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Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Bacon

Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Bacon and Honey is a delicious veggie side dish for dinner any day or the holidays! There’s something magical about oven baking Brussels sprouts with bacon and drizzling it with honey

Trust me when I say, you will be addicted to this sticky, savory sweet baked Brussels sprouts with bacon recipe before you know it!

A platter of roasted brussels sprouts with bacon

Love Brussels sprouts? Don’t forget to also check out these Brussels sprouts recipes: Kale and Brussels Sprouts Salad, Chicken and Brussels Sprouts Stir Fry, and Sautéed Garlic Brussels Sprouts and Carrots.

Oven Baked Brussels Sprouts with Bacon

The BEST way to make Brussels sprouts taste amazing is to make it with bacon. Hands down. No competition.

This roasted Brussels sprouts with bacon recipe is made of crunchy, flavorful and slightly charred Brussels sprouts oven baked and then tossed in honey and crispy bacon.

It is sticky, sweet, savory, loaded with full-on flavor, and it tastes every bite as glorious as it sounds.

Brussels sprouts cooked and seasoned well, like this roasted Brussels sprouts with bacon, is like tasting a drip of heaven on your tongue, but Brussels sprouts cooked badly can be a way less fun experience…

I love Brussels sprouts, but I have also tasted some pretty not-so-great tasting Brussels sprouts in my life.

So I set some rules. Here are my Brussels sprouts rules:

  • Do not boil Brussels sprouts
  • Do not steam Brussels sprouts
  • Do not slow cook Brussels sprouts (no, no, no please! 😉 )

To taste like the glorious things they are created to be, Brussels sprouts needs to be cooked in such a way where it doesn’t get soggy, and maintains that slight crunch. Which, in the case of this roasted Brussels sprouts with bacon, we are baking them in the oven.

Close up view of an oval plate with Brussels sprouts tossed in bacon and honey

And when you do it right…omg, I can hear angels singing because Brussels sprouts become a truly delicious and beautiful thing.

And then we add flavor such as honey and garlic, so that when you bite into those delicious oven baked Brussels sprouts, you will be wowed by both its flavors and textures.

I love making this for the holidays along with Roasted Whole Carrots and Thanksgiving Wild Rice for a lighter menu that is still crazy delicious and flavorful.

Ladies and gentlemen, buckle your seat belt, and get ready to experience the beauty that is roasted Brussels sprouts with bacon.

Ingredients

Our roasted Brussels sprouts with bacon is made using minimal ingredients. Or in other words, SEVEN!

  • Brussels sprouts – using fresh Brussels sprouts (do not use frozen as it will not be as crunchy), half them so that they baked quickly on high heat in the oven.
  • bacon – brings amazing flavors to the oven baked brussels sprouts. Important ingredient in this dish. That’s why it’s called ‘Roasted Brussels sprouts with bacon’. 😉 In a pinch, ready-cooked bacon bits can be used. It will not be as flavorful or as satisfying, but it does make the process a whole lot faster.
  • honey – use pure honey if possible. This is responsible for bringing the sweet flavors to our dish.
  • garlic – use fresh minced garlic for best taste. In a pinch, garlic powder can be used, but it will not be as flavorful.
  • salt – helps open up the flavors
  • black pepper
  • olive oil – or any other neutral oils such as avocado oil, canola oil, vegetable oil, etc

How to make it

Oven Bake Brussels Sprouts

To make roasted Brussels sprouts with bacon, we will first roast the Brussels sprouts. Start with cutting off the stems then cutting the Brussels sprouts in half.

Fresh Brussels sprouts sliced in halves on a wooden cutting board

Toss the Brussel Sprouts in olive oil, minced garlic, salt and pepper, coat them evenly, and then lay them out on the baking sheet (This is my favorite as it does not warp at high temperature!) .

Try not to crowd the baking sheet or overlap, and turn most of the halved Brussels sprouts face down, this will give the flat surface a nice char.

Char on veggie makes me happy. 🙂

Sometimes, it’s the simple things in life…

Halved Brussels sprouts on a baking sheet

Then bake it in the oven for 18-20 minutes at 400℉. Quickly and on high heat – that’s the key to retaining flavor and preventing them from turning soggy.

When Brussels sprouts are done, they should be softer, but with a slight char on them. If you like it more burnt/charred, bake for another 5 minutes.

Preparing Bacon

While Brussels sprouts bake in the oven, I typically hop over to the stove and cook my bacon.

