FOOD · THANKSGIVING

Brussels Sprouts with Cranberries and Walnuts

Brussels sprouts get a bad rep. You haven’t made them this way: sweet cranberries, crunchy walnuts, and sprouts cooked to a golden brown that will have even the kids asking to try one. I make them in the air fryer, freeing up oven space for my very popular mac and cheese and potatoes. A finishing drizzle of balsamic glaze makes them look like I had them catered, but it’s not just for looks. It adds the final punch.

SERVINGS

10 side servings

COOK TIME

About 45 minutes, plus preheating

METHOD

Basket air fryer

Ingredients

  • 2 lb Brussels sprouts, trimmed and halved
  • ½ cup mild olive oil (8 tablespoons)
  • 1 tablespoon Morton kosher salt
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon garlic powder
  • 1 tablespoon onion powder
  • 1 cup dried cranberries
  • 1 cup chopped walnuts
  • Balsamic glaze, for drizzling

My ingredient notes: I use the Costco bag of Brussels sprouts and a mild olive oil so its flavor doesn’t take over.

Keep the dried cranberries and chopped walnuts aside until the final fifteen minutes of cooking.

For the finish, use balsamic glaze, not plain balsamic vinegar.

Instructions

  1. Preheat the air fryer to 400°F. Trim the stem ends of the Brussels sprouts and cut them in half.
  2. In a large bowl, toss the sprouts with the olive oil, Morton kosher salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder until evenly coated.
  3. Transfer to the air fryer basket and cook for 30 minutes, shaking the basket every 15 minutes.
  4. Add the dried cranberries and chopped walnuts. Toss through the sprouts and cook for another 15 minutes, or until the sprouts are tender and golden brown. Check during this final stretch so the cranberries and walnuts don’t burn.
  5. Transfer to a serving dish and drizzle balsamic glaze diagonally across the top. Serve warm.

My air fryer note: This two-pound batch takes about 45 minutes in my basket air fryer. Yours may cook faster, especially with a smaller batch, so check the sprouts earlier and add the cranberries and walnuts for the final stretch.

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