Easy Crispy Air Fryer Brussel Sprouts with Bacon
This easy crispy air fryer Brussels sprouts with bacon recipe is delicious and one of my favorite ways of preparing this healthy side dish. The crispy Brussels sprouts are coated with olive oil and spices and mixed with crispy bacon and grated parmesan cheese.
Why Are Brussel Sprouts So Good for You?
Brussels sprouts contain sulfur-containing compounds called glucosinolates. When cooked, they give that well-known bitter taste and lovely (or not so pleasant?) smell. The scent might be pungent, but glucosinolates are antibiotic-like and can keep intestines free from bacterial, viral, and fungal infections.
When overcooked, you actually minimize the positive antibiotic-like effect of glucosinolates, so quick boiling before frying is a great way to salvage this important ingredient.
Yes, you can! In this recipe, I cut bacon into small pieces and mix them with the Brussels sprouts coated in little oil in a large mixing bowl. You can use olive oil or avocado oil. Then you spread this prepared mixture in a single layer in an air fryer basket or air fryer tray and cook it at 370 degrees f for about 14 minutes, turning halfway. Transfer everything to a serving dish and add your favorite dressing (balsamic vinegar goes excellent!) or freshly squeezed lemon juice. Air-fried bacon has perfect crispy edges, and air-fried Brussels sprouts are golden brown and tender to perfection.
I prefer to prepare bacon in an air fryer in this recipe. When you pan-fry bacon, you start with more oil in the pan than you would do in an air fryer basket. Also, during cooking, the fat from the bacon gets melted and released and becomes part of the oil in which it is cooking. This fat is removed in the bottom pan in an air fryer tray so the bacon is not cooked in its grease. This makes the bacon more healthy when prepared in an air fryer.
Wash fresh Brussels sprouts under running water. If you have smaller sprouts, cut them in half with a knife. If you have large sprouts, you can cut them in quarters. To hold everything together, it is best to cut each sprout through the core into half and then cut each half in half again along the longer side to get quarters. To end up with crispy outer leaves and tender Brussels on the inside, it is best to boil them in water for about 3-5 minutes. Remove from boiling water, run them under cold water to stop cooking, and dry them with a paper towel. Transfer Brussels sprouts into a large bowl, add cut bacon, seasoning, and olive oil, and mix well with a wooden spoon. Place Brussels sprouts into a single layer in an air fryer pan and cooks them until tender inside and with crispy outer leaves.
Brussels sprouts don’t taste great for many people, so people choose not to eat them or other bland-tasting healthy vegetables. But you can easily change this by adding extra ingredients to this great side dish or family dinner. You can sprinkle them with garlic powder, onion powder, or cayenne pepper; coat them with balsamic vinegar to create a great balsamic glaze; add some chipotle aioli or freshly squeezed lemon for a vitamin C boost.
Air Fryer Brussel Sprouts with Bacon Ingredients
For air fryer Brussels sprouts:
- Fresh Brussels sprouts – Cut them in half with a knife if you have smaller sprouts. If you have large sprouts, you can cut them in quarters. To hold everything together, it is best to cut each sprout through the core into half and then cut each half in half again along the longer side to get quarters. I didn’t make this recipe with frozen sprouts, so I can’t confirm whether it will cook well.
- Bacon – I used two slices of bacon, but you can use less or more per taste.
- Olive oil – You can also use avocado oil.
- Salt and pepper – to taste.
- Avocado or olive oil spray.
For Brussels sprouts dressing:
- Dijon mustard – You can also use any other mustard here.
- Vinegar – Any vinegar, such as balsamic vinegar, rice vinegar, or apple cider vinegar, will work here.
- Olive oil
- Lemon – Freshly squeezed.
- Dill weed – Optional ingredients.
- Honey – Or sweet maple syrup.
Air Fryer Brussel Sprouts with Bacon Preparation Steps
Time needed: 45 minutes
This amount is for two people.
- Air Fryer Brussel Sprouts with Bacon Preparation Steps
- Step 1
Wash fresh Brussels sprouts under running water. If you have smaller sprouts, cut them in half with a knife. If you have large sprouts, you can cut them in quarters. To hold everything together, it is best to cut each sprout through the core into half and then cut each half in half again along the longer side to get quarters.
- Step 2
To end up with crispy outer leaves and tender Brussels on the inside, it is best to boil them in water for about 3-5 minutes. Brussels sprouts should be just tender without turning to mush.
