Brussels Sprouts with Bacon for Thanksgiving
These Brussels sprouts with bacon follow a North Carolina Cooperative Extension recipe: halved sprouts roasted on a sheet pan at 400°F with diced bacon, garlic, olive oil, and balsamic vinegar for 12 to 14 minutes, then tossed with a honey and balsamic glaze. It serves 6 and takes about 15 minutes in the oven.
Four slices of our America's Best Applewood Smoked Dry Cured Bacon or Applewood Smoked Uncured Bacon turn a sheet pan of sprouts into the side everyone reaches for first. Below is the recipe and how to time it next to the ham.
Roasted Brussels sprouts with bacon: the recipe
Inspired by the Roasted Garlic Brussels Sprouts recipe from N.C. Cooperative Extension. Serves 6.
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar, divided
- 2 pounds Brussels sprouts, halved
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 4 slices thick cut bacon, diced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Heat the oven to 400°F. Lightly oil a baking sheet.
- Mix the glaze. Whisk the honey with 1 tablespoon of the balsamic and set it aside.
- Roast. Spread the sprouts in a single layer. Add the remaining balsamic, the olive oil, the bacon, and the garlic. Roast 15 to 18 minutes, until the sprouts are tender and the bacon is browned and crisp.
- Finish. Stir in the honey mixture, season with salt and pepper, and serve at once.
Want to dress it up? Finish with toasted pecans, dried cranberries, or shaved Parmesan.
Which bacon
Both our bacons are thick cut and slow smoked over real applewood, and the thick dice gives meaty, crisp pieces. America's Best Applewood Smoked Dry Cured Bacon brings a classic cure; Applewood Smoked Uncured Bacon is a little sweeter. We explain the difference in uncured bacon vs cured bacon. Thaw the pack in the refrigerator before you dice.
On the Thanksgiving table
Heat the ham first at 325°F, rest it under foil, then turn the oven up to 400°F and roast the sprouts while the ham rests. Both hit the table hot. The ham method is in how to cook a spiral ham.
Questions people ask about Brussels sprouts with bacon
What is the best way to cook Brussels sprouts with bacon?
Roast them together on a sheet pan at 400°F with olive oil, balsamic, and garlic for 15 to 18 minutes, then finish with honey and balsamic.
Do you need to boil sprouts before roasting with bacon?
No. Halved sprouts go on the pan raw and come out tender.
What goes well with Brussels sprouts and bacon?
A spiral sliced ham, a pork roast, or the turkey.
Can I make Brussels sprouts with bacon ahead?
Halve the sprouts and dice the bacon the day before, then roast just before dinner.
One sheet pan, the holiday side. Heritage Duroc pork, raised crate free with no antibiotics ever on family farms, fed a vegetarian diet, and Prop 12 certified.
Order the Heritage Duroc Cured & Uncured Bacon Box, or pair it with the ham in the Spiral Cured Ham & America's Best Bacon Box.