Brussels Sprouts with Bacon is a quick and easy side dish that you need on your holiday dinner table (or any weeknight really!). The combination of tender garlic Brussels sprouts with salty, crispy bacon gives this dish the best flavor and texture.
Your whole family will seriously love these garlic brussels sprouts. The best part? You can make these bacon brussels sprouts very quickly in under 15 minutes — the perfect stress-free side to serve throughout the week.
Why You'll Love These Brussels Sprouts with Bacon
- A flavorful side or appetizer. These brussels sprouts with bacon are great for serving as a first course or alongside an entree. With just a handful of ingredients, you won’t believe how much flavor is in this dish! They’re perfect for potluck dinners and large family gatherings like Thanksgiving or Christmas.
- They’re quick and easy to make. You can make these brussels sprouts in one pot in less than half an hour! Which means you can spend more time preparing other dishes to go along with it. These bacon brussels sprouts are tasty and easy to make — a win-win dish!
- A total crowd pleaser. People are usually divided on Brussels sprouts — they either love them or hate them — but these bacon Brussels sprouts have the potential to convert even the biggest Brussels sprouts hater. The combination of tender garlic Brussels sprouts with salty, crispy bacon make this dish a perfect first introduction to the vegetable or reacquaint picky eaters to sprouts in a tasty way.
- Customize them to your family’s needs. Bacon and garlic are the star ingredients that Brussels sprouts into a mouth-watering side for lunch or dinner. But you can add, remove, or substitute ingredients in many different ways to make these sprouts adhere to your family’s preferences or dietary restrictions. For instance, add some nuts for extra crunch, or switch out the protein for something else.
Ingredient Notes
To make these easy Brussels Sprouts with Bacon, you will need the following ingredients (full measurements in recipe card below):
- Brussels sprouts - fresh brussels sprouts work best, but you can also use frozen sliced brussels sprouts in a pinch. You may have to increase the cooking time to account for excess moisture released from the sprouts as they thaw.
- bacon - we cut our bacon into 2-inch strips. You can use whatever thickness of bacon you like, as well as making it as crispy or as tender as you prefer. You can also swap it out with chicken, turkey, or veggie bacon if pork isn’t your thing.
- garlic - fresh garlic makes everything better.
- balsamic vinegar - balsamic vinegar lends a very distinct taste and brings balance to the bacon and Brussels sprouts. But if you don’t have any on hand, you can substitute it for a similar vinegar or acid like red wine vinegar, apple cider vinegar, or lemon juice.
- salt and pepper
You will also need measuring spoons and a 10-inch skillet.
How to Make the Best Brussels Sprouts with Bacon
- Cook bacon. Add bacon to a large skillet and cook over medium-high heat until browned on both sides and crisp, about 3-4 minutes. Leave the bacon fat in the skillet and transfer the bacon onto a plate.
- Cook brussels sprouts. Turn heat down to medium-low and add Brussels sprouts to the pan. Stir well to coat with the bacon fat and cook until golden brown and tender, about 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
- Toss together. Return the bacon to the skillet and add balsamic vinegar. Mix well and cook for 1 minute. Serve immediately.
How to Serve
Brussels Sprouts with Bacon is delicious served on its own for lunch or dinner, or served as a side dish with some of holiday entrees such as:
- Instant Pot Turkey Breast
- Roast Beef
- Roasted Pork Tenderloin
- Juicy Roast Turkey
- Dutch Oven Whole Roast Chicken
Storage/Freezing Instructions
How to Store
Allow the sautéed Brussels sprouts to cool to room temperature, the place in an airtight container refrigerate for up to 4 days. Reheat on the stove over medium-low heat until warmed through.
How to Freeze
Spread leftover sprouts and bacon on a parchment-lined baking sheet and freeze for 2 hours, then transfer into a freezer bag and freeze for up to 3 months. You can reheat then straight from the freezer by sautéing until heated and crisp or baking at 450℉ for 10-15 minutes. You can also air fry leftovers at 400℉ for 7-12 minutes until warmed through.
Recipe Tips and Tricks
- Serve balsamic on the side. If you or one of your family members doesn’t like balsamic vinegar, you can serve a balsamic reduction or glaze on the side as an optional drizzle or dipping sauce.
- Make it an entree by adding more protein. You can turn this delicious side dish into a filling dinner just by adding more protein! Favorites include roasted ham, chicken, or turkey. You can use leftover protein from a previous meal to make things easier!
- Add more crunch. Texture is often cited as a reason why some people don’t like brussels sprouts. You can counter this by adding more crunch to offset the soft brussels sprouts: toasted slivered almonds and chopped roasted pecans or walnuts make great additions.
More Brussels Sprouts Recipes
- 15 Best Brussels Sprouts Recipes
- Bacon Wrapped Brussels Sprouts
- Honey Balsamic Brussels Sprouts
- Parmesan Crusted Brussels Sprouts
- Creamy Brussels Sprouts Bake
- Roasted Brussels Sprouts Salad
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Recipe
Brussels Sprouts with Bacon
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings
- Diet: Gluten Free
Description
Brussels Sprouts with Bacon is a quick and easy side dish with the best flavor and texture. The best part? This holiday side is ready in under 15 minutes.
Ingredients
- ½ pound bacon strips, cut into 2-inch pieces
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 pound Brussels sprouts, halved
- ¼ teaspoon salt (or to taste)
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper (or to taste)
- 1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar
Instructions
- Add bacon to a large skillet and cook over medium-high heat until browned on both sides and crisp, about 3-4 minutes. Leave the bacon fat in the skillet and transfer the bacon onto a plate.
- Turn heat down to medium-low and add Brussels sprouts to the pan. Stir well to coat with the bacon fat and cook until golden brown and tender, about 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
- Return the bacon to the skillet and add balsamic vinegar. Mix well and cook for 1 minute.
- Serve immediately.
Notes
How to store: Allow the sautéed Brussels sprouts to cool to room temperature, the place in an airtight container refrigerate for up to 4 days. Reheat on the stove over medium-low heat until warmed through.
How to freeze: Spread leftover sprouts and bacon on a parchment-lined baking sheet and freeze for 2 hours, then transfer into a freezer bag and freeze for up to 3 months. You can reheat then straight from the freezer by sautéing until heated and crisp or baking at 450℉ for 10-15 minutes. You can also air fry leftovers at 400℉ for 7-12 minutes until warmed through.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
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Corinne says
I made this for Thanksgiving (maybe with a little extra of the bacon, but pretty much followed the ingredient list) and they were a huge hit- we loved them! Thanks so much for the recipe. To help with the rush of preparing food, what I did was- washed and cut the brussels the night before, early on the day of- render bacon, crumble pieces to use, set aside, and leave the bacon fat in the pan. When it was almost time for dinner, I just gently heated up the pan and cooked per the recipe.