Easy Sweet and Spicy Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts

These Sweet and Spicy Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts make the best side dish!

These crispy air fryer brussels sprouts is one of my favorite air fryer recipes that we make on repeat in our house.

Crispy brussels sprouts are enveloped by a sweet and spicy sauce that you can whip up in minutes.

Air fryers have the magical ability to make foods quicker and crispier! An air fryer cooks food by circulating air around the food at high speeds, sort of like how a convection oven works but an air fryer does this much more quickly. And, earlier this year I recently jumped on the air fryer bandwagon as it makes cooking much quicker, especially on weeknights.

These sweet and spicy brussels sprouts are the perfect side dish. Enjoy this brussels sprouts side with with Festive Christmas Salmon, Easy Healthy Baked Lemon Chicken, Easy One Pan Creamy Lemon & Garlic Chicken Gnocchi or as a yummy appetizer.

Everyone needs a delicious brussels sprouts recipe in their life and these air fryer brussels sprouts will be your new go-to easy side dish! Brussel sprout lovers, this recipe is for you!

Why you’ll love this air fryer spicy brussels sprouts recipe

• The cooking time for these spicy brussel sprouts is under 20 minutes!
• Make these sweet and spicy sprouts for a weekday side dish or as an accompaniment to any holiday dinner.
• The air fryer makes these brussels sprouts super crispy!
• The sweet and spicy flavours of these air fryer brussels sprouts are hard to resist.
• It’s a nutritious side dish that’s packed with fiber!
• You only need 3 ingredients to make the sweet and spicy sauce.

Ingredients to make spicy air fryer brussels sprouts

Brussels sprouts: fresh brussels sprouts are key to this air fryer recipe, make sure to only use fresh brussels sprouts to ensure the crispiest results

Olive oil: use extra virgin olive oil or if you’d prefer, you can use avocado oil

Honey: use liquid honey to make sure you can whisk the sauce together well; a good substitute is maple syrup

Sriracha: spicy sriracha is the key ingredient to making these spicy and sweet air fryer brussels sprouts

Butter: a touch of melted unsalted butter brings the spicy and sweet sauce together

Seasonings: kosher salt, ground pepper, garlic powder and a touch of red pepper flakes or chili flakes are the seasonings you need for this recipe

How to make spicy air fryer brussels sprouts

Step 1: Preheat the air fryer to 380F for 5 minutes.

Step 2: Trim the ends off of the brussels sprouts and then cut them all in half. Add the halved brussels sprouts to a bowl.

Step 3: To the bowl with the brussels sprouts add the olive oil, salt, black pepper and garlic powder and toss to coat.

Step 4: Transfer the seasoned brussels sprouts to the air fryer basket and air fry for 12-16 minutes, tossing halfway.

Step 5: While the brussels sprouts cook, whisk together the sauce ingredients of liquid honey, sriracha and melted butter in a medium bowl and set aside.

Step 6: When the air fryer brussel sprouts are done (they should be golden brown and have a crispy texture), add to the bowl with the sauce, toss to combine and then add back to the air fryer for 2 more minutes. Serve the brussels sprouts in a bowl topped with a sprinkle of red pepper flakes and enjoy!

Expert tips

• If you don’t have sriracha, use another type of spicy sauce like chili garlic sauce to make sure you get a spicy flavor.
• Instead of olive oil you can use a neutral oil like avocado oil.
• Make sure to use fresh brussels sprouts in this recipe, frozen brussels sprouts will not work.

Common questions

Can I make these brussels sprouts in a regular oven?
You can make these into roasted brussels sprouts if you desire. Just note they won’t get quite as crispy as in the air fryer but they will still be a super delicious recipe! Preheat the oven to 400F and season the brussels sprouts as listed in the recipe PLUS 1 extra tablespoon of extra-virgin olive oil. Roast for 20 minutes, toss and roast 10 minutes more until the brussels sprouts are a deep golden brown. Remove from the oven and immediately toss with the sauce as noted in the recipe.

Is there a substitute for honey in this recipe?
If you don’t have honey or can’t use it, you can substitute with maple syrup. There will be just a slightly different taste but you’ll still get that amazing spicy and sweet flavour!

Can I use frozen brussels sprouts? 
No, I do not recommend using frozen brussel sprouts as they will not become crispy and most likely stay soggy when cooked.

How to store these brussels sprouts

You can store leftover brussels sprouts in an airtight container for 3-4 days. You can reheat leftovers in the air fryer for 3-5 minutes at 350F until warmed through and a little bit crispy again.

More easy side dish recipes

Brussels Sprouts and Kale Salad

Easy and Delicious Crispy Sage Roasted Potatoes

Easy Sheet Pan Roasted Vegetables (3 side dishes!)