- Step 3
Remove from boiling water, run them under cold water to stop cooking, and dry them with a paper towel.
- Step 4
Cut bacon into cubes.
- Step 5
Transfer Brussels sprouts into a large bowl, add olive oil, add salt and pepper to taste, cut bacon, and mix well with a wooden spoon.
- Step 6
Spray the air fryer tray with cooking oil (avocado or olive oil).
- Step 7
Spread this prepared mixture in a single layer in an air fryer basket or air fryer tray.
- Step 8
Air fry Brussels sprouts at 370 degrees f for about 14 minutes, turning halfway.
- Prepare the dressing:
- Step 9
Add 1/2 tbsp Dijon mustard in a small mixing bowl.
- Step 10
Add 1 tsp vinegar.
- Step 11
Add 2 tsp olive oil.
- Step 12
Add 1/2 freshly squeezed lemon.
- Step 13
Add 1 tsp honey. Optional: add 1 tsp dill weed. Mix everything well with a spoon.
- Step 14
Transfer Brussels Sprouts into a serving bowl. Add dressing and mix well. Sprinkle with grated parmesan.
If you like this Easy Crispy Air Fryer Brussel Sprouts with Bacon Recipe, here are some other easy and healthy recipes to try:
- How to Make Air Fryer Sweet Potato Wedges (with Adobo Seasoning)
- OVEN-BAKED BRUSSELS SPROUTS WITH PROSCIUTTO
- OVEN ROASTED POTATOES AND CARROTS WITH ONION AND ZUCCHINI
- SIMPLE STIR-FRY BROCCOLI WITHOUT MEAT
- EASY OVEN-BAKED POTATO WITH GREEN ONION AND SOUR CREAM
- EASY VEGETARIAN SWEET POTATO SOUP WITH ZUCCHINI & CARROTS
Crispy Air Fryer Brussel Sprouts with Bacon
Ingredients
- 1 lb brussels sprouts fresh
- 2 slices bacon
- 4 tbsp olive oil
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1/2 tbsp Dijon mustard
- 1 tsp vinegar
- 1/2 lemon freshly squeezed
- 1 tsp honey
- 1 tsp dill weed dried
Instructions
- Wash fresh Brussels sprouts under running water. If you have smaller sprouts, cut them in half with a knife. If you have large sprouts, you can cut them in quarters. To hold everything together, it is best to cut each sprout through the core into half and then cut each half in half again along the longer side to get quarters.
- To end up with crispy outer leaves and tender Brussels on the inside, it is best to boil them in water for about 3-5 minutes. Brussels sprouts should be just tender without turning to mush.
- Remove from boiling water, run them under cold water to stop cooking, and dry them with a paper towel.
- Cut bacon into cubes.
- Transfer Brussels sprouts into a large bowl, add olive oil, add salt and pepper to taste, cut bacon, and mix well with a wooden spoon.
- Spray the air fryer tray with cooking oil (avocado or olive oil).
- Spread this prepared mixture in a single layer in an air fryer basket or air fryer tray.
- Air fry Brussels sprouts at 370 degrees f for about 14 minutes, turning halfway.
- Prepare the dressing: Add 1/2 tbsp Dijon mustard in a small mixing bowl.
- Add 1 tsp vinegar.
- Add 2 tsp olive oil.
- Add 1/2 freshly squeezed lemon.
- Add 1 tsp honey. Optional: add 1 tsp dill weed. Mix everything well with a spoon.
- Transfer Brussels Sprouts into a serving bowl. Add dressing and mix well. Sprinkle with grated parmesan.
Video
Notes
- The nutrition information provided is an estimate. It will vary based on the specific ingredients used.
- Fresh Brussels sprouts – Cut them in half with a knife if you have smaller sprouts. If you have large sprouts, you can cut them in quarters. To hold everything together, it is best to cut each sprout through the core into half and then cut each half in half again along the longer side to get quarters. I didn’t make this recipe with frozen sprouts, so I can’t confirm whether it will cook well.
- Bacon – I used two slices of bacon, but you can use less or more per taste.
- Olive oil – You can also use avocado oil.
- Salt and pepper – to taste.
- Avocado or olive oil spray.
- Dijon mustard – You can also use any other mustard here.
- Vinegar – Any vinegar, such as balsamic, rice, or apple cider vinegar, will work here.
- Olive oil
- Lemon – Freshly squeezed.
- Dill weed – Optional ingredients.
- Honey – Or sweet maple syrup.
