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Home » Recipes » Brussels sprouts recipes with bacon, maple syrup, parmesan (and more)

Published: Sep 25, 2023 · Modified: Jul 30, 2024 by Veronica T

Brussels sprouts recipes with bacon, maple syrup, parmesan (and more)

Brussels sprouts are having a moment, thanks to several chefs and famous restaurants enticing customers to give the vegetable a second chance (as opposed to the bitter, mushy sprouts of their past). Good brussels sprout recipes are essential in the home kitchen too.

Recipes with bacon are always popular, along with maple syrup, honey, parmesan, and lemon. All of these flavors actually counteract the bitterness in brussels sprouts, which will be explained in each section.

I picked out over 50 recipes to make the best brussels sprouts while they are in season.

Jump to:
  • With bacon
  • With maple syrup
  • With honey
  • With lemon
  • With parmesan & other cheese
  • Salad recipes
  • Pasta & rice recipes
  • At the pub
  • Breakfast hash recipes
  • Roasted brussels sprouts
  • Brussels sprouts on the stovetop
  • Other cooking methods
  • More recipes & resources
3 pieces of bacon next to fresh brussels sprouts

With bacon

The most popular brussels sprouts recipes are made with bacon. It makes everything better, so this likely doesn't surprise anyone.

But the bacon is doing more than adding flavor.

Brussels sprouts can be bitter, which is balanced out by fat. Think of green bell peppers on a cheesy pizza or how milk makes coffee taste less bitter. Not many foods are fattier than bacon, which is why brussels sprout recipes with bacon actually taste better.

To make the most of the bacon, some recipes use the bacon grease to roast or saute the brussels sprouts. Olive oil is also a fat and works well if you are trying to eat a bit healthier.

Maple roasted brussels sprouts & bacon recipe by Well Plated.
Maple roasted brussels sprouts & bacon
Caramelized brussels sprouts and bacon fettuccine alfredo recipe by HalfBakedHarvest
Caramelized brussels sprouts and bacon fettuccine alfredo
Skillet pizza with brussels sprouts & bacon recipe by Yes to Yolks
Skillet pizza with brussels sprouts & bacon
Pan-cooked honey-mustard brussels sprouts with bacon in a pan. Recipe by Bite on the Side.
Honey-mustard brussels sprouts with bacon (stovetop)
Raw brussels sprouts salad with apples, pomegranate, and pecans recipe by Dinner at the Zoo
Raw brussels sprouts salad with apples, pomegranate, and pecans
Pan-fried brussels sprouts with turkey bacon, parmesan, pine nuts & lemon, recipe by Babaganosh
Pan-fried brussels sprouts with turkey bacon, parmesan, pine nuts & lemon
Loaded smashed brussels sprouts recipe by Three Olives Branch
Loaded smashed brussels sprouts
Brussels sprouts with bacon & blue cheese, cooked in cast iron. Recipe by The Short Order Cook.
Brussels sprouts with brown sugar, bacon, and blue cheese (in a cast iron pan)
A bottle of maple syrup and brussels sprouts

With maple syrup

Brussels sprouts can turn sweet and nutty when roasted or sauteed on high heat. Recipes with maple syrup enhance that flavor, but they also balance out bitterness.

Sugar and bitter flavors inhibit each other. Think of a how adding sugar to a grapefruit makes it taste less bitter. If you are sensitive to bitter flavors, try any of these brussels sprout recipes with maple syrup.

Roasted brussels sprouts with lemon-maple glaze recipe by Foxes Love Lemons
Roasted brussels sprouts with lemon-maple glaze
Maple glazed brussels sprouts on the stovetop. Recipe by The Kitchen is My Playground.
Maple glazed brussels sprouts on the stovetop
Maple bourbon roasted brussels sprouts recipe by Dishing up the Dirt.
Maple bourbon roasted brussels sprouts
Raw brussels sprout & kale salad with maple-tahini dressing recipe by Cookie + Kate
Raw brussels sprout & kale salad with maple-tahini dressing
Maple roasted brussels sprouts & bacon recipe by Well Plated.
Maple roasted brussels sprouts & bacon
Maple-balsamic roasted brussels sprouts by Grandbaby Cakes
Maple-balsamic roasted brussels sprouts
Brussels sprouts next to a jar of honey

With honey

Honey serves the same purpose as maple syrup, just with a different flavor profile. Honey can be used in any cooking method as well, from raw salad to roasted sheet pan recipes.

