Balsamic And Bacon Brussel Sprouts

These stovetop balsamic and bacon brussel sprouts are made with only 5 ingredients and are full of flavor. Crispy bacon bits with fork tender brussel sprouts are drizzled in balsamic flavor for a side dish that pairs with chicken, steak, and more!

One hill that I stand on as a dietitian is that it is OK to add fun flavors or ingredients to vegetables. Yes, yes, moderation is key here but in most cases, these fun flavors do help people eat MORE vegetables and thats just something that I cannot disagree with.

Melted cheese on cauliflower. Ranch seasoning on roasted broccoli. Stovetop bacon and balsamic brussel sprouts. You just can’t go wrong!

These balsamic and bacon brussel sprouts have become one of my new favorite ways to serve slightly elevated brussel sprouts. The crispy bacon pairs perfectly with the fork tender texture of the Brussels sprouts and all the flavors come together with honey and balsamic vinegar. Drizzled in a balsamic glaze, you can pair these bacon Brussels sprouts with just about any dinner recipe.

Let’s get to the recipe!

Balsamic And Bacon Brussel Sprouts

Enjoy your veggie side dish with these balsamic and bacon brussel sprouts:

These balsamic and bacon brussel sprouts will be a new favorite vegetable side dish for you because they are:

• Only 5 ingredients: Brussel sprouts, bacon, honey, balsamic vinegar, and balsamic glaze are all you will need for this recipe! Feel free to add other ingredients like chopped nuts or seasonings of choice.

• Has a brussels sprout base: While this dish has bacon in it, it’s primarily made with brussel sprouts and checks the box on a vegetable serving. Brussel sprouts are rich in nutrients like fiber, vitamin K, vitamin C, and other antioxidants.

• Full of flavor: Despite the short ingredients list, this brussel sprout side dish is full of flavor and checks the box on salty, sweet, and savory.

• Made in one pan: Cook up your bacon bits first then add your brussel sprouts right to the same pan for easy clean up!

• Easy to pair with a variety of recipes: Bacon and balsamic brussel sprouts can be paired with grilled steak, baked chicken, air fryer salmon, and more!

You’ll love this easy side dish recipe.

What is the best way to cook brussel sprouts?

You can use a variety of cooking methods for brussel sprouts and, in my humble opinion, the one you choose depends on the final texture of brussel sprouts that you want!

1) For crispy brussel sprouts

To make perfectly crispy brussel sprouts you can air fry, oven roast, or deep fry them.

2) For fork tender brussel sprouts

To make fork tender brussel sprouts I would recommend boiling, steaming, or cooking them on the stove top with a small splash of water and the lid on.

3) A combination of cooking methods.

You can also combine cooking methods by boiling your brussel sprouts until tender, smashing them with your hand, then over roasting them for a crispy bite!

Roasted Parmesan Brussel Sprouts

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Ingredients & Instructions

Ingredients:

• Brussel sprouts: Sliced lengthwise. Brussel sprouts are one of my favorite vegetables of all time and it’s the star of this vegetable side dish show!

• Bacon: I like to chop the bacon prior to cooking it for a faster cooking time. If you want, you can cook your full bacon pieces then chop it into bacon bits afterwards as well!

• Balsamic vinegar: This will add a nice acidity to your brussel sprouts.

• Honey: To balance out the vinegar. If you need to, you can swap honey for maple syrup for balsamic maple brussel sprouts instead!

• Balsamic glaze: This will add a final flavor of sweetness to your side dish.

Instructions:

Step 1

Chop your bacon bits and cook them in the stove top for 15-20 minutes until cooked through and slightly crispy. Remove the bacon bits and place on a paper towel.

Step 2

Slice your brussels in half lengthwise then add to the same pan you cooked your bacon in. Add 1-2 tbsp water, cover, and cook on low/medium heat until fork tender. (about 10-15 minutes)

Step 3

Stir in your bacon bits, honey, balsamic vinegar.

Step 4

Drizzle with balsamic glaze to taste and enjoy warm!

What To Serve With Bacon and Balsamic Brussel Sprouts:

These brussel sprouts with bacon and balsamic vinegar would pair well with a variety of dinner recipes like:

• Grilled proteins like chicken, steak, or seafood.

• Air fryer salmon

• Air fryer chicken tenders

• Meatballs

• Stuffed meat and ricotta shells

And more! Tag me on instagram with any fun ideas or pairings that you come up with!

Recipe FAQ:

1. Can I meal prep these brussel sprouts?

   1. These bacon and balsamic brussel sprouts are best enjoyed fresh but can be stored in an air tight container in the refrigerator then reheated throughout your week! The brussel sprouts will soften slightly as they sit in the refrigerator.

2. Can I use pre-made bacon bits?

   1. I recommend cooking the bacon bits yourself to help add extra flavor to your brussel sprouts but you can certainly skip that step, cook the brussel sprouts, and sprinkle in pre-made bacon bits to taste if you want to save time.

3. How to store?

   1. You can store these brussel sprouts in an air tight container in the refrigerator for up to three days.

Other veggie side dish recipes you will love:

Looking for other ways to serve vegetables? Here are a few ideas!

Roasted Brussel Sprouts and Sweet Potatoes

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Spicy Cucumber Snack Recipe

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Garlic Green Beans With Almonds

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Yield: 6 servings

Author: Lauren Twigge

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Balsamic And Bacon Brussel Sprouts

These stovetop balsamic and bacon brussel sprouts are made with only 5 ingredients and are full of flavor. Crispy bacon bits with fork tender brussel sprouts are drizzled in balsamic flavor for a side dish that pairs with chicken, steak, and more!

Prep time: 5 MinCook time: 25 MinTotal time: 30 Min

Ingredients

• 1 cup chopped bacon (about 5 pieces chopped)
• 16 oz brussel sprouts, sliced in half lengthwise
• 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
• 1 tbsp honey
• Drizzle of balsamic glaze to taste

Instructions

1. Chop your bacon bits and cook them in the stove top for 15-20 minutes until cooked through and slightly crispy. Remove the bacon bits and place on a paper towel
2. Slice your brussels in half lengthwise then add to the same pan you cooked your bacon in. Add 1-2 tbsp water, cover, and cook on low/medium heat until fork tender. (about 10-15 minutes)
3. Stir in your bacon bits, honey, balsamic vinegar. Drizzle with balsamic glaze to taste and enjoy warm!

Nutrition Facts

Calories

210

Fat

16 g

Sat. Fat

5 g

Carbs

11 g

Fiber

3 g

Net carbs

8 g

Sugar

5 g

Protein

8 g

Sodium

281 mg

Cholesterol

26 mg

*All nutrition information has been approximated and may vary based on serving size, brands used, and other factors.

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Hey! I’m Lauren

I’m a Registered Dietitian and busy toddler mom committed to bringing you delicious, nutritious, and easy-to-make recipes!