These Crispy Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts with maple syrup and pecans have crispy, caramelized edges, with a simple seasoning of oil, salt and garlic powder. Maple syrup adds a touch of sweetness, while chopped pecans add a little crunch. Even though you can easily roast these Brussels sprouts in the oven, the air fryer produces much crispier results!
These Brussels sprouts are perfect for the holidays served with your turkey or ham, alongside my whole wheat stuffing and healthy cranberry sauce. You can also add them to my fall orzo salad!
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Quick Look: Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts
- ⏱ Prep time: 10 minutes
- 👩🏻🍳 Air frying time: 18 minutes
- ⏳ Total time: 28 minutes
- 🍽 Servings: 4
- ⚡ Calories: 161 per serving
- 🌱 Diet: gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan
- 🔥 Flavor/texture: crispy, garlicky Brussels sprouts with sweet maple syrup and crunchy pecans.
- 👌 Difficulty: easy
- ❤️ Why you'll love: you only need 6 ingredients and less than 30 minutes from start to finish; the air fryer produces ultra crispy Brussels sprouts with minimal oil.
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Why you'll love this air fryer Brussels sprouts recipe
These Brussels sprouts are one of my favorite air fryer side dishes to date! Here's why you'll love them too:
- Maximum crispiness: The rapid, high heat air circulation of the air fryer mimics the effects of deep frying. This crisps up the outer leaves of the Brussels sprouts without using a lot of oil.
- Pecan crunch: Adding raw pecans introduces a rich, buttery crunch that contrasts to the texture of the tender sprouts.
- Maple sweetness: A small amount of pure maple syrup adds a warm sweetness that cuts through the bitterness of the Brussels sprouts and brings out their mild sweetness. It's the same reason I add maple syrup to my Brussels sprouts with crispy prosciutto recipe!
- More surface area to season and crisp: Cutting the Brussels sprouts in half allows the seasoning to get into the nooks and crannies of the layered leaves and maximizes the golden brown char on the outside.
Table of Contents
Ingredient notes
You only need 6 ingredients to make these Brussels sprouts!
- Brussels sprouts - You'll need 1 pound for this recipe. I find this is a good amount to fit in the air fryer basket without having to air fry in batches. Make sure your Brussels sprouts are not too large, as they tend to taste a little bitter.
- Pecans - Pecans and maple syrup just go together, and I love the crunch that they add to this side dish. Make sure you're using raw pecans. Salted or roasted pecans may burn quickly in the air fryer. If you don't have pecans, walnuts are a good substitute.
- Maple syrup - Just 2 tablespoons of maple syrup adds a hint of sweetness and delicious maple flavor. It also helps caramelize the Brussels sprouts and pecans. I don't recommend substituting with honey here as it just doesn't add the same flavor.
How to air fry Brussels sprouts
This recipe comes together quickly! We're talking 10 minutes prep time and less than 20 minutes to air fry.
Step 1: Add the prepped Brussels sprouts to a large bowl with the oil, salt and garlic powder and toss until well coated.
Step 2: Place the Brussels sprouts in the air fryer basket. It's okay if some overlap, just don't fill up the basket.
Step 3: Air fry at 360F for 15 minutes, or until crispy and almost fork tender. Shake the basket a few times to rotate the Brussels sprouts around.
Step 4: Add the pecans and brush the maple syrup over the Brussels sprouts and pecans. Continue air frying for another 2-3 minutes or until the Brussels sprouts are fork tender.
Expert tips
- Brussels sprouts should be roughly the same size. This will ensure even cooking. If you have some larger ones, just cut them in quarters.
- Don't use chopped pecans. I don't recommend store-bought chopped pecans as they are too small and will fall through the holes in the air fryer basket. I normally buy pecan pieces or halves and just break them into pieces.
- Brush on the maple syrup. Brushing it on ensures more of the maple syrup stays on the Brussels sprouts and pecans and doesn't fall through the holes in the air fryer basket.
- Air fry at 360F. When you oven roast Brussels sprouts, it's usually at 425F or 450F so they get nice and crispy. As the air fryer is more intense, a lower temperature is required to ensure the Brussels sprouts don't burn on the outside before the centers are fork tender.
- Air fryers differ. This recipe was tested in a 5.8 quart air fryer. If you have a smaller model, you may need to air fry the Brussels sprouts in two batches.
Air fryer Brussels sprouts FAQs
Yes, just spread the Brussels sprouts out on a sheet pan. I usually space them out and place them cut side down. Roast at 425F for 16-18 minutes. Remove from the oven and toss with the pecans and maple syrup. Roast for another 2-3 minutes.
If your Brussels sprouts were a larger size that may be the reason why they taste bitter. Smaller ones have a sweeter taste. The other reason could be that they weren't air fried for long enough. Just pop them back in the air fryer for a few minutes.
While you can microwave them, in order to get them crispy, I prefer the air fryer. Just place them in the basket and air fry at 350F for 3-5 minutes until heated through and crispy on the outside. Keep an eye on them as you don't want the Brussels sprouts or pecans to burn.
My ideal fall or holiday meal would include these Brussels sprouts served with my air fryer pork medallions, mashed acorn squash and root vegetable salad.
More air fryer holiday side dishes
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📖 Recipe
Crispy Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts (Maple Pecan)
Ingredients
- 1 pound Brussels sprouts, trimmed and halved
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ½ teaspoon fine sea salt
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 3 tablespoons pecan pieces, raw *see note #2
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup
Instructions
- Add the trimmed and halved Brussels sprouts to a large bowl and toss with the oil, salt and garlic powder until well coated.
- Place the Brussels sprouts in the air fryer basket. It's okay if some overlap. They don't need to be in a single layer, just don't fill up the basket.
- Air fry at 360F for 15 minutes, or until crispy and almost fork tender. Shake the basket a few times to rotate the Brussels sprouts around.
- Add the pecans and brush the maple syrup over the Brussels sprouts and pecans.
- Continue air frying for another 2-3 minutes or until the Brussels sprouts are fork tender. Serve immediately.
Notes
- Brussels sprouts should be roughly the same size to ensure even cooking. If you have some larger ones, just cut them into quarters.
- I don't recommend using store-bought chopped pecans as they are too small and will fall through the holes in the air fryer basket. I normally buy pecan pieces or halves and just break them into pieces.
- Brushing on the maple syrup ensures more of it stays on the Brussels sprouts and pecans and doesn't fall through the holes in the air fryer basket.
- This recipe was tested in a 5.8 quart air fryer. If you have a smaller model, you may need to air fry the Brussels in two batches.
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Nutrition Facts per Serving
Disclaimer
Nutrition information is an estimate only and will vary depending on the substitutions made and the brands used.
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