Brown Sugar Bacon Brussel Sprouts are the perfect mix of savory and sweet. Tangy brussels sprouts are cooked tender on the stovetop with a flavorful brown sugar bacon glaze.
After today? I may just change the way you eat brussels sprouts forever! Bold claim? Yes! But stay with me ...
These brussels sprouts are really flavorful so they'll definitely wake up everybody's taste buds!
Why I love this recipe
This is an easy side dish recipe fast enough for a weeknight dinner but tastes fancy enough for holidays like Christmas, Thanksgiving, or Easter. There are layers of flavor: tangy brussels sprouts and tart lemon juice, savory bacon and sweet brown sugar...this is definitely a dish that is NOT boring!
I also love that I can make it on the stovetop, no need to heat up the oven and roast them to get that great flavor out. The stovetop heat caramelizes the brown sugar glaze quickly and easily.
Also, if you have someone in your house who is not a big brussels sprouts fan, give this one a try and you might just convert them. Brussels sprouts can taste bitter if not cooked properly but there is none of that here, just tasty deliciousness!
Ingredients
- fresh brussels sprouts
- bacon
- lemon juice
- minced garlic
- light brown sugar
- chicken or vegetable stock
- soy sauce
Step by step
- Cook the bacon over medium high heat until nice and crispy in a large pan or dutch oven, then set aside to a paper towel-lined plate. (Don't drain the grease!)
- Add the brussels sprouts to the pan and sauté the sprouts until they begin to brown and soften.
- Crumble the bacon and add back to the pan.
- Add lemon juice, garlic, and stock and stir to mix.
- Simmer until the brussels sprouts are tender, about 30-35 minutes.
- Add brown sugar and soy sauce and stir to coat. Cook 2-3 more minutes before serving.
Variations and add-ins
- add in sliced carrots when you add the brussels sprouts
- add in chopped nuts like pecans or walnuts
- sprinkle in some dried cranberries for more tart sweetness
Serving suggestions
This dish is great for holiday dinners alongside turkey or ham, but it is also perfect for those busier weeknight dinners. I like this veggie side dish with pork tenderloin, London broil, or baked pork chops. It is a vibrant dish that pairs well with hearty meats.
Storage
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator up to 5 days. Reheat in the microwave, adding a little extra broth or stock if they look dry.
If you try this recipe please comment and rate it below, I love hearing from you!
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Brown Sugar Bacon Brussels Sprouts
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Total Time: 50 minutes
- Yield: 8 1x
- Category: side
- Method: stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Description
Brown Sugar Bacon Brussel Sprouts are the perfect mix of savory and sweet. Tangy brussels sprouts are cooked tender on the stovetop with a flavorful brown sugar bacon glaze.
Ingredients
- 2 pounds fresh brussels sprouts
- 5 strips bacon
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- 2 teaspoons lemon juice
- ½ cup chicken or vegetable stock (plus additional if needed)
- 3 tablespoons light brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
Instructions
- In a large skillet, cook bacon until crisp and remove to drain on a paper towel lined plate. (Do not drain skillet.)
- While the bacon is cooking, remove any wilted leaves and excess stems from the brussels sprouts and cut them in half.
- Sauté the brussels sprouts in the bacon drippings until they begin to brown and soften.
- Crumble the cooled bacon into bite sized pieces and add to the brussels sprouts.
- Add garlic, lemon juice, and chicken stock and stir to mix.
- Cover and stir occasionally, allowing the brussels sprouts to simmer/steam until they are fork-tender. Add additional stock if necessary. My brussels sprouts were fork-tender in about 30 - 35 minutes.
- Stir in the brown sugar and soy sauce and stir to coat the brussels sprouts.
- Allow the brussels sprouts to simmer 2 - 3 minutes more.
- Serve and enjoy!
Notes
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator up to 5 days.
Keywords: brown sugar brussels sprouts
Shanna Temple says
HI! By mistake I mixed everything together w/ the cooked bacon.It turned out great. Thanks!