How To Make Brussels Sprouts
Whether they are Oven Roasted, Air Fried, or Pan Fried in a Cast Iron, Brussels Sprouts can be delicious and addicting!
For the longest time I thought I hated Brussels Sprouts. But in retrospect, it’s because they were often served steamed and unseasoned, and that’s no way to make them!
Instead, I’d like to show how I make them three different ways! Oven Roasted, Air Fried and Pan Fried! All of them are great with their own pros and cons, so let’s go over that!
What’s the best way to make Brussels Sprouts?
Well, that all depends on what you want!
- Oven-Roasted – This seems to be the most common way, and for good reason. The sprouts get nice and crispy, they caramelize a bit, and in my opinion, this is the best way to make them for that reason alone. The only drawback for me, is they get a little soft in the middle. It’s not a bad thing as long as they don’t get mushy of course.
- Cast Iron – Cooking them in a cast iron pan takes less time than oven roasting, and you can get them nice and charred for that deeper flavor. Unlike oven roasted, they retain some of their bite all the way through the middle. But also unlike oven roasted, it’s harder to get them quite as crispy.
- Air-Fried – Like with most things that are air-fried, this is a great option if you want to use less oil. You can get then crispy, but I find that the air-fryer dries them out more than oven roasting or cast iron. Not a deal-breaker as they are still delicious, especially if you add something like a Balsamic Glaze to add some sauciness.
Ingredients for Brussels Sprouts
- Brussels Sprouts – If you can, get loose sprouts so you can pick and choose which ones you want. Try to get them all relatively the same size. That said, bagged sprouts are totally fine too!
- Olive Oil – Good quality is great, but you can also sub with any oil you like.
- Nutritional Yeast – I like to add a little NOOCH for some flavor and texture.
- Add-Ons – Feel free to season as you like! I will throw in some minced garlic at the end of cooking. Balsamic Vinegar or Glaze, I’ll leave a recipe for a Dijon Parmesan Sauce too! And of course I gotta add some Tofu Bacon Bits!
How to Oven Roast Brussels Sprouts
Wash and dry the brussels sprouts. Trim off the gross nub on the bottom, remove any loose leaves and cut in half.
Toss in the Olive Oil, Salt and Pepper and Nutritional Yeast.
Pre-heat oven to 425 F /218 C. I like to add a layer of olive oil to a sheet pan and add it to preheat along with the oven.
Once oven is preheated, carefully take out the sheet pan. Arrange the sprouts to be face side up, this will allow steam to escape so they don’t get soggy or mushy. Bake for 12 minutes, then flip so they are cut side down. Bake for another 10 – 12 minutes or until they are browned to your liking.
Serve immediately, you can toss them in some Balsamic Vinegar or Glaze, or the Dijon Parmesan Sauce, maybe some Tofu Bacon, whatever you like!
How to cook Brussels Sprouts in cast iron
Preheat some oil in a large cast iron pan, add in the sprouts face side down. Cook undisturbed until well browned, about 5 minutes. Flip and cook the other side for another 5 minutes or until well browned. You can toss in a couple of cloves of minced garlic at the end if you like.
Serve immediately, you can toss them in some Balsamic Vinegar or Glaze, or the Dijon Parmesan Sauce, maybe some Tofu Bacon, whatever you like!
How to Air Fry Brussels Sprouts
Preheat Air Fryer to 400 F / 204 C. Add the sprouts and air fry for 6 – 7 minutes, toss / flip them and spray with a little more oil. Air Fry for another 6 – 7 minutes or until browned to your liking.
Serve immediately, you can toss them in some Balsamic Vinegar or Glaze, or the Dijon Parmesan Sauce, maybe some Tofu Bacon, whatever you like!
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Brussels Sprouts (3 Ways)
Ingredients
- 1 lb Brussels Sprouts
- 2 Tbsp Olive Oil
- 1 tsp Nutritional Yeast
- Salt & Pepper
Optional Ingredients
- 1 – 2 Tbsp Balsamic Glaze (or Balsamic Vinegar)
- 1 Tbsp Maple Syrup
- Tofu Bacon Bits
- Vegan Parmesan Cheese
Dijon Parmesan Sauce
- 2 Tbsp Melted Vegan Butter
- 2 Garlic Cloves (Minced)
- 2 Tbsp Vegan Parmesan (or 1 Tbsp Nutritional Yeast)
- 2 tsp Dijon
- 1 tsp Lemon Juice
- Salt & Pepper
Instructions
Prep
- Wash and dry the brussels sprouts (a salad spinner works great). Trim off the gross nub on the bottom, remove any loose leaves and cut in half.
- Toss in the Olive Oil, Salt and Pepper and Nutritional Yeast.
Oven Roasted Method
- Pre-heat oven to 425 F / 218 C. I like to add a layer of olive oil to a sheet pan to preheat along with the oven.
- Once oven is preheated, carefully take out the sheet pan. Arrange the sprouts to be face side up, this will allow steam to escape so they don’t get soggy or mushy. Bake for 12 minutes, then flip so they are cut side down. Bake for another 10 – 12 minutes or until they are browned to your liking.
- Serve immediately, you can toss them in some Balsamic Vinegar or Glaze, or the Dijon Parmesan Sauce, maybe some Tofu Bacon Bits, whatever you like!
Cast Iron Method
- Add a thin layer of oil to the pan and preheat over medium high heat (some cast iron should be preheated gradually, so start on medium and switch to medium high).
- Once pan is preheated, add in the sprouts face side down. Cook undisturbed until well browned, about 5 minutes. Flip and cook the other side for another 5 minutes or until well browned.
- You can also cook them as long as you'd like and really char them to your heart's content. I like to toss in a couple of cloves of minced garlic at the end as well, just turn the heat to low or off, and stir them for a minute and don't burn them.
- Serve immediately, you can toss them in some Balsamic Vinegar or Glaze, or the Dijon Parmesan Sauce, maybe some Tofu Bacon Bits, whatever you like!
Air Fryer Method
- Preheat Air Fryer to 400 F. Add the sprouts and air fry for 6 – 7 minutes, toss / flip them and spray with a little more oil. Air Fry for another 6 – 7 minutes or until browned to your liking.
- Serve immediately, you can toss them in some Balsamic Vinegar or Glaze, or the Dijon Parmesan Sauce, maybe some Tofu Bacon Bits, whatever you like!
Dijon Parmesan Sauce
- Simply whisk everything together and toss with the cooked Brussels Sprouts if desired!
