These are the best Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts! They’re crunchy, tender, and taste like they’ve been deep-fried. Serve them with a side of vegan sriracha aioli dipping sauce for a spicy kick!
Brussels sprouts aren’t the only veggie you can cook in the air fryer. Try my Air Fryer Sweet Potatoes and Air Fryer Asparagus recipes as well!
Next to my beloved Vitamix, my air fryer has become one of my favorite kitchen appliances! I use it so often for cooking veggies, tofu, veggie burgers, french fries, potato wedges, and other crispy things that it’s earned a permanent place on my countertop.
If you can believe it, it’s also my go-to tool for transforming plain old brussels sprouts into an addictive snack. Yes, it’s totally possible and this Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts recipe shows you how it’s done!
These air fried brussels sprouts are nothing like the bland boiled sprouts you grew up with. A tiny drizzle of oil and the circulating heat from the air fryer makes them perfectly crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. Dunk them in the easy sriracha mayo sauce for a snack or pair them with dinner! The serving options are practically endless.
Why you need to air fry brussels sprouts
- Tons of CRUNCH! I swear, cooking brussels sprouts in the air fryer makes them taste like they’ve been deep-fried! The crunch factor is next level.
- Minimal oil needed – Coating the sprouts in only 2 tablespoons of olive oil is all it takes to make them super crunchy on the outside and tender on the inside. You can even omit the oil if you’re looking for an oil-free option!
- The most convenient cooking method – As heat circulates all around the vegetables in the air fryer, they cook to crispy, golden brown perfection in no time.
Ingredients needed (with substitutions)
- Brussels sprouts – I like air frying fresh brussels sprouts best but this recipe works just as well with frozen sprouts.
- Olive oil – A little bit of oil encourages the sprouts to become tender and crispy in the air fryer.
- Salt and pepper
- Sriracha aioli – This easy (and optional) dipping sauce is made with vegan mayo (homemade or store-bought), sriracha hot sauce, and maple syrup or agave. Feel free to replace the mayo with cashew cream if you prefer.
How to cook brussels sprouts in the air fryer
Find the complete recipe with measurements in the recipe card below.
Place the halved brussels sprouts into a large mixing bowl and drizzle the olive oil over top. Stir to coat.
Transfer the sprouts to the air fryer basket. Air fry at 400ºF for 15 minutes, shaking the basket after 10 minutes.
Once they’re crispy and blackened in some spots, sprinkle the air fried brussels sprouts with salt and pepper. Carefully transfer them to a serving plate.
Next, make the sriracha aioli by whisking the vegan mayo (or cashew cream), sriracha, and maple syrup/agave in a small bowl until combined.
Serve the hot brussels sprouts with the spicy mayo on the side for dipping. Enjoy!
Serving suggestions
My favorite way to serve these sprouts is as a healthy snack with a really great dipping sauce on the side. The spicy sriracha aioli from this recipe is absolutely delicious, but you also can’t go wrong with a side of plain vegan aioli, chipotle sauce, or vegan ranch dressing.
The crispy brussels sprouts are great as-is but get even better when served with any of these tasty toppings:
- A drizzle of balsamic reduction
- Shaved vegan parmesan cheese
- Lemon zest
- Crumbled Vegan Feta
- A drizzle of maple syrup or agave
- Crumbled Tofu Bacon or Tempeh Bacon
- A dash of red chili flakes or a drizzle of chili oil
- Caramelized onions or shallots
You can also turn to this brussels sprouts recipe when you need a simple side dish. They pair well with countless vegan dinners, such as Vegan Mac and Cheese, Vegan Meatloaf, Grilled Tofu, and White Bean Soup.
They’re also great for the holidays! From Vegan Turkey Roast to Green Bean Casserole to Vegan Ham, these fried brussels sprouts always fit in perfectly with the classics.
Frequently asked questions
Trim the woody ends from the sprouts and discard any blemished outer leaves. Some leaves may fall off when you’re trimming and slicing the sprouts in half but don’t throw these away. They crisp up just like potato chips in the air fryer!
