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Balsamic Glazed Brussel Sprouts

These balsamic glazed Brussel sprouts take less than 30 minutes from start to finish and are made with just a handful of simple ingredients! They’re the perfect vegetarian side dish for your holiday menu but they’re easy enough for a weeknight too!

Overhead shot of balsamic glazed Brussel sprouts topped with goat cheese pomegranate seeds and walnuts


 

You Will Love These

  • This easy balsamic Brussel sprouts recipe is the perfect Thanksgiving side dish and it’s made with simple ingredients! It also comes together quickly which makes it a family favorite vegetable in our house! The balsamic mixture cooks down in the pan along with the Brussel sprouts, infusing them with delicious herby, tangy, slightly sweet flavors.
  • If you loved these Brussel sprouts, be sure to check out my Cheesy Green Bean Casserole, my Roasted Garlic and Herb Potatoes, my Roasted Delicata Squash, or my Creamy Baked Corn!
White marble counter top with ingredients to make balsamic glazed Brussel sprouts

Ingredients and Substitutions

  • Brussel Sprouts – Fresh Brussel sprouts are going to work best for this recipe. Frozen will release too much water and end up mushy and prevent the sauce from thickening. Stick to fresh veggies for this recipe.
  • Olive Oil – I like to use an extra virgin cold-pressed organic olive oil for this recipe. You could also try grapeseed oil or avocado oil.
  • Balsamic Vinegar – This is our family’s favorite balsamic vinegar. Use whatever you like best! There is not a substitute for balsamic vinegar in this recipe – no other vinegar is going to give that delicious tangy flavor and syrup like texture.
  • Honey – Honey is the key ingredient to getting that slightly sweet syrup like consistency. If you follow a vegan diet, you could sub agave but it could affect the flavor and texture.
  • Garlic – I love to use finely minced garlic for this recipe but if you don’t have any on hand, try a 1/4 teaspoon of garlic powder in its place and add more to taste.
  • Dijon Mustard – Don’t worry, these glazed Brussel sprouts won’t taste like mustard! The Dijon helps to create that perfect glaze texture and deepen the flavors of the other ingredients. Yellow mustard will have too strong of a flavor for this dish.
  • Dried Oregano – Feel free to use dried thyme or dried rosemary in place of the dried oregano if you prefer. Italian seasoning would work as well.

Instructions

Wash and trim the Brussel sprouts. Halve the large ones lengthwise and leave the smaller ones whole.

White bowl filled with halved Brussel sprouts

Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add Brussel sprouts along with a couple large pinches of salt and pepper. Toss to coat the sprouts in oil. Arrange sprouts cut side down in the pan if possible.

Large white pan filled with sautéed Brussel sprouts

Cook for 3 minutes without stirring.

Large white pan filled with sautéed Brussel sprouts

In a measuring cup whisk together balsamic vinegar, syrup, garlic, Dijon, oregano, and a couple pinches of salt and pepper.

Measuring cup filled with ingredients for the balsamic glaze

Pour balsamic mixture into the pan and cook over medium-low heat.

Balsamic glazed Brussel sprouts cooking in a large white pan

Cook for about 10 minutes. Simmer until the sauce has thickened into a glaze and then Brussel sprouts are cooked through and tender-crisp.

Large white pan filed with balsamic glazed Brussel sprouts

Transfer to your serving platter and drizzle with remaining sauce.

Overhead shot of balsamic glazed Brussel sprouts on a white plate

Add walnuts, goat cheese, and pomegranate seeds if desired.

