Introduction
Brussel sprouts are a delicious vegetable that can be used in many different dishes. While they are very good as a side dish, they are also great for a light lunch or dinner. The best and easiest way to prepare brussel sprouts is with an air fryer!
Are you a fan of fried foods but afraid to try making them at home? Have you been curious about air fryers but don’t know where to start?
An air fryer uses less oil than deep frying, making it healthier. It also can cook food faster than using the oven or stovetop. Air fried veggies make for a delicious side dish that goes well with any meal!
- Introduction
- Why Brussel Sprouts?
- Ingredients
- Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer according to manufacturer’s instructions.
- Wash the sprouts and remove any damaged outer leaves.
- Trim stems and cut them into quarters, cutting larger ones in half again.
- Place coated brussels sprouts into the basket of the air fryer in a single layer
- Cook for 12 minutes at 400°F, shaking basket halfway through cooking time.
- What to eat the frozen potato skins with?
- Equipment You’ll Need:
- Printable Recipe
Why Brussel Sprouts?
As a kid I hated brussel sprouts. I was always disappointed when my mum prepared them for dinner. I would always try to trick myself out of eating them. Were you the same? Don’t worry I know you were! Well once you grow up this changes. You start to crave foods that you thought you hated and then you realize they are great, like brussel sprouts. So I got out my trusty Air Fryer and gave it a shot—and they turned out AMAZING. So crispy and flavorful. Much better than steamed ones!
Oh and its also super healthy. According to HealthLine the benefits of Brussel sprouts are that they contain vitamins C, K, A, B6, E, and folic acid. This makes them good for your eyesight and your immune system. They are also high in fiber which you need if your are a regular human being of the Western world. Fiber deficiency is a huge problem in the US. Only 7% are getting enough fiber!
This recipe is also a great one for beginners!
So let’s get those tasty brussel sprouts fried!
Ingredients
- 2 lbs Brussels Sprouts
- Himalayan pink salt, to taste
- Fresh cracked pepper, to taste
- Olive Oil
- Pro tip: Add some vegan cream sauce to it (it’s easy!)
Instructions
Preheat the air fryer according to manufacturer’s instructions.
Preheat or don’t preheat? If you are adding frozen brussel sprouts I would say don’t preheat because there is a risk of uneven temperature. For fresh brussel sprouts is best to preheat your air fryer.
Preheat the air fryer according to manufacturer’s instructions. Set the temperature to 400F and wait for 5-6 minutes.
the timer for 12 minutes, shaking after 6 minutes. Cooking time will vary depending on the size of your brussels sprouts, so you may need to adjust it up or down a few minutes.
Shake regularly throughout cooking; this is crucial for even cooking as well as browning brussels sprouts evenly. To check if they’re done, take one out and cut it in half with a sharp knife—if they are done there will be no color at all inside (don’t worry! It’ll still taste amazing).
Wash the sprouts and remove any damaged outer leaves.
First, you’ll want to wash the sprouts and remove any damaged outer leaves.
Trim stems and cut them into quarters, cutting larger ones in half again.
- Remove outer leaves and cut off the stem and discard. Cut them in quarters (or larger ones in half again).
- Toss them into a bowl, sprinkle with a little oil, and add your seasonings of choice; salt and pepper, some dried herbs or garlic powder work well.
Place coated brussels sprouts into the basket of the air fryer in a single layer
Place the coated brussels sprouts into the basket of the air fryer in a single layer. Make sure to space them out so that none of the brussels sprouts are touching each other, or else they won’t get crisp. This also makes it easy to shake them around so they cook evenly.
You can use aluminium foil ( read this article before) or parchment paper under the sprouts that will save you a lot of cleaning.
Cook for 12 minutes at 400°F, shaking basket halfway through cooking time.
Here’s what you’ll do:
- Set temperature to 400°F, if possible. If your air fryer doesn’t go this high, then set it as high as possible. Nowadays all are fryers usually go up to 400°F.
- Cook for 12 minutes, shaking basket or moving the brussel sprouts at least once halfway through cooking time. Cooking time depends on how crispy you want your Brussels sprouts.
What to keep in mind when you make brussel sprouts in an air fryer
One of the biggest mistakes people make when cooking in an air fryer is overcrowding. Air needs to be able to circulate around each piece of food, so don’t try to fit more than the basket can hold. For this recipe, I like to use about 1-1/2 pounds brussel sprouts for a 4-quart air fryer (any smaller and you don’t get as much browning on the tops and bottoms). If you have a larger air fryer (5+ quarts), you might be able to fit in a little more brussel sprouts.
After tossing your halved sprouts with oil and seasoning, spread them out evenly into your air fryer basket so they aren’t crowded or overlapping. You could also split up the batch between 2 meals if that works better for you; just remember not to double up any other ingredients besides the veggies. Since these are pretty small pieces, they only take around 12 minutes at 400°F (205°C) to cook through and get nice crispy edges. Be sure to shake them once halfway through cooking for even browning!
To add extra flavor, I like serving these with a simple balsamic glaze made from balsamic vinegar simmered until reduced by half (you can even do this while the brussel sprouts are cooking!). If you want some extra texture, sprinkle over some nuts or seeds .And of course, no roasted vegetable side dish is complete without some fresh lemon juice squeezed over top right before serving!
If you want to try something new you could mix it with vegan cream sauce. This is usually how I eat it. It is DELICIOUS! Be careful. Once you try it there is no turning back
What to eat the brussel sprouts with?
I think brussel sprouts can be a main dish for many. If you are looking for ideas though that goes with the brussel sprouts then check out our other recipes.
Foods that go perfectly with the potato skins:
Equipment You’ll Need:
All you need is a bowl and an air fryer. If you are looking for an air fryer be sure to check out our ultimate guide on how to choose an air fryer.
Printable Recipe
Brussel Sprouts in the Air Fryer
Equipment
- 1 Air Fryer
Ingredients
- 2 lbs. Brussel Sprouts
- 1 tsp. Himalayan pink salt to taste
- 1 tsp. Fresh cracked pepper to taste
- 1 tbsp. Olive oil
- Vegan cream For additional taste
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer according to manufacturer's instructions.
- Wash the sprouts and remove any damaged outer leaves.
- Trim stems and cut them into quarters, cutting larger ones in half again.
- Place coated brussels sprouts into the basket of the air fryer in a single layer
- Cook for 12 minutes at 400°F, shaking basket halfway through cooking time.
- Add the vegan cream in after taking the brussel sprouts out from the air fryer
