Air Fryer Crispy Brussels Sprouts & Bacon

If you have an air fryer and some Brussels sprouts, you’re about to make one of the best side dishes ever. These air fryer crispy Brussels sprouts with bacon are seriously good.

The air fryer gets the Brussels sprouts perfectly crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. Add some bacon and a touch of maple syrup, and you have something that even Brussels sprout haters will enjoy.

This recipe is super quick and easy to put together. You only need a handful of ingredients and about 20 minutes of your time.

It works great as a side dish for pretty much any meal. I like making it alongside chicken, steak, or even just on its own as a snack.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Crispy Without Deep Frying – The air fryer gets these Brussels sprouts incredibly crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, all without dunking them in a pool of oil. You get that satisfying crunch with way less grease.

Bacon Makes Everything Better – Let’s be real, adding thick-cut bacon to Brussels sprouts is a game changer. The salty, smoky flavor from the bacon turns a simple veggie side into something everyone actually wants to eat.

Only 6 Ingredients – You need just six basic ingredients to make this dish, and most of them are probably already sitting in your kitchen. No long grocery lists or hard-to-find items here.

The Sweet and Salty Combo Is Unreal – The maple syrup adds just a touch of sweetness that pairs perfectly with the salty bacon and garlic. It creates this addictive flavor balance that will have you going back for seconds.

Ingredients

• 1 lb Brussels Sprouts
• 4 slices Thick-Cut Bacon
• 1 tbsp Olive Oil
• 1 tbsp Maple Syrup
• 1/2 tsp Garlic Powder
• 1/4 tsp Salt

How to Make

Step 1

Trim the ends off the Brussels sprouts and slice them in half.

Step 2

Chop the bacon slices into small, bite-sized pieces.

Step 3

In a large bowl, toss the Brussels sprouts and bacon pieces with olive oil, garlic powder, and salt until well combined.

Step 4

Transfer the mixture to the air fryer basket and cook at 375F for 15 minutes, shaking the basket vigorously every 5 minutes for even cooking.

Step 5

Drizzle the maple syrup over the sprouts and bacon, toss lightly, and cook for 2 more minutes until perfectly glazed and crispy.

Step 6

Transfer to a serving dish and enjoy immediately.

Tips

Pick Brussels Sprouts That Are the Same Size

When you’re at the store, try to grab Brussels sprouts that are roughly the same size. If you have a mix of tiny ones and big ones, the small ones will burn while the big ones are still undercooked in the middle.

If you can only find a bag with mixed sizes, that’s fine. Just sort through them and cut the bigger ones into quarters instead of halves so everything is closer to the same size.

This makes a huge difference in getting that even crispiness on every single piece.

Dry the Brussels Sprouts Before Tossing

After you rinse the Brussels sprouts, pat them dry with a paper towel or a clean kitchen towel. Any extra water sitting on the surface will steam them instead of crisping them up, and you’ll end up with soggy sprouts.

This is one of the biggest reasons people end up with soft, mushy Brussels sprouts from the air fryer. Take an extra minute to dry them off and you’ll notice a real difference in how crispy the edges get.

Place the Sprouts Cut-Side Down

After you shake everything into the air fryer basket, take a few seconds to flip as many Brussels sprout halves cut-side down as you can. The flat side is where you get the best caramelization and crunch.

You don’t need to be perfect about it. Just do a quick pass with your fingers or a pair of tongs before you start the air fryer. When they come out, those flat sides will be golden brown and crispy.

Related Recipes

• Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Jalapeño Poppers
• Air Fryer Crispy Parmesan Zucchini Fries
• Air Fryer Loaded Hasselback Potatoes
• Air Fryer Loaded Potato Skins
• Air Fryer Maple Glazed Pork Belly Bites

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use frozen Brussels sprouts instead of fresh?

Fresh Brussels sprouts are strongly recommended here. Frozen ones hold a lot of extra moisture, which means they tend to steam instead of crisp up in the air fryer. That extra water works against you when you are going for a crispy result.

If frozen is all you have, thaw them completely first and pat them very dry with paper towels before tossing them with the other ingredients. Just know the texture might not be quite as crispy as fresh.