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These easy vegan Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts are sure to be the hit of your holiday table. With just 4 simple ingredients, they are free of common allergens, so that all of your guests may enjoy!
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Last year for my birthday Irving got me an air fryer! While I know that appliances don’t seem like the most romantic gift in the world, this girl loves them, and my sweet husband knows it! In the 14 some years that we’ve been together he’s given me a food processor for Christmas, a blender for Mother’s Day, an Instant Pot for a birthday, an Air Fryer for another birthday, a dehydrator for another Christmas, and countless little gadgets in between! Let me just say that I have a well stocked kitchen. Over the past year I’ve been experimenting with my air fryer, and I’m starting to get the hang of it! It’s great for frying tofu, heating up frozen snacks and nuggets quickly, and even for cooking vegetables! I’ve made sweet and green plantains—yum! And in the past month or so I’ve been experimenting with air fryer brussels sprouts and green beans. They are all so quick and easy! Air fryer vegetables are hardly unique, but I love their simplicity, and wanted to share my easy recipe with all of you! I’ll be making these for Thanksgiving later this week—you’ve gotta love a holiday recipe that cooks in under 10 minutes with just 4 ingredients!
Brussels Sprouts
Ok—are they Brussel Sprouts? Brussels Sprouts? My kids used to call them “Pretzel Sprouts.” And at one point David even called them “green balls.” Whatever you call them, they are notorious for being over cooked, and have gotten a bad reputation. If they are cooked too long—boiled or roasted—they get kind of mushy and their flavor is bit intense. That’s why I love making air fryer brussels sprouts—they are quick to cook for maximum crispiness without a mushy inside! That way you can see all of the delicate little leaves on the inside—they’re like mini cabbages!
Kid Fave?
Well, we’re 50/50 in our house. David loves brussels sprouts! Jonny hates them! I guess a 50% success rate is to be expected when your test subjects are 7 and 4!
Air Fryer
The Air Fryer is a great kitchen tool that is a bit reminiscent of a space pod! In fact, before I cleared space in my appliance cabinet I stored mine on my counter and it was a great conversation starter. The Air Fryer basically cooks at a high temp a bit like a convection oven, with hot air surrounding the food. The food sits in a vented basket for maximum circulation. Don’t forget to stop and shake a few times through the cooking process! In fact, that is one of the things I like most about the air fryer—you can stop and start it during the cooking process unlike some other appliances. I’m looking at you, Instant Pot!
Holiday Feast
These easy Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts would be a perfect side dish to any holiday feast! You might also like….
- Vegan Green Bean Casserole
- Vegan Red Wine Gravy
- Maple Lime Roasted Sweet Potatoes
- Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes with Fried Onions and Bacon
- Cranberry Orange Relish
- Maple Dinner Rolls with Aquafaba
Garbage Bowl
As much as I love Brussels Sprouts, I find that prepping and trimming them can be a bit tedious. I love to keep a “garbage bowl” (that’s something I learned a million years ago from watching Rachel Ray) in my prep area to keep things tidy. I like to trim my brussels sprouts in half, remove the stem, and remove any brown leaves. This leaves a fair amount of food scraps. I toss them into my garbage bowl, and then can put them in my compost later.
Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts
Are you ready to make these easy vegan air fryer brussels sprouts? You’re only 4 ingredients away from a delicious crispy side dish! Be sure to give these a try, and let me know what you think in the comments.
Print Recipe
Easy Vegan Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts
These easy vegan Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts are sure to be the hit of your holiday table. They are free of common allergens, so that all of your guests may enjoy!
Prep Time10 minutes mins
Cook Time10 minutes mins
Total Time20 minutes mins
Servings: 4
Ingredients
- 1 pound Brussels Sprouts
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
Instructions
Prepare brussels sprouts by trimming stem and any brown leaves. Place clean brussels sprouts in a small mixing bowl.
Add olive oil, salt, and garlic powder to the bowl. Mix well.
Optional: allow the brussels sprouts to sit and absorb the marinade for up to 1 day in the refrigerator.
Pour the brussels sprouts in the basket of the air fryer.
Cook the brussels sprouts in the air fryer at 370°. Start by cooking them for 6 minutes, removing the basket to shake half way through the cooking time. If they are not fork tender return the basket to the air fryer and cook for 2-4 more minutes, checking as you go. You want the finished brussels sprouts to be fork tender, with bits of brown crispy leaves. Do not overcook, as that will result in mushy brussels sprouts.
When brussels sprouts are cooked remove them from the air fryer and place them in a serving dish. Serve and enjoy!
No Air Fryer?
Well, I think you’d really like one! In the meantime, try this easy recipe for vegan Brussels Sprouts with Bacon and Shallots!
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FAQs
Parboiling Brussels sprouts before frying is a good technique to ensure they cook evenly and become tender on the inside while allowing for a crispy exterior when fried. It's not always necessary but we think it works here to create a soft middle and crisp exterior in the pan.
