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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I made these for our big family Thanksgiving day meal. They were so delicious and so easy to make. My family absolutely loved them! They will be making a regular appearance. Thank you so much for your amazing recipes. I have made so many of them and we always enjoy these meals. So happy I found Once Upon A Chef!, Jenn!
Thank you, Jan. That is so nice to hear!
Hi, Can I substitute honey for the maple syrup? Thanks!
Yes, Yvonee, that would be just fine. Please come back and let me know how it turns out!
Yvonne, I’ve used honey and hot honey for extra kick and it works well. Just emulsify it well with the basalmic.
Really, how can you go wrong with this one? I made this for Thanksgiving last year and it is one of the first things my family suggested when I asked what sides we should make this year. It’s a great way to introduce people who think they don’t like brussels sprouts, because usually after this dish they do!
I love Brussels Sprouts & bacon! I didn’t have pecans and it was still delicious. Looking forward to trying the recipe in its entirety next time.
I was looking for a new side dish for Thanksgiving, and I think this will be it. The guys always love the addition of bacon to a vegetable dish, so this should be a hit. I always find stalks of Brussels sprouts around the holidays.
This is a great dish to make a believer out of brussels sprouts haters. Perfect!
Made those just yesterday! Perfect recipe!
So many people don’t like Brussels sprouts because they find them bitter when all you need to do is balance the flavors and your recipe does just that! A little acid, a little sweetness, a little fat, it’s perfect.
Do you think walnuts would be an ok substitute for pecans?
Hi Tracy, That would work just fine.
These were the best!! I didn’t have bacon but had real bacon bits so I saute the bacon bits in some butter and used the browned butter in place of the bacon drippings. I also used white balsamic vinegar. This is a favorite!
Oh, my! These are absolutely amazing!!! My only changes were that I used a little less balsamic vinegar (1 T rather than 2 1/2 T) and cooked it slightly longer (23 minutes), although I think my oven is slightly cool.
Even the family members who usually hate Brussels sprouts had to admit that these little morsels were tasty. Served it for a big family, holiday dinner also, and it went over very well.
This is my favorite recipe that I have tried on this site. Try it, you’ll like it! 🙂