These Sautéed Brussels Sprouts and Bacon are a quick and easy side dish recipe that’s ready in about 15 minutes!
Brussels sprouts are a lovely addition to any dinner table, we especially love them with my Creamy Garlic Pot Roast or Balsamic Grilled Chicken.
What I love most about this super simple recipe is that you just need 3 main ingredients (plus salt and pepper), just a few minutes of prep and you have a super simple side dish that everyone will enjoy.
Brussels Sprouts with Bacon Recipe
This is an amazing side dish for holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas, but also perfect for a busy weeknight because it’s SO EASY to make. It’s delicious and elegant enough for company or a cozy night in.
All you need is a frying pan and a pot for the Brussels sprouts because this recipe is made on the stovetop and comes together quickly with just a few basic pantry staples.
Ingredients Needed
Here’s the basic list of ingredients you’ll need in order to whip up the brussels sprouts and bacon. As always, you can find the full list of ingredients located in the printable recipe card below.
- Brussels Sprouts – trimmed and halved
- Bacon – thick cut
- Onion – sweet variety such as yellow or white work well for this recipe
How To Make Brussels Sprouts and Bacon
Part of prepping is to make sure the brussels sprouts are trimmed properly and halved so that they don’t take too long to cook. It’s not hard to do! I’ll walk you through the steps.
Prepare Brussels Sprouts
After washing them, cut off any ends that look brown and stumpy. Peel off any outer leaves that are browned or blemished and discard. Using a sharp knife, slice the brussels sprouts in half along the stem line.
Cook Brussels Sprouts
Bring a pot of water with a steamer basket on top to a boil. Add the brussels sprouts and cover. Let them steam for about 5 to 10 minutes, until slightly tender.
Cook Bacon and Onion
Add bacon and onion to a large cast iron skillet over medium-high heat. Cook the bacon until the fat is rendered and the bacon is starting to crisp.
Remove the brussels sprouts from the steamer basket and add to the pan with the bacon and onion . Let the brussels sprouts brown and caramelize in the bacon drippings for about 3-4 minutes.
Season with salt and pepper to taste and then serve immediately. Enjoy!
Recipe Tips and Substitutions
- You can use a purple onion in place of the yellow/white onion for a pop of color and a bit of a different flavor profile.
- Turkey bacon works well in place of regular bacon for a healthier option, but you may need to add a little oil to the pan to help crisp the brussels sprouts.
- Caramelizing the Brussels sprouts will amp up the flavor immensely! It’s delicious when it’s browned on the bottom.
Make Ahead and Storage
Refrigerate: After cooling, transfer to an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days.
Freeze: After cooking, cool and store in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. Thaw completely before reheating in a frying pan for a few minutes to crisp up the bacon.
Common Questions
Cut off the brown end to reveal the bright green stem underneath. Peel off any brown or blemished outer leaves.
There are so many options when it comes to cooking Brussels Sprouts, but caramelizing them, like we do in this recipe, brings out a delicious flavor that even the pickiest of eaters can enjoy.
The trick is to use a heavy bottomed skillet, such as cast iron, so it can hold in the high heat and really give the Brussels Sprouts that beautiful char and caramelization.
If you only have a non-stick skillet, make sure you increase the heat a little extra and try to not stir very frequently to allow the vegetables time to char.
The texture of the Brussels Sprouts will be a crisp-tender, not extremely soft. If you prefer your Brussels Sprouts softer, you can boil or steam them for a few minutes longer prior to tossing them in the bacon grease.
This recipe uses bacon, but chicken and brussels sprouts also go well and bratwurst and brussels sprouts.
Lots of things!! They go well with most meats like chicken, pork, beef, or fish.
More Recipes for Brussels Sprouts:
Here are a few of our favorite recipes that use brussels sprouts. Make sure to try at least one!
- Parmesan Roasted Brussels Sprouts
- Creamy Brussels Sprouts with Bacon
- Brussels Sprouts Stuffing
- Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts Recipe
This is one of my favorite ways to cook brussels sprouts, I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as we do!
Brussels Sprouts and Bacon
Ingredients
- 1 lb. Brussel Sprouts, trimmed and halved
- 8 oz bacon, thick cut, chopped
- ½ medium onion, diced
- salt and pepper
Instructions
- Bring a pot of water with a steamer basket on top to a boil. Add the Brussels sprouts and cover. Let them steam for about 5 to 10 minutes, until slightly tender.
- Meanwhile, add bacon and onion to a large cast iron skillet over medium-high heat. Cook the bacon until the fat is rendered and it is starting to crisp.
- Remove the Brussels sprouts from the steamer basket and add into the pan with the bacon and onion. Let the Brussels sprouts brown and caramelize in the bacon drippings for about 3 to 4 minutes.
- Season with salt and pepper to taste and then serve immediately. Enjoy!
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Cynthia Jolly
I had almost given up on Brussels Sprouts, but this recipe/technique has saved me! Brilliant, Shawn, as usual!
Shawn
Wonderful! I’m so happy to hear that! Thanks Cynthia!
Steve Smith
This the kind of thing I could get carried away with and eat it and only it for dinner. I love your site.
Vivian Brown
I made the brussel sprouts and bacon, my great grandchildren love it. They saw me bite into a raw brussel sprout, now they eat them raw on occasion.
SHEKINAH
I make this but I slice my brussel sprouts and blanche them first then cook them in the chopped bacon drippings. I also add parmesan cheese once done.
Sherry
I make this all the time. Love it. I have always made it for years with asparagus cut into bite size pieces in it. I can literally sit down and eat the whole skillet full !
I recently found your site and totally love it !