Honey Balsamic Brussels Sprouts
Oven roasted Brussels sprouts drizzled in a balsamic honey reduction. It sounds gourmet but it’s easy to make at home! Use this Honey Balsamic Brussels Sprouts recipe anytime you need a delicious side dish.
Original post and recipe by Jessica Ellingsworth. Retested and updated by the Thriving Home team in April 2021.
Mention the words ‘Brussels sprouts’ and the responses can be polarizing. I hear anything from, “ohmygoodness, LOVE them!” to “Um, I am not a fan of those baby-cabbage things.
Whether you are a fan or not, this slightly sweet-salty recipe will hopefully get into your regular fall rotation. You may even convert a loved one from being a brussels-avoider to an all out fan.
These sprouts are roasted with bacon and a drizzling of olive oil so they come out of the oven crispy. Then, drops of a honey-balsamic reduction (tutorial included) are scattered around the pan making it full of flavor and completely foolproof.
What Ingredients Do You I Need?
- Fresh Brussels sprouts
- Bacon
- Olive oil or avocado oil
- Real salt and freshly ground pepper
- Reduced honey balsamic vinegar (see method below)
How to Make Honey Balsamic Brussels Sprouts
Step 1: Prepare the Brussels
Preheat the oven to 400°F. Slice the root end off of the Brussels and then cut in half. (Remove any ugly leaves.)
Place the Brussels sprouts on a sheet pan. Drizzle with olive oil and a little salt and pepper. Sprinkle uncooked chopped bacon over the sprouts and toss with your hands. Spread out in a single layer, making sure the flat side of the Brussels are face down on the sheet.
Step 2: Roast the Brussels in the Oven
Roast the Brussels sprouts for 20 to 25 minutes, until they start to brown and the bacon is crispy. I like to cook mine on the bottom rack for the first half so they get a tad charred.
Step 3: Make the Honey Balsamic Drizzle
About Balsamic Reduction:
When vinegar is cooked, it reduces in volume and naturally gets sweeter and thicker, making it a luxurious addition to sweet or savory dishes. Balsamic reduction is also delicious, used sparingly, on hot sandwiches, grilled fruits, fish/meats, and even creamy desserts. Try to purchase the best quality vinegar you can afford; the better the vinegar, the tastier the reduction. Here is how to make it.
Ingredients:
- 1/3 cup balsamic vinegar
- 2 tsp honey
Directions:
In a small sauce pan, stir together the balsamic vinegar and honey and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer until reduced by half and the liquid becomes syrupy. This took me about 10 minutes. Be careful not to burn or overcook. It will continue to thicken as it cools.
Once the Brussels are cooked, remove them from the oven, toss them, and drizzle immediately with the balsamic vinegar. Taste for seasoning and add salt or pepper to your preference. Enjoy while hot!
What to Serve with Honey Balsamic Brussels Sprouts?
The main thing to keep in mind with this recipe is you need to eat it ASAP. When planning your meal, make sure they come out of the oven last. Here a few main dish ideas to go along with them:
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PinDescription
Sweet and salty roasted Brussels sprouts are a super tasty, healthy side dish. Try them with bacon and this balsamic vinaigrette reduction. The flavor combination is amazing!
Ingredients
For the Brussels Sprouts:
- 1 1/2 pounds Brussels sprouts
- 1/4 cup olive oil (sub: avocado oil)
- 1/2 teaspoon salt, plus more to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper, plus more to taste
- 4–6 ounces uncured raw bacon, chopped into small pieces (about 5–7 pieces)
- 2 tablespoons Honey Balsamic Drizzle (see method below)
For the Honey Balsamic Drizzle:
- 1/3 cup balsamic vinegar
- 2 teaspoons honey
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F.
- Cut the roots off of the Brussels and slice in half. Remove any ugly leaves.
- Place the Brussels sprouts on a sheet pan. Drizzle with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Sprinkle uncooked bacon pieces over the sprouts and toss with your hands. Spread out in a single layer, making sure the Brussels sprouts are cut side down.
- Roast the Brussels sprouts for 20 to 25 minutes, until they start to brown and the bacon is crispy.
- While Brussels are roasting, make your Honey Balsamic Drizzle: In a small pot, stir together honey and balsamic vinegar and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer until reduced by half and liquid becomes syrupy. This takes roughly 10 minutes. Be careful not to burn or overcook. It will continue to thicken as it cools.
- Remove Brussels from the oven, toss them, and drizzle immediately with the balsamic vinegar. Taste for seasoning and add salt or pepper to your preference. Serve immediately.
Notes
Goat cheese crumbles would be a delicious addition to this recipe at the end!
About the Author
Jessica Ellingsworth is a freelance writer, stylist, and recipe developer. She lives in Austin with her husband, two daughters, and son. She loves makeup artistry, interiors, travel, being in the kitchen with her kids, creative living, and exploring the streets of Austin for inspiration and the best food dives.
Yes, definitely cut them in half! I accidentally left that out of the method when writing the recipe.
Cutting them also make them more bite sized for kids. You can also make extra reduction and store
it in the fridge for several weeks. They sell reduction at the grocery store, but it is very pricey.
Hey Jess,
I made your recipe tonight and it was really good. Jack (age 6) ate 3 of them! Next time, I think I might do two things differently: a) cut them in half so more surface area gets a nice crust and gets some of the yummy seasoning/sauce, and b) make more of that delicious reduction sauce. I’m so glad I learned how to make such a fancy but easy new sauce. Thanks for the recipe!