Here’s the secret to the best crispy Brussels sprouts! They’re roasted until blackened and caramelized, then tossed with a tangy sweet balsamic sauce.

Oh my. These crispy Brussels sprouts so crispy, you’ll think they were fried. But they’re baked! Yes, this is our new favorite way to eat Brussels sprouts: and we didn’t need a new one. But you know those crispy Brussels that you can get at a restaurant? These are just as good. They’re baked until impossibly crunchy, then tossed with a balsamic and honey sauce that brings in the tangy and sweet notes. Alex and I could eat at least 10 pans of these in a sitting. So we try to make only one at a time! Here’s how to do it in your kitchen!

The secret to making ultra crispy Brussels sprouts

Every time I see crispy Brussel sprouts on a menu, I can’t resist ordering them. This formerly hated vegetable has had a huge resurgence in popularity lately. And for good reason: roasting or frying these babies makes them taste infinitely better than the cooking methods of the 1950’s. Luckily, you can recreate restaurant-style glamour at home using simply your own oven. It’s a healthy and easy side dish that tastes much greater than the sum of its parts.

Here are a few tips to getting the crispiest sprouts in town:

• Roast at very high heat (450 degrees). The best roasted veggies are roasted at very high heat, otherwise they’ll turn out soggy.
• Place them on the baking sheet cut side down. Turn down all those flat sides, and you’ll get the perfect browning.
• Don’t roast anything else at the same time! This one’s important. To get crispy Brussels sprouts with the recipe below, it’s easiest to have them as the only thing in the oven. Cooking other foods at the same time changes the cook time and moisture level.

Avoid silicone baking mats

Alex and I suggest using parchment paper in all of our roasting recipes.Why? Parchment paper is great for easy cleanup: so food doesn’t get glued to the pan! If you don’t have any parchment paper, you can roast right on the baking sheet (just have fun later!).

Whatever the case: Don’t use a silicone baking mat for this recipe. Over time, we’ve found the silicone baking mats make veggies more soggy. To get the crispiest of crispy Brussels sprouts, use either parchment paper or just skip it.

Toss with balsamic sauce!

Follow all those hints, and you’ll have supremely crispy Brussels sprouts! To take them over the top and make restaurant-style flavor, we tossed them with a balsamic and honey sauce. It adds huge tangy sweet flavor. Here are a few notes on the sauce:

• Omit for the crispiest sprouts. Adding the sauce does wet the sprouts, making them a little less crispy. So if your goal is ultra crispy, try them without it first. But it does add huge flavor, so we liked it with the sauce.
• Use maple syrup for vegan. The flavor is great with honey, but it tastes almost exactly the same with maple syrup. So it’s a great vegan substitute!
• Add hot sauce for a spicy variation. If you like the heat, add a little hot sauce into the honey balsamic sauce.

More crispy Brussels sprouts variations!

There are lots of other tasty ways to top crispy Brussels sprouts! Here are few more ideas we’d recommend:

• Pecans: Add toasted pecans or glazed pecans for another crunch
• Goat cheese or feta crumbles: Topping with goat cheese or feta adds another boost (like these Brussels Sprouts with Goat Cheese)
• Shaved Parmesan or Pecorino cheese: Or, add an element of elegance with shaved aged cheese.
• Balsamic reduction: Even more concentrated sweet tart flavor is in this Balsamic Reduction.

This crispy Brussels sprouts recipe is…

Vegetarian, vegan, plant-based, dairy-free and gluten-free.

Print

More Brussels sprouts recipes

Brussels sprouts are some of our favorite healthy veggies to eat! Here’s a list of some more Brussels sprouts recipes you might enjoy:

• Shaved Brussels Sprout Salad: Tastes like a bowl of vibrant confetti! It will leave you glowing from the inside out.
• Brussels Sprout & Sweet Potato Salad A perfect balance of textures and flavors, this sweet potato salad features shaved Brussels sprouts, roasted sweet potatoes, pecans, and Gouda cheese.
• Farro & Brussels Sprouts Soup: This warming soup features shaved Brussels sprouts that act similar to greens!

A Couple Cooks - Healthy, Whole Food, & Vegetarian Recipes