While our Cheesy Brussel Sprout Bake is still hands down my daughter’s favorite, these Maple Bacon Brussel Sprouts are a delicious, crowd-pleasing Brussel sprouts recipe with just three ingredients – plus a hit of salt and pepper.

Maple Bacon Brussel Sprouts Recipe

Did you know that “Brussel sprouts” are actually supposed to be called “Brussels sprouts”?

These mini cabbage-looking vegetables are native to the Belgian capital and like Parmesan cheese (from Parma, Italy) they are named after their origin city. But as much as I can retrain my brain to capitalize the B, I still can’t quite get the hang of calling them Brussels sprouts.

Okay, random tangent over – and back to the recipe.

These maple bacon Brussel sprouts are one of my favorite ways to serve Brussel sprouts – quick, easy, delicious and just 3 ingredients. I doubt there’s much in this world that isn’t made 1000x more delicious by the addition of maple and bacon. It’s the perfect combination of salty, savoury and sweet.

All cruciferous vegetables (cauliflower, broccoli, Brussel sprouts, etc) contain a sulfur-containing phytocehmical called glucosinolate, which is responsible for that sulphuric odor and bitter flavor that many of us associate with Brussel sprouts – and the reason why so many people dislike them! By roasting or pan searing them, you allow the natural sugars of the Brussel sprouts to become caramelized to counter the bitter flavor. The maple syrup also helps counteract the bitter flavor by mellowing it out and enhancing the sweetness brought out by caramelizing the Brussel sprouts in the bacon grease.

I love that this recipe can be made completely in my cast iron skillet on the stove – so if the oven is occupied with a main dish, you can still have perfectly crispy, delicious Brussel sprouts. (However, I’ve also included oven directions below and in the recipe card.)

Health Benefits of Brussel Sprouts

Folate – needed to make red and white blood cells in the bone marrow, convert carbohydrates into energy, and produce DNA and RNA
Manganese – reduces inflammation and helps regulate blood sugars
Vitamin C – promotes iron absorption, supports the immune system, necessary for the growth, development and repair of all body tissues
Vitamin K – essential for bone health
Fibre – regulates blood sugars and helps support a healthy digestive system
Anti-oxidants – helps lower your risk of chronic disease by reducing oxidative stress
Omega-3 Fatty Acids – reduce blood triglycerides, slow cognitive decline, reduce insulin resistance and decrease inflammation

Can you make Maple Bacon Brussel Sprouts ahead of time? Personally, I don’t recommend this as the Brussel sprouts and bacon will lose their crispy texture and the sulphuric smell/flavor of the Brussel sprouts will become more pronounced as the recipe sits in the fridge. Luckily, this recipe only takes about 20-25 minutes to make (and most of that is just occasional stirring) so it’s really easy to whip up fresh when you want to serve it.

However, if you want to cut and trim the Brussel sprouts and cook the bacon (preserving the bacon grease) in advance, that can save you a bit of time on the day you plan to make these.

Can I use pancake syrup in place of the maple syrup? I think I’d lose my Canadian citizenship if I answered anything but no to this question. Pancake syrup is no substitution and will result in less flavor than using real maple syrup.

How can I change up these Brussel sprouts with bacon and maple syrup? If you’ve already made this recipe and are looking for ways to make it a little bit different so your family doesn’t get bored of them, trying adding a drizzle of balsamic vinegar along with the maple syrup or tossing in some toasted pecans just before serving.

Can these Brussels sprouts with bacon and maple syrup be made in the oven? Yes! I just prefer the stovetop method to keep my oven free for other dishes, but if you’d prefer to cook them in the oven:

Preheat your oven to 400ºF as you cook the bacon
Remove the bacon and then add the Brussel sprouts, maple syrup and seasoning to the cast iron skillet
Place the skillet in the oven and cook for 20-30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the Brussel sprouts are golden and crispy
Add the chopped bacon back to the skillet for the last 5 minutes of baking

Maple Bacon Brussel Sprouts Ingredients

Bacon
Brussel Sprouts, outer leaves discarded and cut in half
Maple Syrup
Salt and Pepper, to taste

Scroll down to the printable recipe card for full measurements.