I am convinced everything is better with bacon. Life, Breakfast tacos, deviled eggs, waffles, and yes Brussels sprouts too. 🙂

Just like wine, I feel like bacon is a cheat ingredient. It has complex flavor, a little bit of it goes a long way, and it can totally transform a dish into something spectacular.

It has so much depth in its flavor, and it has the magical ability to just make everything better.

You CANNOT go wrong with BACON.

Slice bacon into small pieces and pan fry them until they are crispy.

Then drain away the bacon fat, and transfer bacon to a plate lined with a paper towel so that the extra grease from the bacon will be absorbed.

Seasoning Brussels Sprouts

Transfer baked Brussels sprouts to a large bowl, add crispy sliced bacon to the bowl, along with honey.

Drizzling honey into a bowl of roasted Brussels sprouts and bacon pieces

Toss roasted Brussel sprouts until it’s all evenly coated, and gooey, and sticky. And irresistible.

The combination of Brussels sprouts, honey and bacon is perfection.

Every once in a while, you find that perfect flavor/texture combo. This roasted Brussels sprouts with bacon IS IT.

It is so perfect and so tasty, I sat munching on (and oo-ing and ah-ing over) this plate of Brussels sprouts at 2pm in the middle of the afternoon after I photographed this.

If Brussels sprouts have bruised you (which I apologize for this sad situation), and this doesn’t change your mind about Brussels sprouts, I don’t know what will.

Give roasted Brussels sprouts with bacon a try and get ready to fall in love with Brussels sprouts!

Close up of top down view of a plate of roasted Brussels sprouts tossed with bacon and garlic

Friends, baked Brussels sprouts with bacon is the perfect side dish. For Christmas, for Thanksgiving, for Easter, for ANY DAY.

It goes great with any main protein dish, or just munch on it by itself like I did as a mid-afternoon snack! 😉

So legit it will make you LOVE eating your veggies. 🙂

Variations and Substitutions

Here are items I like to add in addition to or in place of the ingredients in the recipe:

  • Nuts – I love adding almonds or pecans to this to give it an extra crunch
  • Dried fruits – dried cranberries are good adds as well.
  • Maple syrup – can be used instead of honey.
  • Cheese – garnish roasted Brussels sprouts with bacon by topping it with crumbled goat cheese or feta at the end

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make this ahead?

You can but I’ll be honest, it’s best served warm and fresh off the oven to get the maximum crunch. It’s just not the same after reheating it in the microwave. And reheating in the oven can be tricky because the honey on it may cause Brussels sprouts to burn.

Can I use frozen Brussels sprouts?

I wouldn’t because frozen Brussels sprouts will have more moisture in them and they won’t bake as well.

What do I do differently if I double the recipe?

Make sure you don’t overcrowd the Brussels sprouts when you bake them in the oven. Bake in two batches if needed.

DID YOU ENJOY THIS RECIPE? Please comment below and give us a 5-star rating! This will help others find this recipe on Google and Pinterest. We very much appreciate your help! 🤍

Other Holiday Side Dishes

Here are other holiday side dish ideas on the blog!

Other Ways to Prepare Brussel Sprouts

I love Brussel Sprouts and believe Brussel sprouts prepared well makes them taste SO GOOD! Here is a sautéed method of preparing Brussel sprouts that is super yummy as well!

Closeup of a plate loaded with roasted brussels sprouts with bacon and honey

Roasted Brussel Sprouts with Bacon

The perfect side dish for the Christmas and Thanksgiving holidays, or any day! Crunchy, slightly charred and filled with savory sweet flavors, these Brussel sprouts are roasted and tossed with crispy bacon and honey. Super easy and yummy!
5 from 38 votes
Print Pin
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 173kcal
Author: MinShien

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 1 lbs Brussel sprouts
  • 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 tbsp minced garlic
  • salt to taste
  • pepper to taste
  • 5-6 strips bacon
  • 2 tbsp honey

Instructions

  • Pre-heat oven to 400°F.
  • Cut off steams from Brussels sprouts, then half the Brussel sprouts.
  • Bring halved Brussels sprouts to a large bowl. Add olive oil, minced garlic, salt and pepper. Toss to coat evenly.
  • Spread Brussels sprouts onto a baking sheet. Turn most of the Brussels sprouts face down so they will get a nice char on their flat surface. Avoid overcrowding or overlapping.
  • Bake for 20 minutes. If you like more charring on your Brussels sprouts, bake for 3-5 minutes longer.
  • While Brussels sprouts are roasted in the oven. Slice bacon into small pieces and fry until crispy (using a skillet).
  • Remove crispy bacon when done and move to a plate lined with paper towel (so that paper towel will absorb the grease from bacon).
  • When Brussels sprouts are done, bring them to a large bowl. Add bacon to the bowl and add honey. Toss and coat evenly.
  • Serve and enjoy!

