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These crispy Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts are the perfect easy side dish! Ready in under 20 minutes, this healthy recipe will become a new favorite air fryer vegetable.
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Crispy Brussels Sprouts
Gone are the days of mushy, slimy Brussels sprouts… Long live these tender, crunchy bites of goodness! The bitterness of brussels is tempered with an easy all-purpose seasoning and a dusting of tasty parmesan cheese. A quick cooking time leaves these sprouts fresh and crispy, perfect for serving with nearly any main course!
Want more healthy veggies? Check out this list of the BEST Air Fryer Vegetables!
Why you’ll love it:
- Quick – This recipe takes just 20 minutes from beginning to end, making it perfect for a busy weeknight. If your grocery store offers pre-cut and washed veggies, this healthy side dish becomes even easier!
- Healthy – We use minimal ingredients in this recipe and just enough oil to get the best flavor and texture from the sprouts. Each serving is around 130 calories and 7 net carbs, so it’s a great option for many different types of diets.
- Versatile – The blend of seasonings and short ingredient list means this dish could pair well with so many different cuisines and entrees. You could use them as a base for a veggie bowl, toss them into pastas or onto salads, or serve alongside some dipping sauces for fun.
Ingredients for Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts
Here’s a quick overview of what you’ll need for this recipe. You will find exact measurements and instructions in the printable recipe card at the bottom of the page.
- Brussels Sprouts – Choose sprouts on the smaller side with tight leaves for the best texture.
- Parmesan Cheese – You want grated cheese (like the Kraft kind that comes in the green can) because the small, crumbly texture sticks best to the sprouts. It crisps up nicely for crunchy edges. If you’re dairy-free, you could swap this with breadcrumbs (or pork rind panko for dairy-free + low-carb).
- Avocado Oil – This mild cooking oil works best for us, but you could use extra virgin olive oil, coconut oil, or vegetable oil if you wish.
- Seasonings: Garlic powder, Onion powder, Salt, and Pepper – These make a great all-purpose seasoning blend that will pair well with nearly any main entree or dipping sauce. Feel free to switch these up for different flavors.
How to Make Crispy Brussels Sprouts in the Air Fryer
This easy side dish recipe comes together with just a bowl and an air fryer! Here’s a quick step-by-step guide to this healthy recipe.
Prepare & season
Start by preheating your air fryer to 375 degrees. Even if yours says it’s unnecessary, I’ve found that allowing the machine to preheat for 3-5 minutes is the best way to get evenly cooked veggies!
Remove any loose outer leaves from the brussels sprouts and discard. Slice the ends off your brussels sprouts, then cut each one in half. Place the halved brussels sprouts in a large bowl, then cover with avocado oil, parmesan cheese, and seasonings. Toss the ingredients well to combine.
Air fry brussels sprouts
Give your preheated air fryer basket a quick spray with some cooking oil, then add in your brussels sprouts. Air fry for 15 minutes, tossing around the 8-minute mark to help things cook evenly. Once the center of the sprouts is nice and tender and the exterior is crispy, remove from air fryer and serve immediately.
How to serve air fryer brussels sprouts
This has become a go-to side dish several times a month for us! We love with with just a sprinkle of flaky salt, maybe a squeeze of lemon and a few turns under the pepper grinder. It’s the perfect simple side dish for a classic Sunday dinner with Roast Chicken, Cheesy Cauliflower Casserole, and a few Keto Dinner Rolls. For something light, some consider some Air Fryer Salmon or Shrimp Alfredo and these Keto Cheddar Garlic Biscuits.
More ideas for what to eat with brussels sprouts:
- Loaded Potatoes – Make some Instant Pot Potatoes, then add butter, sour cream, these air fryer brussels sprouts, and then top it with this delicious Cheese Sauce.
- Easy Pasta – Whip up some Garlic Parmesan Pasta or some Pesto Penne and toss in your crispy brussels sprouts. If you want more protein, add some bacon or these baked mushrooms.
- Healthy Scrambles – While your sprouts are cooking, make an easy scramble with fluffy eggs, melty cheese, and whatever leftover proteins you might have in the fridge.