Tip: have some extra cooking oil on hand, in case there isn’t enough bacon fat to caramelize the Brussel sprouts.

Kitchen Tools You May Find Helpful

Cast Iron Skillet <– I love the versatility of a good cast-iron pan – you can make everything from eggs to dessert in them and they transition easily from the stove to the oven. This one is pre-seasoned and great for even heating
Measuring cups and spoons
Sharp kitchen knife
Wooden spoon or spatula <– I like these spatulas because they are one solid piece and don’t have removable heads for bacteria to get trapped underneath. Plus they are heat-resistant and have a lifetime warranty.

How to Make Brussel Sprouts with Bacon and Maple Syrup

Place a large skillet over medium heat and add the bacon once hot.

Cook your bacon until you reach your desired level of doneness and remove to a paper towel-lined plate.

Add the halved brussel sprouts to the skillet with the hot bacon grease and caramelize. Stir occasionally for 10 minutes.

(While the brussel sprouts are cooking, chop up the bacon.)

Once the brussel sprouts are well-browned, drizzle on the maple syrup and season with salt and pepper.

And the chopped bacon back to the skillet and allow the maple syrup-coated mixture to cook for 1-2 additional minutes before taking off the heat.

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Yield: 3 1/2 cups, approximately 7 servings

Maple Bacon Brussel Sprouts

Name: Maple Bacon Brussel Sprouts
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 25 min
Yield: 3
Cuisine: Side Dish Recipe
Ingredients: 3 cups Brussel sprouts, outer leaves discarded and halved; 3 strips bacon; 2 Tablespoons maple syrup; Salt and pepper, to taste

A delicious 3-ingredient recipe for sweet, savoury and salty maple bacon Brussel sprouts, the perfect easy recipe to make everyone in your family LOVE Brussel Sprouts.

Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes

Total Time 25 minutes

Ingredients

3 cups Brussel sprouts, outer leaves discarded and halved
3 strips bacon
2 Tablespoons maple syrup
Salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions

Place a large skillet over medium heat and add the bacon once hot.
Cook your bacon until you reach your desired level of doneness and remove to a paper towel-lined plate.
Add the halved brussel sprouts to the skillet with the hot bacon grease and caramelize. Stir occasionally for 10 minutes.
(While the brussel sprouts are cooking, chop up the bacon.)
Once the brussel sprouts are well-browned, drizzle on the maple syrup and season with salt and pepper.
And the chopped bacon back to the skillet and allow the maple syrup-coated mixture to cook for 1-2 additional minutes before taking off the heat.

Notes

To make Maple Bacon Brussel Sprouts in the oven:

Preheat your oven to 400ºF as you cook the bacon
Remove the bacon and then add the Brussel sprouts, maple syrup and seasoning to the cast iron skillet
Place the skillet in the oven and cook for 20-30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the Brussel sprouts are golden and crispy
Add the chopped bacon back to the skillet for the last 5 minutes of baking

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Nutrition Information:

Yield:

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 62Total Fat: 2gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 5mgSodium: 140mgCarbohydrates: 9gFiber: 2gSugar: 5gProtein: 3g

Sugar, Spice and Glitter uses an auto-generate nutrition calculator. Nutrition information isn’t always accurate unless analyzed in a scientific lab, so these should be considered more of a guideline than medical information.

I hope your family loves this easy Maple Bacon Brussel Sprouts recipe as much as mine does! It’s a simple, 3-ingredient recipe that will totally change how you think about Brussel sprouts!

For more Brussel Sprout recipes your family will love, check out our Brussel Sprouts Salad with Feta and Bacon or our Creamy Cheesy Brussel Sprout Bake recipe.

Maple Bacon Brussel Sprouts