20-Minute Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts 5 Ways

If you’re looking for an easy recipe for air fryer brussels sprouts, you’re in the right place. This guide will not only teach you how to cook brussels sprouts in the air fryer, it’ll give you 5+ ways to season and/or glaze them for maximum flavor. We’re talking flavor combos like honey soy glazed, zesty ranch, and crispy sprouts with apples, honey, and goat cheese.

How to Make Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts

The base recipe takes less than 20 minutes, and you can have all the glazes and fixin’s ready to go by the time the brussels sprouts are air fried. You’ll find all the variations in the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post as well as an infographic below.

Between here and there, I’ve included a walkthrough for simply air frying the brussels sprouts that includes a few tips, tricks, and notes.

Step 1: Cut 12 ounces of brussels sprouts in half, removing any stems.

You can find 12-ounce bags of washed and ready brussels sprouts in most grocery stores, but you can also use fresh off the stalk here. It is worth noting, however, that the size of your brussels sprouts will affect cook time.

Larger sprouts may take a bit longer too cook through in the center, and it might help to reduce the temperature by 25ºF or so to avoid burning the outside leaves. You can get an idea of what size sprouts I used in the photo above.

Step 2: Toss with a olive oil, salt, and black pepper.

You can air fry brussels sprouts with any oil you’d like. The soy glazed version below calls for sesame oil, for example.

In case you’re wondering, I wouldn’t recommend using no oil at all. I would, at the very least, use a half tablespoon or a liberal amount of cooking spray. This will ensure the brussels sprouts get crispy and any seasoning sticks.

Seasoning Your Brussels Sprouts

The variations below that call for glazing just need a simple salt and pepper seasoning, while the zesty ranch and garlic parmesan have other ingredients that go on before frying. In my experience, you’ll want dry seasonings to go on before air frying, and glazes to go on after frying.

Step 3: Air fry for 12-15 minutes at 350ºF until crispy. 

Like I mentioned above, the size of your sprouts may affect the cook time. Also, different air fryers may affect the cook time as well. I use a 6.5-quart Ninja Foodi or Instant Pot Duo Crisp for all my air fryer recipes.

When air frying, shaking the basket halfway through frying is always a good idea for even cooking, and that applies here as well. You can also extend the cook time to get your brussels sprouts extra crispy.

Step 4 (optional): Toss the air fried brussels sprouts with a glaze. 

Honey, balsamic vinegar, soy sauce, sweet chili sauce, or a number of other combinations—you can’t go wrong with a tablespoon or two of something acidic and something sweet to balance it out.

Just don’t overdo it. You don’t want your air fried brussels sprouts drowning in too much liquid. Otherwise you’ll be left with mushy sprouts, and nobody want’s that.

Glaze and Seasoning Ideas for Brussels Sprouts

Now, to the good stuff. The following infographic has 5 options for seasoning your air fryer brussels sprouts. You’ll also find additional options linked below the graphic!

For more ideas to season or glaze your air fryer brussels sprouts, check out my BBQ Balsamic Brussels Sprouts and Sweet Potatoes, Sweet Chili Ground Beef and Brussels Sprouts, or Sweet Chili Chicken and Brussels Sprouts.

Well, that should cover it. If you need some more ideas, check out this guide to what goes with brussels sprouts. And if you have any questions about the recipe or any ingredients, feel free to drop a comment at the bottom of this post.