I’ll be honest — Brussels sprouts were not something I wanted to make on a Tuesday night. But then I tried cooking them in the air fryer with a honey soy glaze and they disappeared before I even got a plate out. That’s now how most Tuesday nights go.
The technique is simple. High heat, cut-side down, don’t crowd them. The air fryer absolutely nails this because the circulating heat hits those flat cut faces and turns them almost caramel-dark in under 15 minutes. The toaster oven on convection does the same job if that’s what you’ve got — I’ve made this both ways and the results are genuinely close. If you’re in the market for a new appliance, a convection toaster oven makes a real difference for vegetables like this versus a standard one.
The glaze is soy sauce, honey, a splash of rice vinegar, garlic, and sesame oil. It takes maybe a minute to whisk together and you add it in the last few minutes of cooking so it gets sticky and slightly charred instead of just wet. Red pepper flakes are technically optional but I always add them. The scallions and sesame seeds at the end aren’t garnish for show — they actually add something, a little fresh bite and a bit of crunch that works against the sticky glaze.
You’ll want a good air fryer basket liner if you’re going the air fryer route, mostly because the honey in the glaze can be annoying to clean off otherwise. Small thing, but worth knowing. Either way, this comes together in under 25 minutes start to finish and it goes with basically everything — rice, noodles, roasted tofu, whatever you’ve got going.
Air Fryer or Toaster Oven Brussels Sprouts with Honey, Soy, and Toasted Sesame
Crispy-edged Brussels sprouts glazed with a sweet-savory honey soy sauce and finished with toasted sesame seeds. Ready in about 20 minutes and genuinely hard to stop eating.
Ingredients
Brussels Sprouts
Honey Soy Glaze
To Finish
Instructions
Prep
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Trim the dry ends off your Brussels sprouts and slice each one in half through the stem. If any are on the larger side, quarter them so everything's roughly the same size — this matters more than people think for even cooking.
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Toss the halved sprouts with olive oil, salt, and pepper in a large bowl. Make sure they're well coated. Set aside.
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Whisk together the soy sauce, honey, rice vinegar, sesame oil, garlic, and red pepper flakes in a small bowl. The glaze comes together in about 30 seconds. Set it nearby so it's ready to go when the sprouts are done.
Air Fryer Method
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Preheat your air fryer to 400°F for 3 minutes.
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Add the Brussels sprouts in a single layer, cut-side down as much as possible. Don't crowd them — cook in two batches if needed. Seriously, crowding is what makes them steam instead of crisp.
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Air fry for 12 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through. They should be deeply golden and a little charred at the edges.
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Pour the glaze over the sprouts right in the basket (or transfer to the bowl, toss with glaze, then return to the basket). Air fry another 3-4 minutes until the glaze is sticky and caramelized. Watch them — honey burns fast.
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Tip into a serving bowl, scatter sesame seeds and scallions over the top, and eat immediately.
Toaster Oven Method
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Preheat your toaster oven to 425°F on the bake or convection-bake setting. Line the toaster oven pan with foil for easier cleanup.
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Spread the Brussels sprouts cut-side down in a single layer on the pan. Don't stack them.
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Roast for 18-20 minutes, flipping once at the 12-minute mark, until the cut sides are browned and the outer leaves are crispy.
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Pour the glaze over the sprouts on the pan, toss to coat, and return to the oven for another 3-4 minutes until glossy and sticky. Keep an eye on them near the end.
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Transfer to a plate, top with sesame seeds and scallions, and serve right away.
Notes
Dry sprouts = crispy sprouts. Pat them down with a paper towel after washing and make sure they're fully dry before tossing in oil. If your sprouts are older and the outer leaves are a little loose, that's actually fine — those leaves get extra crispy and are basically the best part. The glaze recipe makes just enough to coat everything lightly; if you want them stickier, double it. Leftovers keep in the fridge for up to 3 days but they do lose their crunch. Reheat in the air fryer at 375°F for 4-5 minutes to bring some life back.
Nutrition
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Written by
Emma is a home cook who loves coaxing big flavor out of a toaster oven — from crispy roasted vegetables to easy weeknight dinners and sweet treats. She develops and tests Toastera's recipes for small-appliance kitchens.
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