Brussel Sprouts with Bacon, Dates, and Apples

Veggie lovers will swoon for this Brussel Sprouts with Bacon, Dates, and Apples recipe! So good even the most brussels sprout weary will dig in!

Veggies lovers will swoon for these Brussels Sprouts with Bacon. This is a one pan side dish you can pop in the oven and let cook while you prepare the rest of your meal. Then just chop, mix, and serve after roasting.

They’re the perfect roasted counterpart to my favorite purple brussel sprouts slaw. One for hot summer days, one for savory weeknight meals.

BRUSSELS SPROUTS WITH BACON, DATES, AND APPLES
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Before making this recipe I had never eaten a brussel sprout in my life. I totally have the “eeeeeewww” stigma in my head.

I pictured a steamed pile of weird-smelling greens on a plate. But  NO!

I say unto you, Brussels sprouts are delicious!

And with other little treats like apples and dates thrown in, they’re a new staple in my recipe book.

They’re that good.

These sprouts broke down my fear barrier of these little guys and made it all okay.

Now, I didn’t dive into this venture lightly. I asked my friends, who I knew ate these little guys, about the best way to cook them. They unanimously said to roast them, and it was game on.

I grabbed some balsamic vinegar, spices, a little brown sugar, and get cooking. And since I’m totally one of those bacon freaks your mom warned you about, I added some bacon too.

I took this baked brussel sprouts recipe to a family dinner, and my Brussels sprouts loving sister gave me a big thumbs up.

I’m calling that a big win.

If you’ve never had sprouts or are looking for a new way to serve them up, this recipe it the bee’s knees!

Ingredients for Baked Brussel Sprouts

• Brussels sprouts
• Olive oil
• Unsalted butter
• Balsamic vinegar
• Brown sugar
• Garlic powder
• Onion powder
• Kosher salt
• Black pepper
• Bacon
• Medjool dates
• Gala apple (or any other sweet apple)

Pretty simple stuff, right? I had everything except for the Brussels sprouts and dates on hand already. I have big plans to use the extra dates for Bacon-Wrapped Chorizo Stuffed Dates later this week. YUM!

If you love Balsamic, feel free to drizzle some balsamic glaze over these brussels sprouts before serving.

How to Cook Brussel Sprouts with Bacon

This recipe is SUPER easy. Mix, roast, and stir. Ready? Here we go!

1. Start by preheating your oven to 400 degrees F. Then line a baking sheet with a silicone mat or some parchment paper. Set the pan aside for now.
2. Next, clean your Brussels sprouts. Rinse them under cool water, peel off the outside leaves (just like you would for lettuce), and then cut off the stems. If your sprouts are big, cut them into quarters lengthwise. If your sprouts are small, cutting them in half will work just fine.
3. Once the Brussels sprouts are prepped put them into a large bowl. Drizzle with olive oil, melted butter, and vinegar over the sprouts. Sprinkle the brown sugar, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper all over the sprouts. Give everything a stir until the sprouts are coated.
4. Grab your baking sheet and lay the bacon to one side. Then add the brussels sprouts on other side of the pan and spread them into a single layer. This will cook the bacon while the sprouts roast. One pan goodness friends.
5. Place the baking sheet into your oven and roast for 25 to 30 minutes. When it’s ready the bacon will be crispy and the Brussels sprouts will be browned a bit.
6. While everything is cooking, prep the dates and apples. Cut the dates in half and take out the pit. Then cut into small pieces. I quarter each date and then chop the quarters into thirds.
7. Next, core the apple and cut it into small pieces, about the same size as the dates.
8. Take the pan out of your oven. Transfer the bacon to a cutting board and the sprouts to a serving bowl. Chop the bacon and add it to the sprouts along with the dates and apples. I like to drizzle a little of the bacon fat from the pan into the bowl too.
9. Stir everything together, season with salt and pepper to taste, and you’re ready to go.

What to serve with brussel sprouts with bacon

If you love roasted brussel sprouts with bacon, you can enjoy this recipe with any meal. These are some of my favorite pairings with this side. Busy weeknight chicken (it cooks right alongside your sprouts!), rosemary steak skewers with balsamic glaze, breaded pork chops, or prime rib around the holidays.

Get your Brussels sprouts fix with these delicious recipes!

• Apple Pecan Brussels Sprouts Salad
• Fettuccine Cauli-Fredo with Brussels Sprouts & Bacon
• Brussel Sprouts, Purple Cabbage, and Carrot Slaw
• Citrus Roasted Brussels Sprouts
• Balsamic Roasted Brussels Sprouts
• Wile Rice and Brussels Sprouts Salad
• More SIDE DISH recipes…

Tools used to make this Brussels Sprouts with Bacon, Dates, and Apples recipe

Baking sheet: A nice big baking sheet is a must-have for any kitchen. This half pan sheet is large than a regular cookie and works great for anything you’re baking.

Parchment paper: Your baked goods and roasted veggies will never stick again! I love using parchment paper for everything from cookies to pizzas!

Mixing bowls: These mixing bowls are perfect for mixing and serving. I love the varied sizes so I always have the right size bowl for all my mixing needs.

Serving bowls: These white serving bowls are some of my favorite dishes. It’s perfect for everything from salads to pasta. Simple, classic, and a must have!

*This post originally posted on 01/14/2015.