Sweet & Sour Brussels Sprouts
As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.
These Sweet and Sour Brussels Sprouts are tangy, crispy, and absolutely delicious. This simple recipe is prepared both in the air fryer and on the stovetop making a great appetizer, side dish for your favorite protein, or meatless meal all on its own. Even if you’ve never been a fan of brussels sprouts this recipe for sweet and sour Brussels sprouts will make you an absolute Brussels sprout lover.
Paisley Farm Dilled Brussels Sprouts are cooked in the air fryer until they get a little crispy around the edges then they are coated in a pineapple-infused sweet and sour sauce for a whole new way to eat Brussels sprouts. Ready in just minutes these sweet, crispy Brussels sprouts make an ideal side dish alongside your favorite dinner, or starter served on cocktail picks, or turn them into a main dish by serving over rice or quinoa.
These little cabbages can easily be made ahead of time and stored in the fridge for a few days. I don’t recommend freezing them as it will alter their texture. I’ve been known to double the recipe and serve them at family gatherings and dinner parties. I also think these sweet and sour Brussels sprouts would be perfect for the holiday season alongside your festive turkey or ham.
If you’re looking for more side dish options to accompany your meals try this Five Bean Ham & Rice Salad, Creamy Italian Four Bean Pasta Salad, or my Honey Bourbon Glazed Beets with Crispy Kale!
This post is sponsored by Paisley Farm Foods, but my love of their products and my opinions here are all my own.
PAISLEY FARM PICKLED BRUSSELS SPROUTS
As I mentioned, I used Paisley Farm Dilled Brussels Sprouts for this recipe, but it would be sensational with their hot Brussels Sprouts, too!
Paisley Farm Dilled Brussels Sprouts can best be described as being “dilled to perfection.” Their Brussels Sprouts have the perfect mixture of crunch and flavoring making them the ideal snack for dill lovers and brussels sprouts lovers alike. That tanginess is the perfect pairing with the sweet and sour sauce, that is easily made from scratch.
Paisley Farm Brussels Sprouts can be served in place of an ordinary pickle anywhere, adding them to a charcuterie board, they make a great salad or drink garnish, or heck, eat them straight out of the jar like we do! They are dairy-free, gluten-free, and vegan, too!
Ingredients in These Pickled Brussels Sprouts in the Air Fryer with Sweet & Sour Sauce
- Sesame oil – You can use olive oil though sesame oil imparts a nice Asian flavor, so pick some up if you don’t have any in the pantry. I use it in all of my fried rice recipes and stir-fries, too!
- Bell pepper, diced – Any color will work well.
- Sugar – I used both white and brown sugar to sweeten this sweet and sour sauce.
- Ketchup
- Apple Cider vinegar – Don’t confuse this with balsamic vinegar or rice vinegar. Cider vinegar adds even more sweetness to this sauce.
- Soy sauce – I always choose a low-sodium.
- Garlic powder
- Pineapple – I used canned crushed pineapple, drained. Make sure to reserve the juice. Pineapple tidbits also work well in sweet and sour sauce.
- Reserved Pineapple juice combined with 1 Tablespoon cornstarch, for thickening
- Green onions -If desired. I used these for garnish.
- Paisley Farm Dilled Brussels Sprouts – I used 1 (24 oz) jar, drained and cut in half.
How to make sweet and sour Brussels sprouts
Begin by draining the Paisley Farm Dilled Brussels Sprouts and cutting them in half length-wise. That keeps them intact with the stem part of the sprout.
Whisk vinegar together with sugars, ketchup, garlic powder, and soy sauce in a large bowl.
Heat 2 teaspoons of sesame oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add bell peppers and saute for 5 minutes or until they soften.
Add in the sauce mixture.
Cook until bubbly and sugars are dissolved.
Add the crushed pineapple to the skillet.
Whisk together the pineapple juice and cornstarch and add the mixture to the sauce, and stir as it thickens.
Keep the sauce warm while you prepare your Brussels Sprouts in the air fryer.
Add the sliced Brussels Sprouts in an even layer to the basket of your air fryer and drizzle them with 2 teaspoons of Sesame oil. Shake the basket to coat them.
Set the temperature to 375 degrees and air fry the sprouts for 6 minutes. Shake the basket again and cook them for another 6 minutes. Check for doneness. The sprouts will be soft inside but crispy around the edges when done. They may need another minute or two to get them to your liking.
*Note that all air fryers differ when it comes to cooking times. The first time you make this recipe, watch them and make a note of how long they took specifically in yours.
Truth be told – the first time I made these I ate half of them before I made the sauce and had to make a second batch! They are so good straight out of the fryer!
Pour the sauce over the air fried Brussels Sprouts.
Mix well until they are all coated.
Garnish with green onions if desired. Serve as is for an appetizer, side dish, or over rice for a main meal for two.
Love it? Pin it!
If you love this sweet-and-sour Brussels sprouts recipe, make sure you don’t lose it! Pin it to your favorite Pinterest recipe board before you go!
FAQs
- What takes the bitterness out of Brussels sprouts? If you cut fresh Brussels sprouts in half and allow more of the surface area to brown or carmelize it will reduce the amount of bitterness.
- Are Brussels sprouts good or bad for you? Brussels sprouts can definitely be part of a healthy diet and are good for you as they are loaded with fiber, vitamins, and minerals.
