Blackened brussels sprouts are not “blackened” with seasoning, but blackened in the oven with a honey balsamic glaze.
To make brussels sprouts blackened and perfectly crispy, you want a nice sugary glaze that brings out the flavors of the brussels sprouts without burning them. The brussels sprouts should turn black and crispy and be so incredibly tasty!
The trick is to use a glaze that has an oil, a vinegar and a sweetener. This blackened brussels sprouts recipe has all three … and more. The main ingredients include olive oil, balsamic vinegar, dijon mustard and honey.
Blackened sprouts make the perfect side dish especially when you add a topping like sweet glazed bacon bits.
This recipe includes directions for how to make glazed bacon bits, but you don’t need them just to make blackened brussels sprouts. You can accompany your own brussels sprouts dish with other ingredients like caramelized onions or roasted garlic.
How to Make Blackened Brussels Sprouts With Bacon
Start by preheating your oven to 400° and then preparing your brussels sprouts by washing them and patting them dry. Remove the outer layers of leaves and cut off the thick base. Finally cut the brussels sprouts in half.
Next it’s time to make the honey balsamic glaze. Whisk together the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, honey, and Dijon mustard.
Then add the brussels sprout halves to the honey glaze bowl, and stir them gently to coat them well.
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and place the brussels sprouts on the tray. The trick is to place the side of the brussels sprouts that you want to blackened face down.
So, if you want the flat side of your brussels sprout blackened, place the flat sides down. If you want the round sides to blacken, place the round sides down.
Sprinkle with some salt and pepper.
Roast these in the oven for about 20 to 25 minutes at 400°. Once they are nicely cooked and blackened on the bottoms, remove them from the oven to cool.
Honey balsamic brussel sprouts are delicious on their own with a little bit of salt, but you can add other ingredients to take your dish up a level.
Making Bacon for Blackened Brussel Sprouts with Balsamic
You can use 3 to 4 bacon slices to make bacon bits.
First coat the bacon in brown sugar, and then lay it in a skillet to cook as you would cook regular bacon. The brown sugar will make the glaze. Dust the slices with a bit of cayenne pepper.
Once the bacon is cooked (about 3 to 4 minutes on each side), set it aside on a baking rack or on a plastic cutting board. Definitely DO NOT use paper towels to drain the bacon like you usually do with bacon. The glaze will be sticky, so it would stick to paper towels.
Once the bacon has cooled, cut it into chunks or small pieces to go with your blackened brussels sprouts. Just mix in the bacon bits with the brussels sprouts, and, if you want, add a little more balsamic glaze for garnish and added flavor. Serve warm!
Roasted brussel sprouts with balsamic and bacon is an incredible taste combination, and a recipe you are sure to make again!
Looking for a fresh way to cook your bacon? Try:
Blackened Brussels Sprouts
Ingredients
- 1 pound brussels sprouts
- 1/3 cup olive oil
- 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 teaspoon dijon mustard
- salt and pepper to taste
Optional Glazed Bacon Bits
- 4 slices bacon
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°.
- Wash your brussels sprouts and pat them dry. Cut the ends off and then remove any damaged outer leaves. Cut the brussels sprouts in half.
- In a mixing bowl, whisk together olive oil, vinegar, honey and mustard. Add the brussels sprouts and gently mix to coat them well.
- Transfer the brussels sprouts to a parchment-lined baking pan. Keep in mind that the under side of the brussels sprouts will be the side that blackens. So, if you want a blackened round side, place them with the flat side up. If you want a blackened flat side, place them flat side down.
- Bake in the oven for 20 to 25 minutes. Once they've cooked thoroughly and the undersides are blackened, removed them from the oven and let them cool for about 5 minutes before transferring them to a serving tray.
- Garnish with optional glazed bacon bits and/or balsamic glaze.
Glazed Bacon Bits
- In a small bowl, add the brown sugar and cayenne pepper. Coat each piece of bacon in the sugar mixture.
- Cook the bacon slices in the skillet as you would normal bacon, cooking about 3-4 minutes on each side. Remove the bacon to a baking rack or a plastic cutting board to cool. DO NOT place glazed bacon on paper towels to drain because it will be sticky with the glaze.
- Allow the bacon to cool and then cut into small pieces.
