Here’s how to make the best Brussels sprouts recipe…ever. They’re baked until impossibly crispy and drizzled with a maple balsamic glaze.

Every now and then, a recipe comes along that blows us out of the water. Such is the case with these Brussels sprouts. These really are next level, and here’s why. They’re impossibly crispy, baked until they’re caramelized and the outside layers flake off into darkened crunchy chips. Then they’re draped in a tangy maple balsamic glaze that heightens the flavors to their peak. One bite of these, and everyone around the table will be asking how you did it.

How to cook Brussels sprouts to perfection

Sure, you can fry up these mighty sprouts. They’re delicious, but it’s messy and it uses a lot of oil. So to us, the optimal cooking method for Brussels sprouts is roasting them until crispy. But there are a few tricks to getting that perfect charred caramelization. Here’s what to know:

• Roast at high heat, in a single layer cut side down. 450 degrees Fahrenheit is the ultimate temperature for roasting vegetables. Place all those cute sprouts cut side down for the best caramelization. You’ll want them in a single layer: no stacking!
• Use parchment paper to line your baking sheet: not a silicone mat! Parchment paper makes them the crispiest; silicone mats make them soggy.
• Bake one tray at a time. To get maximum airflow in your oven, bake only one tray at once. (We learned this the hard way.)
• Don’t stir! That’s right, don’t even think about stirring! Throw them in for 25 minutes and they should crisp up beautifully.

Accent with a maple glaze (optional!)

These Brussels sprouts are absolutely delicious roasted with olive oil and salt. The outer layers fall off and make crunchy, salty chips that are irresistibly good. Most of the time we eat them plain: because we like them savory! But want to take them over the top? They’re fantastic with a little sweet nuance from a tangy sweet glaze.

For the maple glaze, all you’ll do is heat equal parts maple syrup and balsamic vinegar until they reduce into a slightly thick syrup. We added a shake of soy sauce for good measure. Drizzle that over your Brussels sprouts, and you’ll think you’ve died and gone to heaven.

More flavor variations

Want to get creative? There are lots more ways to flavor Brussels sprouts. Here are some ideas:

• Spicy: Make a spicy variation by adding hot sauce to the maple glaze (about 1 teaspoon), or try these Spicy Brussels Sprouts.
• Honey: Another great flavor pairing is honey! Drizzle simply with honey or even hot honey.
• Hoisin: Brussels go well with Asian-style flavors. Toss with purchased or homemade hoisin sauce.

How to make a larger serving of Brussels sprouts

Did you read all our tips above about crispy Brussels sprouts? Let’s see if you were paying attention. How many trays can you have in the oven at once? One tray. That’s right: to get the maximum airflow around your sprouts while they bake, the oven must not have any other food in it.

How to roast more than 1 1/2 pounds at one time? You can do this if you have a larger baking sheet that covers the entire baking rack. That’s an 18 x 13 pan, also called a “half sheet pan“. You could comfortably fit about 2 to 2 1/2 pounds of Brussels sprouts on a half sheet pan, making sure they have a little space around each.

Brussels sprouts nutrition

Are Brussels sprouts healthy? Gone are the days of soggy canned sprouts being forced on kids to get their vegetables. These crispy sprouts taste good, they’re almost as addicting as French fries. So are they good for you? Here are the nutrition facts for 1/2 cup plain cooked Brussels sprouts:

Ingredient	Calories	Protein	Carbs	Fiber	Fat
Brussels sprouts	28 calories	2 grams	6 grams	2 grams	0 grams

Keep in mind that oil and the glaze add calories to the nutrition info! Here are some of the top benefits of these mighty sprouts. Brussels sprouts are (data source):

• Low in calories and relatively high in fiber.
• Full of Vitamin K and Vitamin C (137% and 81% of your daily need respectively), and other vitamins and nutrients.
• Full of antioxidants which may decrease inflammation and increase heart health.

More ways to cook Brussels sprouts

This Brussels sprouts recipe is a favorite healthy side dish, perfect for any easy dinner (or even Thanksgiving). But there are lots of other great ways to prepare this healthy vegetable. Here are some more Brussels sprouts recipes that show more ways to cook them:

• Shredded: Shred them to make a shaved Brussels sprout salad with pomegranate or sweet potato salad
• Grilled: Throw them onto the grill for grilled Brussels sprouts
• Soup: Thinly slice them to add to farro & Brussels sprouts soup
• Pizza topping: Add them as a pizza topping

This Brussels sprouts recipe is…

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

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More easy side dish recipes

This recipe is one of our top easy side dish recipes…ever! Sprouts are always a hit. But here are a few more ideas for vegetable side dishes:

• Whip up a batch of thin and crispy Carrot Fries (Ranch Seasoned!)
• Make colorful and healthy Ultimate Sauteed Vegetables
• Get your daily Vitamin C quota with tender and sweet Sauteed Peppers or Roasted Bell Peppers
• Add a load of plant-based protein with Easy Canned Chickpeas or Easy White Beans

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