These oven-roasted bacon parmesan brussels sprouts are smashed prior to roasting to optimize the crisp potential while maintaining a super tender creamy center. The perfect holiday Brussels sprout recipe that you will make over and over again!
If you love Brussels Sprouts you should try this Brussels Sprout and Blue Cheese Flatbread Recipe and these INCREDIBLE Mushroom Brussels Sprouts Vegan Enchiladas.
I am not generous of spirit when it comes to Brussels Sprouts. Roasting a big batch of sprouts always results in me standing over the hot sheet pan and snagging all of the crispiest bits before I serve the less superior Brussels sprouts to the family. This is a privilege reserved exclusively for the one who cooks the sprouts 🙂
No more! If you too love the crispiest bits then you have to try this smashed method. “Smashed” means increasing the surface area and the crisp potential.
I dare say this is the best Brussels sprouts recipe I have ever made and I'm unsure I will ever go back to any other cooking method!
WHY YOU'LL LOVE THIS RECIPE!
This easy Brussels Sprout recipe is the perfect Thanksgiving side dish made with easy-to-find ingredients. Once you try the smashed Brussels sprout cooking method you will never want to cook them another way again! Brussels are first boiled in salted water for several minutes until tender and then smashed using a heavy mug or glass, and roasted until perfectly crispy with lots of garlic. The Brussels are then topped with melty, salty parmesan cheese, crisp bacon, and finished with a squeeze of lemon juice for that perfect acidic balance!
Let's Get Cooking!
INGREDIENTS and SUBSTITUTIONS:
Detailed measurements and ingredients can be found within the recipe card at the end of this post.
Brussels Sprouts – Fresh in season Brussels are what you want in this recipe. If you can find Brussels Sprouts on a stalk go for it, these will always be the freshest option. Brussels sprouts are a highly nutritious vegetable packed with potent antioxidants, fiber, and vitamin C and K.
Crispy Bacon – I am a fan of Butcher Box bacon, which is a no sugar high-quality bacon, but use whatever bacon you like. Just make sure you fry it up super crisp! If you are a vegetarian and would like to make this a vegetarian dish try my eggplant bacon for a fun twist!
Parmesan Cheese – The good stuff, Parmigianno Regianno, this recipe is made with a handful of simple ingredients which means that every ingredient should be super high quality! You could substitute Pecorino Romano. The Brussels are showered with a generous portion of parmesan for the final salty umami bite. If you are dairy -free you can omit the cheese.
Garlic – I love the addition of garlic in this dish for a hit of pungent spicy goodness. Fresh garlic is a must.
Lemon – A squeeze of fresh lemon at the end elevates this dish to flavor perfection
TOOLS YOU WILL USE:
Large pot
Spider skimmer or colander/strainer
Large sheet pan
HOW TO MAKE SMASHED BRUSSELS SPROUTS
I borrowed this method from the “smashed” roasted potato recipes. Essentially you are flattening the sprouts to create more surface area for a crispier end product. It's quite simple but requires a bit more effort than simply throwing sprouts on a sheet pan and popping in the oven, but I promise the end result is worth it!
