Description
Roasted brussels sprouts dance with crispy bacon in this irresistible sweet and spicy side dish that elevates your dinner table. Maple syrup and red pepper flakes create a perfect flavor balance you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Proteins:
- 4 slices bacon, chopped
Main Vegetables:
- 1 pound (454 grams) Brussels sprouts, trimmed and halved
Seasonings and Oils:
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon hot honey
- 1 tablespoon regular honey
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- Salt to taste
- Black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Warm the oven to 400°F, creating an ideal roasting environment for caramelizing vegetables and rendering bacon fat.
- Combine Brussels sprouts with olive oil, creating a glossy coating that will help seasonings adhere and promote even browning.
- Generously season the sprouts with salt, pepper, and smoked paprika, ensuring each piece is thoroughly and uniformly seasoned.
- Arrange the seasoned Brussels sprouts on a spacious baking sheet, positioning them in a single, uncrowded layer to guarantee maximum crispiness.
- Distribute crisp bacon pieces across the vegetable surface, allowing the fat to render and infuse additional flavor during roasting.
- Roast for 20-25 minutes, rotating the pan midway to ensure uniform caramelization and prevent uneven cooking.
- Check doneness by testing sprout tenderness and observing a golden-brown exterior with crispy bacon edges.
- Immediately drizzle with hot honey and traditional honey, creating a glossy, sweet-spicy glaze that coats each morsel.
- Gently toss to ensure complete and even honey coverage, preserving the crisp texture of the roasted vegetables.
- Transfer to a serving platter and present while still warm, highlighting the dish’s dynamic flavor profile and textural contrast.
Notes
- Ensure Brussels sprouts are similar in size for even roasting, which helps achieve a consistent crispy texture and prevents some pieces from burning.
- Pat Brussels sprouts completely dry before seasoning to maximize caramelization and prevent steaming instead of roasting.
- For a vegetarian version, replace bacon with smoked almonds or coconut bacon bits to maintain the smoky, crispy element while keeping the dish plant-based.
- Adjust honey quantity based on heat preference – less for milder flavor, more for intense sweet-spicy combination that complements the smoky bacon and roasted vegetables.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20-25 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Roasting
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 400 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 16 g
- Fiber: 5 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 10 mg