You know those restaurant-style crispy Brussels sprouts with a sweet and tangy glaze? This is how you make those at home in your air fryer!
There is nothing like roasting Brussels Sprouts in the air fryer. It’s super-fast and convenient for weeknight meals. Adding some sweet and sour to that with balsamic and honey makes them taste like something from a fancy restaurant, but with no real work. These are truly the crispy, tasty veggie that I make over and over again.
Scroll down to read more about how it all comes together or click here to jump straight down to the recipe.
Cutting the Sprouts
The short version: Use medium-sized spouts, cut them in half, but don’t cut off the stem end first 🙂
More info: To make these crispy Balsamic Brussels Sprouts in the air fryer, start by prepping your sprouts. I like to use medium Brussels sprouts, about an inch across, cut in half to increase their surface area. More surface area means more places for browning and crispiness. Also, if you cut them in half, the balsamic and the honey can kind of get in between the leaves and add more flavor right in there.
If your Brussels sprouts are bigger or smaller it’s ok, but try to choose ones that are roughly the same size so they all cook at the same rate. If you have a variety of sizes, cut the biggest sprouts into thirds or quarters to even things out.
And no, I don’t cut off the stem end unless it’s really sticking out. The reason is that it’s going to help hold the leaves together. If you cut it off and then cut the sprouts in half, a lot of leaves will fall off.
Not that leaves falling off is a bad thing. In fact, the few leaves that you do have falling off just naturally in the cutting process are actually going to get extra crispy in the air fryer. And we want those extra-crispy bits, right? But we just don’t want ALL the leaves to fall off. Some leaves falling off is good. All leaves falling off is bad.
Seasoning the Sprouts
Next, add the sprouts to a mixing bowl with olive oil, balsamic vinegar, salt, and pepper. Give them a good stir so they all get coated with the oil and vinegar mixture. It doesn’t look like much, but I promise there’s enough to go around as long as you mix the sprouts. Let them sit and marinate for a few minutes while your air fryer heats up.
Air Fryer Temperature for Crispy Brussels Sprouts
Preheat the air fryer to 360°F. That is hot enough to brown the sprouts, but not too quickly. The key to delicious Brussels sprouts is that they have to soften a bit inside while also getting browned outside. If you cook them at too high a temperature, they’ll get too dark before they get soft in the middle.
Once they’re a bit browned outside and soft inside, you can then blast the heat on them to really crisp them up. I like to add some honey for the sugar that will help get them even crispier.
How Long To Cook Sprouts in the Air Fryer
You’ll be air-frying the Brussels sprouts at 360°F until the sprouts are tender inside and just beginning to crisp. That’ll be 15-18 minutes, giving the basket a toss halfway through (some leaves will fall off, but those will crisp up nicely so it’s a good thing!).
Then drizzle them with that honey and crank the heat to 400°F so that they get nice and crispy and caramelized. They’ll only need 2-4 minutes at 400°F once you’ve added the honey. And then it’s time to eat!
More Brussels Sprouts Recipes
Want to try another flavor combination for your Brussels sprouts? You’ve got to check out these Mix-Ins for Brussels Sprouts or one of the favorites below.
- Brussels with Peaches and Bacon
- Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Bacon
- Brussels Sprouts Gratin
- Braised Brussels Sprouts
- Cranberry Glazed Sprouts
Podcast Episode: Making Air Fryer Crispy Balsamic Brussels Sprouts
Listen to me explain briefly about how to make this recipe, with some great tips along the way, by clicking the play button below:
Air Fryer Crispy Balsamic Brussels Sprouts Recipe
You know those restaurant-style crispy Brussels sprouts with a sweet and tangy glaze? This is how you make those at home in your air fryer!
- Prep Time: 10 Minutes
- Cook Time: 25 Minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 4 Servings 1x
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Air Fryer
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- 1 lb. medium-sized Brussels sprouts
- 1 Tbsp. olive oil
- 1 Tbsp. balsamic vinegar
- 1 tsp. salt
- 1/2 tsp. pepper
- 1 tsp. honey
Instructions
- Cut the Brussels sprouts in half through the stem end but don’t trim off the stem.
- Put the sprouts in a medium bowl. Add the oil, vinegar, salt and pepper. Stir to coat. Let marinate for 5 minutes.
- Heat your air fryer to 360°F. Lift the Brussels sprouts out of the bowl and into the basket of your air fryer. Cook for 8 minutes. Shake the basket vigorously to move the sprouts around in the basket. Cook until the sprouts are tender inside and beginning to crisp at the edges, another 7-10 minutes.
- Drizzle the Brussels sprouts with honey.
- Increate temperature to 400°F and cook until crisp and deeply browned, 2-4 more minutes.
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This post originally appeared in January 2020 and was revised and republished in October 2024.
Thank you for sharing this simple and delicious recipe. I’m always looking for different ways to make veggies even more delicious than they already are. I liked how easy it was and the use of everyday ingredients.
You’re welcome, Jim! I’m so glad you loved this recipe.
I’ve been roasting any vegetables I can find since I got my air fryer. Air fried brussels sprouts (and cauliflower) work beautifully – the balsamic vinegar and honey in this recipe add a nice sweet & sour undercurrent to this delicious dish.
Paul, Thank you for the comment and rating. I’m so happy you like the recipe. I agree with you about vegetables in the air fryer. I make a veggie side dish in there just about every second day. It’s so easy with such great results!