Smoked balsamic-glazed Brussels sprouts with bacon

Looking for the perfect side dish that takes very little effort but is fancy enough for a steakhouse? Try smoked Brussels sprouts with bacon.

The whole family will be surprised with how good this recipe tastes. It’s got crispy bacon for dad and a little sweetness for the kids.

What are Brussels sprouts

First of all, the correct spelling is Brussels sprouts, not brussel sprouts, but people pretty much use the terms interchangeably nowadays.

The reason the word is plural is because the sprouts get their name from the city of Brussels, which is the capital of Belgium.

The sprouts are cruciferous vegetables, similar to cabbage and cauliflower. They can taste a little bitter and skunky if not cooked properly because they contain a natural dietary sulfur called glucosinolates.

According to WebMD, these glucosinolates provide strong anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, which help protect cells from disease-causing damage.

The best way to make them taste amazing is to cut them in half. This way the dietary sulfur in the sprouts releases as they cook.

Adding a little bacon and balsamic is always a nice touch, too.

When you follow this recipe, you’ll end up with crisp bacon and creamy sprouts with crispy outer leaves all with a sweet and salty touch.

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• Brussels Sprouts: Fresh Brussels sprouts can be found in the produce section at your local grocery store. They are usually sold by the pound.
• Bacon: It’s best to use original bacon, instead of thick-cut bacon because thick-cut bacon will take longer to cook. You can also use turkey bacon, if you don’t eat pork. Dice the slices up into small pieces.
• Balsamic Glaze: Balsamic glaze is balsamic vinegar that is boiled down and reduced to a syrup consistency. It’s sweet and sour. Look for it at your local grocery store near the vinegars.

Variations: For added color, stir in 1/4 cup of dried cranberries with the bacon. If you like heat, consider adding a pinch of crushed red pepper with the bacon or use a little hot honey at the end with the glaze. If you don't have balsamic glaze, you can substitute pure maple syrup. 

See the full recipe card below for servings and a full list of ingredients.

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How to smoke Brussels sprouts

Heat your smoker or grill to 400F degrees with an indirect heat zone.

If using a pellet grill, simply set the temp. For a charcoal grill, push the coals to one side or use a heat deflector and adjust the vents.

For a gas grill, set one burner to medium heat and make sure one burner is turned off. You can add smoke with a Wood Chip Foil Pouch.

1. STEP ONE: Wash the Brussels sprouts and slice them in half. Leave the core on the sprouts so the leaves stay together. If you have really large sprouts, you may want to cut them into quarters.

2. STEP TWO: Place the halved brussels sprouts in a 13×9 pan. Add the chopped bacon and stir to combine. There’s no need to add olive oil because the bacon grease will help cook the sprouts.

PRO TIP: When cooking on a grill, I use disposable aluminum pans. You can also use a rimmed baking sheet pan or cast iron skillet.

3. STEP THREE: Place the pan on your smoker over indirect heat and cook for 45 minutes to 1 hour. Cooking time will vary depending on the size of your Brussels sprouts. Smaller Brussels sprouts will cook faster.

4. STEP FOUR: As the sprouts cook, stir them every 15-20 minutes to help coat the sprouts with bacon fat.

5. STEP FIVE: Once the bacon is cooked through and the sprouts are fork tender, remove the pan from the grill. Add a drizzle of balsamic glaze and season with salt and black pepper to taste.

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How to serve bacon Brussels sprouts

Transfer the balsamic glazed Brussels sprouts with bacon to a serving bowl and serve warm. They make a delicious side dish for any weeknight dinner.

Brussels sprouts have also become a popular side dish at steak restaurants. Here are a few steak recipes to help you out.

• Perfectly Seared Cast Iron Steak
• How to cook a tomahawk steak
• Grilled Porterhouse Steak

And of course, they’re a classic side dish for holiday dinners at Christmas, Easter and Thanksgiving.

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Storage

Store leftover Brussels sprouts with bacon in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 7 days. Reheat them in the microwave.

You can freeze them for a month or two, but they taste a lot better fresh.

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