Video

Notes

This blog post was updated with new photographs on Oct 2024.

Nutrition

Calories: 173kcal | Carbohydrates: 13g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Trans Fat: 0.02g | Cholesterol: 12mg | Sodium: 141mg | Potassium: 339mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 577IU | Vitamin C: 65mg | Calcium: 36mg | Iron: 1mg
Did you make this recipe?Take a pic and tag me at @joyous.apron, or hashtag #joyousapron on Instagram!

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5 from 38 votes (24 ratings without comment)

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Recipe Rating




32 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    Have made these several times. Sometimes with honey and sometimes with maple syrup. Both are fabulous!

    1. Joyous Apron says:

      I am so glad you enjoyed it! Love the maple syrup idea!

  2. 5 stars
    Total winner! Only way I can convince some people to eat Brussels sprouts. 😉

    1. Joyous Apron says:

      Hahaha! Glad we could help out! 🙂

  3. 5 stars
    I am so with you on a “catch-up-on-life day!” I need that, But in the meantime, these brussels sprouts are the best! We love them and make them often!

    1. Joyous Apron says:

      That’s great! Love to hear that! 🙂

  4. 5 stars
    This is the perfect side dish. I made it last year for Thanksgiving and will be making it again this year. The bacon and honey just balance the veggies so well, and everyone loves this!

    1. Joyous Apron says:

      I’m so glad everyone enjoyed it! It’s a favorite here as well!. Cannot wait to make it for the holidays again.

  5. Julie Menghini says:

    5 stars
    I just loved this Brussels sprout recipe. With your tips, they were perfectly cooked and that crispy bacon made a match made in culinary heaven.

    1. Joyous Apron says:

      I’m so glad it was helpful! Thanks for the feedback!

  6. Sandra Shaffer says:

    5 stars
    So easy and flavorful! Make this to serve with meatloaf and every sprout was devoured. Roasting is definitely a game changer!

    1. Joyous Apron says:

      Cannot agree more about roasting! So glad you enjoyed it!

  7. 5 stars
    The combination of savory-sweet-salty in these brussels sprouts are out of this world! These would be excellent alongside Thanksgiving dinner, too.

    1. Joyous Apron says:

      Yes! We love making this for the holidays! Glad you liked it Erin!

  8. Nikki Lee says:

    5 stars
    This is THE recipe to turn all the Brussels sprouts haters in lifelong fans!

    1. Joyous Apron says:

      YESSS!!!

  9. Michaela Kenkel says:

    5 stars
    I adore brussels sprouts and these were perfection! WIll make again!

    1. Joyous Apron says:

      Happy to hear that you enjoyed it!

  10. 5 stars
    Made the BS with bacon and honey. Sorry no picture to post. Once they were done it was eating time! Great recipe. Did bake for 25 minutes at 400 degrees.

    1. Joyous Apron says:

      Thank you so much! Glad you enjoyed the recipe!

  11. If planning to make and travel would you suggested adding honey after they were reheated? Or does this reheat well?

    1. Joyous Apron says:

      Yes! Add the honey after they are reheated!

  12. Mary E Burton says:

    5 stars
    Made these last night and it will be my go to recipe for brussel sprouts. Thank you for a great recipe! Just in time for out Christmas Eve dinner.

    1. Joyous Apron says:

      That’s wonderful, Mary! Love hearing that! Thank you for sharing!

  13. JJ Glazier says:

    5 stars
    Just made these for dinner with rotisserie chicken and baked potato. Not kidding! This was a very simple and really yummy way to serve Brussels Sprouts. Even my husband, who hates strong smelling vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower and Brussels sprouts, enjoyed these. Will definitely make them again. Thanks!

    1. Joyous Apron says:

      That’s what I love about this recipe too – so simple and delicious! Makes Brussels sprouts taste AMAZING! Thank you so much for sharing! 🙂

  14. Monika Leasure says:

    5 stars
    Delicious! Everybody loves this recipe!

    1. Joyous Apron says:

      I’m so glad!!!

  15. 5 stars
    Love the recipe. Best Brussels sprouts I have tried

    1. Joyous Apron says:

      I’m so happy to hear that! Thank you so much for your kind review.

  16. I understand everything is better with bacon – but unfortunately I am allergic to pork so I will try this recipe with Turkey bacon.I loooove brussel sprouts so I don’t think it will damper the recipe.

    1. Joyous Apron says:

      I think that will be just as tasty!!