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Air Fryer Spouts and Bacon with Maple Syrup

A simple and delicious side dish that's perfect for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Spouts and bacon with a maple glaze are cooked quickly in the air fryer.
Air fryer sprouts and bacon with maple syrup in a serving dish.

Last Updated on November 1, 2024 by Betty Davies

This delicious seasonal side dish is so quick and easy to cook in the air fryer and it’s a great additional to your Thanksgiving or Christmas table! Spouts and Bacon are roasted in the air fryer and coated in maple syrup for a wonderful sweet and salty bite.

Overhead shot of air fried sprouts and bacon in a dish with a serving spoon.

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If you are looking for a super easy but delicious side dish to serve up this holiday season, then look no further than this tasty offering! Brussels sprouts are cooked with bacon in the air fryer, and then tossed with some maple syrup for good measure!

This sweet and salty vegetable side dish can obviously be served all year round, but it’s a great festive addition for your Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner. The spouts are perfectly cooked with a bite, and crispy bacon and sweet maple syrup make them so morish!

Be sure to check out my Creamed Brussels Sprouts and Honey Mustard Brussels Sprouts too!

Why you will love this recipe!

  • Simple ingredients: There’s not a long list of ingredients for this recipe, and you’re likely to have the seasonings in your pantry already.
  • Festive: Personally, no holiday table is complete without Brussels sprouts in some form. Love them or hate them, they have to be on the table!
  • Quick and easy: This is a great side dish that can be cooked up just as you are ready to serve. Simple to prep, and quick to roast in the air fryer.
  • Dietary info: This air fryer sprouts and bacon recipe is gluten-free and dairy-free.
Maple Brussels sprouts and bacon in a red serving dish.

Ingredients

  • Brussels Sprouts: Sprouts are in season from October through March. Prep them by trimming the ends and removing the tough outer leaves.
  • Bacon: Use thin bacon for this recipe as it has a shorter cooking time and crisps up wonderfully in the air fryer.
  • Maple Syrup: The maple syrup is added towards the end of cooking to give a lovely sweet glaze.
  • Seasonings: Salt, black pepper, garlic powder and onion powder.

How to air fry Brussels sprouts with bacon

Be sure to scroll down for the full recipe!

  • Half the sprouts and mix them with the bacon and seasonings (photo 1).
  • Place directly in the air fryer and cook (photo 2).
  • Stir in the maple syrup and cook til the sprouts are tender and the bacon is crispy (photo 3).
Three process shots to show how to make the recipe.

Serving Suggestions

These air fryer sprouts and bacon with maple are an ideal addition to Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner, but they can also be enjoyed as part of an easy weeknight meal. Try them with some of these favorites:

Recipe Variations

If you want to, you can skip the maple syrup, the sprouts and bacon by themselves are still delicious. Alternatively, you could use honey, or, for a savory twist, swap the maple for balsamic vinegar.

Close up of air fried halved sprouts and crispy bacon.

Make Ahead, Storage and Reheating

You can prep this dish several hours before cooking it, mix together the sprouts, bacon and seasonings and keep covered in the fridge until ready.

For best results, serve this side dish as soon as it’s ready. Leftovers will keep for 3 to 4 days in the fridge and can be reheated in the air fryer at 360F / 180c for 5 minutes.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you stop sprouts tasting bitter?

Sprouts have a chemical in them that can cause them to have a bitter taste. Cut the sprouts in half before cooking them to release this chemical. Roasting them in the air fryer also helps to bring out their natural sweetness too. Overcooking them by boiling can really destroy their flavor and they can get water logged, so the air fryer is perfect for these veggies!

Can you use frozen Brussels sprouts?

Yes! I love to use fresh sprouts, but frozen work great, plus you don’t have to trim them or peel off leaves, so they are a great time saving option. Because they are whole, you’ll want to add them to the air fryer for 5 minutes first, then stir the bacon and seasonings into them so that they are cooked through properly.

Can you cook this dish in the oven?

If you don’t have an air fryer, you can absolutely make this dish in the oven, it will just take a little longer. Roast the sprouts and bacon together at 400F / 200c for around 25 minutes.

Spouts and bacon in a red serving dish with a spoon.

Recipe Notes and Tips

  • Larger sprouts will need a slightly longer cooking time. Cook them in the air fryer for 3 to 4 minutes before adding the bacon and seasonings to them. Alternatively, cut them into thirds or quarters instead of halves.
  • The sprouts in this recipe are firm with a bite. If you prefer yours on the softer side, you can boil them on the stovetop for a couple of minutes before air frying them.
  • Stir the sprouts and bacon in the air fryer basket a couple of times during cooking. This will help to evenly crisp and brown everything.
  • I like to add a little oil when mixing everything together so that the seasonings stick to the sprouts and everything browns more evenly. You can omit the oil if you prefer.
Air fryer sprouts and bacon with maple syrup in a serving dish.

Air Fryer Spouts and Bacon with Maple Syrup

A simple and delicious side dish that's perfect for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Spouts and bacon with a maple glaze are cooked quickly in the air fryer.
Print Pin Rate
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Diet: Gluten Free
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 17 minutes
Total Time: 27 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 103kcal
Author: Betty Davies

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 1 pound Brussels sprouts (450g)
  • 8 strips thin cut bacon
  • 1 teaspoon oil use a high heat neutral flavored oil such as canola, avocado or vegetable.
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • pinch black pepper
  • ½ teaspoon onion powder
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ¼ cup maple syrup (4 tablespoons)

Instructions

  • Trim the ends of the sprouts and remove the outer leaves. Cut in half lengthways and place in a large bowl.
  • Cut the bacon strips into pieces about an inch long and add to the sprouts.
  • Add the oil and seasonings to the bowl and stir together.
  • Add the sprouts and bacon to the air fryer basket and cook at 400F / 200c for 15 minutes. Stir three or 4 times during this time so that everything cooks evenly.
  • At the end of the 15 minutes cook time, pour the maple syrup over the sprouts and bacon and stir together. Cook at 400F / 200c for another 2 minutes.
  • Serve.

Notes

  • Larger sprouts will need a slightly longer cooking time. Cook them in the air fryer for 3 to 4 minutes before adding the bacon and seasonings to them. Alternatively, cut them into thirds or quarters instead of halves.
  • The sprouts in this recipe are firm with a bite. If you prefer yours on the softer side, you can boil them on the stovetop for a couple of minutes before air frying them.
  • Stir the sprouts and bacon in the air fryer basket a couple of times during cooking. This will help to evenly crisp and brown everything.
  • I like to add a little oil when mixing everything together so that the seasonings stick to the sprouts and everything browns more evenly. You can omit the oil if you prefer.

Nutrition

Calories: 103kcal | Carbohydrates: 21g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 0.2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Sodium: 215mg | Potassium: 482mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 12g | Vitamin A: 855IU | Vitamin C: 96mg | Calcium: 65mg | Iron: 2mg

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