This is the only brussel sprout recipe you need. Seriously. It turns a very unloved and highly underrated vegetable into a fantastic side dish.
If you have a bag of brussel sprouts glaring back at you from the fridge, you need a side dish that will impress, or you just want more green in your diet (both hands raised) this is for you!
If you grew up on steamed brussel sprouts, you know the horrors and awful smell of mushy bland brussel sprouts.
This recipe is not that. It is full of flavor. It starts with roasting brussel sprouts, which caramelizes the outside of the brussels. Then, we add bacon to the roasting process, which adds flavor and gives the final product that crunchy, salty bite in every forkful. Next, we add a sticky, sweet balsamic glaze to really brighten up the brussels.
Last, and most important (I do not recommend skipping this step!!!) is making a simple, beautiful pecan crumb topping, this adds a heavenly crunch and nutty flavor that literally makes these brussel sprouts explode with flavor.
A few tips:
- If washing your brussel sprouts before baking them, be sure they are dried very well! Any moisture will hinder them from crisping up in the oven.
- If you want absolutely perfect brussel sprouts, trim off the brown dead leaves (if any) on the outside of each brussel sprout. You can also trim the hard tip just slightly. If you trim it too much the brussel sprouts tend to fall apart a little bit. This prevents biting into the hard, tough tip of the brussel sprouts after its cooked.
- For maximum crispy brussel sprouts, be sure every brussel sprout is face down on the cooking sheet so the pan is touching the most surface area on the brussel sprouts.
Let’s make these finger-licking good brussels! Seriously, my husband and I eat this like candy and can polish off this whole-pound recipe in one sitting. I hope you love it!
Let me know in the comments if you make this recipe!
Brussel Sprouts
Ingredients
- 1 pound raw whole brussel sprouts
- 1 1/2 tablespoon avocado oil
- 1/2 teaspoon fine grain sea salt
- 3 strips uncooked bacon
Balsamic Glaze
- 1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar
- 2 teaspoons honey
- 1 tablespoon avocado oil
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 pinch fine grain sea salt
Pecan Crumble topping
- 1/2 cup un roasted, unsalted pecans
- 1 teaspoon honey
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 pinch fine grain sea salt
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.
- Cut each brussel sprout in half. (Quarter the larger pieces)
- Place the cut brussel sprouts on a parchment lined cooking sheet. Add the avocado oil and sea salt. Mix with your hands until every brussel sprout is coated evenly.
- Roughly chop or use kitchen sheers to cut the bacon into bite sized pieces. Mix the chopped bacon into the brussel sprout mixture until the bacon is evenly distrubted among the brussel sprouts on the cooking sheet. Make sure the brussel sprouts aren't touchiing each other for maximum crispiness.
- Place in the oven for 35 minutes.
- While the brussel sprouts are baking, whisk together the balsamic vinegar, honey, avocado oil, sea salt and garlic powder in a small bowl. Set aside.
- Place the pecans, honey, garlic powder, and sea salt into a food processor. Blend for a few pulses, just until it resembles rough bread crumbs. If you pulse it any longer, it will become pecan butter (not the goal!).
- Heat a skillet up on medium high heat with some avocado oil. Add the pecan crumb topping mixture to the pan and toast in the pan for about 3 minutes until its just golden brown and fragrant. Remove from the pan to stop the cooking process and set aside.
- Once the brussel sprouts are done baking for 35 minutes, broil for one last minute. (They will be relatively dark!)
- Drizzle the balamic glaze on top of the roasted brussel sprout and bacon. Mix together to coat everything evenly. (Place on serving platter if desired.)
- Add the pecan crumble topping on top. Enjoy immediately!
