This Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts is crispy with a parmesan crust and is packed with flavor. Made without bacon, it cooks in under 10 minutes and is a great vegetarian side dish.
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Parmesan crusted air fryer brussels sprouts is perfectly crispy and tastes absolutely delicious. Umami rich parmesan cheese adds depth and complexity like in parmesan crusted air fryer green beans or parmesan crackers.
When buying brussels sprouts from the store, look for a pre packaged bag. While they are occasionally available on stalks during the season, they tend to be pricier. They are typically in season from October through March, but you can usually find them year-round at your local grocery store.
To prepare brussels sprouts, start by giving them a thorough rinse under cold water. Using a sharp knife, trim and discard the tough brown ends. Discard any outer leaves that appear yellow, brown, or discolored.
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Why you'll love this?
- Made using basic pantry ingredients.
- Made without bacon, it is perfect for everyone.
- Perfectly seasoned with a crisp exterior and tender interior.
Ingredients
Scroll down to the recipe card below for full information on ingredients and amounts.
- Brussels Sprouts – When selecting Brussels sprouts from the grocery store, look for bright heads that are firm, tightly wrapped, and feel heavy for their size. Avoid ones with yellowing leaves or black spots, which could signify fungus. Smaller heads are usually sweeter and more tender than larger ones.
- Butter - Adds richness and compliments the parmesan, like in parmesan bread bites.
- Parmesan Cheese – Like in air fryer chicken nuggets, use freshly grated parmesan, if possible.
- Seasonings - Basic pantry seasonings like black pepper, garlic powder, and red pepper flakes.
How to make?
You can find full printable recipe below, but here is a quick overview of the procedure along with step-by-step photos.
- Trim the ends off the Brussels sprouts and remove any brown outer leaves. Cut large ones in half and leave small ones whole, ensuring they are of uniform size for even cooking. Add melted butter.
- Toss them with cayenne, garlic powder, salt and black pepper.
3. Add brussels sprouts into a 375 degree air fryer, spread into a single layer and cook for 5 minutes.
Open air fryer, give it a shake and move all the brussels sprouts close together, making sure they are in one layer. Sprinkle parmesan cheese on top. Continue cooking for 3 to 5 minutes, until they are deep golden and crisp.
How to serve?
This air fryer brussels sprouts pairs well with all types of protein from chicken, beef, fish, shrimp or pasta recipes.
- Serve it for weeknight dinner with chicken dishes like whole roast chicken or garlic parmesan air fryer chicken tenders.
- With pasta recipes like lemon chicken pasta, shrimp alfredo pasta or chicken pasta recipes.
- With seafood like air fryer BBQ salmon or air fryer tilapia.
How to store?
- Refrigerator - Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight storage container for up to 4 days.
- To reheat - Reheat them in the air fryer at 350 degrees for 3 to 5 minutes.
- To Freeze - Like the honey roasted carrots and parsnips, they tend to become mushy once thawed, so I don't recommend freezing them.
Helpful tips
- Cut into even size pieces - Cut larger brussels sprouts into halves and leave small ones whole. This makes sure that they all cook evenly at the same time.
- Don't overcrowd - Make sure not to over crowd the basket so that they can crisp up.
- Move them together for the second half of cooking- This ensures that most of the cheese stays on top of the vegetable without falling into the basket.
- Parmesan - Freshly grated parmesan melts into the nooks and crannies of the sprouts, making them delicious.
- Pat them dry - After washing, be sure to thoroughly pat them dry. This will allow the butter to coat them more effectively and promote crispiness.
- Air fryer size - One-pound Brussels sprouts were perfect to cook in a 6-quart air fryer without overcrowding. If using a smaller air fryer, then cook in two batches.
Recipe FAQs
If you prefer your vegetable to be more tender, you can soak them for about 10 minutes. This soaking time tenderizes the sprouts, making the centers softer.
Alternatively, there's another trick I have up my sleeves for achieving a softer texture. Like the air fryer broccoli recipe, you can add some water into the basket before placing the sprouts. As the water heats up, it creates steam, which aids in cooking them thoroughly.
Certainly! If you only have frozen Brussels sprouts on hand, it's perfectly fine. There's no need to defrost or thaw them before cooking. Simply use them in their frozen state and follow the recipe as described. You may need to extend the cooking time by approximately 5 minutes, depending on their size. Keep in mind that frozen Brussels sprouts tend to have a slightly softer texture, but they still retain their delicious flavor.
More air fryer recipes
Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 pound brussels sprouts
- 1 ½ tablespoons unsalted butter melted
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt or to taste
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 to 2 pinches red pepper flakes
- ⅓ cup finely grated parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Trim the ends off the Brussels sprouts and remove any brown outer leaves. Cut large ones in half and leave small ones whole, ensuring they are of uniform size for even cooking.
- Toss cut brussels sprouts with all remaining ingredients (except parmesan) in a bowl.
- Preheat air fryer to 375°F for 9 minutes.Tip - Refer notes for a tip to get tender cooked brussels sprouts. If you'd like crispy sprouts then proceed to the next step.
- When hot, add brussels sprouts in a single layer and cook for 5 minutes.
- Open air fryer, give it a shake and move all the brussels sprouts close together, making sure they are in one layer. Sprinkle parmesan cheese on top. Continue cooking for 3 to 5 minutes, until they are deep golden and crisp.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information, based on third-party calculations, should be seen as estimates, not guarantees, as various factors like product types, brands, processing methods, and more can alter the nutritional content in recipes.
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