- Grain or Veggie Bowls – Start with a layer of cheesy rice, cauliflower rice, or spicy potatoes. Add your brussels, maybe some glazed carrots, and layer it up like power bowl.
How to Store Cooked Brussels Sprouts
Leftovers keep well in an airtight container in the fridge up to 3 days. To keep things nice and crisp, allow them to cool completely before enclosing in a container. Any residual heat will turn into condensation which can lead to mushy sprouts. You can also hold a paper towel and place it on top of the sprouts to help absorb extra moisture for a better texture when you reheat them later.
Reheating instructions
Reheat leftovers in the air fryer, on the stovetop, or in the oven. Give leftovers a quick spray of oil before reheating to help them crisp up with the heat.
- Air Fryer – Preheat to 350, then reheat 3-5 minutes. Toss once or twice while reheating to prevent sticking and ensure they reheat evenly.
- Stovetop – Heat a skillet over medium-low and spray with oil. Pour in brussels sprouts and allow them to reheat for about 2-3 minutes before flipping and continuing to reheat 2-3 more minutes.
- Oven – Preheat to 350 while you place brussels sprouts on a lined baking sheet (try a silicone liner or parchment paper to prevent sticking). Spray with oil, then reheat about 10 minutes or until warmed through. If you’re worried they’ll get too browned, cover with foil.
If you love this easy side dish, you’ve got to try these healthy veggies!
- Air Fryer Zucchini with Parmesan – This quick-cooking veggie is so simple and delicious with just a sprinkle of grated parmesan! The edges get nice and crispy with barely any effort.
- Air Fryer Broccoli – A squeeze of lemon juice and a sprinkle of cheese brightens up this tasty side dish. It’s extremely convenient and simple–Perfect when you’re exhausted and hungry!
- Crispy Sweet Potato Cubes – We love how perfectly creamy and tender the insides of these diced sweet potatoes are, but the crunchy, caramelized edges really put this recipe over the top!
- 20-Minute Baby Potatoes – This is consistently one of our most popular recipes because it’s incredibly satisfying AND quick! Even taking the time to slice the potatoes will ensure you’ve got these on a plate in no time.
- Air Fryer Green Beans – A little oil, salt, garlic powder, and lemon juice are all you need to add to fresh green beans for this super easy, healthy side dish!
Want more brussels sprouts? Some of our favorites include Cheesy Brussels Sprouts with Bacon, Crispy Smashed Brussels Sprouts, and Balsamic Glazed Brussels Sprouts. Check this list for more recipes.
Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts FAQs
If you prefer softer sprouts with less of a chew, I recommend soaking the cut brussels sprouts in warm water for 10-15 minutes first. Then pat dry before tossing with oil and seasonings so that the outer leaves still crisp up nicely.
That’s okay, it’s natural for some of the outer leaves to fall off during the seasoning and cooking processes. They do get super crispy, but we really enjoy the extra crispy texture that these pieces add to the dish. If you aren’t a fan, you can discard these pieces before serving.
We like just a little flaky salt to add one little extra burst of flavor. You could also sprinkle with extra parmesan cheese, some cooked and crumbled bacon, a pinch of red pepper flakes, or maybe even a little drizzle of our favorite jalapeno ranch for a little flavor explosion!
Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 lbs brussels sprouts
- 2 tbsp grated parmesan cheese
- 2 tbsp avocado oil, or other cooking oil
- 1 ½ tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- ¾ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat air fryer to 375 degrees.
- Slice the ends off the Brussels sprouts, then halve and place in a large bowl.
- Add the parmesan cheese, oil, and seasonings and toss the Brussels sprouts to combine.
- Grease your air fryer basket with cooking spray and add your Brussels sprouts. Air fry for 15 minutes, tossing halfway through. Serve!
Notes
- It is normal for some of the outer leaves to fall off during the cooking process. They crisp up and taste great on their own!
- I finished these with a little more flaky sea salt, and they were amazing!
- For softer insides, soak your brussels sprouts in warm water for 10-15 minutes before tossing with oil and seasonings.
- This recipe makes 4 servings (each serving is 1/4 of the recipe), and each serving has 7.5 net carbs.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
