Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts with Bacon and Maple
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Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts with Bacon and Maple are the perfect combination of sweet and savory flavors. This delicious air fryer recipe features fresh brussels sprouts, salty bacon and sweet maple syrup for an easy side dish that’s ready in about 30 minutes.
Confession time – I wasn’t a fan of this hearty vegetable growing up. And it wasn’t until I was an adult that I tried roasted sprouts and promptly fell in love with this healthy vegetable.
When you roast them they’re cooked tender on the inside with crispy edges on the outside – what’s not to love?! My kids even love these cooked sprouts. So give them a try and it may become your new favorite way to cook brussels sprouts.
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One thing that I especially love making in the air fryer is roasted vegetables. I think it’s the best way to prepare them because they’re made with simple ingredients. And there’s no need to mess around with large baking sheets or heating up the house and cleaning up is a breeze. And don’t forget roasted vegetables are great for meal prepping.
More air fryer roasted veggie recipes…..
We can even make these brussels sprouts with crispy bacon on the weeknights because they are easy to prepare. But you might also want to make them for your upcoming holiday meals. This recipe serves 4, so if you are feeding a larger group you’ll need to double it.
Since they don’t take much time to cook, you’ll want to air fry them towards the end of cooking, when you have the rest of your feast made. Make one batch and place them in the oven to keep warm while you are making the second batch.
Ingredients Needed
- fresh brussels sprouts
- olive oil – can substitute avocado oil if preferred
- maple syrup – use the real stuff (not pancake syrup!)
- sea salt flakes & cracked black pepper
- bacon – cooked and chopped
- spray oil for air fryer
How to Make Crispy Brussels Sprouts with Bacon in the Air Fryer
Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees F. If you don’t have any cooked bacon on hand already, go ahead and fry or microwave the slices of bacon so they are crispy, then let them cool.
Prep the brussels sprouts: Remove any outer leaves that look damaged and trim the ends of the sprouts if needed. Using a sharp knife, cut each one in half and larger sprouts into quarters.
Add the cut brussels sprouts into a large mixing bowl and drizzle with oil and maple syrup. Season with salt and pepper, then toss to coat.
Spray the bottom of the air fryer basket with oil to keep the veggies from sticking, then place brussels in the basket.
Cook for 10 minutes, shaking the basket or tossing halfway through. Add the chopped bacon and toss to combine. Transfer to a serving dish and drizzle with more maple syrup if desired.
Tips for Making
- Save the outer leaves and air fry them separately for a crispy snack.
- To make sure they cook evenly, cut them into similarly sized pieces.
- You can cook the brussels sprouts whole, but you’ll need to adjust the cooking time. But I recommend cutting them in half because the edges get much crispier (which my family loves!).
- Pre-cooked bacon works well in this recipe and is such a time saver. You can omit the bacon for a healthier dish if preferred (the instructions stay the same).
- The cooking time may need to be adjusted based on the size of the sprouts.
- If you have a smaller air fryer you may need to cook in batches. Keep the cooked sprouts warm by transferring them to a baking sheet and placing in the oven at a low temperature.
Storing and Reheating Instructions
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat in the air fryer for 2-3 minutes at 350 degrees F.
Recipe Variations
- Honey – swap honey for the syrup, or use both.
- Cheese – after they’ve finished cooking sprinkle with freshly grated parmesan cheese, goat cheese, brie, or another favorite variety.
- Nuts and seeds – for extra crunch toss in chopped almonds, pecans, walnuts, pepitas, or sunflower seeds.
- Cranberries – these pair well with brussel sprouts and are a staple during the Fall and holiday season.
- Balsamic vinegar – drizzling a little over the sprouts before cooking adds a little bit of zing to the dish.
- Fresh herbs – sprinkle with chopped basil, dill, parsley, or chives to add a little brightness to the dish.
Can I Use Frozen Brussels Sprouts?
You can! The frozen ones are whole sprouts versus chopped and are usually trimmed and ready to cook. Frozen sprouts will take a little more time to cook (up to 25 minutes) but they’ll still taste delicious.
Try to cook them in a single layer so the air has plenty of room to circulate and crisp up the brussels sprouts.
Ways to Serve
This delicious side dish is perfect for a family dinner like meatloaf, million dollar chicken bake and flank steak. And don’t forget they’re a great addition to your Christmas dinner or any holiday meal.
MORE eASY
Air Fryer Side Dish Recipes
**Save Air Fryer Brussel Sprouts with Bacon Recipe for Later**
Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts with Bacon & Maple
Ingredients
- 1 pound brussels sprouts
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- ¼ cup maple syrup, + more to drizzle if desired
- sea salt flakes & cracked pepper to taste
- 6 slices bacon, cooked crispy & crumbled
- spray oil for air fryer
Instructions
- Preheat air fryer to 400 degrees F.
- Prepare brussels sprouts by removing any damaged outer leaves and cutting sprouts in half. Cut larger sprouts in quarters. Place cut brussels sprouts in a large bowl.
- Drizzle sprouts with olive oil and ¼ cup maple syrup and season with salt & pepper. Toss to evenly coat.
- Lightly oil the air fryer basket and add seasoned sprouts.
- Cook for 8-10 minutes, tossing halfway through cooking.
- Add cooked, chopped bacon and toss to combine.
- Transfer to a serving bowl or plate and drizzle with additional maple syrup if desired.
Notes
- Cut the sprouts in uniformly sized pieces for even cooking.
- We use pre-cooked bacon for this recipe. It’s a time saver and creates less mess to clean up.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. Reheat in the air fryer at 350 degrees F for 2-3 minutes.
Nutritional Estimate
Nutritional information is provided as a reference, using an online calculator. We recommend verifying the information independently for accuracy.
