Air Fryer Frozen Brussels Sprouts

Name: Air Fryer Frozen Brussels Sprouts
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 20 min
Ingredients: 12 ounces frozen Brussels sprouts; 1 tablespoon olive oil; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 1/4 teaspoon black pepper; 2 tablespoons chopped roasted chestnuts (optional); 1 1/2 tablespoons bacon grease (substitute butter or duck fat); 1 garlic clove (chopped); 1 sprig fresh thyme; 3 tablespoons white wine vinegar; 2 shallots (thinly sliced); 2 tablespoons apple juice; 1 tablespoon brown sugar

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Air Fryer Frozen Brussels Sprouts are a convenient and delicious side dish that require minimal prep time and take just 15 minutes to cook in the air fryer. Enjoy them on their own or with an easy and flavorful glaze!

If you’ve ever wondered if you can cook frozen Brussels sprouts in the air fryer, the answer is yes! And it’s one of the easiest and quickest ways to cook them.

Air fryer Brussels sprouts with chopped chestnuts and glaze on a white plate.

While frozen veggies, including Brussels sprouts, sometimes get soggy if you try to roast them in the oven, the air fryer guarantees crispy results!

In just 15 minutes, frozen Brussels sprouts get tender and caramelized in the air fryer with deliciously crispy edges. This makes them the perfect side dish for busy weeknights.

The air fryer is actually one of our favorite ways to cook from frozen. Some of our go-to recipes include these air fryer frozen meatballs, air fryer frozen french fries and air fryer frozen pierogies!

What is an Air Fryer?

The Air Fryer is a healthier alternative to frying foods. It's basically a small, powerful convection oven that sits on your countertop.

It circulates hot air around the food you're cooking, which is what gives it that crisp texture that mimics fried food (without all the grease).

Read more about the health benefits of using an air fryer.

I personally use this Ninja MAX XL Air Fryer because it hold 5.5 quarts, which is more than most. It has worked great so far and we just love how easy it is to use!

More air fryer vegetable recipes

Why this recipe works

Frozen Brussels sprouts are blanched before freezing so they’re partially cooked already. This means they cook super fast in the air fryer. All you need is 10-15 minutes.
There is no need to wash, cut or trim the leaves on frozen Brussels. They’re ready to cook straight out the bag. The only prep work required is for the glaze and that can be made while the Brussels sprouts are air frying.
Frozen Brussels sprouts actually cook more evenly than fresh, and since there are no loose leaves, they won’t burn as easily either.
A bag of frozen Brussels sprouts is more budget friendly compared to fresh, and they’re available year round too.

Ingredients

For the full list of ingredients and quantities, please see the recipe card below.

You’ll need 12 ounces of frozen Brussels sprouts for this recipe. They’re readily available in the freezer section of grocery stores. I love to stock up and keep a few bags in my freezer for easy weeknight side dishes.

The Brussels sprouts are seasoned with a simple mix of olive oil, salt and pepper. You can enjoy them on their own, but I like to add some chopped roasted chestnuts and a glaze.

You can buy packages of roasted chestnuts, so no need to worry about roasting your own! While some chopped roasted chestnuts are optional for this recipe, I love the sweet flavor they add to this dish.

For the glaze, you’ll need bacon grease, garlic, thyme, white wine vinegar, shallots, apple juice and brown sugar.

If you don’t have bacon grease, you can substitute butter or even duck fat.

The white wine vinegar and the apple juice add a tangy flavor to the glaze that pairs well with the Brussels sprouts. If you don’t have white wine vinegar, you can substitute red wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar.

To add a hint of sweetness to the tangy glaze, the recipe calls for 1 tablespoon of brown sugar. You can also use coconut sugar, or even granulated sugar in a pinch.

Step by step instructions

Mix the Brussels sprouts in a bowl with the oil, salt and pepper.

Frozen Brussels sprouts in an air fryer basket.

Cook in the air fryer at 375F degrees for 10-15 minutes, checking for doneness after 10 minutes.

While the Brussels are cooking, combine all the glaze ingredients in a saucepan.

Glaze ingredients for the Brussels sprouts in a saucepan.

Bring to a simmer for 1-2 minutes, until it thickens slightly. Set aside.

Remove the Brussels sprouts from the air fryer and place in a bowl.

Pour the glaze on top and toss/mix until the Brussels sprouts are coated. Serve hot.

Expert tips

After 10 minutes, check on the Brussels sprouts. If they’re browning too much on one side, flip them over in the basket. If they're crispy and fork tender, they're ready.
To ensure the Brussels sprouts caramelize and get crispy around the edges, air fry them in a single layer.
If you have a small air fryer, you may need to air fry the Brussels sprouts in two batches. If they’re overlapping, they’ll take longer to get crispy and you’ll need to shake the basket to flip them over a few times.
If your Brussels sprouts are on the larger side, you may need to air fry them a little longer.
If you don’t have bacon fat, you can use butter or duck fat in the glaze.
If your air fryer model requires preheating, you should do so before adding the frozen Brussels sprouts.
Different air fryer brands and models will vary slightly, so you may need to adjust the temperature and air frying time slightly.
To save time, you can leave off the glaze and just toss the Brussels sprouts with some bacon and parmesan cheese when they come out of the air fryer.

Overhead view of air fried Brussels sprouts on a white plate.

Common questions

Do you need to let frozen Brussels sprouts thaw before air frying?

No, for the best results do not thaw frozen Brussels sprouts before air frying. They may end up a little soggy and mushy.

Do you need to trim and/or cut frozen Brussels sprouts?

Frozen Brussels sprouts are already trimmed, and since we’re air frying these Brussels sprouts whole, there’s no need to cut them in half either.

How do you get the bitter taste out of Brussels sprouts?

If you air fry them long enough so they are fork tender with crispy outer leaves, they shouldn’t taste bitter. The sweet and tangy glaze will also help remove any bitter flavor.

Can you make this air fried frozen Brussels sprouts recipe in advance?

Since frozen Brussels sprouts just take 10-15 minutes to cook in the air fryer, I don’t recommend air frying them in advance. You can, however, make the glaze in advance and reheat it while the Brussels sprouts are air frying.

What can you serve with air fryer Brussels sprouts?

You can serve Brussels sprouts as a side dish with just about anything! We love them paired with air fryer baked potatoes and sous vide sirloin, but they’re also delicious for a holiday meal of sous vide ham or roasted turkey thighs and some garlic mashed potatoes and Instant Pot carrots.