., avocado oil). If you use olive oil, keep the air fryer at 375F and cook a few more minutes for crispiness
📖 Step-by-step instructions
Prepare the Brussels sprouts
If you’ve never prepared Brussels sprouts before, it can seem daunting, but it’s actually quite simple once you get the hang of it. Start by washing and drying them thoroughly. Then, using a sharp knife, cut off the edges (i.e., the stem) and then peel any wilted outer leaves. Loose leaves that are green and fresh make the crispiest parts of the dish! Then, cut the sprouts lengthwise, ideally into halves, but you can also chop them into quarters if you want to cook them faster!
Season the Brussels sprouts
Add the prepared Brussels sprouts to a large mixing bowl. Drizzle with two tablespoons of avocado oil, followed by a teaspoon each of kosher salt, black pepper, and garlic powder. Toss to cover the Brussels sprouts well.
Throw them in the air fryer!
Then, dump the Brussels sprouts in the air fryer. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you might need to cook them in a couple of batches. Air fry them at 400F for 10 minutes. Then, take the air fryer basket out and give it a good shake, and then air fry for 5 minutes.
Your air fryer Brussels sprouts are ready to be devoured!
👩🏽🍳Top tips for crispy Brussels sprouts
Cut Brussels sprouts into even-sized pieces to ensure that they cook evenly. This makes a big difference in ensuring consistency in texture!Season the Brussels sprouts with wanton abandon and use a mixing bowl. I use avocado oil, salt, pepper and garlic powder. You can also add parmesan cheese (vegan or vegetarian), other dried herbs, or even red pepper flakes if you wish. I know it’s annoying to have to wash another dish, but using a mixing bowl ensures the seasoning disperses evenly! Coat your air fryer basket or tray with some spray or a bit of oil to ensure they don’t stick to the bottomTry not to overcrowd them - layer them without overlapping in the tray to ensure they get as crispy as they can. If you have a tray of sorts, you can lay them flat side down to ensure they cook evenly as well. And if you do have to overcrowd (and hey, we get busy, I understand) - you might need to increase your cooking time by up to 5 minutes!
🍴 Serving and storage suggestions
This recipe can be stored in an air tight container for a day or two in the fridge. To reheat them, you can add them to a lightly oiled baking sheet and then warm them up in the oven at 350F for 5 minutes, until heated through. It likely won’t be as crispy though, sadly.
Air Fryer or Roasted Brussels Sprouts Variations
I’ve suggested a very simple recipe here, but the possibilities are endless when it comes to flavor combinations for air fryer Brussels sprouts.
Drizzle with balsamic vinegar and finish off with some red pepper flakes or grated vegetarian parmesan (if you’re not vegan) Drizzle some sesame seed oil for a delicious Asian-inspired version Add some red pepper flakes and squeeze a lemon wedge over the cooked sprouts to give them a really tangy, spicy flavor Add warm spices like zaatar or serve with harissa for a Middle-Eastern take (this makes for an amazing pita sandwich base!)
Ways to use up leftover air fryer Brussels sprouts
Air fried Brussels sprouts are amazing with so many things - especially with creamy dishes. I love adding them as a nutritious crunchy element to pastas, sandwiches, toasts, or even scrambled eggs.
Add them to your favorite pasta - I’ve topped my spicy alfredo and my leek and mushroom pasta with crispy Brussels sprouts (after chopping them a bit) Add them to avocado toast - seriously, the creaminess of the avocado along with crispy sprouts makes for a killer combination. I usually add some red pepper flakes here too. Add them to almost any salad to make it instantly heartier - I sometimes even add these air fryer Brussels sprouts to my vegan Caesar salad instead of the roasted chickpeas!
If you like this recipe, check out my other healthy side recipes: If you tried this recipe, don’t forget to comment and rate! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
📖 Recipe
Psst. If you’re wondering whether they’re Brussel sprouts or Brussels sprouts, it’s the latter. They’re named after the city of Brussels in Belgium, so there you go.
