Brussels Sprouts with Bacon and Beer
Long gone are the days of eating over-boiled Brussels Sprouts that made you cringe as a kid. Adult-you is going to LOVE this Brussels Sprouts with Bacon and Beer recipe.
Say Hello to Your New Favorite Side Dish
For me, the words “brussels sprouts” immediately evoke dark childhood memories of stubbornly sitting at the kitchen table… Refusing to eat slimy, off-colored greenish orbs.
Was this your early experience with brussels sprouts as well? Then have no fear, I have got a game-changer for you today, my friend!
I realize this is going to sound awfully cocky, but I’m going to say it anyway.
If you do not like Brussels Sprouts, it’s only because you haven’t eaten MY incredible Brussels Sprouts Recipe.
There it is. I said it.
It’s not that I have some magic power to enhance their flavor. Believe it or not, Brussels sprouts are actually quite tasty and refreshing little veggies when treated with the love they deserve.
Yet, I do have two magical flavor enhancing ingredients that can elevate nearly any dish known to mankind…
BEER and BACON.
That’s right. Grownup you is absolutely going to love these perfectly crispy Brussels sprouts, caramelized with mouthwatering bacon and beer.
Brussels Bacon and Beer – Best Friends Forever
Why do bacon and beer make such a wonderful combination for this Brussels sprouts dish?
The salty essence of thick-cut bacon and sweet hoppy notes from the beer are more than these stubborn little sprouts can handle.
As they bathe in the richness of the bacon and beer, the sprouts grow tender and lose their bitter edge. They evolve into something more than the sum of the components. They become intensely Sprout-astic!
Crispy, savory, and bursting with flavor, these Brussels sprouts with bacon and beer are going to be your new B.F.F.
What You’ll Need to Make Brussels Sprouts with Bacon and Beer
Brussels sprouts with bacon alone are something to be relished. Brussels sprouts with bacon and beer can turn even the toughest Brussels sprouts skeptics into fans of this humble little cabbage. Guaranteed.
I mean, really, what isn’t made better by adding bacon and beer?!
Here’s everything you need to make true Brussels Sprouts believers out of your family and friends:
- Brussels sprouts, trimmed and halved
- 1 shallot, peeled and sliced
- 6 ounces of thick-cut bacon – about 6 slices, chopped
- One bottle of your favorite light and crisp beer.
- Crushed red pepper
- Salt and pepper
- Large skillet
How to Make The BEST Brussels Sprouts with Bacon and Beer
This savory recipe takes about 30 minutes total start to finish, and is a one skillet side dish. So it’s as easy to cook as it is delicious to eat!
Here’s how to make my Brussels Sprouts with Bacon and Beer:
1. First, prep the Brussels sprouts, shallots, and bacon: Trim the ends off the Brussels sprouts and cut in half lengthwise, thinly slice your shallots, and chop bacon into roughly ½ inch pieces.
2. Next, sauté the bacon in a large, heavy skillet over medium high heat, until bacon is just crispy but not overcooked or burnt.
3. To the skillet add sliced shallots and continue to cook for a few minutes until translucent; then, add the Brussels sprouts.
4. Add the bottle of beer and spices, and bring to a gentle boil on medium-low heat.
5. Continue to stir occasionally until the beer reduces to a glaze, about 12-15 minutes.
Serve as a hearty side dish for Thanksgiving, Christmas, or at any meal worth celebrating!
Get The Full Brussels Sprouts Recipe Below
Brussels Sprouts Recipe FAQ
What is the best beer to use with brussels and bacon?
I used an I.P.A. (India Pale Ale) to make this recipe, as I think the bright hops add a great flavor profile to the Brussels sprouts and bacon. You can use whatever beer you prefer, like a stout or pilsner; however, I wouldn’t recommend anything that would be too overpowering, like porters or flavored beer.
Can I make this recipe in advance?
To keep the Brussels sprouts optimally fresh, I would not prepare in advance.
Does this dish freeze well?
No, I do not recommend freezing. You can store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for a few days and reheat in the oven, but unfortunately the Brussels sprouts will not be quite as perfectly delicious as when you first serve them.
Is it possible to make this a vegetarian Brussels Sprouts and Beer side dish?
Absolutely! You can substitute 1/4 cup of your preferred cooking oil for the bacon. Or you can add some sort of tofu-bacon substitute.
Can this recipe be made non-alcoholic without beer?
Yes! You can use alcohol-free and/or gluten free beer. You can also substutute 1 cup of chicken or vegetable broth for the beer. The dish is is then paleo, gluten free, and keto-friendly!
