Learn the secret to the crispiest Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts – say hello to the perfect fall side dish with garlic, parmesan and balsamic.
Ingredients and substitutions
- Brussels sprouts – fresh brussels sprouts are best, but frozen can be used as well.
- Olive oil – any neutral oil such as grape seed oil, canola oil or avocado oil can be used as a substitution for olive oil.
- Salt & pepper – to taste.
- Balsamic vinegar – red wine vinegar mixed with maple syrup or a balsamic vinaigrette can be used as in place of balsamic vinegar.
- Honey – agave syrup, maple syrup or brown sugar syrup can be used in place of honey.
- Garlic – use fresh or jarred minced garlic. Garlic powder can be used in a pinch but fresh garlic is recommended.
- Parmesan cheese – nutritional yeast is a great dairy-free alternative to parmesan cheese, otherwise asiago cheese can be used in place of parmesan cheese.
How to make brussels sprouts in the air fryer
Step 1: Cut up the brussels sprouts.
Cut the ends off the brussels sprouts and slice them in half, then toss them with olive oil, salt and pepper.
Step 2: Preheat the air fryer to 400° F.
Step 3: Air fry the brussels sprouts.
Cook the brussels sprouts for 7 minutes, toss them, then air fry for another 5 minutes. Toss them with balsamic vinegar, honey and garlic, then air fry for 2 more minutes.
Step 4: Toss with parmesan and serve.
Remove them from the air fryer, toss with parmesan cheese and serve.
Tips for the best brussels sprouts
Here are some of my top tips to ensure you get the crispiest and most flavourful brussels sprouts:
- Cut them into evenly sized small pieces.
- Make sure they're evenly coated in olive oil with a shiny look before cooking.
- To make them crispy on the outside but tender on the inside, soak them in water for 10 minutes before cooking.
- If you want them to be even sweeter, mix the olive oil with a bit of brown sugar before tossing the brussels sprouts.
- Make sure you use fresh garlic! You'll get way better flavour than if you use garlic powder.
- If you're using frozen brussels sprouts, cook them for longer.
- Turn them into a brussels sprouts salad.
Frequently Asked Questions
I normally use fresh brussels sprouts for this recipe, but you can definitely try using frozen brussels sprouts. You'll likely need to increase the cooking time.
You can serve these garlic parmesan brussels sprouts with pretty much any protein! It'd be great with this sausage skillet or this chicken bacon ranch pasta. You could also serve it with baked chicken breast or grilled salmon. The options are endless!
Yes you can! If you're looking for a dairy free or vegan option, you can swap out the parmesan cheese for nutritional yeast.
Make sure your brussels sprouts are completely dry before tossing them in olive oil and adding them to the air fryer! If they're still wet from being washed, they'll steam instead of getting nice and crispy.
While this recipe is for the air fryer, you can definitely make them in the oven as well. Toss them in the olive oil, salt, pepper, balsamic vinegar, honey and garlic, then cook them in the oven on a parchment-lined baking sheet for 10-12 minutes at 450° F, tossing halfway through.
Storing and reheating
Store these garlic parmesan brussels sprouts in a glass container in the fridge for up to 4 days. To reheat, I'd recommend sticking them in the oven for about 10 minutes on a parchment-lined baking sheet at 350° Fahrenheit, or reheating them in the air fryer for 10-12 minutes at 350° Fahrenheit. Sprinkle with some more parmesan then serve! Technically, you can reheat them in the microwave for 1-2 minutes, but they'll get soggy.
Can you freeze brussels sprouts?
This air fryer balsamic brussels sprouts recipe is definitely freezer-friendly! You can freeze the brussels sprouts either cooked or uncooked. Here are the instructions for both options:
- Cooked: Let them cool to room temperature, then freeze them in a glass bowl or Ziploc bag for up to 3 months. Reheat in a skillet on the stovetop or in the oven following the instructions above.
- Uncooked: Blanch or boil the brussels sprouts in water, dry them completely, then freeze them in a glass bowl or Ziploc bag for up to 6 months. Let them defrost, then cook as normal.
Note that if you use frozen brussels sprouts for this recipe, you cannot re-freeze them.
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Crispiest Garlic Parm Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts
Ingredients
- 4 cups brussels sprouts
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1/2 tsp each salt & pepper
- 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
- 1 tbsp honey
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/4 cup parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Preheat air fryer to 400 F for 10 min. Cut ends off of brussels sprouts and then slice in half. In a large bowl, toss brussels sprouts with olive oil and salt & pepper.
- Add brussels sprouts to air fryer and cook for 7 minutes. Remove basket and toss brussels sprouts, then air fry another 5 minutes. Remove the basket once more, then toss with balsamic vinegar, honey and garlic. Air fry for 2 more minutes.
- When brussels sprouts are done, remove from air fryer and toss with parmesan cheese. Serve and enjoy!
Comments & Reviews
cm says
the ingredients call for parmesan cheese, your instructions do not include the cheese anywhere.
Taylor Stinson says
Sorry for this error, you toss them with the cheese at the end. The recipe has been updated to reflect this.