Easy Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts with Herb Honey Mustard are the perfect accompaniment to any festive holiday spread or a quick, healthy addition to your weeknight dinner rotation. Get ready to transform your perception of this often-misunderstood vegetable!
Brussels sprouts have undeniably surged in popularity, and for good reason. No longer relegated to being merely boiled and bland, these miniature cabbages are incredibly versatile, offering a wealth of nutritional benefits. When prepared correctly, they boast a delightful texture and flavor that can elevate any meal. Our recipe takes them to new heights by air frying them to crispy perfection and pairing them with a vibrant, homemade herb honey mustard sauce.
The beauty of this recipe lies in its simplicity and adaptability. Thanks to the efficiency of the air fryer, these Brussels sprouts come together incredibly fast, making them ideal for busy evenings. Yet, their impressive flavor profile ensures they’re sophisticated enough for any holiday table. We frequently feature them at Easter, St. Patrick’s Day, Mother’s Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. Sometimes we opt for this savory herb honey mustard version, while other times we enjoy our equally delicious Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts with Honey Sriracha Sauce.
Irresistible Honey Mustard Brussels Sprouts
Imagine tender yet crisp Brussels sprouts, caramelized at the edges, coated in a delightful, tangy-sweet herb honey mustard dressing. This dish is not just a side; it’s a star. The air fryer ensures an even cook and fantastic texture that traditional roasting often struggles to achieve in the same timeframe. The homemade sauce adds a layer of freshness and flavor that store-bought versions simply can’t match, elevating the humble sprout into something truly gourmet.
Frequently Asked Questions About Air Frying Brussels Sprouts
What is the best way to store leftover Brussels sprouts?
To keep your leftover Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts fresh, place them in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 4 days. For the best reheating results, return them to the air fryer and cook for about 5-10 minutes, or until they regain their crispiness and are thoroughly heated through. This method prevents them from becoming soggy, unlike microwave reheating.
Can this recipe be doubled?
You can certainly double this recipe, but it largely depends on the size of your air fryer. Smaller, original air fryer models might be quite full with a single batch. The crucial tip for successful air frying is to avoid overcrowding the basket. Brussels sprouts need adequate airflow around them to achieve that desirable crispy exterior. If you have a smaller air fryer, consider cooking in two separate batches to ensure optimal results. Overlapping vegetables will steam rather than crisp.
Crafting the Perfect Homemade Herb Honey Mustard
The homemade herb honey mustard is a game-changer for these air-fried Brussels sprouts. It’s incredibly simple to prepare and offers a fresh, vibrant taste far superior to any store-bought alternative. The combination of pungent Dijon mustard, sweet honey, rich olive oil, aromatic fresh thyme, and classic dried Italian seasoning creates a perfectly balanced sauce that complements the earthy flavor of the sprouts beautifully. Whether you drizzle it generously over the top or serve it as a dipping sauce, it’s sure to be a hit.
Demystifying the Air Fryer: How It Works Its Magic
While air fryers might seem like a modern kitchen marvel, the technology behind them is actually quite familiar. Essentially, an air fryer functions like a compact, high-powered convection oven designed for your countertop. It utilizes a powerful fan to rapidly circulate superheated air around your food. This constant movement of hot air ensures incredibly even cooking and significantly reduces cooking times compared to traditional methods.
By circulating this hot air, which carries tiny oil droplets from a light misting of oil on your food, the air fryer achieves that coveted crispy texture usually associated with deep frying. The key advantage here is that you can get all the delicious crunch without submerging your food in excessive amounts of oil, leading to healthier and equally satisfying results. This process of convection cooking ensures every surface of your food is exposed to intense heat, promoting browning and crisping efficiently.
The Undeniable Benefits of Air Frying
Healthier Cooking
It’s widely known that deep-fried foods tend to be high in fat and calories. With air frying, you can drastically reduce the amount of oil needed, thereby cutting down on fat intake and overall calories. Since every gram of fat contains 9 calories, even a small reduction in oil can make a significant difference in the nutritional profile of your meal. Enjoy your favorite crispy foods with less guilt!