Why do you soak brussel sprouts before cooking? ›
Not only can soaking make the centers more malleable, but the water that's absorbed into them will create a steaming action, whether you choose to roast, saute, or make your Brussels sprouts in your air fryer. The steam can help to ensure the cooking is even throughout the Brussels sprout.
Why did my brussel sprouts burn in the air fryer? ›
Why did my brussels sprouts burn in the air fryer? If you don't shake the air fryer basket throughout the cooking process, you risk the sprouts burning before they are fully cooked. Can I air fry brussels sprouts without oil? While air-frying sprouts without oil will cook them, they won't be soft in the middle.
Can you use brussel sprout stalk for anything? ›
Yes, you can eat the stalk. Slice off the Brussels sprouts when they're fork tender, and return the stem to the oven. Let it roast for another 15 minutes. Test for tenderness, and then split the stalk with a sharp knife.
Do you cut the ends off brussel sprouts before cooking? ›
No matter how you're going to cook your Brussels sprouts, you'll want to trim them first. At the base of each sprout is the spot where it was originally connected to the plant. Unless you've just cut the sprouts off the stalk yourself, this area will have become dry and browned during storage.
Why are my Brussels sprouts soggy in the oven? ›
Not using enough oil.
The other secret to ridiculously crispy Brussels sprouts is tossing them in plenty of oil. We like to use olive oil, but plain vegetable oil is great too. If the sprouts are well-coated, they'll caramelize and char instead of simply softening in the oven.
Why won't my Brussels sprouts get crispy? ›
Make sure to use fresh, firm brussels sprouts. If they're too soft, they may be bad and won't crisp up in the oven. Trim the ends of the brussels sprouts slightly. You just want to remove the “stump”.
Why boil brussel sprouts before roasting? ›
Unlike other vegetables, Brussels sprouts can be parboiled (even a day ahead) to reduce the roasting time without hurting their texture. That means the sprouts can be popped in the oven while the meat is resting before carving. Of course, if the main course is grilled or pan-cooked, the oven will be free for roasting.
What happens if you don't wash brussel sprouts? ›
Generally speaking (and especially if aphids are not evident), you don't have to wash Brussels sprouts because you are already “cleaning” them by trimming off the bottom and then peeling away a few outer leaves.
When should you not use Brussel sprouts? ›
If any of the leaves have brown spots or are yellowing, it's a sign of early spoilage. If you remove the blemished leaves and the interior looks OK, you can still use the sprout. However, if the interior leaves are also showing blemishes or yellowing, it's best to toss it (or compost it, if you can).
Although temperatures below 20°F will eventually kill Brussels sprout plants, these vegetables are hardy, and their flavor improves after a light frost. Picking sprouts after frost results in a sweeter and tastier crop of sprouts.
Why does everything burn in Airfryer? ›
The food is too small
Food that is too small in an air fryer basket could slip right through the slots and fall onto a heating element. The pieces will burn quickly, which could fill your food—and your kitchen—with fumes and smoke.
What organ is brussel sprouts good for? ›
Eating a lot of Brussels sprouts and other cruciferous veggies may help protect against cancers of the stomach, lungs, kidney, breast, bladder, and prostate. Crunchy veggies like Brussels sprouts may also help you stave off other health issues, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart disease, and diabetes.
Do you rinse brussel sprouts before cooking? ›
Wash sprouts under cold running water and remove any leaves or yellow spots you may see. Place sprouts in a pot and cook for about 10-15 minutes. Sprouts are done when a knife will easily cut through them. Season with butter, salt, and pepper to taste.
Does cooking brussel sprouts destroy nutrients? ›
Boiling will cause Brussels sprouts to lose some of their nutritional value so steaming, stir-frying, or roasting are generally preferred. The leaves cook faster than the core, so cut an X in the bottom of the stem for even cooking when cooking the sprouts whole.
Is blanching Brussels sprouts necessary? ›
Like all cabbages, Brussels are unavoidably fibrous and dense. You must overcome this by either cooking them in salty water until fork tender (blanching), or by roasting at a high (over 425F) temperature for upwards of 20 minutes. To guarantee great texture, do both!
What happens if you don t blanch brussel sprouts before freezing? ›
Can you freeze raw Brussels sprouts without blanching? You can you freeze uncooked Brussels sprouts, but you'll need to be aware that they may be a little softer than if you blanched them (so keep an eye on the cooking time). Plus, they won't keep in the freezer for as long.
Should you boil Brussels sprouts before roasting them? ›
Unlike other vegetables, Brussels sprouts can be parboiled (even a day ahead) to reduce the roasting time without hurting their texture. That means the sprouts can be popped in the oven while the meat is resting before carving. Of course, if the main course is grilled or pan-cooked, the oven will be free for roasting.
