Air-Fryer Brussels Sprouts
These crispy, golden Brussels sprouts are going to make even the pickiest eaters fall in love with this veggie! Your whole family will be asking for seconds when they taste these perfectly caramelized sprouts with crispy bacon and bright lemon flavors. Plus, they cook up super fast in your air fryer, making weeknight dinners so much easier.
Recipe Details
Timing & Servings: Prep Time: 15 minutes, Additional Time: 30 minutes, Total Time: 45 minutes, Serves: 8 people.
Nutrition Profile: Low-Carb, Nut-Free, Dairy-Free, Healthy Immunity, Soy-Free, High-Fiber, Egg-Free, Gluten-Free, Low-Calorie.
Nutrition Facts (per serving): 107 Calories, 4g Fat, 15g Carbs, 7g Protein.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Center-cut bacon: You’ll need 4 slices, which gives you that perfect salty crunch on top. I love using center-cut because it’s a bit leaner but still super flavorful!
Brussels sprouts: Pick up 2½ pounds of fresh Brussels sprouts and trim the ends before halving them lengthwise. Look for bright green ones that feel firm – they’ll give you the best crispy results.
Red onion: One large red onion roughly chopped adds such a nice sweet flavor when it caramelizes. Don’t worry about perfect pieces – rustic chunks work great here!
Extra-virgin olive oil: Just 1 tablespoon helps everything get golden and crispy. You can use regular olive oil if that’s what you have on hand.
Salt and pepper: You’ll need ¾ teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon ground pepper to season everything perfectly. These simple seasonings really make the flavors pop!
Fresh lemon juice: 2 tablespoons of fresh lemon juice brightens up the whole dish. Trust me, fresh is so much better than bottled here!
Fresh thyme: 2 teaspoons of fresh thyme leaves add that lovely earthy flavor. You can strip the leaves right off the stems with your fingers.
How to Make Air-Fryer Brussels Sprouts
Step 1: Place your bacon slices in a single layer in your air fryer basket. Air-fry at 400°F for about 14 minutes, flipping once halfway through. You’ll know it’s ready when it’s nice and crispy! Transfer the bacon to a paper-towel-lined plate to drain.
Step 2: Grab a large bowl and toss your Brussels sprouts and onion with the olive oil, salt, and pepper. Make sure everything gets coated evenly – this helps them get super crispy!
Step 3: Place about half of your Brussels sprouts mixture in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Air-fry at 375°F for 14 to 16 minutes, flipping once halfway through. They should be beautifully browned and crispy when done!
Step 4: Transfer the first batch to your serving platter and repeat with the remaining Brussels sprouts mixture. Then drizzle everything with that fresh lemon juice and sprinkle on the thyme leaves. Finally, crumble your crispy bacon right over the top!
Easy and Quick Air-Fryer Brussels Sprouts Version
Want to make this even faster? You can totally skip the bacon and just focus on getting those Brussels sprouts perfectly crispy! Just toss the sprouts and onion with the oil and seasonings, then air-fry in batches like usual. You’ll save about 15 minutes and still get an amazing vegetarian side dish that everyone will love.
Serving Ideas
These Brussels sprouts make the perfect side dish for so many meals! They’re amazing next to roasted chicken, grilled pork chops, or even a simple baked salmon. I love serving them for holiday dinners because they look so fancy but are actually super easy to make.
Storage
Store any leftovers in the fridge for up to 3 days in a covered container. To reheat, just pop them back in the air fryer at 350°F for 3-4 minutes to get them crispy again. You can also reheat them in a regular oven at 400°F for about 5 minutes.
Substitutions
No bacon? No problem – try chopped pancetta or even crispy prosciutto instead! Want to keep it vegetarian? Just skip the meat entirely or add some toasted pine nuts for crunch. If you don’t have fresh thyme, dried thyme works too – just use about half the amount.
Pro Tips
- Don’t overcrowd: Cook in batches so everything gets crispy instead of steamy!
- Cut evenly: Try to make your Brussels sprouts halves about the same size so they cook evenly.
- Save the bacon fat: If you want extra flavor, drizzle a tiny bit of the bacon fat over the sprouts before air-frying.
- Fresh lemon is key: Add the lemon juice right before serving to keep that bright, fresh flavor.
FAQs
Can I make this recipe without an air fryer?
You bet! Just roast everything in your regular oven at 425°F for about 20-25 minutes, stirring once halfway through. You’ll get the same delicious results!
How do I know when the Brussels sprouts are done?
They should be golden brown on the outside and tender when you poke them with a fork. The edges will look crispy and caramelized – that’s exactly what you want!
Can I prep this ahead of time?
Sure! You can trim and halve your Brussels sprouts up to a day ahead and store them in the fridge. Just wait to toss them with oil and seasonings until you’re ready to cook.
What if my Brussels sprouts are really big?
No worries! Just cut the really big ones into quarters instead of halves. They might need an extra minute or two in the air fryer, but they’ll turn out great.
I hope you love these crispy Brussels sprouts as much as my family does! Let me know how they turn out for you – I always love hearing about your cooking adventures. Happy cooking, friend!
