Air Fryer Frozen Brussel Sprouts

Published: May 2, 2025 · Modified: Jun 24, 2025 by Nicole Kendrick · This post may contain affiliate links · 38 Comments

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Air fryer frozen brussel sprouts are an easy, convenient, and delicious side that pairs well with almost anything. These tasty bites have a mellow flavor with a kick of garlic and a texture that's caramelized and slightly crispy on the outside and so tender on the inside.

Closeup shot of wooden spoon with cooked brussel sprouts.

When we need quick, ,easy, and simple side dishes full of flavor, we always think of this air fryer brussels sprouts recipe. Air fried frozen brussels sprouts cook so quickly and develop a deep flavor, perfect with everything from beef dishes to sweet and spicy recipes like these honey hot chicken tenders or Mediterranean-inspired dishes like these air fryer Greek meatballs.

This classic vegetable, often viewed as too bitter, cooks up tender and mellow in the air fryer. Our addition of garlic olive oil and garlic pepper gives it a nice boost of flavor.

Another thing that always earns high marks for these brussel sprouts is how good they are for us. Brussel sprouts are one of the most cruciferous vegetables out there, which means they're full of fiber and just about the most sulfur you can find in any vegetable.

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Why You'll Love This Recipe
Ingredients
Flavor Variations
Instructions
Expert Tips
Pairing Suggestions
FAQ
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💬 Comments

Why You'll Love This Recipe

VERY Limited Ingredients: All you need for these air fryer frozen brussels sprouts are the sprouts, oil, and garlic pepper. That's it!
So Easy: It's so easy to cook frozen brussels sprouts. All you have to do is toss the sprouts with oil and seasonings and then toss them in the air fryer. It's one of the easiest air fryer recipes ever.
Convenient: It's so convenient to air fry frozen brussels sprouts. No thawing required!
Perfect for Any Meal: The mellow flavor of the brussel sprouts combined with the aromatic kick of the garlic pepper makes these sprouts the perfect side for any meal, especially when paired with another earthy, aromatic veggie side like these keto air fryer mushrooms.
Great for Meal-Prep: These air fried brussel sprouts are freezer-friendly, so you can make a big batch and save some for future meals. Try serving them with this ground chicken and sweet potato recipe, another freezer-friendly meal prep option.

Ingredients

Brussel sprouts: The bitterness of these vegetables cook away as they air fry, leaving a mellow, nutty, slightly sweet flavor in its place.
Garlic Pepper: Garlic pepper adds an aromatic, peppery flavor that works well with the mellow flavor of the sprouts.
Garlic Olive Oil: Costabile garlic-infused olive oil helps the seasonings stick to the sprouts and caramelizes them more effectively as they cook. We also use Costabile because of its quality, purity, and flavor.

See the recipe card at the end of the post for a full list of ingredients and their exact amounts.

Flavor Variations

Spicy: For a kick of heat that really makes these pop, add a little red pepper flakes or cayenne.
Regular Olive Oil: We love the extra garlicky punch that garlic olive oil gives the sprouts, but if you have regular olive oil, that will work.
Garlic Powder: Plain garlic powder works well if you don't have garlic pepper.
Cheesy: Add some parmesan cheese for more flavor.
Make it a Mix: Combine these sprouts with other frozen veggies like broccoli, cauliflower, or carrots for a delicious mixed vegetable dish.

An overhead closeup shot of a wooden spoon scooping up air fryer brussel sprouts.

Instructions

Coat the frozen sprouts with olive oil, then toss them with the seasonings in a large mixing bowl.
Place the sprouts in the air fryer basket in a single layer and cook them for just a few minutes until they're caramelized on the outside and tender on the inside, flipping once.

Expert Tips

Always preheat your air fryer for even cooking and proper cooking times. That's especially important when you're air frying frozen foods like this recipe.
This brussels sprouts recipe is designed for cooking the sprouts from frozen, so there's no need to defrost them. In fact, defrosting them will throw off the cooking time.
It's very important to flip these sprouts halfway through cooking. Because they're frozen, they need that flip to ensure they fully cook and achieve the best color and flavor.

Pairing Suggestions

We love to pair these air fried roasted brussels sprouts with everything from our tray baked chicken thighs to air-fried panko shrimp. No matter what you serve them with, they always work, making them as versatile as they are easy!

Pro tip: They're caramelized, nutty flavor makes them perfect as an appetizer with dipping sauce, as well.

Overhead shot of caramelized brussel sprouts on air fryer tray.

FAQ

What do brussel sprouts taste like?

Brussel sprouts are often described as tasting like mini cabbages. They have a vegetal, bitter flavor and a crisp texture. However, when cooked, that bitterness transforms into a mellow, nutty, somewhat sweet flavor.

How do you make cooked brussel sprouts not bitter?

They key to cooked brussel sprouts that aren't bitter is how you cook them. Roasting or sautéing the sprouts allows their natural sugars to caramelize and the sulfur to mellow, resulting in sprouts that are nutty and sweet. On a final note, always choose smaller brussel sprouts. They have a less bitter flavor to start, making it easier to cook them to delicious perfection.

What flavors pair well with brussel sprouts?

The sweet, savory, and nutty flavor of brussel sprouts makes them an excellent pairing with items like bacon, onions, cheese, garlic, balsamic vinegar, honey, mustard, fish sauce, smoked paprika, herbs, and spices such as cumin, thyme, and cardamom.

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