Name: Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts
Prep time: 8 min
Cook time: 12 min
Total time: 20 min
Ingredients: 1 lb Brussels Sprouts (453.59 g); 1 tbsp Olive Oil (14.79 ml); 1/2 tsp Salt (1 g); 1/2 tsp Pepper (1 g); 2 tbsp Honey (32 g); 1 tbsp Balsamic Vinegar (14.70 ml)

By: Jill Mills Posted: Sep 18, 2023

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Crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts are ready in just 20 minutes. Topped with honey and balsamic vinegar, these balsamic Brussels sprouts are slightly sweet, savory, and full of flavor. The perfect side to so many dishes!

Crispy Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts

This air fryer Brussels sprouts recipe is about to become one of your new favorite side dishes. With a savory but slightly sweet flavor, these pair so well with pretty much everything. Easy enough for weeknights, and elegant enough for holidays, you just can’t go wrong with these balsamic brussels sprouts.

While you could air fry Brussels sprouts with just oil and seasonings, I added honey and balsamic vinegar which create a caramelized glaze and add SO much flavor. The only other seasonings you need are salt and pepper!

For more Brussels sprouts recipes, check out my Brussels sprouts with bacon (made in the oven) and Brussels sprouts salad!

A wooden spoon stirring brussels sprouts in the air fryer

Why You’ll Love These Balsamic Brussels Sprouts

Here are a few reasons this is one of my favorite Brussels sprouts recipes.

Easy but elegant. It takes about 20 minutes to make these air fryer Brussels sprouts but the simple balsamic glaze gives them a steakhouse feel, that makes them perfect for nicer dinners and even holidays.
Made with 5 basic ingredients. The ingredient list for this recipe is both short and simple. Brussels sprouts, oil, honey, vinegar, and seasonings. That’s it!
Perfect crispy texture. The best part of making Brussels sprouts in the air fryer is that they end up tender on the inside but nice and crispy on the outside.

Overhead view of balsamic brussels sprouts ingredients

What You’ll Need

You’ll need just 5 basic ingredients for this Brussels sprouts recipe. See the recipe card below for measurements.

Brussels sprouts – You’ll want fresh, not frozen, Brussels sprouts for this recipe.
Olive oil – Helps the seasonings adhere to the brussels sprouts and helps thin the glaze.
Salt & pepper
Honey & balsamic vinegar – Together these create the balsamic glaze. The honey offers a caramelizing sweetness, which is balanced out by the slightly tangy balsamic vinegar.

How to Make Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts

Making crispy Brussels sprouts in the air fryer is quick, easy, and results in perfect Brussels sprouts every time.

Cut brussels sprouts in a bowl with seasoning

Seasoned brussels sprouts in the air fryer

Cut and season the brussels sprouts. Cut the brussels sprouts in half, place in a large mixing bowl, and drizzle with the olive oil, honey, and balsamic vinegar. Season with salt and pepper. Toss to coat.
Air fryer. Place the Brussels sprouts in a single layer in the basket of the air fryer. Cook for 6 minutes, then shake. Cook for 4 minutes, shake again, and finish cooking for a final 2 minutes.

Why Didn’t My Brussels Sprouts Get Crispy?

If your air fryer Brussels sprouts don’t come out crispy, you likely overcrowded the air fryer. It’s essential that the air is able to circulate between each one to properly crisp out the outside. So for best results, cook in a few different batches.

Shaking the basket throughout cooking as directed above also helps the Brussels sprouts to crisp up on all sides.

Tips & Variations

Here are a few additional tips for making Brussels sprouts in the air fryer, as well as a few easy variations.

Try a different sweetener. For a slightly different flavor, you can replace the honey with maple syrup or molasses.
Use a different vinegar. Replace the balsamic vinegar with your favorite flavor of vinegar. I do recommend stronger flavored vinegar and avoiding white vinegar or rice vinegar.
Should I soak my Brussels sprouts before cooking? I do recommend rinsing your Brussels sprouts before cutting them. However, soaking them is not necessary to do before air frying.
Shake the basket while air frying. It may seem tedious to shake the basket while air frying but trust me, it makes a difference! This is how you end up with perfectly crispy, caramelized balsamic Brussels sprouts!

Overhead view of a plate of air fryer brussels sprouts

What to Serve with Balsamic Brussels Sprouts

These Brussels sprouts are perfect served as-is straight from the air fryer but feel free to add a balsamic reduction, more honey, or grated parmesan cheese before serving. Note that these are best served hot as they will become less crispy as they cool.

Air fryer Brussels sprouts are perfect when you want a “nicer” side without a lot of effort. These look beautiful plated with pan seared steak, garlic butter steak bites, or honey glazed salmon. They’d work for a holiday side-dish too or something more casual like air fryer chicken thighs.

How to Store & Reheat Leftovers

Fridge. Store any leftover cooked Brussels sprouts in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Reheat. Reheating in the air fryer is recommended as the microwave will make your Brussels sprouts soggy. Add the Brussels sprouts to the air fryer basket and cook at 350 degrees F (or 177 degrees C) for 4-6 minutes or until the center of the Brussels sprouts are warm.

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