Balsamic Glazed Roasted Brussel Sprouts
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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 has been the most popular recipe on Kevin is Cooking for over 9 years and counting!
The veggies have perfectly caramelized edges, and they’re tender and sweet. Eating them with a balsamic glaze will convert any hater! 🙂
Table of Contents
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.
- Brussels Sprouts – Be sure to trim and cut your sprouts in half lengthwise for this recipe.
- Olive Oil – If you don’t have olive oil on hand, avocado oil is fine.
- Kosher Salt – Large-grained, flaky salt is recommended in green bean salad to allow the pops of saltiness to stand out best and allow the other flavors to shine.
- Black Pepper – Compliments the dish with a dash of sharp flavor and subtle heat.
- Balsamic Vinegar – Robust and complex, balsamic vinegar is tangy sweet with hints of fruit, chocolate, molasses, and smoke.
- Honey – Honey enriches glazes, offering a sweet depth, caramelization, and a glossy finish, enhancing both flavor and visual appeal.
- Clean and Cut Sprouts. Place them into a colander and rinse with water to remove any dirt or debris. Remove and discard any dead or browned outer leaves. Using a sharp paring knife, trim off the bottom (the discolored portion). Cut each Brussel sprout lengthwise.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
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.
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 an easy balsamic glaze/reduction
Nowadays you can pick up balsamic glaze in your local markets and Trader Joe’s.
If you want to make it yourself 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!
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.
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!
When your oven is completely preheated, it typically takes 20 minutes of cook time for the perfectly caramelized, roasted Brussel sprouts. The time can vary depending on the size of the sprouts and how deeply caramelized you want them. You’ll know they’re done cooking when you can easily pierce them with the tines of a fork.
Truthfully, roasted veggies are always best when eaten the day they’re made. If you have leftovers, store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
To reheat, place them on a sheet pan and either reheat at 375°F. until heated through, or if they’re small enough, reheat under the broiler for a few minutes.
The best way to reheat roasted Brussels sprouts is in the oven. Add any leftover cooked Brussels sprouts to a lightly oiled baking sheet. Rewarm in the at 350°F for 5 minutes or so, until heated through.
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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!
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This post, originally published on Kevin Is Cooking July 23, 2014, was updated with new content, photos and/or video in December, 2023.
Balsamic Glazed Roasted Brussel Sprouts
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 lbs brussel sprouts (See Note 1)
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 3/4 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
- 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar (or balsamic glaze)
- 2 tsp honey
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425°F.
- Line a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil or use a Silpat silicone baking mat.
- Trim off the outer, dry leaves, cut the bottom off and slice sprouts lengthwise.
- In a large bowl, toss brussels sprouts with olive oil, kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper to coat thoroughly.
- Transfer veggies to prepared baking sheet and roast until tender and caramelized, about 20 minutes.
- Place roasted brussel sprouts back in bowl. Add balsamic vinegar and honey and toss to coat evenly. Taste and season with kosher salt if necessary and serve.
Video
Notes
- If using frozen sprouts, thaw and shake off excess water. Roast for 20 minutes, or until they are golden brown and crispy.
Nutrition
The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
This recipe is the best! It’s the only way I eat my brussels sprouts now. So yummy. Thank you! 🙂
So happy you enjoy these as much as I do! Thanks Thalia 🙂
WoW!! I’m just one more believer that brussels done this way is delicious. Thanks Kevin for your recipe. Mary
Yay! Another Brussels sprouts convert! 🙂 Thanks for taking the time to come back and let me know Mary. Cheers!
Perfect! Just in time for my sprouts from the garden.
Isn’t it amazing how those grow? When I first saw them I was amazed.
Glad you’re going to try this recipe Jenn, let me know what you think. It’s a site and house favorite! 🙂
Always had sprouts just steamed Did not impress. Now I know how to make them the right way. Thank you
Yeah! Another convert! Super easy to make, too… right?! 🙂
It was a great recipe. My husband loved it. I did not like brussels sprouts but I loved this recipe.
Always makes my day to read comments like this. Thanks for letting me know Karen.
This was a GREAT recipe. Thanks for sharing. It was incredibly easy to make and they came out wonderfully. I have always HATED brussell sprouts, but, not anymore. Thank you!!!
Always enjoy reading comments like this. Another brussel sprout convert! Thanks Dennis. 🙂
Oh my. These are great. Will be making these again.
Thanks Shannon, love these, too. Thanks too for taking the time to come back and let me know! 🙂
Hi thanks for this. I see you need to salt, pepper and oil them, but then you say we need to roast them until caramelized. Did we miss a step here? Are we supposed to add some honey prior to roasting?
Nope you didn’t miss a thing James. Simple toss the brussels sprouts with oil, salt and pepper. Roast them, THEN remove from oven and toss with the honey and balsamic. It’s all there in the instructions. Enjoy!
I also read the recipe and was confused. Do you mean to brown them because they would need a sugar to carmelize?
Simply toss with oil, S&P and roast. They brown and caramelize naturally with their own sugars.
THEN place brussels sprouts back in bowl. Add remaining tablespoon olive oil, balsamic vinegar and honey and toss to coat evenly. Super easy!
Brussels sprouts are new to me, I didn’t know what to expect. I thought they were very tasty with a nice mix of tangy and sweet. My husband loved them! Easy and good, I love those kind of recipes!
Fantastic! Thanks so much for taking the time to come back and let me know Kathy!
This is very similar to the recipe I usually follow! The sweet is JUST perfect with the brussels! So delicious! Yayy spring/summer!
I agree, thanks so much David. 🙂