Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts with Bacon
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.
Air Fryer Brussel Sprouts With Bacon will convince any picky eater that veggies are delicious, especially with bacon! Brussel sprouts in the air fryer are perfectly caramelized in just 15 minutes, and with a salty, smoky rich flavor, they’re scrumptious with everything from red meat to fish!
If you’ve visited my blog before, you probably know that I absolutely love preparing vegetables in the air fryer!
It’s a quick cooking method, and because air frying doesn’t require a lot of oil, it’s healthy, too!
With the winning combo of health benefits and fantastic flavor, this brussel sprouts air fryer recipe tops the list!
Air Fryer Brussel Sprouts With Bacon
A Brussel sprout is one of the healthiest veggies you can eat! It has loads of vitamins and minerals, and a high fiber content to keep you feeling full.
It’s a superfood that makes for a super meal!
Bacon Brussel sprouts are hands down, one of my favorites!. I also have sweet potato fries that are sweet and salty, nice and crispy, and with a peppery finish that goes well with any main dish!
If you don’t have an air fryer, try out my pan fried sweet chili version – the sauce is mind blowing!
Recipe Ingredients and Substitutions
- Brussel Sprouts – The best Brussels sprouts should have a bright green color, firm texture and tightly packed leaves.
They should also feel heavy for their size, and be pretty much odorless. Smaller sprouts are usually sweeter and more tender than the larger ones. - Bacon – Store bought, precooked bacon is an option, but frying your own is always the best!
- Garlic – I love using sliced garlic – it has a smooth, nutty flavor you can only get from larger pieces.
Minced garlic is fine too, or use garlic powder if that’s all you have. - Olive Oil – Canola, sunflower, and avocado oil are all fantastic substitutes for olive oil.
Brussel Sprouts Air Fryer Recipe Variations
- Use other seasonings. Brussels is one of those vegetables that really goes with everything.
Add cayenne pepper for some heat, the classic garlic and parmesan duo, or even a tangy buttermilk ranch seasoning! - Sweeten things up! To really highlight the bacon Brussel sprouts, you could add a coating of sticky sweet maple syrup.
- Want a vegetarian dish? There are plenty of ways to jazz up your veggie dish without using bacon.
Diced mushrooms give a similar smoky, savory flavor, and nuts can add plenty of texture – pine nuts, walnuts, etc.
Or, feel free to use your favorite bacon alternative!
Storing and Reheating Leftovers
Store bacon brussel sprouts in an airtight container. In the fridge, they’ll last for about 5 days before the veggies get soggy and pretty unappetizing.
They actually freeze pretty well, too! They’ll keep for up to a year that way.
The best way to reheat brussels is to pop them right back into the fryer! A couple of minutes at 350°F should be plenty.
Serving Suggestions
Want to know what’s good with Brussel sprouts? Pretty much anything and everything!
Kidding aside, I often cook them together when I make air fryer steak or chicken tenders. They also taste fabulous with Salisbury steak and mashed potatoes.
You could even serve Brussel sprouts with bacon as an appetizer!
Air Fryer Brussel Sprouts FAQ
You typically don’t want to leave brussel sprouts in the air fryer for longer than 12 minutes or so, shaking the basket halfway through. But every model of air fryer is different, and sizes of sprouts can vary, so it may take a little less or a little more time.
Your first line of defense is a good coating of olive oil (or a similar oil) to make sure they don’t stick and burn to the air fryer basket.
Next, you want to make sure you give the basket a good shake to ensure the veggies are cooking evenly. Pay attention and manually flip any uncooked brussel tops that you happen to see.
Enjoy!
With love, from our simple kitchen to yours.
Don’t miss a thing! Follow us on
Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram
Other Air Fryer Sides
Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts with Bacon
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 pounds brussels sprouts, washed and halved (from top to bottom)
- 4 ounces thick cut bacon, uncooked, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
- 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 400°F.
- Add all ingredients to a large mixing bowl and toss to coat.
- Arrange bacon and brussels sprouts in a single layer in the air fryer basket.
- Cook for 6 minutes, shake the basket, then cook for an additional 6 minutes.
- Remove from basket and serve.
Nutrition
All nutritional information is based on third party calculations and is only an estimate. Each recipe’s nutritional value will vary depending on the ingredients used, measuring methods, and portion sizes.
Originally published September 2022
Disclosure: Posts may contain affiliate links. If you purchase a product through an affiliate link your price will remain the same and The Slow Roasted Italian will automatically receive a small commission. Thank you for supporting us, it helps us keep creating new recipes.
The bacon gives it an even more savory flavor, and since it’s in the air fryer it’s quick and easy!
Do I see parchment paper in the bottom of your air fryer in this brussel sprout recipe? Do I need to put the ingredients on that to prevent falling through the vented bottom? This recipe sounds & looks scrumptious!