As a kid I didn’t like Brussels sprouts. It’s not that I didn’t like the taste. I really just didn’t like them because they were smelly. Every time my mom made them, she’d heat them in the microwave and the whole house would get that funky cabbage smell. As the mature child I was this really didn’t appeal to me. So I never really sought out Brussels sprouts as a veggie of choice until I got older. I can’t remember when, but at some point in my 20’s I suddenly realized Brussels sprouts are awesome and really delicious. Somehow I think they also became a trendy side dish. There are so many ways to enjoy sprouts; fried, roasted, sweet, savory or even turned into salad. I have several places I like to order them when I’m out for dinner, but when I’m making them at home simply roasting them in the oven with a bit of bacon makes for an easy treat. It feels like part comfort food part health food.
For tips on how to prepare the perfect crispy bacon in this recipe, check out our previous post” The Perfect Bacon “
Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Bacon
Ingredients
- 1 pound fresh brussels sprouts
- 4 slices cooked & crumbled bacon about ½ cup, you can add more if you’re a big bacon fan
- 2 TBSP olive oil
- 1 TBSP Adobo seasoning or ½ tablespoon each garlic powder & onion powder
- Parmesan cheese for finishing if desired
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees
- Open your package of bacon. This recipe only calls for 4 slices of bacon, but feel free to add more if you’d like
- Use a fry pan to cook your bacon, non-stick or cast iron is good and make sure to spray with cooking spray or a bit of olive oil. Check out our post on ‘Perfect Bacon’ for more details.
- When the bacon is finished let cool on a paper towel and pat dry to absorb extra grease. Once cool crumble into small pieces
- Half or quarter the brussels sprouts depending on the size, try to keep them even, around an inch or so
- Add brussels sprouts to an oven safe dish or baking pan and drizzle with olive oil and mix to combine. Then sprinkle with Adobo or substitute seasoning and mix to ensure spices are evenly coating the sprouts.
- Note: The more spaced out the sprouts are the faster they will cook and the crispier they will be. The closer they are together the more they will ‘steam’. Just arrange according to your cooking preference.
- Mix the crumbled bacon into the brussels sprouts and combine
- Put your pan into the oven uncovered and let roast for 25-30 minutes. Remember the more spaced out the sprouts are the faster they will cook, so time may vary depending on the pan. Mix the sprouts when they are about half done to make sure they roast evenly.
- Look for the outside leaves to be a bit wilted and crispy and have a golden brown color when they are done
