Looking for the perfect frozen vegetable side dish for a super quick and easy weeknight meal? Frozen brussels sprouts made in the air fryer are your answer! Their exterior crisps up, leaving a tender and soft interior.
With a mellow flavor, you can mix and match toppings to fit the meal. Add on an herb sauce, drizzle on tahini, or serve them buffalo style with blue cheese dressing.
There are so many ways to enjoy this easy side dish and trust me, you’ll want to when you see just how hands-off this recipe truly is! Just one more delicious frozen veggie in the air fryer!
What You’ll Need
You don’t need much for this simple recipe.
In fact, you truly only need three simple ingredients, and any garnishes or toppings are totally at your discretion. More on those flavor additions later… for now, grab your air fryer and these few ingredients, and in no time you’ll have a veggie side to devour!
- Frozen Brussels Sprouts: find whole frozen Brussels sprouts in the freezer section of your grocery store. There’s no need to trim, chop, or halve these Brussels – we’re cooking them whole as they are. They’re already cleaned and generally smaller in size for fast cooking. Easy peasy!
- Olive Oil: only a little olive oil is needed to help the outside leaves of the Brussels sprouts crisp up.
- Salt and Pepper: of course, I’m not going to make a veggie without a little S&P! You can also toss them in some garlic or onion powder for extra flavor, too.
Equipment
I have a 4-Quart Ninja Air Fryer which is what I used for this recipe. You of course can use the air fryer you have, taking note of its size. If you have one that is smaller, you will need to do two batches to evenly cook the brussels sprouts. If your air fryer is larger, no need to worry!
4-Quart Ninja Air Fryer
This air fryer is easy to use and is the perfect size for two or a small family.
How to Cook Frozen Brussels Sprouts in the Air Fryer
Are you sure you’re ready for how easy this is? I did say it was basically a non-recipe, right? Here goes nothing…
To make things really easy and to have one fewer dish, you can do the mixing all in the basket of the air fryer. Toss the frozen brussels sprouts with olive oil, salt, and pepper.
Make sure they are in an even layer so the hot air can circulate around them for better cooking and crisping. Because we’re tossing them in olive oil, there’s no need for cooking spray either.
I really don’t like to wait for my air fryer to preheat…so, this recipe doesn’t require any preheating time! Unless of course your air fryer recommends it regardless of what you’re cooking, be sure to read that manual!
Cook the brussels sprouts at 390°F for 10 minutes. Then, shake the basket to toss the Brussels, and cook for an additional 8-10 minutes until the exterior has reached your desired level of crispiness.
Try not to stack the brussels sprouts in the air fryer basket. You will have the best results if they are in an even layer in the air fryer basket. If you must stack them, be sure the toss them more frequently throughout the cooking process.
Once they are done cooking, it’s time to garnish as you’d like.
NOTE: Because air fryers vary in temperatures, wattages, and sizes, you may need to adjust your cook time.
Serving Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts
Cooking frozen brussels sprouts in the air fryer is one of the most versatile side dishes. You can mix and match garnishes for a choose-your-own-flavor adventure!
For simplicity’s sake, most often I serve them with a sprinkle of parmesan and a squeeze of fresh lemon. A little brightness, saltiness, and cheese. Check and check! Here are a few other ways to enjoy them:
- Drizzle a balsamic vinegar glaze
- Tahini and everything but the bagel seasoning (as pictured here)
- Chimichurri sauce
- Toss them in buffalo sauce and garnish with blue cheese (or dip them in blue cheese dressing!)
- Ranch dressing
- Use the maple dijon vinaigrette from this brussels sprout salad
Making Frozen Brussels Sprouts in the Oven
So, maybe you don’t have an air fryer but you still want to make the easiest frozen brussels sprouts ever. No problem! You can make these in the oven too.
In fact, if you have convection, be sure to turn that on, as that’s essentially what an air fryer does on a smaller scale.
To make frozen brussels sprouts in the oven, preheat the oven to 450°F. On a baking sheet, toss the frozen sprouts with olive oil and seasonings – again, no need to cut or halve them. Bake for 10 minutes before tossing them, then continue to bake for about 10 additional minutes, until the outsides are crispy. The interior will be tender and soft, giving the best contrast of textures.
Common Questions
Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days. Reheat in the air fryer at 390°F until heated through.
No, because we are tossing the Brussels in oil, there is no need to spray the air fryer basket itself.
