Roasted Brussels sprouts are a delicious and nutritious addition to any family dinner. It’s a side dish that’s also perfect for a holiday meal or special occasion. This recipe is for oven roasted Brussels sprouts. However, I include instructions for how to roast them in an air fryer.

I’ve tried to decide which I like better – oven roasted Brussels sprouts or air fryer Brussels sprouts. I can honestly say that I like both equally. So it doesn’t matter which method you use; they’ll both be delicious!

Easy Side Dish Option

If you want to see the steps and get some other ideas for family dinners, continue reading. However, if you simply want the recipe, please click on the jump-to-recipe button beneath the title or scroll to the bottom where I have a printable recipe card.

Many years ago, I found myself falling into a habit of serving boring side dishes. Most meals consisted of a meat (beef, chicken, pork, or seafood), a starch, and a green vegetable.

My family knew they could pretty much count on seeing steamed broccoli, green beans, or peas. But they were fine with that. 

However, I wasn’t. I’ve always enjoyed a variety of foods. But with such a busy life with work, kids, housework, and gardening, I didn’t give it much thought.

Then one night on my way to the stove to steam some green beans, I stopped in my tracks. I needed to do something different.

So I made these stovetop cheesy green beans.

Since one of my daughters has never cared for cheese, I made some the traditional way for her. But the rest of us had the new recipe.

After that, my mission was to vary the side dishes a bit more. Some had cheese, like this creamy cheesy Tater Tot casserole, while others didn’t, like these pineapple baked beans.

Or if you’re making side dishes to serve at a holiday meal or special occasion, you’ll like this deluxe green bean casserole.

These roasted Brussels sprouts are also delicious served with other sides, such as these honey roasted sweet potatoes. 

However, some people prefer a more elaborate sweet potato casserole covered in marshmallows. 

Whatever you’re serving, you’ll love these Brussels sprouts. They are good with so many other side dishes.

Roasted Brussels Sprouts Ingredients

As I already mentioned, these are super easy, which in my mind means there aren’t many ingredients.

Here are the ingredients you’ll need:

• Brussels sprouts
• Olive oil
• Salt
• Pepper

Yep! That’s all.

I used a baking sheet to roast them. Or you can use a roasting pan. 

It doesn’t matter because they’ll turn out great either way.

How to Make Roasted Brussels Sprouts

Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F. By the time you finish the prep work, the oven will be hot.

I always rinse my fresh vegetables before cooking them. However, it’s really not necessary for this if you remove the outer layer of the Brussels sprouts.

Next, cut the Brussels sprouts in half and place them in a single layer on a baking pan.

Then, drizzle the olive oil over the top.

Or if you have olive oil spray, you can use that.

Now sprinkle them with salt and pepper.

I like to do this sparingly because you don’t want to overpower the flavor of the vegetable.

Place the pan in the oven and roast the Brussels sprouts for about 15 minutes. The edges should be slightly golden brown.

Remove them from the oven and flip the Brussels sprouts over.

Then, return them to the oven and roast them for an additional 10 minutes.

The edges should be crispy and a slightly darker golden brown. When you bite into each one, it should be tender but still slightly firm.

Brussels Sprouts in the Air Fryer

I’ve also made roasted Brussels sprouts in my air fryer, and they always turn out delicious. I follow all of the same instructions before putting them on the pan.

Here’s how I make air fryer roasted Brussels sprouts:

Preheat the air fryer to 375.

Coat the Brussels sprouts in olive oil and add a small amount of salt. I use Himalayan pink salt because it has more nutritional value.

Pour the Brussels sprouts into the air fryer basket and spread them out into a single layer. This is important because air fryers are little convection ovens that rely on the air being able to flow above, below, and around the food.

Air fry them for 8 minutes. Remove the basket and give it a good shake (or flip the sprouts with tongs).

Return the basket to the air fryer and cook for an additional 7 minutes. They should be tender on the inside and crispy on the outside – and so delicious you’ll want more!

If you know that your air fryer tends to be a little hotter, decrease the time by one minute on each side. You can always return the basket to the air fryer to cook it longer. However, you can’t “uncook” the food if it’s overcooked.

Tips for Making the Best Roasted Brussels Sprouts

If you follow the directions above, your Brussels sprouts will come out great. Here are some tips to make the very best ones possible:

• Choose the freshest Brussels sprouts available. Although this recipe works with frozen Brussels sprouts, fresh ones are better.
• After trimming the Brussels sprouts and removing the outer dead leaves, make sure you dry them really well.
• Try to have all of the Brussels sprouts the same size. If some are large, cut them in half so all of them will cook evenly.
• Add extra seasoning if you want extra depth to the flavor. Experiment with small batches to discover what you like.
• Don’t crowd the Brussels sprouts on the pan. Make sure they’re in a single layer with a small amount of space between them for the best results.
• Serve them as quickly after roasting them as possible. If they sit for a while, they’re likely to become soggy and soft. Although you want the inside to be tender, they’re better when the outside is crisp.

Are Brussels Sprouts a Superfood?

We all need to include Brussels sprouts in our diets because they are loaded with nutrients. In addition to having vitamin C that’s good for the immune system, they also contain cancer-fighting antioxidants.

According to Medical News Today, Brussels sprouts are good for bone health. They’re also high in fiber, which is good for the digestive system.

Something else I like about them is that they help fight inflammation. That means they’re good for heart health, other organs, your joints, and soft tissue.

See this recipe shared at Full Plate Thursday.

More Delicious Recipes

Brussels sprouts go with so many dishes, from meat and seafood to all-in-one, hearty casseroles.

You’ll love them alongside these delicious creamy ranch pork chops. Another yummy food to serve them with is this amazing crispy air fryer chicken.

If you’re serving a casserole, offer them on the side. They put the finishing touch on a plate of this yummy chicken and rice casserole.

Or serve them with this amazing sausage and rice casserole from Julia’s Simply Southern. This is just one of Julia’s many wonderful recipes. While you’re on her site, check out some of her amazing desserts!

Of course, speaking of dessert, you’ll need dessert to finish off your dinner. For something light and easy, try this delicious 3-ingredient chocolate cake that’s gluten-free.

Another favorite dessert at our house is this pineapple upside down cake that you can make in your rice cooker.

We also enjoy this yummy no-bake cherry lime pie! It’s colorful, refreshing, and absolutely delicious!

See this recipe shared at Full Plate Thursday, Meal Plan Monday, and Weekend Potluck.

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