Air fryer hot honey sprouts
Super easy and super tasty sprouts with a lil touch of spice
Greens are essential when it comes to a balanced diet, but that doesn’t mean they should ever be an afterthought, especially at Christmas when you’re already half way through a wheel of cheese. These air fryer hot honey sprouts are guaranteed to stand out at the dinner table. They’re crispy, sweet, spicy, and so moreish you’ll have people fighting over who gets the last one (and honestly, if that’s not a Christmas miracle, what is?). It’s about time we changed this negative perception about sprouts.
Another air fryer recipe for ya!
We love an air fryer around here, especially during Christmas when every element of your dinner is fighting for oven space or a spot on the hob. Using the air fryer not only saves you stress, but it also gives you incredibly consistent results without the risk of ending up with sad, soggy and over-steamed sprouts.
Air frying brussels sprouts creates a super delicious texture: crisp and caramelised on the outside, tender in the middle, and ready in a fraction of the time. The hot honey clings beautifully, the herbs toast perfectly, and you get that moreish roasted flavour without heating up the whole kitchen or meaning another part of your dinner gets neglected, or left out in the cold. Nobody wants that.
I’ve stepped away from the traditional pancetta and chestnut situation on this occasion (although I will also be making these too for the big day) and gone for something a little bolder. These may not be your standard Christmas sprouts, but they’re beautiful on Boxing Day or on a picky-bits platter. I’m also determined to convert all those sprout haters on there, it’s just not ok. They’re delicious.
What else can I whack in the air fryer?
Recently, I challenged myself to make an entire dinner in the air fryer…AND IT WORKED! Even the gravy tasted good, which absolutely blew my mind. Depending on the size of your air fryer and how many people you’re feeding, the possibilities are basically endless.
Roasted carrots and parsnips are outrageously good in the air fryer. And if you’re cooking a slow-cooked ham, popping it in the air fryer for the final 10 minutes gives you that lovely sticky finish.
So once you’ve tried these hot honey sprouts, keep going. Explore. Experiment. Air fry everything that stands still long enough. It’s Christmas, so why not!
Want more air fryer goodness?
Funnily enough, I have a full on Sunday Times bestselling book about air fryers! Poppy Cooks: The Actually Delicious Air Fryer Cookbook is the perfect gift for your Christmas stocking.
Air fryer hot honey sprouts
By Poppy Cooks
https://www.poppycooks.com/recipes/air-fryer-hot-honey-sprouts/
Ingredients
For the sprouts
- 400g brussel sprouts, peeled and halved
- 50g butter, melted
- 50ml hot honey
- Pinch of chilli flakes
- 2 cloves garlic, peeled and minced or crushed
- Salt and black pepper
Metric
Imperial
For the breadcrumb topping
- 30g panko breadcrumbs
- 3 sprigs thyme, leaves picked
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- Pinch of chilli flakes (optional)
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- Salt and black pepper
Metric
Imperial
Instructions
- Preheat your air fryer to 200ºc/400ºf. In a large mixing bowl, mix together the melted butter, hot honey, chilli flakes and garlic with a big pinch of salt and pepper. Toss the halved sprouts in the buttery mix, then tip into the air fryer basket and cook for 5 minutes. Keep any leftover buttery honey mix in the bowl for later.
- After 5 minutes, pour over any remaining butter mix and give the sprouts a good shake. Return to the air fryer for another 5 minutes. Get started on the breadcrumb topping while you wait.
- Heat a frying pan over a medium heat and pour in the olive oil. Sprinkle in the breadcrumbs and add the thyme, dried oregano and chilli flakes with a pinch of salt and pepper. Fry for 3-4 minutes until golden brown, then remove from the heat.
- Serve the sticky honey sprouts up with a topping of crispy breadcrumbs and a final pinch of flaky salt.