These Longhorn steakhouse copycat brussel sprouts will turn anyone into a vegetable lover! With the help of an air fryer, these brussel sprouts are perfectly crisp! Topped with a sweet and spicy glaze, you might forget you're eating brussel sprouts! These sprouts make the perfect side to a ribeye steak, or a prime rib roast.
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Why This Recipe Works
They are a fantastic restaurant copycat! This recipe is inspired by the delicious side dish at Longhorn Steakhouse. While I opted out of deep frying, the flavours are super similar, and super delicious! Another personal Longhorn favorite of mine is their baked bacon mac and cheese, which happen to go perfectly with these sprouts, too! If you are looking for another delicious restaurant copycat, these red lobster brussel sprouts are just what you need!
These brussel sprouts are a quick side! This restaurant favourite does not take tons of time to come together. The air fryer crisps up the sprouts in under 15 minutes. If you are looking for other quick air fryer sides, air fryer broccoli and cauliflower is a great choice, too!
The sauce is full of flavour! Packed with honey, Calabrian chillies and the right amount of salt, this glaze is packed with flavour. If you know someone who doesn't like brussel sprouts, this sauce WILL change their mind. If you love this sauce on brussel sprouts, you'll love my roasted hot honey carrots, too!
No deep frying required! The restaurant version of this recipe deep fries the sprouts. While that is definitely amazing, it is messy and time consuming. No deep frying required for this home recipe!
Ingredients
- Brussel sprouts: I recommend using fresh brussel sprouts, as they will crisp up much better than frozen ones. Frozen brussel sprouts have a lot more moisture, which will not yield the best results. If you only have frozen brussels sprouts on hand, my Mexican chipotle brussels sprouts are the perfect way to use them!
- Brown sugar: Brown sugar will provide a rich, sweet flavour to the glaze. It caramelizes a little bit different than white sugar, and is ideal for this sauce.
- Fresh garlic: I recommend using fresh garlic for this recipe, for the best, bright flavour. Pre-minced garlic will add a metallic flavour that will be unpleasant in the sauce.
- Honey
- Calabrian Chilli Paste: Calabrian chillies originate from Calabria, Italy. They have a spicy, salty, and smokey flavour. The chilli paste usually is made with chillies packed in oil, but still packs a punch!
- Spices: Smoked paprika, salt
A full list of ingredients with measurements is located on the recipe card, below.
Instructions
PREP WORK BEFORE COOKING
Collecting all your ingredients - This will make cooking so much easier. Gather all the spices you will need, and keep them nearby.
Prep the brussel sprouts - Cut the root off of the brussel sprouts, and then halve them. Remove any of the outer leaves that are discoloured or bruised.
In a mixing bowl, spray the brussels sprouts with cooking spray, and season with salt [to taste].
Transfer the sprouts to an air fryer basket, and air fry for 10-12 minutes at 375°F.
While the sprouts are cooking, prepare the glaze. Add all the ingredients to a sauce pan, and place over medium-low heat.
Cook the glaze until the water has mostly evaporated, and the glaze has thickened. You should be able to coat a spoon, and draw a line through it.
Once the sprouts are done cooking, transfer to a serving dish. Spoon the glaze over the sprouts, and serve. Alternatively, you can toss the sprouts with the glaze in a bowl, and then serve.
Expert Tip
Stir the glaze constantly! Because you are going be working with a good amount of sugar, be sure to constantly stir the glaze so that it does not burn.
If your air fryer basket is not large enough to spread the sprouts in one layer, shake the basket while cooking the sprouts so everything gets a chance to brown evenly.
Customize the amount of spice by lessening the amount of Calabrian chilli in the glaze.
Substitutions
- Honey: Substitute honey with maple syrup.
- Calabrian chillies: You can use fresno chillies or red serranos in place of Calabrian chillies. Add some smoked paprika to the mix to give the smokey flavour that Calabrian chillies have.
Variations
- Deep fried: If you want to stay true to the restaurant version of this recipe, you can deep fry the sprouts in a neutral oil until they are crisp. Drain on paper towel and salt out of the fryer, and follow the remaining recipe as is.
- Oven-roasted: These sprouts can also be oven-roasted. Spray with cooking spray and season with salt. Spread on a baking sheet, and bake for 15-20 minutes at 400°F. Keep an eye on them as they bake!
Equipment
This is what I used to make this recipe - Please be mindful that different equipment and cooking utensils may yield varying results. Most of my favourite equipment can be found on my storefront.
- Mixing bowl
- Air fryer
- Sauce pan
Make Ahead & Storage
Make Ahead Instructions
You can make this glaze up to 2 days prior. Cool the glaze, and store in an airtight container in the fridge. Reheat the glaze on the stove over low heat.
I recommend making the brussel sprouts the day you are going to serve them, to avoid them getting overly charred or crisp by reheating.
Storing Leftovers
Store leftover sprouts in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat wrapped in foil, in the oven or the air fryer, to avoid hardening the sprouts and glaze.
Recipe FAQs
Brussel sprouts taste very similar to green cabbage. Brussel sprouts are slightly more bitter than green cabbage, but have a very similar flavour profile.
I do not recommend freezing cooked brussel sprouts, particularly these ones that are glazed. They will retain a lot of moisture upon freezing, and will alter the crispness and texture of the sprouts and glaze.
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Longhorn Copycat Brussel Sprouts {Air Fryer}
Ingredients
- 2 cups Brussel sprouts halved
- ½ cup Brown sugar
- ½ cup Water
- ¼ cup Honey
- 1 ½ tablespoon Calabrian chilli paste
- 1 teaspoon Smoked paprika
- 4 cloves Garlic minced
- Salt to taste
Equipment
Instructions
- Season sprouts: In a mixing bowl, spray the brussels sprouts with cooking spray, and season with salt [to taste].2 cups Brussel sprouts, Salt
- Air fry: Transfer the sprouts to an air fryer basket, and air fry for 10-12 minutes at 375°F.
- Prepare glaze: While the sprouts are cooking, prepare the glaze. Add all the ingredients to a sauce pan, and place over medium-low heat. Cook the glaze, stirring constantly, until the water has mostly evaporated, and the glaze has thickened. You should be able to coat a spoon, and draw a line through it.½ cup Brown sugar, ½ cup Water, ¼ cup Honey, 1 ½ tablespoon Calabrian chilli paste, 1 teaspoon Smoked paprika, 4 cloves Garlic, Salt
- Serve: Once the sprouts are done cooking, transfer to a serving dish. Spoon the glaze over the sprouts, and serve. Alternatively, you can toss the sprouts with the glaze in a bowl, and then serve.
Notes
- If your air fryer basket is not large enough to spread the sprouts in one layer, shake the basket while cooking the sprouts so everything gets a chance to brown evenly.
- Customize the amount of spice by lessening the amount of Calabrian chilli in the glaze.
Superna
Made these today and wow it was the perfect side dish!