Crispy air fryer smashed Brussel sprouts are a crowd-pleaser! Serve the veggies as a healthy side dish, snack, or appetizer with your favorite dipping sauce—dijon aioli or chipotle lime sauce.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Air fryer Brussels sprouts are a fantastic way to enjoy the crispy vegetables. They are so good I have to keep myself from eating them straight out of the basket. Here’s what you need to get started.
- Brussels Sprouts: Start with half a pound of fresh Brussels sprouts. If you’re making a larger batch, cook them in batches or use the oven for the best results.
How to Choose Brussels Sprouts
Select fresh Brussels sprouts with a bright green color, firm texture, and no wilted leaves.
- Oil: Lightly coat the Brussels sprouts with avocado oil cooking spray to keep them from sticking to the air fryer basket.
- Spices: Enhance the flavor of the air fryer smashed Brussel sprouts by seasoning them with garlic powder, kosher salt, and black pepper.
Additions and Substitutions
- Switch up the seasoning. I like to keep the spices simple, so I can pair the veggies with anything, but if you want to switch things up, try adding yellow curry powder, cayenne pepper, or red pepper flakes. You can also season them with your favorite spice blends like Kinder’s Buttery Steakhouse, this Slap Ya Mama seasoning recipe, or Old Bay seasoning.
- Get cheesy. Top the smashed Brussels sprouts with grated parmesan cheese or a non-dairy alternative like nutritional yeast.
- Sweeten things up. Drizzle maple syrup, fig balsamic dressing, honey, or balsamic glaze over the vegetables for a sweeter side dish.
Tools You’ll Need
All you need to make this healthy air fryer smashed Brussel sprouts recipe is a microwave-safe dish and an air fryer with a large basket. You can use smaller air fryer models, but you may need to cook the Brussels sprouts in batches.
Prepare the Brussels Sprouts
1. Trim the ends and remove any discolored or loose leaves.
2. Cut larger sprouts in half for even cooking.
How To Make Air Fryer Smashed Brussel Sprouts
Find the complete recipe with measurements in the recipe card below.
Step 1: Preheat the air fryer to 400°F (240°C). Then, transfer the prepared Brussels sprouts to a large microwave-safe dish. Add water and microwave for 4 minutes.
Step 2: Prepare the air fryer basket with avocado cooking spray and arrange the Brussels sprouts in a single layer. Use the same dish or a press to smash them down.
Step 3: Spray the tops with avocado oil and season with salt, black pepper, and garlic powder. Cook for 8 Minutes.
Expert Tips
- Don’t overcrowd the basket. Arrange the Brussels sprouts into a single layer to ensure they have a crispy texture. I recommend working in batches if cooking more than half a pound.
What to Serve with Smashed Brussels Sprouts
Roasted, boiled, sautéed, raw, and air-fried, what’s not to love about Brussels sprouts? The vegetables are a great side dish for any meal. Pair them with beef ribs, cranberry jalapeno meatballs, pork chops, Sriracha salmon, or this juicy bison steak recipe.
Enjoy a simple Thanksgiving spread with tandoori turkey, Dutch oven mac and cheese, and tasty Brussels sprouts.
Serve the sprouts as a healthy snack or appetizer with chili aioli, cranberry jalapeno sauce, ancho aioli, or hollandaise for dipping. Or, drizzle honey lemon pepper sauce over the top for a sweeter finish.
What To Do With Leftovers
- Refrigerate: Store the leftover air fryer smashed Brussel sprouts in an airtight container for 3-4 days.
- Reheat: Warm the leftovers in an air fryer or oven at 350°F (176°C) for about 5 minutes.
- Repurpose: Serve the Brussels sprouts as is or toss them with a fresh salad.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I boil the Brussel sprouts before air frying?
I steam the Brussels sprouts in the microwave until they’re tender enough to smash. Alternatively, bring salted water to a boil in a saucepan, add the sprouts, and cook for 3-5 minutes until slightly tender. Pat them dry with a paper towel and smash them for the recipe.
Can I use frozen Brussels sprouts?
Steam frozen Brussels sprouts in a microwave-safe dish, just as you would with fresh ones.
Can I make smashed Brussels sprouts in the oven?
1. Preheat the oven to 425°F (218°C), then steam the Brussels sprouts in the microwave.
2. Toss the sprouts in a large bowl with avocado or olive oil, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper. Transfer to a sheet pan and smash each sprout with a press or the bottom of a glass.
3. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until they are golden brown with crispy edges.
More Air Fryer Vegetables:
Air Fryer Smashed Brussel Sprouts
- Microwave-Safe Dish
- ½ pound Brussels sprouts
- ½ cup water
- avocado cooking spray, as needed
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- Preheat the air fryer to 400°F (240°C). Then, transfer the prepared Brussels sprouts to a large microwave-safe dish. Add water and microwave for 4 minutes.
- Prepare the air fryer basket with avocado cooking spray and arrange the Brussels sprouts in a single layer. Use the same dish or a press to smash them down.
- Spray the tops with avocado oil and season with salt, black pepper, and garlic powder. Cook for 8 Minutes.
- Don’t overcrowd the basket. Arrange the Brussels sprouts into a single layer to ensure they have a crispy texture. I recommend working in batches if cooking more than half a pound.