Description
This recipe for Crispy Brussels Sprouts with Bacon offers a deliciously savory and slightly sweet side dish that combines the crispy texture of sautéed and oven-roasted Brussels sprouts with the smoky flavor of bacon. Enhanced by a touch of garlic and the subtle sweetness of coconut sugar, it’s perfect for a nutritious and flavorful accompaniment to any meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat
- 4 oz. bacon, cut into ½-inch pieces
Vegetables
- 1 pound Brussels sprouts, ends trimmed and cut in half
- 1 clove garlic, crushed
Seasonings
- 1 Tbsp. coconut sugar
- ½ tsp. salt
- ¼ tsp. pepper
Instructions
- Preheat oven: Preheat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit to prepare for roasting the Brussels sprouts later in the cooking process.
- Cook bacon: Heat a large cast iron skillet over medium heat. Add the bacon pieces and cook for 8-10 minutes until crispy and browned, rendering out the fat.
- Reserve bacon grease: Remove the bacon pieces from the skillet and set aside. Keep 3 tablespoons of the bacon grease in the skillet; if less grease remains, add olive oil as needed to reach 3 tablespoons.
- Sauté garlic: Add the crushed garlic to the reserved bacon grease in the skillet. Sauté over medium-low heat for 1 minute, allowing the garlic to infuse its flavor into the fat.
- Add Brussels sprouts to skillet: Place the halved Brussels sprouts cut-side down in the skillet in a single layer, ensuring they do not overlap for even crisping.
- Sauté sprouts: Cook the Brussels sprouts for 8-10 minutes over medium heat, allowing the cut sides to become crispy and golden brown.
- Season: Sprinkle the coconut sugar, salt, and pepper into the skillet. Toss the Brussels sprouts gently to combine the flavors evenly.
- Roast sprouts: Transfer the skillet to the preheated oven and roast the Brussels sprouts for 7-10 minutes, or until they reach your desired level of tenderness.
- Serve: Remove the skillet from the oven, add the crispy bacon pieces back in, toss lightly, and serve immediately while hot.
Notes
- For a vegetarian version, omit bacon and substitute with olive oil or vegan bacon alternatives.
- If you do not have coconut sugar, brown sugar or maple syrup can be used as a substitute for sweetness.
- Be careful not to overcrowd the skillet when sautéing Brussels sprouts to ensure they crisp up nicely.
- Use a skillet or oven-safe pan to seamlessly transfer the sprouts from stovetop to oven.
- Adjust roasting time for softer or crunchier sprouts to suit your personal preference.