Pan-fried caramelized brussels sprouts with garlic & honey from Quiche My Grits
Pan-fried caramelized brussels sprouts with garlic & honey
Honey-dijon roasted brussels sprouts & sweet potatoes recipe by She's Not Cookin.
Honey-dijon roasted brussels sprouts & sweet potatoes
Raw brussels sprouts salad with parmesan, pistachios, and honey-mustard dressing. Recipe by Little Ferraro Kitchen.
Raw brussels sprouts salad with parmesan, pistachios, and honey-mustard dressing
Roasted brussels sprouts with sausage, apples, and honey on a sheet pan. Recipe by The Virtual Caterer.
Sheet pan brussels sprouts with sausage, apples, and honey
Brussels sprouts on a table with lemons

With lemon

Brussels sprouts recipes with lemon add a lighter and brighter flavor. It's a nice change of pace in the middle of winter when you've been living off stews and roasted vegetables.

Lemon and other citrus also reduce bitterness as the acidic flavors mask bitter ones. That's why lemon based dressings are often used on bitter greens. It's no coincidence that all of these flavor pairings that address bitter flavors are so popular.

Garlic lemon roasted brussels sprouts with parmesan cheese. Recipe by Cooking Classy.
Garlic lemon roasted brussels sprouts with parmesan cheese
Brown butter pasta with brussels sprouts & lemon by Recipe Runner
Brown butter pasta with brussels sprouts & lemon
Slaw with brussels sprouts, carrots, and radishes (no mayo) recipe by The Vegan Larder
Slaw with brussels sprouts, carrots, and radishes (no mayo)
Pan-fried brussels sprouts with turkey bacon, parmesan, pine nuts & lemon, recipe by Babaganosh
Pan-fried brussels sprouts with turkey bacon, parmesan, pine nuts & lemon
Roasted crispy brussels sprouts with lemon & balsamic recipe by Cake n Knife.
Roasted crispy brussels sprouts with lemon & balsamic
Bacon and brussels sprout salad with citrus dressing recipe by Pinch of Yum
Bacon and brussels sprout salad with citrus dressing
Brussels sprouts next to a parmesan cheese wedge

With parmesan & other cheese

Cheese, like bacon, is full of fat and balances out any bitter flavors. Brussels sprouts recipes with cheese might not be the first thing that comes to mind, but are really quite good.

Brussels sprouts are related to broccoli, as both are cruciferous vegetables. If you like roasted broccoli with cheese or broccoli-cheese soup, you'll like these cheese-focused recipes.

Many of the recipes in the salad section also use cheese, but I limited the recipes in this section to ones that feature cheese as a main flavor.

Pan-seared brussels sprouts in a creamy parmesan sauce recipe by Spend with Pennies
Pan-seared brussels sprouts in a creamy parmesan sauce
Brussels sprout soup with bacon, recipe by The View from Great Island
Brussels sprout soup with bacon
Butternut squash & brussels sprouts mac n' cheese recipe by Half Baked Harvest.
Butternut squash & brussels sprouts mac n' cheese
Grilled cheese with shredded brussels sprouts recipe by Blend with Spices
Grilled cheese with shredded brussels sprouts
Risotto with roasted brussels sprouts & pancetta recipe by Three Olives Branch
Risotto with roasted brussels sprouts & pancetta
Brussels sprouts gratin by Hungry Healthy Happy
Brussels sprouts gratin

Salad recipes

Raw brussels sprout salad recipes are delicious but can cause digestive issues for some people. If you are fine eating raw broccoli, kale, or cabbage-based slaws, you'll probably be fine eating raw brussels sprouts too.

Alternatively, salad recipes that roast or saute the vegetables first can be a good option like the caeser brussels sprouts salad below.

A majority of brussels sprout salad recipes use nuts, from pecans to pistachios. They are adding more than just a crunchy texture, however. They are complementing the natural nuttiness of brussels sprouts, which is very, very subtle when raw, and much more pronounced when roasted.