Yes, you should be able to air fry frozen brussels sprouts instead of fresh sprouts. Leave some extra room in between the frozen sprouts (or cook them in two batches) and add an extra 3 to 5 minutes to the cooking time.
The exact time will depend on the size of your sprouts. Mine took about 15 minutes in a 400ºF air fryer, but you’ll know they’re done cooking when they’re blackened in some spots and are fork tender on the inside.
Yes, you can make this recipe oil-free if desired, but the sprouts will not be as crispy. Instead of the olive oil, toss the brussels sprouts in 1 tablespoon of balsamic vinegar and 1 tablespoon of maple syrup/agave. Air fry at 350ºF to prevent them from burning.
Yes, you can use double the amount of brussels sprouts if you’re serving them to a crowd. You’ll likely need to air fry them in two batches to prevent overcrowding and to help them cook and crisp evenly.
For sure! Follow the instructions in my Roasted Brussels Sprouts recipe instead.
Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts
Ingredients
- 1 pound (16 ounces) brussels sprouts
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- salt + pepper
Optional Sriracha Aioli
- 1/2 cup Vegan Mayo
- 1 tablespoon Sriracha hot sauce
- 1 tablespoons pure maple syrup or agave
Instructions
- Trim and halve the brussels sprouts. Don't throw away the leaves that fall off when you trim the sprouts, they are delicious cooked!
- Place them in a bowl, then add the olive oil and stir to coat. Add the brussel sprouts to the air fryer basket.
- Set the heat to 400 degrees and cook for about 15 minutes, shaking them after 10 minutes every so often and checking for doneness. The time required will depend on how large or small your sprouts are. They are ready when crispy and blackened in some spots, and tender on the inside.
- Sprinkle with salt + pepper to taste and remove carefully as air fryer will be hot. Tongs come in handy here!
- Make Sriracha Aioli, if using: Whisk vegan mayo (either homemade or store bought), Sriracha and maple syrup/agave in a small bowl until combined.
- Serve brussels sprouts hot with optional aioli for dipping. Enjoy!
Notes
- Nutrition facts do not include optional Sriracha aioli, and are an estimate only calculated with an online tool.
- I never preheat my air fryer, but you could if you want to.
- Leftover brussels sprouts keep in the refrigerator for 2-3 days. Re-heat for 5 minutes in your air fryer when ready to serve.
- Oil Free: They won’t get as crispy without oil, but you could use a little balsamic vinegar (1 tablespoon) and maple syrup/agave (1 tablespoon) instead of oil. I would also cook at 350 degrees instead of 400, so they don’t burn.
- Cashew Cream works in place of mayo for the Sriracha Aioli.
- Don’t have an air fryer? Simply bake them in a greased pan in the oven at 425 degrees for 20-25 minutes.
O.M.G.!!!! This is so good! So easy, so quick but oh so delish!!
Thank you for sharing your wonderful feedback! I love these, and am glad you do as well!
I just got an air fryer, and this was the first thing I wanted to make! So much better than baked or raw brussel sprouts.
If you are doubling the amount of Brussels sprouts (to two pounds), do you increase the air frying time at all? Thanks!
Depending on the size of your air fryer, I would probably do them in two batches. If not, yes you will need to increase the baking time quite a bit and shake them every so often.
Best Brussels sprouts I’ve made. Thanks for the fantastic recipe. The sauce is excellent.
I’m so glad you liked it!
Knocked it out of the park with this!!
Bringing Brussels sprouts to a whole new level!! You never disappoint
Thanks so much!
I love your website and your recipes! My first time using the air fryer and I was a little nervous but thank to your recipe, my brussels sprouts turned out amazing. Thank you for the clear instructions!
Thank you so much! I’m glad they turned out amazing. I was a little nervous when I first used mine, too. Pretty simple though once you get comfortable!
What air fryer do you use?
Chefman Turbo, it’s worked really well for me now for months!