Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts with Bacon is the ultimate fall side dish. It's the perfect side dish for the holiday season, especially for Thanksgiving dinner or Christmas. And it's so easy to make in under 30 minutes, making it a quick weeknight dinner dish.
Brussels sprouts are the ultimate fall vegetable. While you can find them at your local grocery store almost year-round, their peak season is late August through March.
And I always find the best, freshest Brussels sprouts in October, November, and December. This makes them the ideal vegetable side dish to bring to holiday meals.
My new favorite way of cooking Brussels sprouts: in the air fryer, of course!
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🌟 Why this recipe works
This Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts with Bacon recipe results in a delicious, irresistible dish the whole family will love.
- Easy - This easy recipe requires little prep work, and almost no hands-on cooking. The air fryer does all the hard work!
- Fast - One of the best things about the air fryer is that it helps cut down on cooking time. You can whip up this easy side dish in under 30 minutes.
- Loaded with nutrients - Brussels sprouts are healthy vegetables packed with vitamin K, vitamin C, and high in fiber.
- So delicious - The Brussels sprouts get super crispy and carmelized, then you have the crunchy salty bacon, and a hint of seasoning. The combination of flavors and textures is irresistible!
🛒 Ingredient notes
Another great thing you'll love about this recipe is the ingredient list. You only need four simple ingredients to make this dish!
- Brussels sprouts - Wash and chop the large sprouts into quarters. If you have some smaller sprouts you can cut them in half. Just make sure the pieces of this main ingredient are all close to the same size so that they cook evenly in the air fryer.
- Bacon - Crispy bacon adds that next level salty flavor to this dish. Chop the bacon into evenly sized pieces so they cook up evenly.
- Olive oil - This helps the vegetables crisp up. Remember: a little oil goes a long way when using the air fryer.
- Garlic powder - Normally I love fresh garlic, but in this case, garlic powder adds that delicious garlic flavor without burning. Fresh garlic tends to burn in the air fryer.
Alternative add-in flavor options:
- Parmesan cheese - A sprinkling of grated parmesan cheese before air frying gives Brussels sprouts a rich nutty flavor.
- Balsamic vinegar - a little drizzle for the last couple minutes of cook time gives it a carmelized balsamic glaze.
- Lemon and mint - Finish off the dish with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice and thinly sliced mint for bright acidity.
✅ Step-by-step instructions
The full ingredient list and detailed instructions are in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post. But here are some step-by-step photos to help you make this recipe.
Start by preheating your air fryer at 390°F for two minutes.
- Toss the chopped Brussels sprouts, chopped bacon, olive oil, garlic powder, kosher salt and ground black pepper together in a large mixing bowl until everything is evenly coated.
- Place the ingredients into the air fryer basket in a single layer. It's okay if some pieces overlap. However, if you have a large amount for the size of your air fryer, you may need to work in batches.
- Air fry at 390°F for 15 minutes. Shake the basket or toss the ingredients together with a wooden spoon at least halfway through.
👩🏻🍳 Air frying tips and recipe FAQs
Air frying tips:
- Make sure you cut the Brussels sprouts into similar sized pieces so that they cook evenly. Larger sprouts usually need to be quartered; smaller sprouts can be halved.
- Shake the basket or use a wooden spoon to toss the ingredients halfway through cooking. I actually do this 2 to 3 times during the air fry time in my air fryer, just to ensure that all of the ingredients cook up nicely.
- Every air fryer is different. Depending on the size of your air fryer and the size of your Brussels sprouts and bacon, you may need more or less cooking time.
- For extra crispy Brussels sprouts, try soaking them in a large bowl of water for about 10 minutes, then drain and dry them before air frying. This can help soften the centers, which helps the entire vegetable crisp up even more.
Yes, you can use frozen Brussels sprouts with this recipe. However, I recommend always using fresh Brussels sprouts for this particular recipe. Frozen Brussels sprouts may not get as crispy and you may need to add a minute or two to the cooking time.
The correct spelling is always Brussels sprouts. The cruciferous veggies are named after the capital city of Belgium. Even though you may see "air fryer brussel sprouts" from time to time, it's not correct. The "B" in Brussels sprouts is also always capitalized, since it refers to a proper noun.
This air fryer recipe is best enjoyed immediately or very soon after it's made. However, you can store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 or 4 days.
The best way to reheat crispy Brussels sprouts is in the air fryer. Place Brussels sprouts mixture into your air fryer basket and air fry at 350°F for 2 to 3 minutes or until fully heated, shaking the basket or tossing the ingredients halfway through.
🍽 Serving ideas
This is such a great side dish to serve at holidays like Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter. But it's so yummy and fast enough to make for any busy weeknight dinner!
For a Thanksgiving feast, serve it with our Spatchcock Turkey or Air Fryer Turkey Tenderloin as the main course. Then pair other side dishes like Instant Pot Garlic Mashed Potatoes or Whipped Sweet Potatoes. For dessert, try this mouthwatering Sweet Potato Pie with Graham Cracker Crust.
For a delicious dinner any night of the year, try serving this Brussels sprouts recipe as a side dish along with a main dish such as Instant Pot Pork Chops and Rice, Dutch Oven Pot Roast, Instant Pot Stuffed Pork Tenderloin, or our Dairy-Free Mac and Cheese.
🍷 🥂 Wine pairings for Brussels sprouts
Brussels sprouts are notoriously challenging to pair with wine. One classic pairing is a crisp white wine such as a Sauvignon Blanc.
🍳 Kitchen tools and equipment
Ready to make this recipe? Here are the kitchen tools and equipment you'll need:
- Air Fryer - This recipe has the best results in an air fryer basket, versus the air fryer trays. I love making this brussels sprouts recipe in my Ninja Foodi Deluxe XL Air Fryer. And this Ninja Dual Zone Air Fryer is the one we use everyday.
- Wooden spoon - Use a wooden spoon to toss the brussels sprouts and bacon during air frying. You can also shake the basket, but I find tossing the ingredients helps ensure more even cooking.
- Mixing bowl - You'll need a large mixing bowl to mix together the ingredients before making the air-fried brussels sprouts.
More fall recipes
Want to try another brussels sprouts recipe? Try my Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Apples recipe. And here are more fall recipes you might enjoy:
Did you make this recipe? Don't forget to leave a 5-Star 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 rating in the recipe card, and if you really loved it, please leave a comment further down on the page. Thank you!
Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts with Bacon
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 pound quartered brussels sprouts with ends chopped off
- 4 slices bacon, chopped
- 1½ Tablespoons olive oil
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer at 390°F for 2 minutes.
- In a large bowl, mix together all of the ingredients: the brussels sprouts, bacon, olive oil, garlic powder, salt and pepper until the brussels sprouts are evenly coated with the seasonings.
- Lightly spray the air fryer basket with a non-aerosol cooking spray.
- Place the brussels sprouts mixture into the air fryer basket.
- Air fry at 390°F for 15 minutes or until cooked to your preferred level of crispiness, shaking halfway through.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is a general estimate. Actual nutrition details may vary depending on the exact foods & brands you use to make this recipe. It does not take into account any substitutions, toppings, or optional ingredients.
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