Add a burst of fall flavor to your table with these Maple Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Cranberries & Bacon! Fresh Brussels sprouts are coated in a maple syrup mixter then roasted with the bacon until golden and caramelized. The cranberries that are stirred in just before serving give your mouth pops of tangy flavor with every bite.
First published Nov. 18, 2023. Last updated November 1, 2024 for editorial improvements and to include more helpful tips.
Table of Contents
- 🗝️ Key takeaways: why this recipe is your new favorite
- 🧾 Gather your ingredients: what you'll need
- 📖 Make it your own: yummy variations
- 🔪 Step-by-step guide: instructions for success
- 🍴Must have tools: essential equipment
- 🥫 Leftover love: how to store and reheat maple Brussels sprouts
- Marye's Tip o' the day
- 💭 Insider tips: things to know
- 👩🍳 Let's answer those questions: FAQs
- 📚 More Southern comfort: related recipes you'll love
- 🍽️ No waste: creative ways to repurpose
- 📞 Wrapping it up: the last word
- 📖 Recipe
- 💬 Comments
Save this recipe by clicking on the ❤️ heart on the right-hand side of the screen or in the recipe card.
🗝️ Key takeaways: why this recipe is your new favorite
- Oven roasting the Brussels sprouts gives them a delicious caramelized flavor and firm texture that many people prefer. Plus they're ready in just 30 minutes.
- This quick and easy side dish is perfect for a busy weeknight dinner but tasty enough for your upcoming Christmas dinner.
- The size of your Brussels sprouts affects the cooking time, so keep an eye on them to make sure they don’t burn.
Lightly coated in sweet maple syrup and roasted next to strips of salty bacon—can you think of a more delicious way to serve Brussels sprouts? How about adding pops of tart cranberry?
Yum!
Even if they aren’t usually your favorite side dish, I promise that the most rabid Brussels sprouts hater in the family will be happily surprised when they taste this Brussels sprouts with bacon and maple syrup recipe.
🧾 Gather your ingredients: what you'll need
This is an overview of the ingredients. You'll find the full measurements and instructions in the green recipe card (printable) at the bottom of the page.
📖 Make it your own: yummy variations
- Swap out regular bacon for thick-cut turkey bacon if you want a low-fat option. It's not as indulgent, though!
- Roast minced garlic cloves and sliced red onions alongside the Brussels sprouts and bacon for more savory flavor.
- Sprinkle a handful of pine nuts, chopped pecans, or crumbled walnuts on top for a little extra crunch.
🔪 Step-by-step guide: instructions for success
This is an overview of the instructions. Full instructions are in the green recipe card at the bottom of the page. Click on the image to see it full size.
Whisk together the maple syrup, olive oil, salt, and pepper in a small bowl.
Pour the maple syrup mixture over the Brussels sprouts in a large bowl and toss to coat.
Spread out the Brussels sprouts in a single layer on a sheet pan lined with aluminum foil.
Sprinkle the pieces of uncooked bacon on top of the Brussels sprouts and roast.
🤫 Marye's secret for zhuzhing it up -
I like to add a handful of toasted pecans just before serving. Pecans add a buttery rich flavor and crunchy texture to this yummy side dish.
zhuzh: verb. To make something more interesting or attractive
🍴Must have tools: essential equipment
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🥫 Leftover love: how to store and reheat maple Brussels sprouts
Allow leftover Brussels sprouts to cool to room temperature. Refrigerate them in an airtight container for up to 3-4 days.
You can freeze leftovers for up to 6 months in an airtight container.
Make your sprouts and bacon crispy again in the oven or air fryer. Bake at 350 degrees F for about five or so minutes until heated through.
You can also microwave them for about a minute, which is great in a pinch. However, microwaved Brussels sprouts do get a little soggy.
Marye's Tip o' the day
To prepare your Brussels sprouts for roasting, peel off the outer leaves (and any that are yellow), trim off the tough base, and slice each sprout in half lengthwise.
💭 Insider tips: things to know
- Arrange your Brussels sprouts in a single, even layer with the flat, cut sides down to ensure perfectly crispy sprouts. You need to use a large baking sheet so your sprouts have enough space to get crisp.
- Use thick-cut bacon because thin slices cook faster. You want crispy bacon, not burnt bacon!
- Line your baking sheet with aluminum foil crimped around the edges of the pan rather than a sheet of parchment paper. Aluminum foil creates a sealed layer between the pan and the bacon grease so it doesn’t burn.
👩🍳 Let's answer those questions: FAQs
Have other questions? Ask me in the comments!
No, I don’t recommend it. Fresh Brussels sprouts are best for this Brussels sprouts and bacon recipe. When I've tried to use frozen they just get mushy and never caramelize.
If you follow the recipe and set your oven to 400 F, you should get perfectly crispy Brussels sprouts every time! If yours are soggy, you may have overcrowded the pan or used too much olive oil.
Absolutely! Follow the recipe and preheat your air fryer to 400 F. You may need to cook your bacon Brussels sprouts in batches, depending on the size of the fryer basket. Overlapping sprouts won't get crispy.
⏲️ Marye's time saving hacks -
Choose small Brussels sprouts. Not only will they cook more quickly but they will have a sweeter flavor and lack the bitterness that the bigger Brussels sprouts often have.
📚 More Southern comfort: related recipes you'll love
🍽️ No waste: creative ways to repurpose
- Brussels Sprout Salad – Shred them and mix with fresh greens, pecans, and a tangy vinaigrette for a quick salad.
- Add to Pasta – Toss them into pasta with garlic, olive oil, and Parmesan for a quick and delicious dinner.
📞 Wrapping it up: the last word
These are so pretty on the Thanksgiving table!
Don't keep them just for Thanksgiving, though. They're so easy they're great for everyday meals, too.
If you click on the number of servings in the recipe card you can adjust the measurements up or down for the exact number of servings you need.
If you love this recipe please comment below and give it 5 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
📖 Recipe
Roasted Maple Brussels Sprouts with Bacon and Cranberries
Print Pin Recipe Rate RecipeIngredients
- 1 ½ pounds Brussels sprouts , trimmed and cut in half lengthwise
- 6 strips thick-cut bacon, uncooked
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup
- ¾ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 2 tablespoons dried cranberries, optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400℉.
- Cut bacon in a large dice. Set aside.
- Line a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil.
- Whisk together the olive oil, maple syrup, salt, and pepper.
- Mix the brussels sprouts into the olive oil mixture until well coated.
- Spread the brussels sprouts, cut side down, over the baking sheet.
- Sprinkle with the bacon.
- Bake 20 - 30 minutes or until brussels sprouts are charred on the outside and tender. The bacon should be crisp.
- Add salt and pepper to taste.
- Sprinkle with dried cranberries.
Notes
-
- To prepare your Brussels sprouts for roasting, peel off the outer leaves (and any that are yellow), trim off the tough base, and slice each sprout in half lengthwise.
- The size of your Brussels sprouts affects the overall cooking time—larger sprouts need to roast a little longer than small ones.
- Arrange your Brussels sprouts in a single, even layer with the flat sides down to ensure perfectly crispy sprouts.
- Line your baking sheet with aluminum foil crimped around the edges of the pan rather than a sheet of parchment paper.
Nutrition Facts
Nutrition information is estimated as a courtesy. If using for medical purposes, please verify information using your own nutritional calculator. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
This recipe has been tested several times. If you choose to use other ingredients, or change the technique in some way, the results may not be the same.
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Roasted Maple Brussels Sprouts with Bacon & Cranberries
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