This crispy air fryer smashed Brussel sprouts recipe is my new favorite side dish! It pairs perfectly with savory entrees like baked Tuscan chicken and baked flounder, or you can eat them as a light snack with your favorite dipping sauce. Try my roasted air fryer Brussels sprouts for another variation.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Roasted, boiled, sautéed, raw, and AIR-FRIED, what’s not to love about tasty Brussels sprouts? They are the perfect side dish and go well with just about everything.
Cooking Brussels sprouts in the air fryer is a great way to enjoy the crispy vegetable. They are so good that I have to keep myself from eating all of them straight out of the basket.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Brussels Sprouts: Use half of a pound of fresh Brussels sprouts. If you are cooking more than that, I recommend preparing the vegetables in batches or cooking them in the oven.
- Oil: Use avocado oil spray to flavor the Brussels sprouts and prevent them from sticking to the air fryer tray.
- Spices: Season the air fryer smashed Brussel sprouts with garlic powder, salt, and pepper before finishing them in the air fryer.
Additions and Substitutions
- Spices: I tend to stick to the basics and toss them with garlic powder, salt, and pepper, but if you’re looking for some variation, I recommend seasoning them with yellow curry powder, cayenne pepper, red chili flakes, Kinder’s Buttery Steakhouse, Slap Ya Mama Seasoning recipe, nutritional yeast, or brown sugar.
- Cheese: Top the sprouts with grated parmesan cheese and cook them in the air fryer until they become extra crispy.
- Sauces: If you prefer a sweeter side, drizzle maple syrup, honey, or balsamic glaze over the top.
Tools Used to Make this Recipe
Make this healthy side dish with a microwave-safe dish and an air fryer. I used an Instant Pot Vortex Air Fryer with a large basket.
How To Make Air Fryer Smashed Brussel Sprouts
The full recipe with measurements is in the recipe card below.
Step 1: Trim the ends off the Brussels sprouts and remove the outer leaves, loose leaves, or any leaves with brown spots.
Step 2: Then, transfer them to a large microwave-safe dish. Add ½ cup of water and microwave for 4 minutes.
Step 3: Remove the tray from the air fryer basket and prepare it with avocado oil. Line the steamed Brussels sprouts in a single layer onto the tray and use the same dish to smash them down.
Step 4: Spray the sprouts with avocado oil and season them with garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
Step 5: Preheat the air fryer to 400°F (240°C). Add the tray with Brussels sprouts to the air fryer basket and cook for 8 minutes.
Expert Tips
- Look for bright green Brussels sprouts that are firm to the touch and free of wilted leaves.
- Depending on the size of the sprouts, you may need to cut the larger sprouts in half before steaming them in the microwave.
- To make crispy Brussels sprouts, don’t overcrowd the basket. Work in batches if you need to cook more than half a pound.
If you enjoy this recipe, try one of these air fryer favorites!
What to Serve with Smashed Brussels Sprouts
Serve the crispy smashed Brussel sprouts as a healthy snack with dipping sauces like mustard sauce, horseradish cream sauce, lemon dill aioli, and hollandaise sauce.
And while Brussels sprouts are a yummy snack, they are also a delicious side dish! Serve them with ribeye steak, beef ribs, pork chops, tandoori turkey, Vietnamese lemongrass chicken, Sriracha salmon, and juicy bison steaks.
What to do with the Leftovers
- Refrigerate – Store the roasted Brussels sprouts in an airtight container for 3-4 days.
- Reheat – Warm leftovers in the air fryer or oven at 350°F (176°C) for about 5 minutes.
- Repurpose – Serve leftover Brussels sprouts as is or add them to a salad for textural variation. You can also mix them with eggs and top with hollandaise sauce.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I boil my Brussel sprouts before air frying?
I steam the Brussels sprouts in the microwave until they become tender enough to make air fryer smashed Brussel sprouts. You can also bring salted water to a boil in a saucepan and add the sprouts. Boil them for about 3-5 minutes or until slightly tender.
Can I use frozen Brussels sprouts?
Add the frozen Brussels sprouts to the microwave-safe dish and steam them in the same way you would fresh sprouts.
Can smashed Brussels sprouts be made in the oven?
1. Preheat your oven to 425°F (218°C). Steam the Brussels sprouts in the microwave as instructed in the recipe card.
2. Toss the Brussels sprouts in a large bowl with oil, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Transfer them to a sheet pan and use the bowl or the bottom of a glass to smash the sprouts flat.
3. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until crispy and golden brown.
More Air Fryer Vegetables:
Air Fryer Smashed Brussel Sprouts
- Microwave-Safe Dish
- ½ pound brussels sprouts, ends trimmed
- avocado oil spray
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper, coarse ground
- Trim the ends off the Brussels sprouts and remove the outer leaves, loose leaves, or any leaves with brown spots.
- Then, transfer them to a large microwave-safe dish. Add ½ cup of water and microwave for 4 minutes.
- Remove the tray from the air fryer basket and prepare it with avocado oil. Line the steamed Brussels sprouts in a single layer onto the tray and use the same dish to smash them down.
- Spray the sprouts with avocado oil and season them with garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
- Preheat the air fryer to 400°F (240°C). Add the tray with Brussels sprouts to the air fryer basket and cook for 8 minutes.
- Look for bright green Brussels sprouts that are firm to the touch and free of wilted leaves.
- Depending on the size of the sprouts, you may need to cut the larger sprouts in half before steaming them in the microwave.
- To make crispy Brussels sprouts, don’t overcrowd the basket. Work in batches if you need to cook more than half a pound.
- The nutritional information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for professional advice.