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Just made this tonight and subbed pecans for walnuts. My husband and I both LOVED it!!!! Will definitely make again- thinking about adding bacon too, because bacon 🤷🏼♀️😋 -Jenny
Let’s talk about these roasty, sweet, nutty brussels sprouts that combine those tender-crisp, whole-brussel bites with the ultra thin and crispy leaves, all coated with a lil’ mustard-maple drench and speckled with juicy bites of dried cranberry. Oh my gosh. WHY ARE THEY SO GOOD.
To be honest, I have very few “house favorites” in our house because I always change it up. Always trying new recipes, always moving on to the next thing. We hardly stay on any one recipe for more than just a few repeats because new! exciting! rah rah rah. But this recipe has been made WEEKLY for… um, the last five months? It has solidly earned its House Favorite status. We make these brussels sprouts all. the. time. We’ve even added a spicy variation to our repertoire and I cannot be stopped.
Dad loves them, toddler loves them, Mom loves them AND loves that everyone loves them. Also: guests love them, although usually if it’s more than just us, we’re going to need to double the recipe because, yes, in our house, we will for sure finish one pan between the three of us.
In This Post: Everything You Need For These Brussels Sprouts
- Ingredients You’ll Need
- VIDEO for This Recipe
- How to Make These Roasted Brussels Sprouts
- What to Serve with Brussels Sprouts
- Frequently Asked Questions About This Recipe
Ingredients For These Roasted Brussels Sprouts
This is an SOS series recipe – as in, an excellent back pocket choice for when you just need to get something on the table quickly – so here’s our super short and sweet ingredient list:
- brussels sprouts
- walnuts
- dried cranberries
- maple syrup
- Dijon mustard
And, of course, your standards: olive oil, salt, and pepper.
Prefer to watch instead of read?
[RAPTIVE VIDEO PLAYER]
How To Make Brussels Sprouts That Actually Taste Good
Here we go!
- Prep your brussels sprouts. Cut off the base of the brussel sprout, remove the outer leaves, and cut it in half vertically. Turn on some music or a good show and go to town.
- Then, the brussels get tossed in olive oil and roast in the oven, cut side down, until they are nice and crispy.
- The walnuts get added for the last minute for a little toasting.
- The cranberries join the cool-down party.
- And finally, the sauce gets added directly to the pan. And by sauce, I mean an eyeballed little squirt of Dijon mustard and a solid drizzle of maple syrup (if you like things tangy, maybe a little balsamic vinegar too?). Get a little more olive oil, salt, and pepper up in there, maybe some red pepper flakes if you like things spicy, and ohhhkay yes.
That was easy. We are in business.
What To Serve with Brussels Sprouts
The brussels in and of themselves aren’t a meal (although, with the cranberries and walnuts in there…maybe they are?), but here are some ideas for what to serve them with – SOS STYLE.
- BACON. Yes. Crumbled it on top and find joy. Like in this recipe.
- Good ol’ spaghetti
- All your other favorite Thanksgiving sides if it’s that time of year
- Chicken (for ultra ease, buy the chicken breasts that are pre-seasoned and just throw them in a skillet)
- Easy pasta, such as this yummy vegan one
- Baked salmon (or however you like to cook your salmon!)
- Instant Pot Mac and Cheese or this vegan mac and cheese (homemade cheese powder!)
- If you have some time, some delicious parmesan risotto would be delightful with these!
The flavors of this recipe can go so many directions with whatever it is you’re eating. And I’m sure you can think of 100 or more fancier ideas to round out the table if you’re going for a more impressive-dinner-party situation, so don’t let me hold you back.
But for basic nights at home, when you want to really, truly, actually look forward to eating your vegetables, these basic, versatile, saucy, crispy sprouts are where it’s at.
I’m telling you – HOUSE FAVORITE.
House Favorite Brussels Sprouts: Frequently Asked Questions
I’m allergic to nuts. What can I substitute?
You could leave the nuts out completely or, if you can have seeds, you could add pumpkin seeds here. Once you add the pumpkin seeds, just keep a close eye on things so they don’t burn.
If they are more of a side dish, what can I serve these brussels sprouts with?
Great thing about these buddies is that they go with just about everything. Some ideas (if you have more time) include Date Night Lemon Pappardelle, these Swedish Meatballs, or this Skillet Chicken with Bacon and White Wine Sauce. YUM! (For SOS-friendly recipes to serve this with, see the list in the above section.)
How could I prep brussels sprouts in advance?
Brussels sprouts are really best fresh and crispy out of the oven, so for prepping ahead of time, I would recommend just cutting the brussels sprouts so they’re ready to get roasted, and whisk the mustard and maple syrup together so that’s ready to go too!
Can I add meat to these brussels sprouts?
Sure! Some diced pancetta or bacon would be great! You could also cook up some salmon to go with this very nicely.
Are there any herbs I could add to this?
Absolutely! Thyme and/or rosemary would be lovely additions to this.
Can I add cheese to this?
That sounds delicious! Yes. Crumbled goat cheese or feta cheese would be delicious.
Recipe tips and variations
- Yield: This recipe makes about 4 cups Risotto, enough for 4 (1-cup) side-dish servings, or 2 (2-cup) main-dish servings.
- Storage: Store leftovers covered in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- Four-cheese Risotto: For even more cheesy flavor, add ½ cup Ricotta cheese, ¼ cup shredded mozzarella cheese, and ¼ cup crumbled Gorgonzola or blue cheese to the risotto with the Parmesan at the end of the recipe.
- Risotto as an entree: If risotto is your main dish, consider serving it with a classic Caesar Salad or Antipasto Salad. Roasted Carrots with Yogurt Sauce would be tasty, too. A perfect meal for a romantic Valentine’s Day dinner.
- Risotto as a side: Creamy risotto pairs perfectly with Pan-Seared Scallops, Shrimp Scampi, Chicken Scallopini, Caprese Chicken, and Roast Beef Tenderloin.