A fun snack or a delicious side, these crispy Air Fryer Brussel Sprouts are sweet and spicy and roasted to perfection. Every bite has so much flavour from the garlic, honey, and paprika - you’ll find yourself reaching for seconds (and thirds, if I’m being honest!)
Brussel sprouts are not everyone’s cup of tea, but this version of roasted brussel sprouts that are sweet and spicy will win you over! I’m always looking for good side dish ideas - something that’s quick and fuss-free to prepare but also filling and appetizing. These Air Fryer Brussel Sprouts tick all those boxes, you’ve got to add them to your next dinner party menu!
Luckily everyone at home (including Mahi) loves Brussel Sprouts especially if they are roasted crisp. After years of trial and error, I’ve got the recipe just right so you won’t be biting into another soggy, boring sprout again.
- This recipe is quick - using the air fryer instead of the oven speeds up the cooking process and ensures that every piece is crispy golden
- It is versatile - you can season the brussel sprouts according to your preferences. I've listed some variations below
- Brussel sprouts make for a nutritious side dish - they are high in fiber
- This recipe has a low prep time, uses around 5 ingredients and does not require any major steps, making it a good option for dinner parties.
Spotlight on Brussel Sprouts
Brussel Sprouts are named after Brussels, Belgium where it is believed they were first widely cultivated back in the 16th century. Most people refer to them as “mini cabbages” as they are part of the same family and have a resemblance. They have a slight bitter taste which we enjoy, but most people don’t. Roasting them actually brings out their sweetness and makes the bitter undertones more palatable.
For this recipe, I have tossed the brussel sprouts in some oil, paprika, salt, garlic powder, and honey to give them that sweet and spicy taste which I love!
How to make Air Fryer Brussel Sprouts
- Start by prepping the brussel sprouts - remove any wilted or brown leaves
2. Take off the woody stem at the end and cut each brussel sprout into half. Wash them thoroughly
3. Soak the brussel sprouts in water. This is a common problem with air fried brussel sprouts where they get crisp outside but don't cook completely from the inside. Soaking them in water for 15 minutes is a helpful trick to cook them properly
4. Drain the brussel sprouts completely and pat them dry. Toss them well with all the other ingredients - garlic powder, salt, chilli powder, oil, honey
5. Preheat your air fryer. Mine has a built in function that preheats in 3 minutes. Then place the brussel sprouts in a single layer in the air fryer basket
6. Air fry for 10 minutes, shaking the air fryer once halfway for really crispy roasted brussel sprouts in the air fryer. They will shrink in size and the smaller pieces will become like brussel sprouts chips
You can also try these variations, or even better, make multiple together to serve a variety!
- Garlic Parmesan Brussel Sprouts: tossed in garlic powder. Sprinkle with grated parmesan and freshly cracked black pepper as soon as they are out of the oven
- Brussel Sprouts with Bacon: toss with roasted bacon for an amazing bacony flavour
- Balsamic Brussel Sprouts: roasted brussel sprouts tossed in honey-balsamic glaze. To make the honey balsamic glaze, mix together 2 parts honey with 1 part balsamic vinegar
- Brussel Sprouts with Mustard Vinaigrette: roasted brussel sprouts tossed in a simple vinaigrette made with mustard, vinegar, and oil
Air Fryer Brussel Sprouts FAQ:
How does the air fryer work? By circulating hot hair at high speeds! It doesn’t take much time to preheat and allows for easy flipping and monitoring of our roasted sprouts
Why won't my brussel sprouts get crispy? If you have omitted using oil or used less than the recipe calls for, the sprouts may not get as crispy.
Why are my brussel sprouts soggy? Make sure to wipe the brussel sprouts well to get rid of any excess water before tossing them in oil and seasoning. This will prevent them from being soggy. Also don’t overcrowd the air fryer pan - place the sprouts in a single layer. If they overlap or you put too many in at one go, they will end up steaming instead of roasting and will become soggy
Why are my brussel sprouts mushy? They must be overcooked, make sure to only soak them in water for 15 minutes and roast for around 10 minutes, flipping mid-way.
How to make sure the brussel sprouts are cooked all the way through? The trick is to soak the sprouts in water for 15 minutes and then drain and roast them. Doing this ensures they are tender inside while becoming crisp from outside.
How to store the brussel sprouts? You can store unwashed brussel sprouts in an airtight container in the refrigerator. If you would like to store the roasted brussel sprouts, I recommend taking them out of the air fryer before they finish cooking and storing them for up to 24 hours in the refrigerator. When using, you can place them back in the airfryer for a few minutes to finish cooking. However, they are the most crisp tasting when freshly roasted!
How to reheat them? If you have leftovers and want to reheat them, I recommend lightly sauteing with some oil or butter in a heated pan for around 1-2 minutes.
Can they be frozen? I don’t recommend this because the brussel sprouts will get mushy.
Once you’ve got brussel sprouts at home, there’s no need to fret about holiday side dishes or veggie appetizers. You will love these versatile mini cabbages and all of the ways to prepare them!
These go great with my Herb Garlic Roast Chicken and Bacon Mushroom Chicken Roulade.
If you want to try more air fryer recipes, have a go at my Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets!
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Air Fryer Brussel Sprouts - Sweet and Spicy
Equipment
Ingredients
- 500 Grams Brussel Sprouts prepped and cut into halves lengthwise
- 1 tablespoon Honey
- 2 Teaspoons Oil
- 1 Teaspoon Salt
- ¾ Teaspoon Paprika
- ¾ Teaspoon Garlic Powder
Instructions
- Trim the Brussel sprouts and take off any brown leaves. Cut them in half lengthwise. If they are big, cut them into quarters.
- Soak them in water for 15 minutes.
- Preheat the air fryer to 190C/375F. Each air fryer is different but mine takes 3 minutes to preheat.
- Drain the water completely. Transfer the Brussel sprouts into a mixing bowl and add oil, salt, paprika, garlic powder and honey. Toss well to combine.
- Place the Brussel sprouts in a single layer to ensure it crisps up. Do this step in multiple batches if necessary. Do not place the Brussel sprouts one over the other.
- Cook for 5 minutes at 190C/375F and then shake the air fryer basket to toss the Brussel sprouts. Then cook for another 4-5 minutes till they are golden and crispy.
Notes
- Make sure to wipe or drain the Brussel sprouts well to get rid of any excess water before tossing them in oil and seasoning.
- Also don’t overcrowd the air fryer pan - place the sprouts in a single layer. If they overlap or you put too many in at one go, they will end up steaming instead of roasting and will become soggy.
- You can reheat leftovers by lightly sautéing with some oil or butter in a heated pan for around 1-2 minutes or placing them back in the air fryer for 1-2 minutes
Nutrition
This article has been researched and written by Navya Khetarpal
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