Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Bacon and Chestnuts

Prep: 5 minCook: 35 min4 servingsmediumBritish
Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Bacon and Chestnuts

Crispy roasted Brussels sprouts halved and tossed with smoky bacon lardons, roasted chestnuts, and sunflower oil. Cooked in two stages for golden exteriors and tender centers, finished with seasoning. Serve hot for a savory side with contrasting textures.

Ingredients

4 servings
  • 1 lb Brussels sprouts, trimmed and halved
  • 3 ½ oz smoked bacon lardons
    pancetta1:1pork

    similar smoky flavor and crispy texture

  • 3 ½ oz chestnuts, roughly chopped, vacuum pack
    roasted hazelnuts1:1nutadds tree_nuts

    adds different texture and flavor complexity

  • 1 tbsp sunflower oil
    olive oil1:1oil

    higher smoke point not required but neutral flavor maintained

    Full guide →
  • salt
  • black pepper

Instructions

  1. 1

    Preheat oven to 400°F fan or 425°F.

  2. 2

    Bring a pan of salted water to boil over medium-high heat.

  3. 3

    Wash Brussels sprouts, cut in half, and add to boiling water.

  4. 4

    Cook for 3 minutes, drain, and set aside to steam dry.

  5. 5

    Combine bacon lardons, chopped chestnuts, and sunflower oil in a large bowl.

  6. 6

    Add par-cooked Brussels sprouts to the bowl and season with salt and black pepper.

  7. 7

    Stir everything together until combined.

  8. 8

    Spread mixture in a single layer on a baking tray with sprouts cut side down.

  9. 9

    Roast for 10 minutes.

  10. 10

    Remove tray from oven, toss everything with sprouts cut side up.

  11. 11

    Return to oven and cook for a further 10 minutes until golden and tender.

  12. 12

    Serve immediately.

Tips

Tip 1

Par-cook Brussels sprouts briefly to ensure even cooking and tender centers.

Tip 2

Arrange sprouts cut side down initially for caramelization, then flip to finish.

Tip 3

Serve immediately while bacon is crispy and sprouts are hot.

Good to Know

Storage

Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 2 days. Reheat in a 180C oven for 5-8 minutes to restore crispness.

Make Ahead

Par-cook Brussels sprouts up to 4 hours ahead. Combine all ingredients and roast just before serving for best texture.

Serve With

Serve immediately as a hot side dish alongside roasted chicken, pork, or beef.

See pairing guide →

Common Mistakes

Watch

Skip par-cooking to avoid unevenly cooked sprouts with raw centers.

Watch

Do not flip sprouts midway through if you want deep caramelization on cut sides.

Watch

Avoid crowding the tray to prevent steaming instead of roasting.

Substitutions

Dairy-Free Swaps

sunflower oil
butter0.75:1dairyadds dairy

adds richness, may reduce crispness slightly

Full guide →

General Alternatives

smoked bacon lardons
pancetta1:1pork

similar smoky flavor and crispy texture

Full guide →
sunflower oil
olive oil1:1oil

higher smoke point not required but neutral flavor maintained

Full guide →
chestnuts
roasted hazelnuts1:1nutadds tree_nuts

adds different texture and flavor complexity

Find more substitutions →