Sweet Chili Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts
Let Me Tell You ‘Bout These Brussels Sprouts…
Okay, so I never thought I’d say the words “I crave Brussels sprouts” out loud, but honestly, here we are. First time I tried making these Sweet Chili Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts, I was supposed to be prepping a ‘fancy’ side for a weeknight dinner, but I’d totally run out of time and, in classic me fashion, also out of patience. Enter: the air fryer, my beloved shortcut appliance (seriously, I use it way more than my oven these days). There’s a bit of magic that happens—you get that crisp, sweet, and spicy combo that’s impossible to stop picking at. My husband ended up eating them standing at the counter straight from the basket. Not much for fancy plating, apparently.
Why You’ll Love This—Or At Least, Why I Do
I make these when I wanna feel like I’m eating my veggies but also treating myself—you know what I mean? My family goes wild for them because it’s got that sweet chili vibe (store-bought or homemade, totally up to you) with just enough crunch. Plus, I used to HATE Brussels sprouts as a kid; seriously, I’d push them to the very edge of the plate and hope the dog would finish them for me. But, turns out, I just needed the right sauce and some very hot air. The air fryer makes life easier, mostly—except when you realize you should’ve bought a bigger one. Ugh.
Grab These Ingredients
- 500g or about a pound of fresh Brussels sprouts (if you only have frozen, that’s fine, just thaw and pat dry—’dry-ish’ is what you want, really)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil (I sometimes use avocado oil when I’m feeling fancy—it’s good too)
- 1/4 cup sweet chili sauce (my grandmother always swore by Mae Ploy—I love it, but honestly, the Trader Joe’s one does the trick)
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce (tamari works too, or skip for a milder flavor)
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder (or, if you’re feeling extra, a couple cloves fresh minced garlic)
- A pinch of salt (don’t overdo—it’s shockingly easy to oversalt these!)
- Sesame seeds for sprinkling (optional, but I rarely skip this—it’s the glitter of veggies, right?)
On to the Cooking—Directions With Some Real Talk
- First, trim the ends off your Brussels sprouts and slice them in half, unless they’re tiny, then just leave them be. Chuck ’em in a big bowl.
- Drizzle the olive oil over, toss ’til they’re all a bit shiny. It won’t look gorgeous yet—don’t stress. Mix in the garlic powder (or smashed fresh garlic if you’re up for it) and a pinch of salt.
(This is where I usually sneak a taste, which is mostly just raw olive oil and leaf, but hey—tradition.) - Toss the sprouts into the air fryer basket. Don’t dothem stack ‘em too much, cuz they need space or they’ll just steam. If you have to work in two batches, trust me, it’s worth it.
- Set your air fryer to 375°F (190°C) and cook for 10 minutes. Shake the basket (careful, it’s hot, ask me how I know…) and cook another 5–8 minutes, depending on how crispy you like your edges.
- While they’re doing their thing, stir together the sweet chili sauce and soy sauce in a small bowl. (I sometimes throw in a splash of rice vinegar, but that’s optional.)
- When the sprouts look browned and irresistible, dump them back in the big bowl. Add the sweet chili mixture and toss. (It looks like a sticky mess here, but, weirdly, that’s what you want.)
- Serve warm, sprinkled with those sesame seeds if you’ve got ‘em. Or straight from the bowl with a fork. Who’s judging?
Little Notes I Learned the Hard Way
- If you crowd the air fryer, they get soggy—not the good kind. Actually, I find smaller batches really do work better.
- Sometimes, the sweet chili sauce chars a bit on the bottom if you pour it on too early. Save it for after frying!
- On second thought, you could skip sesame seeds but…why would you?
Variations (Experiments and Honest Fails)
- Tried tossing in chopped peanuts once; it was fine, but kinda distracting texture-wise. Maybe with cashews?
- A little honey mustard instead of chili sauce? Once, never again. Too weird—even I have limits.
- Have also subbed cauliflower florets—honestly, not bad, just a little less exciting in the crunch department.
Gear Chat—What If You Don’t Have an Air Fryer?
Look, a good air fryer is handy, but if you don’t have one, just use a hot oven (like 425°F or 220°C), spread the Brussels sprouts out on a baking tray, and bake for about 20–25min. You’ll miss out on the Cheeky quickness but still get the flavor.
How Long Will These Last? (Spoiler: Not Very)
Technically, you can pop leftovers in an airtight container and keep in the fridge up to 3 days…though honestly, they’ve never made it to day two in my house. Maybe it’s just us? If they lose crispness, just toss ’em back in the air fryer for a couple of minutes to perk them up.
My Way to Serve These—But Do What You Like
I love these alongside sticky rice and simple grilled chicken (I sometimes just grill the chicken right after on the same air fryer if I’m feeling ambitious). My kids weirdly dip Brussels sprouts in ranch, which I used to find questionable, but hey—whatever works. OH and these are also great as a sort of random late night snack, straight form the fridge with cold noodles. Don’t knock it.
Pro Tips (As Learned From Me Messing Up)
- I once tried dumping the sweet chili sauce on before air frying—just don’t. Everything sticks and then burns. I still remember the smell.
- Rushing the shake at halftime means half will burn, half will be soggy. Give it a proper jiggle (it takes, like, 5 seconds, don’t be lazy like me)
Questions People Have Actually Asked Me—FAQ
- Can I make these ahead? Yep, but they’re really best fresh—the crispiness fades a bit. But, honestly, I think they taste better the next day? Just less crunchy and more chewy.
- Will kids eat these? Mine do—miracles happen! If yours are suspicious, maybe give it a new name: “dinosaur trees with secret sauce.” It worked for us.
- Can I use a different sauce? Absolutely—it’s a free country, right? Sriracha mayo, teriyaki, even barbecue…go wild. Actually, check out this homemade sweet chili sauce if you want to try making your own!
- What if my air fryer basket is tiny? No shame, just do smaller batches or cook in shifts. Or, if you’re feeling fancy, browse this guide to the best air fryers—I’ve got the second cheapest one and it still works fine.
Somehow, despite my initial skepticism (and my home’s legendary supply of random condiments), Sweet Chili Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts have become a little mainstay. Feel free to play around and let me know if you land on some weird combo that works. Also, have you tried Brussels with maple syrup? That’s a digression, but I’m seriously curious.
Ingredients
- 1 pound Brussels sprouts, trimmed and halved
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/3 cup sweet chili sauce
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon toasted sesame seeds (optional)
Instructions
-
1Preheat the air fryer to 375°F (190°C) for 3 minutes.
-
2In a large bowl, toss the halved Brussels sprouts with olive oil, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper until evenly coated.
-
3Place the Brussels sprouts in the air fryer basket in a single layer. Cook for 12–15 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through, until crispy and golden.
-
4Transfer the cooked Brussels sprouts to a clean bowl. Add sweet chili sauce and soy sauce, then toss to coat thoroughly.
-
5Sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds if desired. Serve immediately while hot and crispy.
Approximate Information for One Serving
Nutrition Disclaimers
Number of total servings shown is approximate. Actual number of servings will depend on your preferred portion sizes.
Nutritional values shown are general guidelines and reflect information for 1 serving using the ingredients listed, not including any optional ingredients. Actual macros may vary slightly depending on specific brands and types of ingredients used.
To determine the weight of one serving, prepare the recipe as instructed. Weigh the finished recipe, then divide the weight of the finished recipe (not including the weight of the container the food is in) by the desired number of servings. Result will be the weight of one serving.
Did you make this recipe?
Please consider Pinning it!!
