Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts with Balsamic Glaze
If you’ve been on the lookout for a mouthwatering, easy-to-make side dish that’s both healthy and indulgent, you’re in for a treat with these air fryer Brussels sprouts. Get ready to elevate your vegetable game and impress your family and friends with the earthy crunch of Brussels sprouts combined with the sweet and savory balsamic glaze. Serve them up with my air fryer pork tenderloin or frozen salmon in the air fryer with some Jiffy corn casserole for an easy dinner!
Why You’ll Love It
- Crispy Texture: Air fryers cook with circulating air cooking the sprouts up with a crispy outer layer while maintaining a tender inside.
- Healthier Brussels: Air frying requires significantly less oil compared to other cooking methods!
- Quick and Convenient: Air fryers cook more quickly than the oven making them a great option for a quick side dish.
- Great Flavor: Adding a balsamic glaze adds so much flavor to the Brussels sprouts masking the bitter flavor sometimes found when cooking them. This dish is certain to turn everyone into a Brussels sprout lover!
Ingredients
All you need are a handful of pantry staples and some fresh sprouts to make this tasty side dish. Here is a look at the highlights but be sure to check the recipe card for the full list and quantities.
- Brussels sprouts: Fresh sprouts work best. I find that frozen Brussels sprouts end up a bit mushier than I prefer.
- Olive oil: Just a touch for coating the outside edges of the sprouts.
- Soy sauce: It brings plenty of umami flavors with a bit of saltiness to the glaze.
- Balsamic vinegar: This vinegar adds more complex flavors that are a bit sour, sweet, and rich. It’s also naturally much thicker than other vinegars making it perfect for a glaze.
- Brown sugar: For more sweetness and to create the desired syrupy texture of the glaze.
- Spices: A bit of ground ginger and black pepper add a bit of zing to the balsamic glaze.
- Parsley: Adds a splash of color for serving!
Tips & Variations
- Use Aluminum Foil. I highly suggest lining your air fryer basket when cooking this recipe. The balsamic glaze can be a bit messy and the foil makes for easy cleanup!
- Give Them Room. Overcrowding your sprouts in the air fryer basket is the worst thing you can do. More space means the air can circulate around them to cook more evenly and crisp up the edges. When you crowd the veggies during roasting, they end up steaming rather than roasting. This means if you have a smaller air fryer you may need to cook in multiple batches.
- Like It Spicy? You can add a pinch of cayenne pepper or crushed red pepper to glaze for a bit of spice.
- Add Another Veggie! If you are a fan of veggie combos try adding in some sliced carrots, sweet potato cubes, and onion.
How To Cook Brussels Sprouts in the Air Fryer
Making Brussels sprouts in the air fryer is super easy! Let’s get started with a glance at the main steps.
- Add. Water and oil to the Brussels sprouts.
- Toss Together. The Brussels sprouts in a bowl until they’re fully coated.
- Combine. The soy sauce, vinegar, brown sugar, ginger, and pepper in a 2-cup measuring cup. Microwave it on high until the mixture is syrupy.
- Line. The air fryer basket with aluminum foil cut to fit. Add the Brussels sprouts to the air fryer basket lined in foil. Cook until golden brown and tender. Toss with parsley and enough of the sauce mixture to coat the Brussels.
What To Serve With Brussels Sprouts
- Meat and Fish: It goes great with a wide variety of dishes including Pork Tenderloin, Steak Bites, Fish Sticks, Salmon, Stove Top Stuffing Meatloaf and Crockpot Chicken.
- Pasta: Brussels Sprouts make a tasty side for pasta! Enjoy them with my Creamy Chicken Bake, Baked Feta Pasta, Spaghetti Casserole, and Chicken Lasagna Rolls.
- Sandwiches: Add a healthy side dish to your favorite sandwiches for dinner! These Pork Sliders, Pulled Pork Sandwiches, and Meatball Sliders are a few family favorites in our house.
- Dessert: Enjoy an easy dessert any day of the week! Try these Apple Butter Cookies, Mini Cherry Pies, Carrot Cake Cupcakes, and S’mores Brownie Bars.
Recipe FAQ
You can but they aren’t my preference so I haven’t tried them. If you want to swap out the fresh and use frozen instead follow the recipe as directed but be prepared to adjust the cooking time. They likely may need to cook a bit longer since they are frozen. Note that frozen Brussels sprouts will not crisp up the same way as the fresh ones.
Yes, I highly recommend it! It speeds up the cooking but also makes them cook a bit more evenly.
Yes, you can! You can skip the glaze and season your Brussels as you prefer. A little bit of salt, pepper, and herbs all work great to create a simple seasoning.
Leftovers & Storing
- Store. Leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to four days. I do not recommend freezing them.
- Reheat. Return them to the air fryer to heat for 4-5 minutes if you want them to crisp up a bit. You can also reheat in the microwave but they will remain quite soft.
More Air Fryer Recipes
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Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts
Ingredients
- 1 pound Brussels sprouts, trimmed and halved
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil
- 3 Tablespoons water
- 2 Tablespoons soy sauce
- 2 Tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- 1 Tablespoon brown sugar
- ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
- â…› teaspoon ground pepper
- 2 Tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
Instructions
- Toss together Brussels sprouts, oil, and water.
- Line the air fryer basket with aluminum foil cut to fit. Add Brussels sprouts to the basket and air fry at 350°F, shaking the basket twice, until golden brown and tender, 15-20 minutes.
- Meanwhile, in a 2-cup glass measuring cup, combine soy sauce, vinegar, brown sugar, ginger, and pepper. Microwave on High until syrupy, about 2-2 ½ minutes.
- Toss sprouts with parsley and enough sauce to coat. Serve with the remaining sauce on the side.
Notes
- Use Aluminum Foil. I highly suggest lining your air fryer basket when cooking this recipe. The balsamic glaze can be a bit messy and the foil makes for easy cleanup!
- Give Them Room. Overcrowding your sprouts in the air fryer basket is the worst thing you can do. More space means the air can circulate around them to cook more evenly and crisp up the edges. When you crowd the veggies during roasting, they end up steaming rather than roasting. This means if you have a smaller air fryer you may need to cook in multiple batches.
- Like It Spicy? You can add a pinch of cayenne pepper or crushed red pepper to glaze for a bit of spice.
- Add Another Veggie! If you are a fan of veggie combos try adding in some sliced carrots, sweet potato cubes, and onion.
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