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Brussels sprouts are so easy to make in the air fryer! They come out perfectly tender in the middle and crispy and browned on the outside. With the addition of a drizzle of sweet balsamic glaze, this is sure to be your family's favorite veggie side dish.
Our family prefers fresh veggies for side dishes, as we're not really a fan of frozen or canned veggies too much. So when I want a fresh veggie for dinner, I want something easy, something fast and something that still tastes delicious!
This is all that!
Why this recipe works
- This recipe works for fresh or frozen Brussels sprouts. If you can't find fresh on hand, you can use whole frozen Brussels sprouts - just make sure to thaw completely beforehand. Also dry them off as much as possible.
- The Brussels sprouts come out perfectly tender inside, and golden roasted brown on the outside. Absolute deliciousness!
- The balsamic glaze adds the perfect tart sweetness that complements this veggie so well. If you think your Brussels sprouts are missing something, try balsamic glaze. You'll never want them without it again!
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🥘 Ingredients
You'll need:
- Fresh or frozen Brussels sprouts
- balsamic vinegar
- avocado oil
- salt and pepper
- balsamic glaze
🍽 Equipment
- Air fryer (see below for two recommendations)
- mixing bowl (these are absolutely adorable and I have them on my Christmas list!)
- kitchen tongs (OXO brand is my go-to for kitchen utensils and measuring items)
When I first started making this, I had a very basic front-loading basket type air fryer similar to this one. I wanted to make sure I would use an air fryer before making a bigger investment.
I absolutely loved my air fryer and when it was time to upgrade, I went with the Ninja Foodi Grill. I 100% recommend this brand as it does so many other things besides air fry. We grill steaks and burgers, bake small cakes, roast meat.
🔪 Instructions
If using fresh Brussels sprouts, tear off any browned leaves. Slice off the stems.
Cut larger sprouts into halves or bite-sized pieces. You want all of the sprouts to be a similar size so they cook evenly. If the sprouts are small, it's ok to keep them whole.
If you're using frozen Brussels sprouts, make sure they're completely thawed and pat as dry as possible.
It's also good to note if the fresh Brussels sprouts have any water on them from washing, please also dry off as much as possible to ensure they get as crispy as possible!
Mix all ingredients, except for the balsamic glaze, in a mixing bowl. Ensure that all of the sprouts are covered with the oil, vinegar and seasonings.
Place seasoned sprouts in your air fryer basket.
For fresh sprouts, cook at 400°F for approximately 15-20 minutes. I start checking them at 15 minutes because the cooking time can vary according to the size of the sprouts.
For frozen sprouts, the cook time will be closer to 10-12 minutes as they are usually pre-blanched for a short amount of time.
When the sprouts are browned and crispy, they are done. Remove from the air fryer basket and drizzle with balsamic glaze.
📋 Recipe Tips
When the veggies are cooking in the air fryer, don't be afraid to check them mid-cook and shake or stir them around.
When you are approaching the end of the cooking time, make sure to try a sprout to make sure it's cooked to the tenderness you like. Some people like them more firm and some people like them soft. Just make sure they are to your preference!
Keep extra balsamic glaze at the dinner table. I seem to always want more than what I put on for my family.
⏲️ Reheating leftover Brussels sprouts
If you have leftovers, don't reheat them in the microwave! They will not stay crispy and crunchy on the outside.
Add to a preheated air fryer (400°F) and keep a close eye on them. They are already cooked, so your goal is to warm them up, keep them crispy and not overcook or overbrown them.
I check after 3-4 minutes and then every minute after that.
Add more balsamic glaze after cooking again!
💭 FAQs
They taste pretty much identical. Air fried Brussels sprouts are cooked in an air fryer and roasted Brussels sprouts are cooked in an oven. Using the air fryer saves you from heating up your oven when its a hot summer outside!
I like to use oils that have a higher smoke point when using my air fryer. Olive oil is not my preferred choice, as it will tend to smoke faster that other oils. Good options would be canola oil, peanut oil or sunflower oil.
One reason can be that they weren't dried enough after washing. Make sure to thoroughly dry before seasoning and adding oil and vinegar. Another reason can be if you add too many sprouts at once to the air fryer. They do need a little room so the air can get all around them. If you're basket is small or you're cooking a lot, try cooking in smaller batches.
🥗 More great side dish recipes for you to try
- The Best Buttered Sweet Corn with Cream Cheese
- Loaded Baked Cauliflower Mash
- Easy Roasted Green Beans
- Coleslaw with Pineapple
- Creamy Italian Pasta Salad
- Broccoli and Cheese Casserole
📋 Recipe
📋 Recipe
Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts with Balsamic Glaze
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 pound Brussels sprouts
- 1 tablespoon avocado oil
- 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- ⅛ teaspoons black pepper
- 1 tablespoon balsamic glaze
Instructions
- Preheat air fryer to 400°F.
- Thoroughly wash Brussels sprouts and remove any outer leaves that are brown or damaged. Dry thoroughly with a clean kitchen towel or paper towels.
- Slice off stem ends. Cut larger sprouts into bite-sized pieces. You want all of the sprouts to be equal sized so they cook evenly and thoroughly. Smaller sprouts can be kept whole.
- Add sprouts to a mixing bowl and add all ingredients except balsamic glaze. Toss to ensure all sprouts are coated and covered with oil, vinegar and spices.
- Add seasoned sprouts to the air fryer basket. Cook for about 15-20 minutes. Start checking for doneness around 15 minutes. Smaller sprouts will cook faster than larger ones. Test one at 15 minutes to see if it is the tenderness you like. If not, cook a little longer and check every minute.
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