Fall salad with brussels sprouts, apples, pecans, and apple-cider vinaigrette recipe by I Heart Eating.
Fall salad with brussels sprouts, apples, pecans, and apple-cider vinaigrette
Raw brussels sprout & kale salad with maple-tahini dressing recipe by Cookie + Kate
Raw brussels sprout & kale salad with maple-tahini dressing
A pan of brussels sprouts with caesar salad finishes, by Salty Side Dish.
Caesar brussels sprouts (stove top)
Raw brussels sprouts salad with parmesan, pistachios, and honey-mustard dressing. Recipe by Little Ferraro Kitchen.
Raw brussels sprouts salad with parmesan, pistachios, and honey-mustard dressing
Creamy brussels sprouts slaw with dried cranberries & pecans by Bite on the Side
Creamy brussels sprouts slaw with dried cranberries & pecans
Raw brussels sprouts salad with pecans, dried cranberries, and pomegranate dressing. Recipe by Brooklyn Active Mama
Raw brussels sprouts salad with pecans, dried cranberries, and pomegranate dressing
Roasted brussels sprouts & pomegranate salad recipe by Served from Scratch
Roasted brussels sprouts & pomegranate salad
Brussels sprouts salad topped with fried goat cheese and pomegranate seeds
Brussels sprouts salad with fried goat cheese & pomegranate seeds

Pasta & rice recipes

Pasta recipes are a great way to use up seasonal brussels sprouts. They can be added raw or roasted while the pasta cooks (pan frying works too).

A light lemony sauce makes for a bright almost-spring like dish in the middle of winter. Whereas a roasted cream or butter sauce is perfect for a cozy night in.

Garlicky cruciferous pasta (stovetop), recipe by Feasting at Home.
Garlicky cruciferous pasta (stovetop)
Brown butter pasta with brussels sprouts & lemon by Recipe Runner
Brown butter pasta with brussels sprouts & lemon
Caramelized brussels sprouts and bacon fettuccine alfredo recipe by HalfBakedHarvest
Caramelized brussels sprouts and bacon fettuccine alfredo
Caramelized onion carbonara with brussels sprouts & burrata cheese recipe by Yes to Yolks.
Caramelized onion carbonara with brussels sprouts & burrata cheese
Cheese brussels sprouts & wild rice casserole recipe by From A Chef's Kitchen
Cheese brussels sprouts & wild rice casserole
Pasta with brussels sprouts & sausage recipe by The Healthy Epicurean
Pasta with brussels sprouts & sausage

At the pub

I love a good pub menu, so I found some recipes to make at home with brussels sprouts. Try buffalo sprouts instead of wings, or a cheesy brussels sprouts dip instead of artichoke dip.

Burgers with crispy brussels sprouts & shallots recipe by Bev Cooks
Burgers with crispy brussels sprouts & shallots
Skillet pizza with brussels sprouts & bacon recipe by Yes to Yolks
Skillet pizza with brussels sprouts & bacon
Cheesy brussels sprout dip recipe by The View from Great Island
Cheesy brussels sprout dip
Buffalo brussels sprouts recipe by Spend with Pennies
Buffalo brussels sprouts
A pan of brussels sprouts with caesar salad finishes, by Salty Side Dish.
Caesar brussels sprouts (stove top)
Loaded smashed brussels sprouts recipe by Three Olives Branch
Loaded smashed brussels sprouts

Breakfast hash recipes

Any vegetable can be turned into a hash in my opinion. These recipes are each a little different, from including mushrooms to sweet potatoes. Some are made on the stovetop while others are roasted.

Stovetop brussels sprouts hash with shallots and pears, and broiled eggs recipe by It's a Veg World Afterall.
Stovetop brussels sprouts hash with shallots and pears, and broiled eggs
Breakfast hash with roasted brussels sprouts, sweet potatoes, apples, and sausage. Recipe by Minimalist Baker.
Breakfast hash with roasted brussels sprouts, sweet potatoes, apples, and sausage
Brussels sprout hash with pancetta & mushrooms, over cheesy grits recipe by Pinch Me I'm Eating.
Brussels sprout hash with pancetta & mushrooms, over cheesy grits
Brussels sprout hash with aleppo chile peppers and soft poached eggs, recipe by Feasting at Home
Brussels sprout hash with aleppo chile peppers and soft poached eggs

Roasted brussels sprouts

The most popular method for making brussels sprouts is roasting. It's the easiest way to make them sweet, nutty, and crispy. Roasting brussels sprouts also produces the least-bitter results (boiling is often the most bitter and even sulfurous).

"If you think you don't like Brussels sprouts, think again! Roasting this vegetable is completely transformative, and removes the bitterness that you may be thinking of." -Deanne from This Farm Girl Cooks, with the roasted brussels sprouts with maple balsamic glaze recipe below.

