Description
Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Bacon delivers crispy, caramelized goodness that will make your taste buds dance with delight. Salty bacon and perfectly roasted sprouts create a side dish so addictive, your dinner guests will be asking for seconds before you can blink.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1.5 lbs Brussels sprouts
- 6 slices bacon
Supporting Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 large shallot
- 2 cloves garlic
Finishing Ingredients:
- ¼ cup balsamic vinegar
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- Salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
- Chopped fresh parsley
- Toasted pecans
Instructions
- Crank your oven to a blazing 400F and grab an oven-safe skillet that can handle the heat.
- Thoroughly wash your Brussels sprouts, trim off the stem ends, and slice each sprout in half (or quarter if they’re particularly large).
- Chop 6 slices of thick-cut bacon into half-inch pieces that will deliver maximum crispiness.
- Place your bacon pieces in the skillet and cook over medium heat for 8-10 minutes until they transform into perfectly crispy golden bits.
- Transfer the crispy bacon to a paper towel-lined plate, keeping all that delicious rendered fat in the skillet.
- Toss your thinly sliced shallot into the bacon fat and sauté for 3-5 minutes until it softens and becomes translucent.
- Drop in 2 minced garlic cloves and let them dance in the skillet for 1 minute until their aroma fills your kitchen.
- Add your prepared Brussels sprouts to the skillet and toss them thoroughly to coat with the bacon fat mixture.
- Sprinkle ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes, salt, and freshly ground black pepper across the sprouts for a flavor boost.
- Slide the skillet into the preheated oven and roast for 20-25 minutes, giving everything a gentle stir halfway through to ensure even browning.
- While roasting, whisk together ¼ cup balsamic vinegar, 2 tablespoons maple syrup, and 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard in a small bowl.
- Pull the skillet from the oven once the Brussels sprouts are tender and beautifully caramelized.
- Scatter the reserved crispy bacon pieces back into the skillet and drizzle the balsamic glaze over everything.
- Gently toss to ensure every sprout gets coated with the tangy-sweet glaze.
- For extra caramelization, return the skillet to the oven for a quick 2-3 minute blast, watching carefully to prevent burning.
- Serve immediately, with an optional sprinkle of chopped parsley or toasted pecans for a final flourish.
Notes
- Use a cast-iron skillet or heavy oven-safe pan to get the best caramelization and crispy exterior on your Brussels sprouts.
- Cut Brussels sprouts evenly to ensure they roast uniformly and develop consistent browning throughout the dish.
- For a vegetarian version, replace bacon with smoked almonds or coconut bacon to maintain a smoky flavor profile.
- Let Brussels sprouts sit in the pan for a few minutes after removing from the oven to develop extra crispy edges and absorb the delicious glaze.
- Prep Time: 10-15 minutes
- Cook Time: 33-40 minutes
- Category: Roasted
- Method: Roasting
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 224 kcal
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 410 mg
- Fat: 17 g
- Saturated Fat: 4.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11.5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 13 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 7 g
- Cholesterol: 20 mg