These sweet and savory balsamic maple Brussels sprouts are the ultimate side dish. Made with just five ingredients, this simple, stress-free recipe just might steal the show from your main course!
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Why You'll Love Making Balsamic Maple Brussels Sprouts
If you grew up hating your grandma's steamed Brussels sprouts, be ready for these roasted maple balsamic Brussels sprouts to completely change your mind! You'll love them because...
- Simple ingredients. With just five ingredients (if you don't count salt and pepper), most of which you will likely have in your pantry already, this recipe couldn't be simpler to whip up.
- Allergen friendly. Thanks to the minimal ingredients, this showstopper of a side dish also happens to be vegan, paleo, grain free, dairy free and nut free! This makes it a great side dish to serve at a holiday gathering where you have a lot of dietary restrictions to work around.
- Easy preparation. From start to finish this recipe is a breeze. The hardest part is slicing your Brussels sprouts in half! (Spoiler alert, you can often buy them already sliced and prepped for you). If you have the extra 30 minutes to marinate them in the balsamic maple sauce it's well worth it and will pay off with big flavor!
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
- Brussels sprouts-These are the star of the show so I wouldn't recommend subbing them out for something else. If you purchase them whole, you'll need to trim off the woody ends and slice in half, discarding any gross looking leaves. If you did want to use this same balsamic maple marinade another veggie like butternut squash or broccoli, you'll need to adjust your roasting time accordingly.
- Balsamic vinegar-Make sure you purchase a high quality balsamic vinegar for this recipe since the flavor will only be intensified once it reduces down in the cooking process. You'll want the actual vinegar and not a balsamic reduction or glaze for this recipe.
- Maple syrup-You'll definitely want to reach for a pure maple syrup and not a maple flavored syrup (I'm looking at you Mrs. Buttersworth!), so that it has a more intense maple taste without the added sugar.
- Garlic-You can sub out granulated garlic for fresh, just use ½ teaspoon for 1 pound of Brussels sprouts.
- Cooking oil-For high heat roasting recipes, we always reach for avocado oil which has a really light, neutral flavor and can withstand high temperatures.
How to Make Maple Balsamic Brussels Sprouts
Start but trimming the woody ends off of your Brussels sprouts and slicing them in half, discarding any brown leaves.
Add all your ingredients to a mixing bowl and stir together. Let sit for 30 minutes to marinate in the sauce if you have the time, or roast right away.
Place marinated Brussels sprouts on a sheet pan, cut side down, including any stray leaves that came unattached.
Roast at 425 degrees F for ~20 minutes, or until nicely caramelized and softened but not mushy.
FAQs
What do I serve with Brussels sprouts?
Brussels sprouts are delicious with just about any protein like grilled chicken, smoked pork tenderloin, Thanksgiving turkey or steak. They are also exceptionally tasty alongside sweet potatoes!
Can you air fry these balsamic maple Brussels sprouts?
Yesss! To air fry, you will still marinate the sprouts for 30 minutes. Then place them in your preheated air fryer basket in a single layer, making sure they aren't stacked on top of each other. Cook at 425 for 12-15 minutes, tossing halfway through.
How to shop for Brussels sprouts?
When buying your sprouts, look for ones with a rich green color and tight leaves without discoloration. Generally speaking the smaller sized sprouts have a slightly sweeter flavor as well which works great with this recipe. We prefer to buy our sprouts whole and cut them ourselves versus buying the precut ones from the store which don't taste as fresh.
Can you make these ahead of time?
These roasted maple balsamic Brussels sprouts will lose their crispiness as they sit. We recommend making them right before serving. Your best bet for reheating them is to pop them in an air fryer for 3-4 minutes, versus using a microwave.
Tips for Success
- Don't overcrowd your pan! Make sure the sprouts are spread evenly on your sheet pan without overlapping, otherwise they will steam instead of roasting and getting all nice and caramelized.
- The marination step is key for allowing the maple and balsamic to work their way into every nook and cranny of your sprouts. You can totally skip the 30 minute marinade step, but you won't get that deep maple balsamic flavor.
- Use a high quality balsamic vinegar and maple syrup. Since this recipe calls for minimal ingredients, each one really needs to shine. The better the quality of your ingredients, the better your dish will turn out!
More Paleo Recipes You'll Love
Recipe
Balsamic Maple Brussels Sprouts
- Total Time: 25+30 min marinade
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
Description
These sweet and savory balsamic maple Brussels sprouts are the ultimate side dish. Made with just five ingredients, this simple, stress-free recipe just might steal the show from your main course!
Ingredients
- 1 pound brussels sprouts
- 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- 2 tablespoons pure maple syrup
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 3 tablespoons avocado oil
- 1 teaspoon coarse sea salt
- fresh ground black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 425 degrees F.
- Prep your Brussels sprouts by trimming off the woody stem, discarding any brown leaves and slicing in half lengthwise.
- Add your Brussels sprouts, balsamic vinegar, maple syrup, garlic, oil and salt to a mixing bowl and toss to combine. Let marinate for roughly 30 minutes to soak up the flavor.
- Spread marinated sprouts onto a baking sheet, cut side down, along with any stray leaves that fell off. Roast for 20 minutes without tossing. Once fork tender but not mushy, remove from oven.
- Taste for seasoning and top with fresh cracked black pepper.
Notes
- You can substitute the fresh garlic for ½ teaspoon granulated garlic.
- Prep Time: 35
- Cook Time: 20
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