Garlic lemon roasted brussels sprouts with parmesan cheese. Recipe by Cooking Classy.
Garlic lemon roasted brussels sprouts with parmesan cheese
Maple bourbon roasted brussels sprouts recipe by Dishing up the Dirt.
Maple bourbon roasted brussels sprouts
Maple roasted brussels sprouts & bacon recipe by Well Plated.
Maple roasted brussels sprouts & bacon
Buffalo brussels sprouts recipe by Spend with Pennies
Buffalo brussels sprouts
Sweet potato & brussels sprout hash with dried cherries and cinnamon recipe by Keeping the Peas
Sweet potato & brussels sprout hash with dried cherries and cinnamon
Charred broccoli & brussels sprouts with a spicy peanut vinaigrette & mint recipe by Rosanna Etc.
Charred broccoli & brussels sprouts with a spicy peanut vinaigrette & mint
Honey-dijon roasted brussels sprouts & sweet potatoes recipe by She's Not Cookin.
Honey-dijon roasted brussels sprouts & sweet potatoes
Spicy tacos with roasted brussels sprouts recipe by I Hearth Vegetables.
Spicy tacos with roasted brussels sprouts
Roasted brussels sprouts with maple balsamic glaze recipe by This Farm Girl Cooks
Roasted brussels sprouts with maple balsamic glaze
Roasted brussels sprouts with sausage, apples, and honey on a sheet pan. Recipe by The Virtual Caterer.
Sheet pan brussels sprouts with sausage, apples, and honey

Brussels sprouts on the stovetop

Cooking brussels sprouts in a pan on the stovetop can also turn out sweet and caramelized by searing on high heat or pan frying.

It's also a convenient way to make a sauce, like a honey mustard or creamy cheese sauce. If you are looking for extra crispy brussels sprouts, add the sauce at the very end, or try a recipe for roasting instead.

Maple glazed brussels sprouts on the stovetop. Recipe by The Kitchen is My Playground.
Maple glazed brussels sprouts on the stovetop
Pan-cooked honey-mustard brussels sprouts with bacon in a pan. Recipe by Bite on the Side.
Honey-mustard brussels sprouts with bacon (stovetop)
Pan-seared brussels sprouts in a creamy parmesan sauce recipe by Spend with Pennies
Pan-seared brussels sprouts in a creamy parmesan sauce
Pan-fried caramelized brussels sprouts with garlic & honey from Quiche My Grits
Pan-fried caramelized brussels sprouts with garlic & honey
Pan-fried brussels sprouts with turkey bacon, parmesan, pine nuts & lemon, recipe by Babaganosh
Pan-fried brussels sprouts with turkey bacon, parmesan, pine nuts & lemon
Brussels sprouts with bacon & blue cheese, cooked in cast iron. Recipe by The Short Order Cook.
Brussels sprouts with brown sugar, bacon, and blue cheese (in a cast iron pan)

Other cooking methods

Brussels sprouts can also be smoked or grilled, both of which I highly recommend. You can also try making them in the air frying (which I haven't done yet). They can also be microwaved if you're short on time (or patience!) and you won't get any judgement from me.

Grilled brussels sprouts recipe by Dinner at the Zoo
Grilled brussels sprouts
Bacon & balsamic smoked brussels sprouts recipe by Smoked Meat Sunday.
Bacon & balsamic smoked brussels sprouts
Brussels sprouts in the microwave. Recipe by Hungry Healthy Happy.
Microwave brussels sprouts
Air fryer brussels sprouts with lemon & rosemary by Belle of the Kitchen
Air fryer brussels sprouts with lemon & rosemary

More recipes & resources

Looking for more recipes this fall and winter season? Check out the collections below or look through the monthly seasonal guides.

  • Sweet onion recipes for spring & summer
    40+ Sweet onion recipes: dinner, dips, and french onion riffs
  • Parsnip recipe ingredients: parsnips, carrots, cauliflower, potatoes, mushrooms, onions, and bruessels sprouts
    Parsnip recipes: 48 seasonal ideas for fall & winter
  • Fresh cranberry sauce recipe
    Cranberry sauce recipes: boozy, fruity, floral, and spicy
  • Fresh pomegranates in season
    Pomegranate recipes [fall + winter collection]
  • Roasted chicken and apples
    Cooking with seasonal fruit: October edition
  • Produce & recipe guide for September, with apples and pears
    Recipes for September: seasonal fruit

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About the Food Geek

Welcome, I'm Veronica, your resident food geek - experienced recipe developer and gardener. My goal is to help you enjoy eating at home by knowing what fruits & vegetables are currently in season and the best ways to use them. To do that, I've put together seasonal produce guides and recipes with practical advice.

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