- What gives Brussels sprouts a better taste? Brussels sprouts contain compounds called glucosinolates which give them their bitter flavor. Turns out this bitter flavor is a defense mechanism that is supposed to deter animals and insects from eating Brussels sprouts. You can add all sorts of sauces to richen and compliment the tase of Brussels sprouts!
SUBSTITUTIONS
Here are a few suggestions on how to change up this Sweet and Sour Brussels Sprouts recipe:
- Add diced cooked bacon or ham.
- Throw in some slivered almonds, sesame seeds, or pumpkin seeds. Make sure to toast the nuts or seeds in a small saucepan before you add them to enhance their flavor.
- Mix in a touch of fish sauce, a seasoning used in East Asian cooking, to make the dish a little saltier.
- Spice up the Brussels sprouts and add some black pepper or red pepper flakes – or make this dish with Paisley Farm Food’s Hot Brussels Sprouts instead of the Dilled.
Tips & Tricks
To keep the Brussels sprouts warm while you prepare the rest of your meal transfer them, in a single layer, to a rimmed baking sheet and place them in the oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Or just turn the air fryer back on for a minute. The sauce will heat them up, too.
If you don’t have any canned pineapple on hand you can use fresh pineapple, just process it or place it in the food processor to crush it or finely dice it.
Make a double batch of the sweet and sour sauce and store it in the fridge to add to your next stir fry or make this meal for your family.
PAISLEY FARM FOODS
Paisley Farm has been putting smiles on faces since 1945. Their recipe for success is very straightforward, they work with the freshest vegetables and their products are always there for you when you need them, right at your fingertips. Farm fresh right to your family’s table.
In addition to their Dilled and Hot Brussels Sprouts, be sure to try their Sweet Pickled Beets, Signature Collection of Bean Salads, as well as their Organic Marinated Mushrooms!
Now that you’re a Brussels sprouts fan you’ll need to learn how to cook fresh brussels sprouts in the air fryer, too! You can find my air fryer Brussels sprouts recipe here. You’ll find loads more Brussels sprouts recipes here.
WHERE TO FIND PAISLEY FARM FOODS?
Visit the Paisley Farm Foods website for recipes, products, and store locations. Follow along with Paisley Farm on FaceBook, Instagram, and Pinterest, for delicious recipes year-round.
CHECK OUT ALL OF MY RECIPES FEATURING PAISLEY FARM PRODUCTS!
This recipe for sweet and sour Brussels sprouts makes a great addition to any meal. These Brussels sprouts are definitely a great way to get those non-Brussels sprouts fans to become fans. Make up a batch for your family and let me know what they think.
Sweet & Sour Brussels Sprouts (Air Fryer)
Equipment
Ingredients
- 4 teaspoons sesame oil divided
- 1/2 cup bell pepper diced
- 1/3 cup sugar
- 2 1/2 Tablespoons brown sugar
- 2 1/2 Tablespoons ketchup
- 2 1/2 Tablespoons cider vinegar
- 1 Tablespoon soy sauce
- 3/4 teaspoons garlic powder
- 1/2 cup crushed pineapple drained - reserve juice
- 1 Tablespoon pineapple juice combined with 1 Tablespoon cornstarch
- green onions for garnish if desired
- 1 24-ounce jar Paisley Farm Dilled Brussels Sprouts, drained and cut in half
Instructions
- Begin by draining the Paisley Farm Dilled Brussels Sprouts and cutting them in half length-wise. That keeps them intact with the stem part of the sprout.
- Whisk vinegar together with sugars, ketchup, garlic powder, and soy sauce in a large bowl.
- Heat 2 teaspoons of sesame oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add bell peppers and saute for 5 minutes or until they soften.
- Add in the sauce mixture.
- Cook until bubbly and sugars are dissolved.
- Add the crushed pineapple to the skillet.
- Whisk together the pineapple juice and cornstarch and add the mixture to the sauce, and stir as it thickens.
- Keep the sauce warm while you prepare your Brussels Sprouts in the air fryer.
- Add the sliced Brussels Sprouts in an even layer to the basket of your air fryer and drizzle them with 2 teaspoons of Sesame oil. Shake the basket to coat them.
- Set the temperature to 375 degrees and air fry the sprouts for 6 minutes. Shake the basket again and cook them for another 6 minutes. Check for doneness. The sprouts will be soft inside but crispy around the edges when done. They may need another minute or two to get them to your liking.
- Pour the sauce over the air fried Brussels Sprouts. Mix well until they are all coated.
- Garnish with green onions if desired.
- Serve as is for an appetizer, side dish, or over rice for a main meal for two.
I love Brussels sprouts so much, but I’ve never head sweet and sour Brussels sprouts. I cant’ wait to try these!
I love this recipe! My kids will actually eat their brussels sprout!
First time my daughter actually liked this veggie, sauce was amazing.
Thanks for sharing. I’m always looking for delicious ways to dress up veggies. I will have to give these a try!
This was such a unique and unexpected dish that does not disappoint! Even my picky eaters gobbled these up; definitely, a new favorite recipe!
I love this new way (for me) to cook brussels sprouts. So different but delicious. Thank you for sharing.
Omg…never though about making sweet & sour brussels sprouts before. SO genius. I’m drooling looking at these photos!
I made these sprouts with dinner last night and they were fantastic! Even my veggies hating kids loved them!