Unmatched Convenience
One of the greatest joys of cooking with an air fryer is the sheer convenience it offers. Say goodbye to multiple baking sheets, overflowing pots, and extensive cleanup. Most air fryer recipes, including these Brussels sprouts, require minimal additional cookware – perhaps just a mixing bowl or a small saucepan for the sauce. This simplicity streamlines your cooking process from start to finish.
Energy Efficient
Some wonder why bother with an air fryer if conventional oven cooking takes similar time for certain dishes. The answer lies in energy efficiency. An air fryer is a much smaller appliance, meaning it heats up faster and uses less electricity than a large conventional oven. This is particularly beneficial in warmer months when you want to keep your kitchen cool, but it also translates to tangible savings on your energy bill year-round.
A Major Time Saver
Who enjoys waiting 20 minutes for a conventional oven to preheat? Not me! Most air fryer recipes either require no preheating at all or involve a quick preheat of 5 minutes or less. This dramatically cuts down on overall meal preparation time, allowing you to get dinner on the table faster and giving you more precious time back in your day.
Portability for On-the-Go Meals
The compact nature of an air fryer makes it incredibly easy to take with you. We often pack ours when traveling in our RV. Air frying while camping is far more practical and less messy than attempting to deep-fry foods on a small RV stove or an outdoor burner. It brings healthy, delicious cooking wherever your adventures take you.
Delicious Honey Brussels Sprouts
Air Fryer Settings: “Air Fry” or “Bake” Option?
Many modern air fryers come with a variety of preset functions like “bake,” “roast,” or “broil.” However, all of our recipes, including this one, are developed using an air fryer that primarily features a simple temperature and timer setting. This ensures the recipes are accessible to everyone, regardless of their air fryer model.
For this recipe, we recommend using the standard “air fry” setting or simply setting the temperature and time manually. While you can use the “bake” setting for dishes you would traditionally bake, focusing on temperature and time will generally yield the best, crispiest results for vegetables like Brussels sprouts.
Which air fryer do you recommend?
Over the years, our kitchen has seen a few air fryers. We started with a smaller Philips model, which was fantastic for single servings and has since found a home with my son. As my love for air frying grew, I found myself desiring a digital screen and more capacity. Our XL GoWISE air fryer proved to be a more affordable option than the Philips, offering great ease of use and additional functions. It also came with several useful accessories.
More recently, while working on my second air fryer cookbook, I upgraded to a large, family-sized air fryer with touch screen presets. This model has been wonderful for accommodating larger batches and is incredibly versatile for all my cooking needs.
Home Made Honey Mustard
Air Frying Doneness Tip for Perfect Results
It’s important to remember that every air fryer is unique, and cooking times can vary slightly between models and even individual units. Therefore, all cooking times provided are approximate. Always use them as a guide and adjust as needed. If your Brussels sprouts aren’t as crispy or tender as you’d like, you can always extend the cooking time. If they’re browning too quickly on the outside but still need more time to cook through, you can reduce the heat slightly or even loosely tent the top of the basket with foil to prevent over-browning.
What to Serve with Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts
These flavorful Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts with Herb Honey Mustard are incredibly versatile and pair well with a wide range of main courses. They offer a refreshing counterpoint to rich meats and complement lighter dishes beautifully.
- Corned Beef
- Pork Loin Roast
- Garlic Butter Salmon Filet
- Ritz Cracker Pork Chops
- Garlic Butter Filet Mignon
- Classic Meatloaf
- Instant Pot Pork Tenderloin
- Oven Fried Chicken
The Ultimate Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts Recipe
How to Make Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts (Step-by-Step)
- Preheat your air fryer to 400°F (200°C) for at least five minutes to ensure even cooking.
- In a mixing bowl, toss the halved Brussels sprouts with a drizzle of olive oil and a pinch of salt, ensuring each sprout is lightly and evenly coated.
- Carefully add the coated Brussels sprouts to the air fryer basket in a single layer, avoiding overcrowding. Cook for 12-14 minutes, pausing halfway through to shake the basket or stir the sprouts for uniform crispiness.