Trimming Brussel Sprouts

  • Wash Brussel sprouts with cold water to remove any excess dirt.
  • Carefully use a knife to cut off about 1/4″ or less of the stem end of each sprout.
  • Some leaves may fall off and that’s okay. Remove any outer leaves that are dry, discolored, or damaged.
  • For this recipe, slice the larger sprouts in half lengthwise and keep the smaller ones whole.
Overhead shot of balsamic glazed Brussel sprouts topped with goat cheese pomegranate seeds and walnuts

Tips

  • Try to use Brussel sprouts that are similar in size. This ensures that they all cook evenly. I like to use medium sprouts for this recipe. If you can’t get sprouts that are the same size, leave the smaller ones whole and cut the larger ones in half (or even in quarters if they’re very large).
  • Don’t overcook the Brussel sprouts! The sauce will thicken up a bit as it cools so if the sprouts are cooked through, but the sauce isn’t quite thickened go ahead and pull it off the heat and let it cool for just a few minutes.
  • I love to use this large sauté pan for this recipe. It gets the Brussel sprouts perfectly cooked and the balsamic glaze perfectly syrupy.
  • These balsamic Brussel sprouts are delicious as is so you don’t have to add the goat cheese, pomegranate or walnuts. But if you’re looking to take things up a notch this trifecta garnish really adds some delicious flavor and texture to the dish!
  • You can switch up the flavor of these sautéed Brussel sprouts by adding crispy bacon for a little extra protein or grated Parmesan cheese for another layer of nutty flavor.

FAQ

How do you get the bitterness out of Brussel sprouts?

The best way is to cook them in this balsamic glaze! The cooking helps to bring out the Brussel sprout’s natural sweetness and the balsamic syrup is going to coat every nook and cranny of the sprout so that it’s loaded with flavor. No bitter Brussels here!

Should you cut Brussel sprouts in half before cooking?

For this sautéed Brussel sprouts recipe I recommend slicing the large Brussel sprouts in half and leaving the smaller sprouts whole. It’s important to make sure that your sprouts are around the same size so that cook evenly.

How do you know when Brussel sprouts are cooked?

Brussel sprouts don’t take long to cook! In this glazed Brussel sprouts recipe, you’re looking for the sprouts to be tender-crisp. This means they are tender but not mushy. When you can easily stick a knife or fork into the sprout, you know it’s done!

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Balsamic Glazed Brussel Sprouts

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These balsamic glazed Brussel sprouts take less than 30 minutes from start to finish and are made with just a handful of simple ingredients! They’re the perfect vegetarian side dish for your holiday table but they’re easy enough for a weeknight too!

  • Author: Kylie
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 15 minutes
  • Total Time: 25 minutes
  • Yield: 6 servings 1x
  • Category: Side Dish
  • Method: Stove Top
  • Cuisine: American
  • Diet: Vegetarian

Ingredients

Scale

Garnish with:

  • toasted walnuts
  • crumbled goat cheese
  • pomegranate arils

Instructions

  1. Wash and trim the Brussel sprouts. Halve the large ones lengthwise and leave the smaller ones whole.
  2. Heat oil in a large sauté pan over medium heat. 
  3. Add Brussel sprouts along with a couple large pinches of salt and pepper. Toss to coat the sprouts in oil. Arrange sprouts cut side down in the pan if possible.
  4. Cook for 3 minutes without stirring.
  5. In a small bowl whisk to combine balsamic vinegar, syrup, garlic, Dijon, oregano, and a couple pinches of salt and pepper.
  6. Pour balsamic mixture into the pan and cook over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally for about 10 minutes or until the sauce has thickened into a glaze and then Brussel sprouts are cooked through and crisp tender. The balsamic mixture should be simmering during this time.
  7. Transfer to your serving platter and add walnuts, goat cheese, and pomegranate seeds if desired.

Notes

  • Try to use Brussel sprouts that are similar in size. This ensures that they all cook evenly. I like to use medium sprouts for this recipe. If you can’t get sprouts that are the same size, leave the smaller ones whole and cut the larger ones in half (or even in quarters if they’re very large).
  • Don’t overcook the Brussel sprouts! The sauce will thicken up a bit as it cools so if the sprouts are cooked through, but the sauce isn’t quite thickened go ahead and pull it off the heat and let it cool for just a few minutes.
  • I love to use this large sauté pan for this recipe. It gets the Brussel sprouts perfectly cooked and the balsamic glaze perfectly syrupy.
  • These balsamic Brussel sprouts are delicious as is so you don’t have to add the goat cheese, pomegranate or walnuts. But if you’re looking to take things up a notch this trifecta garnish really adds some delicious flavor and texture to the dish!

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