Roasted brussel sprouts are easy to prepare and loved by everyone, even veggie haters! Roasted in olive oil until crispy, these then get tossed in a honey balsamic glaze for the BEST side dish ever. Make this easy side dish recipe for any weeknight dinner or the holiday table.

I was never a big fan of Brussels sprouts. That is, until I oven roasted them. After that first taste of sweet caramelized goodness, I couldn’t get enough. I wanted to use them in every way possible, so I created recipes for Brussels sprouts gratin and chicken with brussels sprouts and mustard sauce.

Then I decided to try them with a glaze of balsamic vinegar and honey. WOW! The balsamic glaze gives the veggie a sweetness that you have to taste to believe.

Balsamic Brussel sprouts are now my all-time favorite, and apparently they are YOUR favorite, too. This post has been the most popular recipe on Kevin is Cooking for several years!

How to Make Roasted Brussel Sprouts

The veggies have perfectly caramelized edges, and they’re tender and sweet. Eating them with a balsamic glaze will convert any hater! 🙂

• first wash and trim the Brussel sprouts
• toss them in olive oil and some kosher salt and pepper
• lay the halved Brussels sprouts cut side down on a rimmed baking sheet
• roast at 425°F until crispy
• toss with honey and balsamic glaze (vinegar)

Best Time to Buy

Brussels sprouts are available all year, but for the best flavor, buy them during their peak season, late fall to early winter.
They actually prefer cooler temps, which is why you should also store them in the fridge as soon as you get home from the store.

How to pick good brussel sprouts

Before you can roast brussels sprouts, you need to shop for them, and choosing the best specimens is key to their flavor. Look for the following:

• Smaller in size = sweeter flavor
• Tightly compacted, bright green leaves – Skip over any with leaves that are yellow, brown, black, or bruised.
• Similar in size – I don’t expect that many of us have the extra time to pick through the entire bin, but try to choose sprouts that are similar in size. This way, they’re more likely to cook evenly.

How to Clean and Cut Sprouts

1. First, place them into a colander and rinse with water to remove any dirt or debris.
   
2. Remove and discard any dead or browned outer leaves
   
3. Using a sharp paring knife, trim off the bottom (the discolored portion)
   
4. Cut each brussel sprout lengthwise

Video: Making Balsamic Roasted Brussel Sprouts

This recipe is super simple, and roasting brussels sprouts takes just 20 minutes.

Want to see the process from start to finish? Just watch the video located in the recipe card at the bottom of this post!

Roasting almost any veggie gives it a nutty flavor, and oven roasting softens them. When you do this to brussel sprouts, them become so tender, they practically melt in your mouth.

How to make a balsamic glaze / reduction

Only one ingredient is needed to make a balsamic glaze (also known as a balsamic reduction) – it’s balsamic vinegar! As the vinegar cooks over low heat, it reduces and thickens into a syrup. It couldn’t be simpler! Nowadays you can pick up balsamic glaze in your local markets and Trader Joe’s.

That being said, I prefer to simply drizzle of combination of balsamic glaze and honey over my roasted brussel sprouts.

Thought there was more to it? Nope, not at all. Sometimes the simplest or easiest can be the best.

Tips for making roasted brussel sprouts

1. Bake at 425°F. on the center oven rack

Some people say to roast vegetables, the oven needs to be scorching hot. That’s true, to a point. High heat is what caramelizes the sugars in the veggies, but if the heat is too high, the olive oil will burn.

Also, before you turn on the oven, move one of your oven racks to the center position. That’s the best place for baking/roasting anything in the oven.

2. Give the sprouts some space on the pan.

Overcrowding veggies on the pan causes them to steam cook, and that’s not what you’re looking for with this recipe. If you need to use two sheet pans, go for it.

3. Place brussel sprouts cut side down on the pan.

I realize that you may not have the time (or patience) to do this step, and it’s okay if you don’t. I’ll just say that placing the flat sides against the pan traps the heat inside the sprouts, allowing the insides to become soft while the high heat caramelizes the outsides.

This, my friends, is roasted brussels sprouts heaven.

I think the key to why my recipe got so successful was due to the fact that the brussel sprouts were roasted first, THEN tossed in the vinegar and honey after, thus veggies were still crispy, but had a wonderful glaze all over, too!

Roasted Brussel Sprouts FAQ

Other brussel sprouts recipes

Roasting may be your favorite way to prepare them, but there are plenty of other ways to cook brussels sprouts. Find another favorite by trying these recipes, too.

• Add bacon! Yes, bacon does make everything taste better, especially if you add it to brussels sprouts gratin.
  
• Pan roasted brussel sprouts are crispy, browned and have a flavor boost from sliced leeks cooked with butter, fresh ginger and lime zest.
  
• Sauteed cauliflower with brussel sprouts– This simple side dish proves that one veggie is delicious and two is not a crowd. A mint chimichurri sauce takes them over the top!

This post, originally published on Kevin Is Cooking July 23, 2014, was updated with new content, photos and/or video in August, 2022.