Updated on October 17th, 2022
Maybe you’re a fan of plain Brussels sprouts, but you’ll be pleased to discover that dressing them up is also a delicious option to explore. In this regard, bacon and Brussels sprouts are a particularly delicious combination to try. In terms of taste and satisfaction, you’ll find that this easy side dish is worth creating.
In this article, we’ve described an easy process of cooking Brussel sprouts with bacon, as well as several tips that should help you achieve flavorful results. Also, watch out for our timing guidelines to ensure that you don’t overcook or ruin your recipe.
Brussel Sprouts Nutrition Facts
Tips for Cooking Brussel Sprouts with Bacon
We have compiled the following tips to ensure that your Brussel sprouts and bacon recipes turn out delicious:
The best way to cook Brussel sprouts – Sprouts can be cooked in two ways to bring forth the finest flavor profiles: sautéing or roasting. Roasted brussels sprouts have the advantage of being flavored with almost any ingredient and entirely changing the flavor profile.
There’s no need to bother about pre-cooking in some recipes, and there are no extra pans to clean. Combine all ingredients on a large baking sheet and bake in a hot oven.
Make sure to stir them again halfway through the cooking time to ensure even cooking and avoid scorching.
Perks of roasting sprouts – Roasted brussels sprouts are great, particularly because they soak up the flavor of garlic, olive oil, and bacon while cooking in the oven, creating an unbeatable flavor combination.
The bacon also goes so great with the sprouts; the addition of garlic and a sprinkle of balsamic glaze improves the flavor of brussels sprouts.
How to achieve crispy sprouts – the ideal cooking method to bring the crisp to Brussel sprouts is the roasting method. To make Brussels sprouts extra crispy, roast them at 425°F (220°C) for 25 to 30 minutes. Depending on how your oven works and how hot it gets, you can broil them for a further 3 to 5 minutes to get them even crispier.
As soon as they come out of the oven, drizzle them with balsamic. Alternatively, serve them individually to keep them crisp and pour the reduction into a serving bottle so your guests can regulate how much they add.
Making balsamic glaze is a key inclusion in Brussel sprouts and bacon recipes. Here you have two choices. You may either buy balsamic glaze from a store or make it from scratch at home. Only two ingredients are required to make your balsamic glaze:
- Any excellent grade balsamic vinegar would suffice.
- Brown sugar is purely a personal preference. If you’re on a low-carb diet, skip the brown sugar. If not, you could decide to make the balsamic vinegar with brown sugar since it adds a touch of sweetness.
- Honey can also be used to add a different flavor.
Simmering balsamic vinegar with your preferred sweetener in a small nonstick pan or pot reduces to a delightful syrup that can be served over anything. When it is coating the back of your spoon, you know it’s done.
With Brussel sprouts and bacon, half a cup of balsamic glaze is plenty, enough to serve sufficiently. If you have any leftovers, keep them refrigerated in a clean glass container or salad dressing bottle for up to a month.
Tips for the best results when working with Brussel sprouts and bacon – Take note of the following when cooking Brussel sprouts with bacon:
- For added flavor, cook your Brussels sprouts in the bacon grease.
- Because Brussels sprouts can be hard, the first stage of the cooking procedure should be done with the cover on the pan, and this holds the steam and allows them to cook more quickly. To prevent the sprouts from browning too rapidly, keep the heat low.
- With the cover removed, you can finish the cooking process and brown the sprouts even further to your preference.
- Use Brussel sprouts that are small to medium in size. If you use larger ones, the cooking time will need to be increased from what is advised in most recipes, which may get confusing.
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Cooking Time for Brussel Sprouts with Bacon
Follow the timing guidelines in the table below when cooking Brussel sprouts with bacon to guarantee optimal results:
Cooking Procedure
Cooking Time
Cooking Brussel sprouts with bacon in the oven at 400 degrees Fahrenheit
20 to 30 minutes
The entire cooking duration for this recipe is 35 minutes, including a prep time of 10 minutes and a cook time of 25 minutes.
PrintOven Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Bacon (6 Servings)
Ingredients
- 1½ pounds of Brussels sprouts
- Two tablespoons of olive oil
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
- Six bacon slices, cut into 1-inch pieces
Instructions
- Adjust your oven’s temperature to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and leave it to preheat.
- Make sure that your brussels sprouts are cleaned and trimmed, with any really large heads sliced in two halves through the core. (It’s okay if some of the outer layers fall off; bake the sprouts with the rest. They crisp up well and end up tasty)
- Sprinkle the brussels sprouts with olive oil in a large mixing basin and toss them properly to coat evenly.
- Place the Brussels sprouts on a large baking sheet (ideally, arrange them in a single layer). Season the sprouts for added taste with salt and pepper. Then, on top of the brussels sprouts, equally, distribute the bacon bits.
- Roast the Brussel sprouts and bacon bits for 20 to 30 minutes in the oven, turning halfway through, until brown and faintly caramelized.
- Serve the meal right away.
This recipe for oven-roasted Brussels sprouts and bacon is incredibly simple to make and can be served as a great side dish with steak or lamb-based recipes. Salads with any leftovers are also great.
If you need other ideas to try in your recipe, we recommend this video recipe.