You can…but you’ll likely need to do two batches of cooking in the air fryer so you don’t crowd the basket. Unless, of course, you have a massive air fryer. Keep the first round of Brussels warm in the oven while the second round cooks.
Ah, there’s nothing worse than bitter brussels sprouts! As long as you cook them long enough, the bitterness dissipates and the Brussels caramelize. That means any dark charred-looking exterior leaves are what you want to see to prevent that bitter flavor; keep cooking until they’re perfectly charred and crisp!
There are so many options for what you can serve with these brussels sprouts! As I said, you can mix and match flavors to fit your meal. If you’re a meat-eater, they pair with just about everything from steak to chicken. They’re great with salmon and cauliflower steaks. I love serving them as a veggie side with white wine mac and cheese.
Yes, it’s reported that frozen vegetables are just as nutritious, as the vitamins and minerals that are locked in once frozen. It’s important to cook them properly (not overcook) so they retain their nutrients.
Did you make this recipe? Please leave a star rating and review in the form below. I appreciate your feedback, and it helps others, too!
Get the Recipe The Easiest Air Fryer Frozen Brussels Sprouts
Ingredients
- 16 ounces frozen Brussels sprouts
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- 1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt, more to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Equipment
Instructions
- In the basket of the air fryer (or a separate mixing bowl) toss the frozen brussels sprouts with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Spread in an even layer in the air fryer basket. No need to trim or halve frozen brussels sprouts.16 ounces frozen Brussels sprouts, 1 teaspoon olive oil, 1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt, Freshly ground black pepper
- Set the air fryer to 390°F. Cook the brussels sprouts for 10 minutes and toss. Continue cooking for an additional 8-10 minutes until the outside leaves are crisp and slightly charred. Time may vary depending on the model of air fryer you use.
- Serve with parmesan and lemon or a drizzle of balsamic vinegar. See the post for more serving suggestions, too!
Notes
- For best results make sure the sprouts are in an even layer in the air fryer basket and have space on all sides.
- Air Fryer: this recipe was tested with a 4 quart Ninja air fryer. The exact cook time may vary depending on your model of air fryer.
- Oven Directions: Preheat the oven to 450°F. On a baking sheet, toss the frozen sprouts with olive oil and seasonings – again, no need to cut or halve them. Bake for 10 minutes, toss, and continue to bake for about 10 additional minutes, until the outsides are crispy.
- Storage: store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days. Reheat in the air fryer.
Turned out beautifully! Thank you!!
I’m so glad to hear you enjoyed them! Thanks, Debbie!
I added after, red pepper flakes, parmesan, lemon juice, salt and pepper. Awesome. Thank you.
Yum – sounds delicious! Thanks for sharing!
I thought the time seemed too long, it was. Probably only needed 12 minutes total.
Thanks for your feedback, Heidi! The time can definitely vary depending on the model of your air fryer; I’m glad you were able to adjust as needed.
Delicious and crisp! I seasoned with salt and pepper, then tossed with parmesan and finely shredded Mozzarella — so tasty.
Yummy! Thanks so much for your review, Michael!
1 million thanks! My Brussels sprouts went from frozen to crispy in 20 minutes. I cooked it in my cast iron pan in the oven and it came out perfect!
I am so happy to hear! Thanks so much for your comment, Tonia!
Amazing recipe!!! Definitely, a must-eat!
I’m so glad to hear that you enjoyed it! Thanks, Laura!
Loved this recipe!! Easy and delicious!
So glad to hear! Thanks for taking the time to leave a review, Gail!
Simple and so good!
Thanks, Courtney!
I only needed about 12-14 for crispy outside tender insides. When I tried it longer they looked and tasted burned with my air fryer. I really love them with garlic salt. Using the frozen ones worked a ton better than fresh as far as cooking the inside perfect . Thanks for the tip!
Thanks for sharing! Time will vary depending on your model of air fryer so I’m glad to hear you were able to adjust as needed for yours.
Can you toss add the seaton if (i.e. Buffalo sauce) halfway through air frying, or do you have to wait until the end to add the sauce? Thank you!
I always toss it after to make sure the Brussels get nice and crispy, but if you want to toss it halfway through I’m sure you could, just keep in mind it may affect the texture slightly. Enjoy!
Easy and delicious! I added a little garlic powder. So quick from the freezer to the air fryer to the table. Thank you!
Thanks for your review, Lisa! I’m glad you enjoyed!