Maple Bacon Brussels Sprouts | Joyful Healthy Eats

Why These Maple Bacon Brussels Sprouts Belong on Your Dinner Table

I am so excited for you to try these sweet, smoky, and savory bites of deliciousness! Here’s what makes them so darn good.

• Short ingredient list. When you’re shopping for a holiday dinner, you want recipes that deliver BIG flavor without requiring a dozen ingredients. These maple bacon Brussels sprouts only need 4 ingredients, plus salt and pepper.
• Easy to make. The whole recipe is made right on the stovetop, easy peasy.
• Feeds a crowd. You’ll get up to 8 servings out of this maple bacon Brussels sprout recipe, so it’s perfect for the holidays. And you can also scale it up or down as needed.

What You’ll Need

Here’s the short list of ingredients you’ll need for these maple bacon Brussels sprouts! Scroll down to the recipe card to find the ingredient quantities and recipe instructions.

• Bacon – Dice the bacon before you cook it.
• Brussels sprouts – You can either cut them in half or chop them, depending on the texture you want for the finished dish.
• Maple syrup – Darker maple syrups have a more robust flavor, so that’s what I like to use for this recipe.
• Seasonings – Garlic powder, salt, and pepper.

How to Make Maple Bacon Brussels Sprouts

The process of making this recipe is easy! Here’s what you’ll need to do.

• Cook the bacon. Heat a large skillet over medium-high and add the bacon. Cook for 4 to 5 minutes, or until it’s browned and crispy. Use a slotted spoon to remove the bacon from the pan, leaving behind the grease.
• Sauté the sprouts. Add the Brussels sprouts to the bacon grease and cook for 5 to 7 minutes, or until browned. Then, reduce the heat to medium-low, cover, and cook for 8 to 10 minutes, until softened.

• Make them delicious. Add the maple syrup, seasonings, and bacon to the pan. Stir and cook for 2 to 3 minutes more, then serve. 

Tips and Variations

I’ve got a few more notes on this maple bacon Brussels sprout recipe to help you make sure it turns out perfect.

• Don’t forget to stir. I’m guilty of totally forgetting to stir once I cover a pot. But this is a recipe that needs some frequent stirring! That’s how you get all the sprouts crispy.
• Add some apple. Sliced or diced apples would be a delicious addition to this recipe. I’d use Honeycrisp or another variety that has a good balance of sweet and tart and stands up well to cooking without falling apart.
• Give it some crunch. Toasted pecans, walnuts, or pepitas will add some crunchy texture to these maple bacon Brussels sprouts.
• Broil them for extra crispiness. As long as your skillet is cast iron or oven-proof, you can pop it under the broiler for 3 to 4 minutes to make the sprouts extra crisp.

How to Store and Reheat Leftovers

• Refrigerator: Transfer to an airtight container and refrigerate for 3 to 4 days.
• Freezer: You can freeze these maple bacon Brussels sprouts, but the texture and flavor won’t be as good the second time around. If this doesn’t bother you, freeze them in a freezer bag or airtight container for up to 2 months and thaw in the fridge before reheating.
• To reheat: Warm in a skillet coated with nonstick spray or in the microwave. Leftovers are awesome in a grilled cheese sandwich (trust me on this!) or even on a pizza (brush the crust with olive oil instead of using tomato sauce).

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