Bacon Roasted Brussels Sprouts

I’m always looking for easy side dishes that the whole family will enjoy. Some of our favorites include sauteed kale, grilled broccoli and these golden brown Brussels sprouts flavored with bacon.

How Do You Make Bacon Roasted Brussels Sprouts?

To make these bacon roasted Brussels sprouts, first place the sprouts in a single layer on a sheet pan. Then drizzle them with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Add chopped raw bacon around the Brussels sprouts on the baking sheet. Bake until the sprouts get tender and caramelized and the bacon crisps up. Sprinkle everything with fresh, chopped parsley, then serve and enjoy. These Brussels sprouts would be perfect with a main dish like shrimp creole, roasted Cornish hen or ground beef stroganoff. Pick your favorite protein and serve these sprouts on the side! For more brussels sprouts recipes, check out my brussels sprouts salad, sauteed brussels sprouts and and grilled brussels sprouts.

Brussels Sprouts: Look for brussels sprouts that are about the same size so they take about the same amount if time to cook. I look for smaller brussels sprouts because they usually are more tender. Bacon: Get a high quality bacon because it will flavor the whole dish. I use kitchen shears to cut my bacon into small squares that are all around the same size. I recommend cutting off portions of the bacon that just contain pure fat. Olive Oil: Extra-virgin olive oil helps the brussels sprouts crisp up and gives the sprouts extra flavor.

Tips For The Perfect Brussels Sprouts

You’ll want to cut your bacon into fairly small pieces. It is best to use a regular cut of bacon as thick cut bacon will take longer to cook. I find that this dish is best when served immediately so that the bacon is crispy. However, leftovers will stay fresh in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat any leftovers in a pan on the stove top to crisp up the bacon. Sliced green onions may be substituted for parsley. You can serve this recipe as a side dish, or make it a lighter main course by tossing the sprouts and bacon with cooked pasta and a little olive oil and parmesan cheese. Feel free to line your baking sheet with aluminum foil for easy cleanup.

Flavor Variations

This crispy brussels sprouts dish is great as-is, but you can absolutely add other ingredients to customize the flavors to your tastes.

Cheese: Add a sprinkle of grated cheese, such as parmesan, white cheddar or mozzarella during the last 5 minutes of the baking time. Herbs: Swap out the parsley for chives, basil, thyme or green onions. Veggies: Feel free to add more vegetables along with the sprouts, some good options are red onion wedges, halved mushrooms, green beans or broccoli. Flavorings: Stir in some added flavor to the finished dish with toasted pine nuts, kalamata olives, sun dried tomatoes or drizzle on some balsamic vinegar or balsamic glaze. People also enjoy these sprouts with a little maple syrup and chopped pecans! Garlic: Garlic lovers can add minced garlic to the brussels sprouts.

These bacon roasted Brussels sprouts are the perfect side dish for a holiday dinner, like Thanksgiving or Christmas, or for an everyday meal. They pair well with spatchcock chicken, sirloin steak or grilled pork chops. I often serve my sprouts alongside a roasted chicken with Hasselback potatoes. You just can’t go wrong with this one!