More Delicious Side Dishes
- Roasted Brussels Sprouts Gratin
- The Best Sauteed Mushrooms Recipe
- Garlic Butter Scalloped Sweet Potatoes
- Beer Mac and Cheese Recipe
- 7 Ingredient Company Potatoes
- HomeGrown’s Collard Greens
- Brussels Sprouts with Lemon and Almonds – from Love and Olive Oil
- Roasted Broccoli with Soy and Sesame – from Kalyn’s Kitchen
- Rosemary Roasted Beets – from Guilty Kitchen
Brussels Sprouts with Bacon and Beer
Ingredients
- 2 pounds Brussels sprouts
- 6 ounces thick-cut bacon, chopped
- 1 shallot, peeled and sliced
- 12 ounce bottle beer, something light and crisp
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- Pinch crushed red pepper
Instructions
- Trim the ends of each Brussels sprout, removing excess leaves. Cut the sprouts in half, leaving the smallest sprouts whole.
- Place a large skillet over medium heat. Add the chopped bacon and saute until crisp.
- Add the sliced shallot. Saute another 2-3 minutes to soften. Then add the Brussels sprouts. Stir and sear the sides of the sprouts for 4-5 minutes.
- Pour the bottle of beer into the skillet. Add the salt and both peppers. Bring to a simmer and lower the heat a little. Stir and simmer until the beer has reduced to a glaze and the sprouts are cooked through—12-15 minutes.
I made this for my GF and she loved it. I saw the IPA in your photos so I also brewed it with an IPA. The recipe was fantastic and I will make it again, but I think it’s best to use a less bitter beer. I could taste the bitterness from the hops concentrated in this recipe as the ipa cooked down. I have a doppel bock in my fridge for the next batch. Thanks for posting this great recipe.
OMG !!! I made these for a holiday dinner potluck this afternoon and am standing in the kitchen picking away at them they are so good!!!!!! (by the way its 9 am )
Those pictures are ridiculous! Spot on!
I’m gonna make this tonight… stay tuned
I bought 2 lbs. of baby brussels sprouts the other day and I made your recipe this evening. Mind you, I have made and eaten brussels sprouts with beer and bacon before and it was incredibly delicious. However, when I made it 15 – 20 years ago there was (to my knowledge) no IPA beer. The recipe that I made called for a stout. Comparing the two, I’ll have to say (sorry) that the stout was much better than the IPA. I will say that my husband loved the sprouts that I made this evening, so maybe it’s just a matter of beer taste. Thank you so much for the recipe.
I adore brussel sprouts and don’t understand people who don’t. They must’ve had bad brussel sprouts as a kid or as an adult. My mom was one of those folks who over boiled them to death. I couldn’t stand them as a child BUT then I found Ina Garten’s Roasted Brussel Sprouts in her first Barefoot Contessa book and fell in love. So easy and so yummy. These look really good too. For months my son said he hated them (he hadn’t even tried them) but the last time I made them I insisted that he try them and that was it – he said that “it was like eating candy” and he had his whole serving.
I am going to try this recipe. Thanks a lot.
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I’m in love!
These look marvelous! We love brussel sprouts and I have enjoyed them with bacon but never tried them with beer but it sounds delish! Thanks for sharing this recipe!!
Brussels sprouts are my new most loved vegetable. This is going to be the next recipe I use when I get some more sprouts, how can you miss with bacon and beer. One question though: Do you drain the grease from the bacon or do you leave a little for coating and flavor?
I absolutely LOVE braised Brussel Sprouts with bacon. I have never had it with beer before but this recipe is making me a believer. Bookmarked!
I love brussels sprouts and this looks like the most perfect recipe to convert my husband to liking them too!! Your photos look so mouthwatering!
I love brussel sprouts but yours sound out of this world. I can’t wait to try.
HA! I hear ya, my friend! If you say you don’t like Brussels sprouts, I just think you haven’t had them prepared correctly (most likely boiled or steamed… gross!)
This, however, should turn the skeptical into converts!
I finally got my husband to eat brussels sprouts after roasting them with olive oil and salt. What a fight it was to get him to try them, and then he loved them. I have always believed that if you don’t like something, you probably just haven’t had it prepared the right way for you. I can’t wait to try this…with beer and bacon, I know it won’t take any convincing this time!
That is a great combination. My husband might even try a brussel sprout made with beer! Come visit. Tomorrow we are making roasted vegetables with grape seed oil. Delicious.
All my favorites! Perfect combo’s! Yum! Love beer recipes, and this is a keeper!
I love B Sprouts with bacon but I have not tried them with beer. Love the idea!