Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Bacon, Pecans & Maple Syrup
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Crispy, savory, and a little sweet, these roasted Brussels sprouts with bacon, pecans, and maple syrup make a special addition to any meal!
If you love my basic roasted Brussels sprouts, you’ll definitely want to try this Brussels sprouts with bacon recipe! The crispy bacon, toasted pecans, and hint of maple syrup make them hard to resist—you might even find yourself eating the whole batch straight from the pan. Whether it’s for a holiday gathering or a simple weeknight meal, this dish is a surefire crowd-pleaser.
What You’ll Need to Make Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Bacon, Pecans & Maple Syrup
- Pecans – Toasted for a nutty, crunchy texture that complements the roasted Brussels sprouts and bacon.
- Bacon – Cooked until crispy to add a savory, smoky flavor that pairs nicely with the Brussels sprouts and maple syrup.
- Brussels sprouts – The star of the dish, roasted to bring out their natural sweetness and crispiness.
- Extra-virgin olive oil – Coats the Brussels sprouts for even roasting and enhances their flavor.
- Balsamic vinegar – Provides a tangy acidity that balances the richness of the bacon and sweetness of the maple syrup.
- Maple syrup – Adds a hint of sweetness that ties together all the flavors, making the dish irresistibly addictive.
- Jump to the printable recipe for precise measurements
Step-by-Step Instructions
Begin by toasting the pecans in a 350-degree oven. Keep a close eye on them as they burn quickly!
Next, cook the bacon. You can do this in a frying pan or the oven, but avoid the microwave—you’ll need the rendered fat to cook the Brussels sprouts. I find it easiest to cook bacon in the oven since there’s no need to flip it or worry about curling pieces and splattering fat. Simply arrange the bacon slices in a single layer on a baking sheet.
Bake for about 15 minutes until crisp and golden.
Transfer the bacon to a plate lined with paper towels to drain the fat, and then chop.
Toss the Brussels sprouts with the rendered fat from the bacon, olive oil, salt, and pepper.
Roast for about 20 minutes, until the Brussels sprouts are golden brown and caramelized in spots.
They’ll be delicious as is, but tossing them with maple syrup and balsamic vinegar will make them even better. Transfer the Brussels sprouts to a serving dish and cover until ready to serve (the dish may be prepared in advance up to this point). Right before serving, top with chopped nuts and crispy bacon. Enjoy!
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Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Bacon, Pecans & Maple Syrup
Crispy, savory, and a little sweet, these roasted Brussels sprouts with bacon, pecans, and maple syrup make a special addition to any meal!
Ingredients
- ½ cup pecans
- 6 slices bacon
- 2 pounds Brussels sprouts, halved (stem and ragged outer leaves removed)
- 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 2½ tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F and set an oven rack in the middle position. Line a baking sheet with heavy-duty aluminum foil.
- Place the pecans on the prepared baking sheet and bake until lightly toasted and fragrant, about 5 minutes. Transfer the pecans to a cutting board and coarsely chop. Set aside.
- Increase the oven temperature to 400°F. Lay the bacon strips flat on the same foil-lined baking sheet, leaving space between them to avoid overlapping. Bake for 14 to 20 minutes, rotating the pan halfway through, until the bacon is crisp (cooking time will depend on the thickness of the bacon). Transfer the bacon to a paper towel-lined plate, pour the rendered fat into a small dish, and discard the foil. Once the bacon is cool, roughly chop.
- Increase the oven temperature to 425°F and line the baking sheet with fresh aluminum foil. Using a rubber spatula, toss the Brussels sprouts directly on the baking sheet with the rendered bacon fat, olive oil, salt, and pepper. Roast, stirring midway through with the spatula to ensure even browning, until the Brussels sprouts are tender and caramelized, about 20 minutes. Add the balsamic vinegar and maple syrup, and toss to coat evenly. Taste and adjust seasoning, then transfer to a serving dish. Just before serving, top with the chopped pecans and bacon.
Nutrition Information
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- Per serving (5 servings)
- Calories: 376
- Fat: 29 g
- Saturated fat: 6 g
- Carbohydrates: 22 g
- Sugar: 8 g
- Fiber: 8 g
- Protein: 11 g
- Sodium: 570 mg
- Cholesterol: 22 mg
This website is written and produced for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and the nutritional data on this site has not been evaluated or approved by a nutritionist or the Food and Drug Administration. Nutritional information is offered as a courtesy and should not be construed as a guarantee. The data is calculated through an online nutritional calculator, Edamam.com. Although I do my best to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures should be considered estimates only. Varying factors such as product types or brands purchased, natural fluctuations in fresh produce, and the way ingredients are processed change the effective nutritional information in any given recipe. Furthermore, different online calculators provide different results depending on their own nutrition fact sources and algorithms. To obtain the most accurate nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator.
Gluten-Free Adaptable Note
To the best of my knowledge, all of the ingredients used in this recipe are gluten-free or widely available in gluten-free versions. There is hidden gluten in many foods; if you're following a gluten-free diet or cooking for someone with gluten allergies, always read the labels of your ingredients to verify that they are gluten-free.
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This recipe sounded so delicious that I broke my rule to not make a new-to-me recipe for guests and made it for Thanksgiving. It was a big hit! I will definitely make this again and again. Thanks, Jenn.
Hi Jenn’
Is 2lb Brussels sprouts counted before or after you trim them?
THnak you so much!
Cannot wait , I’m bringing these to a party
Before 🙂
Add one cup of dried cranberries reconstituted with 3 cups of boiling water in a bowl for 10 minutes. Drain and add to the rest of the ingredients.
can this be made one or 2 days ahead and refrigirate?
Sure, they can be made a day ahead and you can include the syrup and vinegar — I’d just hold off on the nuts and bacon until after you reheat them.
how do you reheat?
Hi Judy, I’d reheat them in a 350°F oven for about 15 minutes, or until hot. I’d prepare everything in advance, but hold off adding the nuts and bacon until after you reheat them. Hope you enjoy!
This was delicious. I put my sprouts in a zip loc and coated them that way but I didn’t cut mine in half cause they were small enough..I added honey and more vinegar and more maple syrup. I also put garlic in it and OMGOSH….AWESOME I put it all in a skillet and did the browning and finishing touches.
Is there a substitute for the maple syrup?
Hi Viki, You can replace the maple syrup with honey. Please LMK how it turns out if you try it!
I have 25 year old aged balsamic. Should I use this or buy some at the grocery?
Hi Ellen, I’d buy some at the store. 🙂
I made this without the pecans cause they are way too expensive where I live. But hey, roasted brussel sprouts with bacon, balsamic vinegar and a brown sugar simple syrup is just as good!!
This recipe is great! I made it for a friend’s gathering and it was delicious. Thank you for the recipe Jenn!
This is a hit for every family gathering. I usually leave the nuts out and it’s still amazing!
Made these this past Christmas, and once since, and I’m sure many more times! I’ve made incarnations of this recipe a number of times, but this one has been by far the best. Many other recipes call for the sprouts to be roasted along with the bacon, and I find that just doesn’t work unless you’re using good size lardons of bacon. Even then they can burn.
I like that you toss the sprouts in the rendered fat in this recipe… no waste of good flavor! And since all special occasion meal (and every other meal) has been only me and my partner since March 2020, I also like that the bacon and pecans are added after the fact, so hubby and I can just serve the sprouts we’ll eat that night, and put aside the sprouts, bacon and pecans in separate containers for leftovers… heat the sprouts on their own and then sprinkle with the pecans and bacon. They seem much less like leftovers this way.
Thanks, Jenn!