I’m all about keeping my side dishes as easy as possible. I want my main dish to be the star of the show, and I don’t want to spend tons of time or energy on something that is just being served on the side, so roasted vegetables are almost always on the menu! They’re easy, tasty, and mostly hands off. Since we’re moving into “winter vegetable” season, I thought I’d do a quick tutorial on roasted Brussels sprouts, so you can whip up this simple and delicious side dish with any of your fall or winter meals.
What do Brussels Sprouts Taste Like?
I’m sure there are many of you out there who have never had a Brussels sprout before in your life, so I want to describe them to you a bit first. To me they taste like mini cabbages, but perhaps not quite so bland. What makes them fun, to me, is the texture. The delicate, tightly bound leaves just are so enjoyable to eat! But they are more on the bitter end of the vegetable spectrum, so if you are very sensitive to bitter flavors, which some people just are genetically, Brussels sprouts may not be for you.
When are Brussels Sprouts in Season?
Brussels sprouts can be on the pricier side for vegetables, so it’s important to take advantage of them while they’re in season. The season can vary a bit, depending on where they’re grown, but they are a cold weather vegetable so you’ll most likely start to see them pop up on grocery stores in the U.S. from October to February.
Can I Use Frozen Brussels Sprouts?
Frozen Brussels sprouts can be found for a fairly good price year-round, so you may be tempted to try to roast those instead of fresh Brussels sprouts. While you certainly can roast a frozen Brussels sprout, I find that fresh create a much better texture and flavor. Frozen Brussels sprouts will be softer and a little more wet (even after roasting), and I find that roasted fresh Brussels sprouts have a more vibrant flavor.
How to Season Roasted Brussels Sprouts
One thing that I love about roasted vegetables, roasted Brussels sprouts included, is how many different ways you can season them. They’re delicious with just a bit of salt and pepper, or you can really go to town. The recipe below uses a simple mix of salt, pepper, and garlic, but you could also do something like steak seasoning, curry powder, Cajun seasoning, seasoning salt (like Lawry’s), a Garlic Herb Seasoning, Everything But the Bagel Seasoning, or Parmesan cheese (Parmesan would go great alone or along with any of the previously listed seasoning blends). And if you’re a balsamic vinegar lover, try drizzling a little homemade balsamic glaze on top!
P.S. These roasted Brussels sprouts would be SO GOOD dipped in Comeback Sauce!
See Roasted Brussels Sprouts in our Thanksgiving Dinner for Two.
Roasted Brussels Sprouts
Servings 4Ingredients
- 1 lb. Brussels sprouts ($1.99)
- 1 Tbsp olive oil ($0.16)
- 1/4 tsp salt ($0.02)
- 1/4 tsp garlic powder ($0.02)
- 1/4 tsp freshly cracked black pepper ($0.02)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400ºF. Wash the Brussels sprouts and trim off any dry ends. Cut each Brussels sprout in half.
- Place the cut Brussels sprouts on a parchment lined baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with salt, garlic powder, and pepper. Toss until the Brussels sprouts are well coated oil and seasoning. Turn each Brussels sprout so that it is cut side facing down.
- Roast the Brussels sprouts in the oven for about 25 minutes, or until they are browned and caramelized on the edges. You can stir the Brussels sprouts at about 20 minutes to gauge the amount of browning on the bottom layer of the sprouts. No need to make sure they're all face down again for the final few minutes.
- Taste one Brussels sprout and adjust the salt or pepper to your liking, then serve hot.
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Nutrition
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How to Roast Brussels Sprouts – Step by Step Photos
Preheat the oven to 400ºF. Wash 1 lb. Brussels sprouts, then cut off any dry stems. Cut each Brussels sprout in half. The sprouts I had today were very fresh and the ends were not dried out at all, so I simply cut them in half.
Place the Brussels sprouts on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Drizzle with 1 Tbsp olive oil, then add ¼ tsp salt, ¼ tsp garlic powder, and ¼ tsp freshly cracked black pepper.
Turn all of the Brussels sprouts halves over so the cut side is facing down. Transfer the baking sheet to the preheated oven.
Roast for about 25 minutes, or until they have achieved the level of browning that you like. The total time may change depending on the size of your Brussels sprouts. You can give them a stir after about 20 minutes to see how much they have browned on the cut side. No need to flip them all back over for the final few minutes.
Give the roasted Brussels sprouts a taste and adjust the salt or pepper to your liking. Serve hot!
I find that adding a drizzle of honey to brussels sprouts right when they come out of the oven really cuts any bitter flavor that may be present. It’s delightful! Maple syrup also works well.
I made these and they were so yummy! I forgot the garlic powder, they would have been even better with that. I loved the carmlization that you get, with them being a bit burnt. Will make again. A nice change from oven roasted broccoli.
Delicious, simple recipe! I love keeping the loose leaves on the tray as well. They get so crunchy – almost like a chip.
Made this for dinner alongside the Honey Mustard Pork Chops. It was great! I did double up the measurements of seasonings (I always like extra seasoning). I like how this is a simple and easy recipe for a side dish.
I just listened to a podcast on longevity, and at the end, each of the speakers gave one tip on things you can do right not to improve your health and/or extend your healthy lifespan. One speaker said that when you brown brussel sprouts in the oven, the brown slightly burnt look is caused by the sugars in the sprouts undergoing a chemical change….and turns it into an unhealthy form that is bad for you. She said this one change you can do by steaming instead of browning vegetables like brussel sprouts can eliminate a potential health hazard….even though oven roasted tastes so much better. Do you have any knowledge of this topic? I was looking for confirmation when I found this website. So far I haven’t found anything about this hazard other than at the end of this podcast.
Personally, I think the overall health benefits of eating Brussels sprouts at all is going to outweigh the slight negative effect of caramelization. There are going to be healthy and unhealthy aspects of every single food we eat. I don’t stress myself out over the small stuff. Because stress kills, too. ;)
I’ve made this a few times and it’s (almost) always turned out fantastically. The very first time I tried they were browned on the outside but also kind of mushy?
The one suggestion I have is to make sure you pat your brussel sprout halves really dry after you wash them. That helped me get nice crispy browning on both sides and a nicer texture inside.
And another tip is make sure you don’t crowd them on the tray. They will brown more evenly that way.
I HATED brussel sprouts, until I tried them roasted. They are so good, you`you all be tempted to eat them all, but don’t – you may be doubled over with gas pains. Don`t ask me how I know.
I like roasted Brussels sprouts topped with Bleu cheese crumbles and toasted walnuts…
That sounds amazing! Thanks for sharing.Â
What is in the picture with the Brussels sprouts? A porkchop and ???
Looks like it could be these? With an updated technique?
https://www.budgetbytes.com/sweet-potato-corn-cakes-with-garlic-dipping-sauce/
Baked honey mustard pork chops 😋
Roasted sweet potatoe
I do love roasted Brussels sprouts.  No one else in my family does so I get them all to myself. I haven’t tried dipping them in Comeback Sauce but I have dipped in mayo and as much as I really don’t like mayo, it’s surprisingly good.  Reminds me of artichokes then (which I often dip in mayo lol)>
This is absolutely one of my favorite side dishes. I roast all kinds of vegetables all year long, but Brussels sprouts are one of the best. I just use olive oil and kosher salt. I think even people that don’t care much for Brussels sprouts will like them roasted!