These air fryer bacon wrapped Brussels sprouts are salty, sweet, and just a little bit crispy at the edges. They’re one of my favorite cocktail hour snacks because they take about ten minutes of hands-on time and they disappear the second they hit the table.
If you think you don’t like Brussels sprouts, this recipe is going to change your mind. Wrapping them in bacon and brushing them with maple syrup takes all the bitterness that puts people off and turns it into something addictive. The bacon crisps up in the air fryer, the maple caramelizes into a glossy glaze, and the sprout inside are tender but still with a bit of bite so they’re not mush.
About this recipe
These bacon wrapped Brussels sprouts are the perfect appetizer for entertaining. They come out of the air fryer crispy, glazed, and hot, and they work as a bar snack, a party appetizer, or a passed hors d’oeuvre for cocktail hour.
The technique is simple. Fresh Brussels sprouts get wrapped in thin-cut bacon, secured with a toothpick, brushed with maple syrup, and air fried until the bacon is crisp and the sprout is tender. You get salty, sweet, and just a touch of bitterness from the sprout, which is exactly the flavor balance that makes them so good with a cocktail in your other hand.
They pair beautifully with brown-spirit drinks. Bourbon and bacon are a classic combination, and the maple glaze reinforces the caramel and vanilla notes in whiskey cocktails. If you’re serving these at a party, think about setting them up alongside a Bourbon Old Fashioned, a Whiskey Sour, or an Espresso Martini.
Just a few ingredients
You only need a handful of ingredients for these. Find the exact amounts in the recipe card at the bottom of this post. Here’s a rundown of what you’ll need and why.
Brussels sprouts. Fresh, firm, tightly packed sprouts with bright green leaves. Older sprouts have loose, yellowed leaves and just don’t hold up as well. If your sprouts are very large, slice them in half before wrapping. Frozen sprouts don’t work here because you need to be able to secure the bacon with a toothpick and frozen sprouts are either too hard or, once thawed, too soft to hold their shape.
Thin-cut bacon. This is important. Thin-cut bacon crisps up beautifully in the air fryer in the time it takes the sprout to cook through. Thick-cut bacon takes too long, and the sprout ends up mushy before the bacon is done.
Maple syrup. The maple glaze is what makes these. It brings a sweetness that plays off the salty bacon and caramelizes on the outside of the bacon as it cooks. Honey works as a substitute if that’s what you have.
Salt and black pepper. Just enough to season the sprouts before wrapping.
Method
- Preheat the air fryer to 400°F (200°C).
- Wash and trim the ends of the Brussels sprouts. Add them to a bowl and toss with a little salt and black pepper.
- Cut each strip of bacon in half lengthwise. Wrap a piece of bacon around each sprout and secure with a toothpick.
- Brush the bacon on all sides with maple syrup.
- Place the wrapped sprouts in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Leave the basket unlined so the bacon fat can drain away. If you do want to line it, use foil with a few holes poked through, and don’t preheat the foil.
- Air fry at 375°F (190°C) for 12 to 15 minutes, until the bacon edges are nicely crisp. For extra tender sprouts inside, drop the heat to 350°F (175°C) and cook for another 2 to 4 minutes.
Tips
Serving
Serve these hot, straight out of the air fryer. They’re best with a dipping sauce alongside. Blue cheese sauce is classic with anything bacon-wrapped, ranch works if you want something more universal, and a spicy honey mustard is my favorite when I’m serving them with bourbon drinks.
For a cocktail party, arrange them on a small platter with a bowl of dipping sauce and a little dish for the used toothpicks.
Storing and reheating
Store leftover bacon wrapped Brussels sprouts in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat in the air fryer at 350°F (175°C) for 3 to 4 minutes until crisp again. I don’t recommend the microwave here because the bacon goes soft.
What to serve them with
These pair especially well with:
- Bourbon Old Fashioned – the classic bourbon and bacon pairing, with the orange peel cutting through the richness
- Whiskey Sour – the lemon and egg white foam balance the salty, fatty bacon beautifully
- Blackberry Whiskey Sour – the fruit brightens things up if you want something a little different
Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Brussels Sprouts
Equipment
- Air fryer
- Toothpicks
- Pastry brush
Ingredients
- 1 lb Brussels sprouts fresh
- 1 lb thin-cut bacon
- 1/4 cup maple syrup honey works as a substitute
- 1/2 tsp flaky sea salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 400°F (200°C).
- Wash and trim the ends of the Brussels sprouts. Add to a bowl and toss with salt and black pepper. If any sprouts are very large, cut them in half.
- Cut each bacon strip in half lengthwise. Wrap a piece of bacon around each sprout and secure with a toothpick.
- Use a pastry brush to brush the bacon on all sides with maple syrup.
- Place the wrapped sprouts in a single layer in the air fryer basket, seam side down if not using toothpicks. Don’t overcrowd, cook in batches if needed.
- Air fry at 375°F (190°C) for 12 to 15 minutes, until the bacon edges are crisp.
- For a more tender sprout inside, drop the heat to 350°F (175°C) and cook for another 2 to 4 minutes.
- Serve hot with a dipping sauce of your choice.