Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts with Zesty Balsamic Glaze
There’s nothing like going to a restaurant and getting crispy fried Brussels sprouts delivered to your table. Brussels sprouts can be tricky to get just right at home.
But with the air fryer, they’re simply easy to cook as a healthy option served with a meal or as an appetizer. Heck, I’ll even eat them alone as a standalone dish-I love them that much. There’s no shame in doing so!
Brussels sprouts are a traditional dish, but they’re often bland and overcooked.
In this blog post, we’ll show you how to make the best air fryer Brussels sprouts recipe ever!
It all starts with blanching the Brussels sprouts. This method will help your Brussels sprouts stay crispy on the outside while staying tender on the inside – no more mushy vegetables!
I love these garlic Brussels sprouts in the air fryer recipe because these babies aren’t drenched in oil. Healthy fried Brussels sprouts are possible.
How To Make Brussels Sprouts in the Air Fryer with Balsamic
To make air fryer balsamic Brussels sprouts, start by quartering and blanching your Brussels sprouts (you can find blanching instructions below).
Or, you can soak the brussels sprouts, quartered, in ice-cold water for ten minutes. Do not dry them; drain them only.
Heat air fryer to 400 degrees; if preheating is necessary, start with by doing so.
Place brussels sprouts in the air fryer basket; drizzle with 1 tablespoon oil and the salt.
Fry for 15 minutes, shaking the basket or stirring the sprouts halfway through.
Sprinkle sprouts with garlic. Continue to air fry until the garlic is golden brown, another 2 to 4 minutes.
Note: Be careful not to cook them too long. The key here is to check them constantly after the first few minutes, continually shaking for best results.
In a small saucepan, boil the balsamic vinegar. Reduce to 2-3 minutes on medium heat and remove from heat when it’s thickened enough so that you can see it become syrupy (keep a close watch and adjust because this will go from reduced to burnt very quickly).
Whisk in soy sauce, lime juice, and two tablespoons of olive oil before removing the pan from the stovetop.
Transfer the brussels sprouts to a serving platter and drizzle with balsamic dressing. Squeeze more lime juice on top for an extra zesty kick!
What could be better than a dish that’s as healthy and easy to make? I’m going to invite my friends over for dinner so we can all enjoy these delicious, nutritious brussels sprouts.
Pomegranate Balsamic for Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts
You can skip the lime and soy sauce altogether and use pomegranate balsamic vinegar. Reduce it in a saucepan the same way. If you can’t find pomegranate balsamic, then add pomegranate juice yourself. Elevate the experience by adding a touch of honey for sweetness.
Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts with Bacon
If you’re more of a savory fan, add bacon to your Brussels sprouts at the end! Cook as much bacon as you prefer in the air fryer, in a frying pan, or in the oven.
Then, chop the bacon up and sprinkle on the cooked Brussels sprouts. Have air fryer Brussels sprouts with parmesan cheese by spreading grated parmesan cheese at the very end.
Frequently Asked Questions: Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts
Can I make frozen Brussels sprouts in the air fryer?
You can make frozen Brussels sprouts in the air fryer. Although they contain a lot of water, I’d suggest preparing the Brussels sprouts the same way as the package instructions. Then, let them dry on a towel for a bit before continuing with the recipe.
How do you blanch Brussels sprouts?
I have been frying Brussels sprouts with the air-fryer and found that blanching them first keeps them from drying out. They still get plenty crispy!
Trim the ends of Brussels sprouts and discard any tough or discolored outer leaves. Rinse in a large bowl of cold water, slice each trimmed sprout in half lengthwise; if the Brussels sprouts are tiny, leave them whole before cooking, but for larger ones, cut into quarters so that they cook evenly at different rates depending on how you’ve sliced them up.
Make sure to make an “X” or an “I” incision right through where all your layers meet because it’ll help everything end up appropriately cooked.
Boil salted water in a large pot. Cut the Brussels sprouts in half and add them to boiling water for two minutes, then immediately transfer them into ice-cold bathwater to stop their cooking process.
Let cool entirely by draining and leaving them on a towel to dry before cooking.
How do you cook bacon in the air fryer?
Bacon in the air fryer is straightforward to make. It only takes a few minutes, but there are some tricks to the perfect air fryer bacon. Check out our air fryer bacon blog post!
What You Need to Make Air Fryer Brussel Sprouts
Air fryer parchment paper (if using an air fryer with a basket)
Oil sprayer for the air fryer
Brussels sprouts (1 pound)
Optional Items:
Pomegranate balsamic vinegar (or you can add pomegranate juice yourself)
Parmesan cheese (grated)
More Delicious Healthy Recipes
Instant Mealtime has a collection of healthy yet indulgent recipes. Check out our recipes page here. You can also check out our guides and reviews to learn more about kitchen appliances like the air fryer and find out which one is best for you!
Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts with Zesty Balsamic Glaze
Notes
Note: Be careful not to cook them too long. The key here is to check them constantly after the first few minutes, continually shaking for best results.
You can also customize this dish the way you want it. Omit certain ingredients and swap with bacon or pomegranate or parmesan.
Follow instructions for blanching Brussels sprouts.
Ingredients
- 1 pound of brussels sprouts, trimmed and halved through the stems (cut larger ones in quarters)
- 3 tablespoons of extra-virgin olive oil
- ¼ teaspoon of kosher salt
- 2 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
- ¼ cup of balsamic vinegar
- 1 teaspoon of fresh lime juice, plus more for serving
- ½ teaspoon of soy sauce
- Optional: 1/2 cup of pomegranate balsamic vinegar (or 1 tbsp of pomegranate juice)
- Optional: 1/2 package of bacon
- Optional: Parmesan for garnishing
Instructions
- Quarter and blanch your Brussels sprouts (you can find blanching instructions below).
- Or, you can soak the brussels sprouts, quartered, in ice-cold water for ten minutes. Do not dry them; drain them only.
- Heat air fryer to 400 degrees; if preheating is necessary, start with by doing so.
- Place brussels sprouts in the air fryer basket; drizzle with 1 tablespoon oil and the salt.
- Fry for 15 minutes, shaking the basket or stirring the sprouts halfway through.
- Sprinkle sprouts with garlic. Continue to air fry until the garlic is golden brown, another 2 to 4 minutes.
- In a small saucepan, boil the balsamic vinegar. Reduce to 2-3 minutes on medium heat and remove from heat when it’s thickened enough so that you can see it become syrupy (keep a close watch and adjust because this will go from reduced to burnt very quickly).
- Whisk in soy sauce, lime juice, and two tablespoons of olive oil before removing the pan from the stovetop.
- Transfer the brussels sprouts to a serving platter and drizzle with balsamic dressing.
- Squeeze more lime juice on top for an extra zesty kick!
