These balsamic and bacon brussel sprouts make a great side dish for any holiday meal. And if you’re looking for more ideas, make sure to check out the Thanksgiving Recipe Swap (with Real Food!).
Growing up I never ate brussel sprouts. They were simply that food that everyone hated and loved to joke about- I never once thought about making them.
But when faced with health issues, that were beginning to turn around due to dietary changes, I began to realize I needed to expand my palate and not be so picky already. Brussel sprouts were one of the first on the list, and after eating them I couldn’t believe I had waited so long! They were nothing like I had imagined.
This recipe came about rather recently after my friend Stephanie from EntreFamily posted a picture of her brussel sprouts on Instagram and I knew I had to recreate them for myself! I’ve made them with bacon before, but never with balsamic and it seemed to be a great idea.
It was, in fact, a match made in heaven. My entire family ate them and the kids even asked for more!
- 2 pounds brussel sprouts
- 6 ounces bacon
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 1½ teaspoons salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- 1 tablespoon syrupy balsamic vinegar
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
- Trim and cut sprouts in half.
- Toss brussel sprouts, olive oil, salt, and pepper together in large bowl until well coated.
- Place in a single layer on pan and roast for 20 to 30 minutes, turning once, until they are tender and beginning to brown.
- At the same time, place bacon in a second pan and cook for 20 to 25 minutes. (or fry one stovetop. You could also cut into small pieces and cook with the sprouts, though I find that it's harder to make sure the bacon does not burn)
- After sprouts and bacon are cooked, remove from oven,
- crumble the bacon and stir into the brussel sprouts along with the balsamic vinegar and maple syrup.
- Serve immediately.
This recipe also doubles well if you’re feeding a large family or bringing as a side dish to a large gathering.
The biggest time suck for this recipe is preparing the brussel sprouts, what with peeling a few leaves off of each one and cutting them. So this is one recipe I get my kids involved in! We can sit around the counter and they peel while I cut – it goes by so much faster!
I really hope you try this recipe. It’s so flavorful and blends well with just about any holiday meal.
And bacon. You just can’t go wrong with bacon.
