Description
These air fryer Brussels sprouts are shatteringly crisp on the outside and tender on the inside, tossed in a quick, sweet-tart homemade balsamic glaze. A healthy, fast, and delicious side dish that eliminates the sulfur smell and soggy texture of traditional cooking methods.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound Brussels sprouts, trimmed and halved
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 tablespoon butter
- Optional: 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- Optional: 1 teaspoon fresh thyme, chopped
- Optional: 2 tablespoons crushed pistachios or walnuts
- Optional: 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Trim the stem ends off the Brussels sprouts and halve them (or quarter if large). Remove any loose or yellow outer leaves.
- Pat the sprouts dry with a towel to ensure crispiness.
- Toss the sprouts in a large bowl with olive oil, salt, and pepper until evenly coated.
- Preheat air fryer to 390°F (200°C) if recommended by the manufacturer.
- Place sprouts in the air fryer basket in a single layer, ensuring they are not overcrowded. Cook for 12 minutes, shaking the basket every 4 minutes.
- While sprouts cook, combine balsamic vinegar and honey in a small saucepan over medium heat.
- Simmer the vinegar mixture for 2-3 minutes until it reduces by half and becomes syrupy.
- Remove from heat and whisk in butter until melted. Stir in minced garlic.
- Transfer cooked sprouts to a large bowl while still hot.
- Drizzle the warm balsamic glaze over the sprouts and toss gently to coat evenly.
- Serve immediately, topped with optional ingredients like nuts, cheese, or red pepper flakes.
Notes
Do not overcrowd the air fryer basket; cook in batches if necessary to ensure crispiness. Pat sprouts dry before oiling to prevent steaming. Add garlic to the glaze off-heat to prevent burning. For a vegan version, substitute butter with olive oil and honey with maple syrup.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Side Dish
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: Approximately 1/4 of
- Calories: 120
- Sugar: 12
- Sodium: 250
- Fat: 5
- Saturated Fat: 2
- Carbohydrates: 18
- Fiber: 4
- Protein: 3
Keywords: air fryer, brussels sprouts, balsamic glaze, healthy side dish, crispy vegetables, quick dinner, gluten-free, vegetarian