These tasty Air Fryer Brussel Sprouts are made with bacon and are ready in under 15 minutes! You will love the crispy bacon pieces that meld flawlessly with the juicy, tender Brussels sprouts. This is the perfect side dish for a family dinner or holiday meal, plus it is low-carb!
As a believer that everything tastes better with bacon, I am excited to share with you this easy side dish recipe. Not only is it simple to make, but it is also full of flavor.
I love easy air fryer vegetables like my Air Fryer Buttercup Squash, Air Fryer Cauliflower and Broccoli, and Air Fryer Carrots. And once again, the air fryer outdoes itself as it cooks Brussels sprouts to crispy perfection.
Brussel sprouts are one of those veggies that you may have disliked eating when you were younger, but these brussels sprouts in the air fryer are so delicious, you may develop a new appreciation for this tiny green vegetable.
The combination of the salty bacon and the crispy exterior of the Brussel sprouts is simply irresistible. This recipe takes just minutes to prepare, yet delivers a delicious result every time.
This recipe doesn't require you to precook the bacon, so it has a short prep time. Like my Air Fryer Green Beans, the air fryer cooks the veggies perfectly.
This dish is always served alongside my Air Fryer Filet Mignon with Bacon, Smoked Prime Rib, Twice-Baked Mashed Potato Casserole, Ruth's Chris Sweet Potato Casserole, and Homemade Air Buns for Christmas dinner.
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💗 Why you will love this recipe
- This is an easy recipe that only requires a handful of ingredients.
- It makes a great side dish for holiday dinners or busy weeknights.
- This air fryer brussels sprouts recipe is perfect! You will love how the sprouts come out super crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside!
- The combination of flavors is irresistible. The bacon fat enhances the flavor of the Brussels sprouts tenfold.
- This vegetable side dish is incredibly fast and easy to make with minimal prep time. All you need to do is combine your ingredients in a bowl and then place the sprouts in the air fryer!
🥓 Ingredient Notes & Substitutions
You can find everything you need for this delicious recipe at your local grocery store.
- Brussel sprouts. I used fresh brussels sprouts. You can also use frozen Brussels sprouts; just make sure to fully defrost them first and dry them well with a paper towel.
- Olive oil. I used olive oil, but you could certainly use one tablespoon avocado oil instead.
- Bacon. I used 4 strips of bacon, but you can use thick-cut bacon, thin-cut bacon, or turkey bacon.
See the printable recipe card for exact measurements and a full list of ingredients.
🍋 Variations
For a different flavor profile, drizzle cooked sprouts and bacon with any one of the following before serving:
- lemon juice
- a balsamic glaze made from balsamic vinegar.
- sweet maple syrup.
🔪 Step-by-step instructions
Step 1: Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees F.
Step 2: Prepare your Brussel sprouts. Wash your Brussel sprouts well under cold water and drain. Cut the hard stem off the ends of the sprouts. Next, cut Brussels sprouts in half. If they are larger sprouts, you may cut sprouts into quarters. When it comes to the loose outer leaves that fall off, you have two choices. You can either cook them or toss them. When cooked, they get super crispy in the air fryer and turn into dark crunchy chips, which are quite tasty. But if you want a more sophisticated-looking dish, you might want to toss them. Your choice.
Step 3: Place sprouts in a large mixing bowl. Drizzle them with olive oil, and gently toss until they are evenly covered with oil. Chop up the slices of bacon into bite-sized pieces. Add chopped bacon to the bowl with the Brussel sprouts. Add garlic powder, sea salt, and black pepper. Toss to coat evenly with seasoning.
Step 4: Place Brussels sprouts in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Spread the Brussels sprouts mixture evenly, and do not overcrowd the basket. You will need to do this in batches. If you have a smaller air fryer, it may take 3 batches.
Step 5: Air fry for approximately 8 minutes, until golden brown or until desired crispness is achieved. Make sure to shake the basket at least halfway through the cooking time. I would suggest shaking it every couple of minutes for best results. You can see in the picture below how dark the loose leaves get.
Step 6: Remove the sprouts with a slotted spoon, toss them with parmesan cheese, if desired, and serve! Add more salt and pepper to taste. Enjoy hot for the best flavor.
💭 Expert Tips
- If you have smaller sprouts, you can leave them whole. For large Brussels sprouts, cut in half, and for even larger ones, cut them in quarters. Larger ones may also take a few minutes longer to cook.
- Discard the loose outer leaves of the sprouts if you don't want any extra crispy pieces in your side dish. My family likes them, so I leave them.
- If you would like your brussels sprouts and bacon less greasy, cook bacon in the air fryer first, using my Air Fryer Bacon recipe, then break it up and add it to the roast brussels sprouts when they are done.
- Give the basket a good shake every 2 to 3 minutes for even cooking.
- Keep an eye on them while they’re cooking, as they can burn quickly.
- Do not overcrowd the air fryer basket. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you will need to cook these in at least 2 batches, and possibly more.
📋 Recipe FAQs
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
You can place sprouts in an air fryer and cook them at 350 degrees F for 3-4 minutes until they get crispy and hot.
It is important to preheat your air fryer, and it is also important to check on them often and shake the basket occasionally to ensure they do not burn.
No, you don't need to soak Brussel sprouts before cooking. However, it's important to rinse them thoroughly under running water to remove any dirt or debris. After rinsing, pat them dry and proceed with the recipe.
If you like this post on these easy Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts with Bacon, please take a moment to rate the recipe 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 and leave me a comment below if you make this recipe!
📋 Recipe
Air Fryer Brussel Sprouts with Bacon
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 pound Brussels Sprouts washed, trimmed, and cut in half
- 1 tablespoon olive oil or avodaco oil
- 4 slices bacon diced
- ¾ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- parmesan cheese optional
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees F.
- Place Brussels sprouts in a large mixing bowl. Drizzle with olive oil and toss to coat evenly. Add bacon, garlic powder, sea salt, and black pepper. Toss again to coat everything evenly.
- Place Brussels sprouts in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Spread the Brussels sprouts mixture evenly, and do not overcrowd the basket. You will need to do this in batches. If you have a smaller air fryer, it may take 3 batches.
- Air fry for approximately 8 minutes, shake the basket at least halfway through, and cook until golden brown or until desired crispness is achieved.
- Remove the sprouts with a slotted spoon, toss them with parmesan cheese, if desired, and serve!
- Enjoy!
Video
Notes
- If you have smaller sprouts, you can leave them whole. For large Brussels sprouts, cut in half, and for even larger ones, cut them in quarters. Larger ones may also take a few minutes longer to cook.
- Discard the loose outer leaves of the sprouts if you don't want any extra crispy pieces in your side dish. My family likes them, so I leave them.
- If you would like your brussels sprouts and bacon less greasy, cook bacon in the air fryer first, using my Air Fryer Bacon recipe, then break it up and add it to the roast brussels sprouts when they are done.
- Give the basket a good shake every 2 to 3 minutes for even cooking.
- Keep an eye on them while they’re cooking, as they can burn quickly.
- Do not overcrowd the air fryer basket. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you will need to cook these in at least 2 batches, and possibly more.
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