Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts {Whole30, Paleo, Keto}

This easy side dish of Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts is so delicious and healthy. Made crispy and caramelized in the oven or air fryer, these roasted brussels are Whole30, paleo, keto, and vegan.

I had the hardest time pressing “publish” on this post. Was it because brussels sprouts are one of the most hated veggies out there? No.

Was it because I wasn’t confident these will be the best Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts you’ll ever make? No.

Why you ask, was I stalling on this post? Well, it is because I hate the photos. I just felt like they didn’t do this awesome and healthy side dish justice. And then…I looked at some fresh brussels in my fridge and realized that much like your friend’s ugly baby, these little guys just don’t ever have a lot going for them visually.

But they sure make up for it in taste! The brussels. Not the baby. Don’t eat babies!

Roasted and crispy brussels are nothing like the gross boiled or steamed fart bombs of our youth. Oh, no, my friends, these suckers are heavenly and caramelized and have an almost sweet taste thanks to the roasting.

Ugly babies have hats. Brussels sprouts have roasting and garlic.

We roast so many dang vegetables in the Cook household that I even created The Ultimate Guide to Roasting Frozen Vegetables. We love the convenience and how affordable cooking with frozen vegetables is!

And if you love roasting veggies (who doesn’t), try these Baked Cauliflower Patties. They’ll blow your mind and are an awesome breakfast topped with a fried egg (and lots of hot sauce!).

Hungry for more? Check out these 9 Whole30 Air Fryer and 8 Easy Air Fryer Vegetable Recipes for more inspiration.

What to Serve With Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts

I’m a sucker for a dipping sauce, and I highly recommend using Sriracha Vegan Aioli, Cilantro Chimichurri, or Sweet Potato Fries Dipping Sauce (great on more than just sweet potatoes!).

How to Trim Brussels Sprouts

Cut the base end off of the brussels.

Cut the brussels in half and peel away the external leaves. Little bits of dirt and debris can hide in those outer leaves like evil ninjas.

Add them to a bowl of cold water and allow them to soak for five minutes. Drain and prepare in your preferred method.

How Do You Make Brussels Sprouts Crispy?

You roast the ever-loving snot out of them! High heat plus some olive oil and the correct placement in the oven will make your brussels crispy every single time. And they’re so dang good.

How to Make Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts

*Printable and detailed recipe card at the bottom of the post.

Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts Method

Preheat air fryer to 390 degrees for 5 minutes.

Lightly spray the basket with olive oil cooking spray. Add the Brussels (as prepared above) and cook for 9 minutes or to your desired level of crispy.

Oven Method

Preheat oven to 450 degrees and place a rack on the lowest setting.

Combine brussels, olive oil, salt, and garlic cloves in a bowl. Toss to coat.

Dump the bowl onto a rimmed baking sheet and spread the veggies around to give them space. Now, be annoyingly anal-retentive and make sure they are all cut side down on the pan. Annoying, but this is going to give you the best sear possible! Pro tip: you can also use a cast iron skillet if you have one large enough!

Bake for 12 minutes. Stir, and bake for another 3-8 minutes depending on your desired level of crisp (I do 6 minutes).

Pro Tips/Recipe Notes

• (oven method) Make sure the oven is fully preheated before you add the sprouts. The high heat helps to crisp them up without making them soggy.
• (oven method) Don’t overcrowd the pan with too many brussels as it will cause them to steam instead of caramelizing and roasting. Use a second pan if you need to cook a lot.
• (oven method) You’ll want to cook these Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts on the bottom rack of the oven to help sear these little guys into sweet roasted oblivion.
• Every person prefers their veggies roasted to a specific level. Use common sense and check on your brussels during the cooking process to see what works best for you.
• Yes, you can make these ahead of time! Store in an air-tight container and microwave for 30 seconds. Just don’t be the a-hole who takes them to work and stinks up the breakroom kitchen.
• Need to roast a small amount? I love to use our toaster oven with a smaller cast iron skillet for only one to two servings.

Variations

• Try the seasoning from these Spicy Sweet Potato Fries to kick up the wow factor on this air fryer brussels sprouts.
• Throw in some crispy bacon for a smoky and delicious flavor. You can add uncooked bacon with the rest of the ingredients and cook along with the brussels. Or just add some cooked bacon at the end for crunchy little bites of meat candy.
• Toss with a squirt of fresh lemon juice and top with Parmesan cheese.
• Hit the finished brussels with a splash of balsamic.

More Recipes Like This

• Spicy Green Beans
• Air Fryer Asparagus
• Five Minute Sesame Snow Pea Recipe
• Crispy Oven-Fried Gnocchi and Veggies
• Air Fryer Egg Rolls

Need help getting started off with your Whole30 round on the right foot? Download my totally free Trader Joe’s Whole30 Shopping List and Whole30 Costco Shopping List. I have done all the work for you with checking ingredients and figuring out safe foods. Happy shopping?

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Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts WEIGHT WATCHERS POINTS

One serving of Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts has 2 WW Freestyle SmartPoints.

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5 from 7 votes

Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts {Whole30, Paleo, Keto}

Prep Time

15 mins

Cook Time

18 mins

Total Time

33 mins

 

This easy side dish of Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts is so delicious and healthy. Crispy and caramelized thanks to the oven or air fryer.

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Keyword: brussels sprouts with garlic, roasted brussels sprouts, whole30 brussels sprouts

Servings: 4

Calories: 56 kcal

Author: Sarah Cook - Sustainable Cooks

Ingredients

• 3 cups brussels sprouts cut in half
• 2 tsp olive oil
• 1/4 tsp sea salt
• 7 cloves garlic paper removed

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Oven Roasting Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees and place a rack on the lowest setting.

2. Combine brussels, olive oil, salt, and garlic cloves in a bowl. Toss to coat.

3. Dump the bowl onto a rimmed baking sheet and spread the veggies around to give them space. Now, be annoyingly anal-retentive and make sure they are all cut side down on the pan. Annoying, but this is going to give you the best sear possible!

4. Bake for 12 minutes. Stir, and bake for another 3-8 minutes depending on your desired level of crisp (I do 6 minutes).

Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts Method

1. Preheat air fryer to 390 for 5 minutes.

2. Lightly spray the basket with olive oil cooking spray. Add the brussels (as prepared above) and cook for 9 minutes or to your desired level of crispy.

Recipe Notes

Make sure the oven is fully preheated before you add the sprouts. The high heat helps to crisp them up without making them soggy. Cook on the bottom rack.

 

Don't overcrowd the pan with too many brussels as it will cause them to steam instead of caramelizing and roasting. Use a second pan if you need to cook a lot. 

 

Every person prefers their veggies roasted to a specific level. Use common sense and check on your brussels during the cooking process to see what works best for you.

Nutrition Facts

Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts {Whole30, Paleo, Keto}

Amount Per Serving (0.75 cups)

Calories 56 Calories from Fat 18

% Daily Value*

Fat 2g3%

Saturated Fat 0g0%

Cholesterol 0mg0%

Sodium 112mg5%

Potassium 277mg8%

Carbohydrates 7g2%

Fiber 2g8%

Sugar 1g1%

Protein 2g4%

Vitamin A 500IU10%

Vitamin C 57.8mg70%

Calcium 37mg4%

Iron 1mg6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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