This recipe for Parmesan Brussel Sprouts with Bacon is simply delicious! It’s the perfect addition to any holiday meal and it makes a nice side dish for weeknight dinners as well. It’s not too hard to make. It’s definitely one of my favorite ways to eat brussels sprouts.

What are Brussels Sprouts?

If you’ve never seen Brussels sprouts growing, this is what they look like. They’re basically little cabbages growing up a stalk. The picture above shows very small sprouts, and they normally grow a bit bigger.

In addition to tasting great, Brussels sprouts are incredibly nutritious. They look a little like a cabbage, but taste much better in my opinion.

According to Nutrition and You, they are a great source of Vitamins A, K, and C, are rich in B Complex vitamins, full of anti-oxidants, and are also a rich source of minerals like copper, calcium, potassium, iron, manganese, and phosphorus. Nutrition and You mentions all kinds of cancer fighting properties that Brussels sprouts have. They have a low glycemic value and are low in calories.

Fun Fact: These cruciferous vegetables are named after the region and city of Brussels, Belgium. As a result, it should always be capitalized and spelled with the “s” at the end.

What’s in this Roasted Brussels Sprouts Recipe?

Ingredients in this recipe for Brussels sprouts with bacon and parmesan are very simple:

• Bacon: Your roasted Brussels sprouts soak up all the yummy goodness of crispy bacon in this recipe. Do not leave it out. I use nitrate free bacon from a quality source.
• Brussels sprouts: Buy these at the grocery store or grow them fresh in your garden. They will be naturally sweet later in the autumn and into the winter.
• Pine nuts: These are generally available in grocery stores. If you can’t find them, substitute with other nuts or seeds such as almonds, walnuts, or even pumpkin seeds.
• Parmesan cheese: The rich and nutty flavor of parmesan complements the earthy, bitter flavor of Brussels sprouts perfectly.
• Salt & pepper: Season to your preferences. I like a lot of black pepper for a kick.

How to Make Bacon Brussel Sprouts

If you’d like to try Brussels sprouts, I highly recommend cooking them in the following manner. NOTE – this recipe is likely NOT low in calories…because of the BACON. But truly, bacon is the key to many a person’s heart. Don’t leave it out! {But do source a high-quality bacon.}

First, fry up some bacon – 3-4 pieces is plenty. I use nitrate free bacon I buy at Costco. It’s YUMMY! I just use my kitchen scissors to cut up a few pieces and then cook them over medium high heat in a nice cast iron skillet.

Then, clean the Brussels sprouts. Make sure you check your bacon! Don’t want to burn it…

Cut the sprouts in half and remove any outer leaves that look bad. Your bacon should be done by now. Remove it from the pan so it doesn’t burn. Reserve half the bacon grease and leave the rest in the pan.

Now, take those little Brussels sprouts and put them cut side down right in all of that delicious bacon grease. And leave them alone. Cook Brussels sprouts like this {medium heat} for about 5 minutes. You should start to see a nice crispy golden brown on the sprouts.

After 5 minutes, stir up the sprouts and add a handful of pine nuts. If the pan looks a little dry, add a bit of the reserved bacon grease. After the pine nuts look nice and toasty, add the bacon bits back in and top everything off with freshly grated parmesan cheese.

How to Reheat and Store Parmesan Brussel Sprouts

Store cooked parmesan Brussels sprouts in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 7 days. To reheat, warm in the microwave or on the stovetop in a cast iron skillet.

What to Serve with Bacon and Parmesan Brussels Sprouts

This recipe for Brussels sprouts has a salty, earthy, nutty flavor. It’s so good! I like to pair it with Roast Chicken, risotto, or Chicken Florentine Pasta, Creamy Lemon Caper Salmon Pasta, or Pork Chops. Add a simple green side salad and you’ll have a complete meal!

More Side Dish Recipes You’ll Love

• Baked Camembert with Pomegranate & Hazelnuts
• Easy Buttery Carrots
• Green Beans w/ Garlic & Toasted Almonds
• Cream Cheese & Parmesan Asparagus Spears
• Pepper Jack Mashed Potatoes