Air Fryer Frozen Brussels Sprouts With Garlic and Parmesan

Who doesn't love a simple and healthy side dish recipe? This air fryer frozen Brussels sprouts recipe is just that. These sprouts are crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. They're made with crispy sliced garlic, vibrant lemon, and salty parmesan cheese. There is a subtle hint of heat from crushed red pepper flakes which is a lovely complement to the other ingredients.

Air frying Brussels sprouts is one of the simplest ways to cook them. This recipe is perfect for any day of the week, especially for those busy weeknights. Gosh, Brussels sprouts are good when they're crispy! You are going to love this recipe.

Why You Will Love This Air Fryer Side Dish

• This recipe uses frozen Brussels sprouts, so there is no cleaning, chopping, prepping, or trimming required. As an added benefit, this vegetable is frozen at its freshest.
• These Brussels sprouts are ready in just 15 minutes.
• These are so EASY to make!
• Thanks to the trusty air fryer, these sprouts are crispy on the outside with a creamy, soft interior.
• Crispy Brussels sprouts are addictive to eat!

Ingredients and Substitutions

• Frozen Brussel Sprouts - Most frozen Brussels sprouts come in a 12 oz bag, which is exactly the quantity you need for this recipe. Petite frozen Brussels sprouts work for this recipe as well, however, the cooking time will be shorter because they are a smaller size.
• Extra-Virgin Olive Oil - Avoid cheap olive oils, which tend to be bitter in flavor. Use extra-virgin olive oil.
• Parmesan Cheese - Use finely grated parmesan for this dish.
• Kosher Salt
• Garlic - Omit if desired.
• Crushed Red Pepper Flakes - There are just enough pepper flakes for an oomph of flavor without making this dish spicy.
• Lemon Juice - Lemon juice is introduced after cooking as a finishing flavor. Substitute with a drizzle of balsamic vinegar.

Instructions

STEP 1 - Preheat the air fryer to 400 F. *If desired, preset the timer to 15 minutes as well.

STEP 2 - Toss the frozen Brussels sprouts with olive oil, salt, crushed red pepper flakes, and parmesan cheese.

STEP 3 - Once the air fryer has been preheated, transfer the seasoned and oiled Brussels sprouts to the air fryer basket. Make sure to spread them out. Set the timer for 15 minutes. Turn the Brussels sprouts halfway through cooking.

STEP 4 - In the last few minutes of cooking, add the garlic slices. Continue cooking until browned. *Keep a close eye, this process goes quick!

STEP 5 - Transfer crispy Brussels sprouts to the desired serving dish. Squeeze the juice of ¼ lemon over them and drizzle with extra-virgin olive oil. If desired, sprinkle with additional parmesan cheese.

Equipment

• Air-Fryer: This COSORI Air Fryer Max XL has a large basket perfect for making a variety of dishes, (including this one).

Tips for Success

Line the air fryer with a square or circle of parchment paper for easy clean-up. The paper also catches all of the little bits of garlic and Brussel Sprouts.

For easy coating, transfer the sprouts, oil, cheese, and seasoning to a zip-top bag. Shake until coated.

Every air fryer is different, meaning some heat faster {and hotter} than others. For this reason, you may need to adjust cooking time and temperature.

For the best flavor results, finish the Brussels sprouts with a drizzle of olive oil and an additional sprinkle of parmesan cheese.

Storage & Reheating

• STORAGE - Store cooled Brussel Sprouts in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
• REHEAT - While this vegetable side dish is best served immediately after cooking, it can be reheated for later meals. To reheat, preheat the air fryer to 350 - 400 F (depending on how quickly your air fryer cooks). Drizzle the sprouts with olive oil or spray with cooking spray. Cook the sprouts for 3 - 4 minutes, or until heated through and crispy.

What to Serve with Crispy Brussels Sprouts

These tasty vegetable morsels are delicious as a side to most dishes. In addition, they make a yummy {healthy} snack too!

I love serving these alongside any cooked protein like steak, chicken, salmon, or any other seared fish. In particular, these Brussels sprouts are delicious alongside any one of these recipes:

• Slow-Cooker Greek Chicken
• Slow-Cooker BBQ Chicken Thighs
• Naan pizzas with White Bean Puree and Bacon
• Sheet Pan Sausage and Peppers

FAQ

Can this recipe be made ahead of time? While these Brussels sprouts are best served immediately after cooking, this recipe can be made ahead of time and reheated. *See Storage and Reheating for details.

Can the cooked Brussels sprouts be refrozen after cooking? Yes, cooked Brussels sprouts can be frozen as long as you follow a few simple steps. First, make sure to cool the sprouts out of the hot air fryer basket. *Do not freeze until sprouts are completely cooled. Second, freeze the sprouts on a tray before transferring them to an airtight container or freezer-safe zip-top bag. Freeze for up to 3 months.