Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts

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Crispy Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts are an excellent keto side dish and so easy to make! Drizzle them with some buttery garlic parmesan for the ultimate sprouts experience.

Air Fryer Brussels sprouts in a white serving bowl.

I adore Brussels sprouts – I always have and I always will. But like many people, I’ve had my share of mushy, flavorless sprouts. And almost always, the cooking method is to blame. The mistreatment of these delicious vegetables breaks my heart.

However, this recipe treats them as they were meant to be treated. Air Fryer Brussels sprouts come out super crispy and flavorful every. single. time. These are restaurant quality sprouts, my people!

I enjoy other preparations too, such as Keto Brussels Sprouts Casserole. And I adore them in Sheet Pan Chicken Thighs. But the air fryer method is easily my favorite way to make them. Crispy golden perfection!

Air Fryer Brussels sprouts in the air fryer basket.

Brussels sprouts vs brussel sprouts

I want to take this opportunity clear something up. The correct term for these little cabbage-like veggies is Brussels sprouts. Not, as many people think, “brussel sprouts”.

And since they are actually named after the city in Belgium, the first word should be capitalized. It’s always spelled with an s, with no apostrophe.

You really can’t blame people for being confused, though. When you say it out loud, it all runs together, so the two terms sound exactly the same. We don’t name too many vegetables after cities, after all.

I love etymology and I am a dork, so humor me!

Air Fryer Brussels sprouts on a white plate with chicken breast.

Why this recipe is so awesome

The first time I had deep fried Brussels sprouts, I was blown away by the flavor and the texture. There are a few local restaurants that do some fabulous fried Brussels and I order them whenever I get the chance.

But while I’ve tried it myself at home, it’s not something I care to do often. Deep frying is a messy business and your house tends to smell like fried food for days afterward.

Enter the air fryer. This popular kitchen appliance has seriously changed the game for millions of home cooks. And air fryer Brussels sprouts taste almost as good as deep fried!

They become deliciously browned and crisp, and you can jazz them up with your favorite additions like garlic parmesan butter. How can you go wrong with that?

Ingredients you need

Top down image of ingredients for Air Fryer Brussels sprouts.

Brussels sprouts: This recipe works best with fresh Brussels sprouts. Frozen sprouts never crisp up properly.
Butter: I used melted butter, but you can also use extra virgin olive oil or avocado oil. You don’t need much, so a little bit goes a long way.
Garlic: Fresh garlic has more flavor but you can use a little bit of garlic powder as well.
Parmesan: Freshly grated Parmesan cheese is magical on air fryer Brussels sprouts.
Seasonings: Red pepper flakes, salt and pepper.

Step-by-step directions

A collage of 4 images showing how to make Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts.

Wash and trim the Brussels sprouts and pat them very dry. Cut each in half. Or, if they are very large, cut them into quarters.
In a large bowl, toss the sprouts with the butter, garlic, about three quarters of the Parmesan, the salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes.
Air fry at 400ºF for 15 to 20 minutes, stirring a few times during cooking, until tender and crisped to your liking. Try not to overcrowd the air fryer.
Return to the bowl to toss in any remaining butter, and sprinkle with the remaining Parmesan. Add additional seasonings to taste.

Air Fryer Brussels sprouts in an oval black dish.

Expert tips

Dry the sprouts really well before air-frying. Any excess moisture tends to make them soggy. I like to set them out on a tea towel after washing them, and then pat them dry with another towel.

Toss them well with melted butter or oil. This makes them more flavorful but it also helps prevent them from sticking to the air fryer rack. Stir the sprouts during cooking, to move them around a bit and allow for more crispness.

Don’t crowd Brussels sprouts in the air fryer. If you have a smaller fryer, you may want to work in batches. Brussels sprouts have a relatively high moisture content and they tend to steam, rather than crisp up, when there are too many.

Air fryer Brussels sprouts are best eaten right away, when they are still crisp. They tend to soften quite a bit as they sit. Mind you, I am still happy to eat the leftovers the next day, crispy or not. All that delicious garlicky parmesan flavor is delicious!

Frequently Asked Questions

Why won’t my Brussel sprouts get crispy?

There are a couple of reasons your air fryer Brussels sprouts don’t crisp up. You may have not dried them off properly before adding them to the fryer. Or you may have crowded them too much, which prevents the hot air from circulating around the sprouts properly.

How do you store leftover air fryer Brussels sprouts?

If you have any leftovers, store them in an air tight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. You can reheat them in the air fryer at 350°F for 2-3 minutes.

How many carbs are in air fried Brussel sprouts?

This air fryer Brussels sprouts recipe has 7.4g of carbs and 3g of fiber per serving. That comes to 4.4g net carbs per serving.

Close up shot of Air Fryer Brussels sprouts.

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