Be prepared for this festive little side dish to steal the show. Air Fried Brussels Sprouts have a tender bite and savory crispy edges that are just plain addicting. The tangy-sweet balsamic glaze and juicy pops of sour-sweet pomegranate seeds are all that’s needed to make this dish memorable. This is the simplest, fastest(under 30 minutes), and healthiest way to get those charred edges that restaurants do so well.
High-heat cooking caramelizes the brussels sprouts, giving them an incredible depth of flavor: roasted, slightly nutty, and just verging on sweet. The balsamic glaze perfectly complements those flavors while adding a touch of acidity for balance. Pomegranate seeds play the same role, but with a fresh twist.
Using the Air Fryer means you can cook at high heat without deep or shallow frying in oil, turning on the oven, or testing out your broiler. This gluten-free and vegan recipe yields perfectly cooked brussels sprouts every time.
But there is a trick to getting the Brussels Sprouts to cook through while getting nice and roasted…… Halve and soak in water! Simple and effective!
Why soak the brussels sprouts in water?
Soaking keeps the brussels sprouts from drying out in the Air Fryer while achieving that perfect texture: tender inside with crispy edges. Fresh brussels sprouts only need 10 minutes to soak. Then drain, season, cook, and garnish!
Brussels Sprouts Variations
- Garlic powder can be used instead of fresh garlic. Simply add 1 teaspoon along with salt & pepper
- Sprinkle some parmesan cheese in the end
- Use frozen brussels sprouts. Frozen brussels sprouts don’t need to be halved or soaked. Just toss them in the Air Fryer as is. Directions for the frozen veggies are detailed in the recipe card.
- Balsamic glaze is found in many stores including Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods, and Italian Specialty Stores. But check with your local grocer too! You can make your own glaze at home by reducing balsamic vinegar and a bit of sugar on the stovetop. There are plenty of recipes online for the homemade glaze.
Benefits
These little cruciferous veggies pack in major nutritional benefits. Brussels sprouts may help lower the risk of heart disease and diabetes and prevent certain types of cancer. They are low in calories and high in Vitamin C, Vitamin K, and dietary fiber.
Step by step recipe
Here is how to make Brussels sprouts that are tender on the inside and crisp on the outside:
- Trim the thick bottom stem and then cut each brussels sprout into half
- Soak in cold water for 10 minutes
- Drain all the water and gently dab excess moisture with paper towels. No need to fully dry them. Add olive oil, salt and pepper
- Toss well. Preheat the airfryer at 360 F
- Add the brussels sprouts in the preheated air fryer and cook at 360 for 8 minutes. Gently shake the basket.
- Add the sliced garlic and mix them with the brussels sprouts.
- Air fry for an additional 5 minutes.
- Take out the brussels sprouts in a serving bowl and drizzle with balsamic glaze.
- Top with pomegranate seeds
Serving
Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts are special enough for holidays and festivals, but also quick enough for weeknights. The eye-catching crimson pomegranate against the pretty green veggies makes this dish a go-to for Thanksgiving, Christmas, Holi, any special celebration, dinner party, or pot-luck. And the amazing flavor backs up the pretty presentation!
We love serving it with our Thanksgiving dinner alongside Whole Chicken, Sweet Potatoes, Indian-Inspired Stuffing, and Jalapeno Cheddar cornbread. Have vegetarian guests? Make the meal meatless by switching up Turkey or chicken with the show stopper Whole Roasted Tandoori Cauliflower.
Storing
Leftover Brussels sprouts can be refrigerated for up 1 to 2 days. If cooking ahead, add the glaze and pomegranate seeds just before serving. To reheat simply pop them back in the air fryer (without the pomegranate seeds) and air fry at 350 F for 5 minutes.
Here are some other Air Fryer veggies we have on rotation at my home:
- Broccoli
- Green Beans
- Sweet Potato Fries
- Potato Wedges
- Masala Fries
- Crispy Okra
- Corn on the Cob
- Zucchini Chips
Air Frying Tips
- You may need to increase or decrease the air frying time depending on your air fryer. Check your food frequently to prevent it from burning. This is especially important during the last few minutes of cooking. Air fryers come in different sizes, so your food might not fit the same way that recipes online show.
- Do not use aerosol spray cans to apply the non-stick spray to the basket. Aerosol spray cans usually contain harsh ingredients that are known for causing chipping in air fryer baskets.
- Shake the basket during cooking times for smaller things like chicken wings, fries, and small veggies. Do this every few minutes or halfway through cooking.
- Be careful not to press the basket release button while you are carrying the baskets. This will cause the inner basket to pull out and the outer basket will drop, which might damage it.
- Do not place anything on top of your air fryer. This disrupts the airflow and will cause poor air frying results.
- If you air fry high-fat foods, pour out the fat droppings from under the inner basket. This will prevent excess smoke while it cooks next time.
Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 lb brussels sprouts
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 4 garlic cloves sliced
Optional toppings
- 1 Balsamic glaze see notes
- 2 tablespoons Pomegranate arils
Instructions
- Trim the thick bottom stem and then cut each brussels sprout into half. Soak in cold water for 10 minutes. Drain all the water and gently dab excess moisture with paper towels. No need to fully dry them. Add olive oil, salt, and pepper. Toss well. Preheat the air fryer at 360 F
- Add the brussels sprouts to the preheated air fryer and cook at 360 for 8 minutes. Gently shake the basket.
- Add the sliced garlic and mix them with the brussels sprouts. Air fry for an additional 5 minutes.
- Take out the brussels sprouts in a serving bowl and drizzle with balsamic vinegar or glaze. Top with pomegranate seeds
Video
Notes
- Garlic powder can be used instead of fresh garlic. Simply add 1 teaspoon along with salt & pepper
- Sprinkle some parmesan cheese in the end
- Use frozen brussels sprouts. Frozen brussels sprouts don’t need to be halved or soaked. Add frozen to the air fryer and cook for 12 mins. Take them out and toss them in oil, salt, pepper, and garlic and cook for an additional 5 minutes.
Maneesha says
Hi Archana! Great recipe! Turned out perfectly! The best Brussels sprouts air fryer recipe I have tried! Thank you!
Archana says
Thank you so much Maneesha!