- Serve these perfectly crisp Brussels sprouts warm, with a generous drizzle of the homemade herb honey mustard or as a delightful dipping sauce on the side.
Other Fantastic Vegetable-Based Air Fryer Recipes
If you’re loving the ease and delicious results of air-frying vegetables, be sure to explore some of our other favorite recipes:
Air Fryer Cauliflower
Air Fryer Shishito Peppers
Crispy Air Fried Artichoke Hearts
Quick and Easy Air Fryer Carrots
Brussels Sprouts with Honey Mustard
Ingredients for Crispy Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts
- 1 pound fresh Brussels sprouts, halved
- 1 teaspoon olive oil or olive oil spray
- ½ teaspoon salt (or to taste)
Ingredients for Flavorful Homemade Honey Mustard
- ¼ cup Dijon mustard
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ½ teaspoon fresh thyme, finely chopped
- ½ teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts: A Healthy Side
Essential Air Fryer Side Dishes
Troubleshooting: Why Is My Air-Fried Food Not Crisp?
A common misconception about air frying is that it requires absolutely no oil. However, a small amount of oil is actually crucial for achieving that signature crispy and crunchy texture we all love. The air fryer works by circulating fine oil droplets along with the hot air, which helps to create that desirable “fried” effect. If your food comes out dry, chewy, or lacking crispness, the most frequent culprit is insufficient oil.
When there aren’t enough oil droplets to circulate, your food is essentially just baking in hot air, which results in a less flavorful taste and a softer texture. Therefore, always ensure you follow the recipe’s instructions for spritzing or tossing your ingredients with oil. This small step is vital for unlocking the full potential of your air fryer and delivering deliciously crisp results every time.
Perfect Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts
Essential Products for Making Air-Fried Brussels Sprouts
This Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts recipe is wonderfully straightforward and incredibly delicious. Whether you’re a seasoned air fryer enthusiast or just beginning your journey, having the right tools can make all the difference. Below is a list of items I find indispensable for whipping up this fantastic side dish recipe.
- Air Fryer: A reliable air fryer is your most important tool.
- Fresh Brussels Sprouts: The fresher, the better for optimal flavor and texture.
- Olive Oil or Olive Oil Spray: Essential for crisping without excess fat.
- Salt: To enhance the natural flavors of the sprouts.
- Dijon Mustard: The tangy base for our amazing sauce.
- Honey: For that perfect touch of sweetness.
- Fresh Thyme: Adds an aromatic, herbaceous note.
- Dried Italian Seasoning: A blend of classic herbs to round out the sauce.
Honey Mustard Brussels Sprouts: A Crowd-Pleaser
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Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts with Herb Honey Mustard
Course: Side Dish
Servings: 4
Easy Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts with Herb Honey Mustard are perfect as a side to the holiday feast or paired with a quick weeknight dinner.
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Prep Time: 5 mins
Cook Time: 15 mins
Total Time: 20 mins
Ingredients
Brussel Sprouts
- 1 pound Brussel sprouts, halved
- 1 tsp olive oil or olive oil spray
- ½ tsp salt
Herb Honey Mustard
- ¼ cup Dijon mustard
- 2 tbsp honey
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- ½ tsp fresh thyme
- ½ tsp dried Italian seasoning
Instructions
Brussel Sprouts
- Preheat the air fryer to 400F for at least five minutes.
- Toss the Brussel sprouts with olive oil and salt, making sure they’re evenly coated.
- Add the coated Brussel sprouts to the air fryer and cook for 12-14 minutes, stirring halfway through cooking.
- Serve warm with the herb honey mustard as a drizzle or dipping sauce.
Herb Honey Mustard
- Combine mustard, honey, olive oil, thyme, and Italian seasoning in a small bowl.
- Store in the fridge until ready to use.
Notes
I prefer olive oil spray for this recipe for a lighter coating, but pourable olive oil will work just as well.
Nutritional information for the recipe is provided as a courtesy and is approximate. Please double-check with your own dietary calculator for the best accuracy. We at Yummi Haus cannot guarantee the accuracy of the nutritional information given for any recipe on this site.