Ummmmm…..looks like we both hit the jackpot! I hereby renege every disparaging word I’ve ever uttered about a Brussels sprout. Roasted Brussels sprouts not only are a far cry from the boiled green little monsters that may have scared you away in the past—they are downright delicious. (I love them in this Sautéed Brussels Sprouts recipe.) These roasted Brussels sprouts with garlic are crispy on the outside and tender and caramelized on the inside. I burn my fingers picking and nibbling them straight off of the sheet pan every time I cook them, because they are just too yummy to wait for the plate! Today’s recipe is a spin on the classic Oven Roasted Brussels Sprouts with salt and pepper that I make for Ben and myself at least once a week (often more). That post covers lots of useful tips, and by the time you’ve made the recipe once or twice, you’ll have it memorized. While I love classic S&P, every now and then it’s fun to change it up. I was feeling frisky a few weeks ago and decided to see how Brussels sprouts would taste roasted with a heap of fresh garlic and generous handful of Parmesan. Well, if there’s a universe in which garlic and Parmesan don’t make everything on the plate that much better, I’m not living in it. These two ingredients are divine with roasted Brussels sprouts. The combination has become a fast favorite around here, and I suspect it will be in your house too!
How to Make the Best Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Garlic
The ingredient list is superbly short and sweet.
Brussels Sprouts. Look for ones that are bright green and fairly firm, without too many wilted leaves around the outside. They can be large or small (we’ll cut them down to size). I don’t recommend using frozen Brussels sprouts for this dish, but you can use them in this Roasted Frozen Brussels Sprouts recipe. FRESH GARLIC. While you can find recipes for roasted Brussels sprouts with garlic powder out there, garlic powder simply won’t taste the same.
Listen: I do not like chopping fresh garlic. It’s messy and sticky. If I can avoid chopping fresh garlic and use garlic powder in a recipe instead, I will. In this roasted Brussels sprouts recipe, however, the fresh garlic is 100% worth it. Like Brussels sprouts, garlic transforms when roasted. Its flavors mellow, concentrate, and become the stuff of culinary fantasy. Roasted garlic is wonderful. The good news? You can leave the fresh garlic cloves in big pieces, so the chopping is more streamlined. In fact, you WANT to leave the garlic in big pieces. More on that here in a bit.
Parmesan. Again, fresh is best. Buy a block and grate it yourself. You’ll notice the difference immediately. Or if you are in a hurry, find a box or bag of pre-grated Parmesan that your grocery store has done ahead of time. Whatever you do, just avoid the green can.
Need this recipe to be vegan, dairy free, Whole30, or Paleo? Omit the Parmesan. You can also swap the Parm for nutritional yeast; sprinkle on the nutritional yeast once the Brussels sprouts are finished roasting.
Olive oil, salt, and pepper. The usual roasted vegetables suspects.
And, that’s it! I have lots of suggested recipe twists for you below, but if you like, you can stop right here. Your roasted Brussels with garlic will be perfect just as they are. Once you gather your ingredients, here’s what comes next.
Slice the Brussels sprouts. I recommend trimming the ends (more on that below). If your Brussels sprouts are very large, cut them into thirds or fourths. Smaller ones can simply be cut in half lengthwise. Cut the garlic into chunky pieces. Emphasis on the CHUNKY. If you mince the garlic too finely, those tiny, laborious bits will burn instead of becoming sweet and tender. Reference the below photo for a visual.
I’m suggesting four cloves of garlic here, but if you live in a house of garlic fiends, feel free to add more. We found ourselves fighting over the garlic pieces, so to maintain the peace, next time I’ll toss in a clove or two more.
Drizzle with plenty of olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. I like to do this right on the baking sheet to save myself a bowl to wash. Roast the Brussels sprouts at 400 degrees F. The high temperature is essential to the exterior crispiness, interior tenderness, and the overall flavor transformation from semi-intense raw veggie to sweet caramelized veggie. Brussels sprouts roast for 20 to 30 minutes total, depending upon their size. Sprinkle with Parmesan. I do this about 10 minutes in, then return the pan to the oven to finish baking. By the time the Brussels sprouts are ready, the Parmesan will be golden, crisp, and tantalizing.
Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Garlic – Recipe Variations
This recipe as written yields tender, flavorful, eat-’em-off-the-pan addictive roasted Brussels sprouts. That said, you can certainly vary it up! Here are a few of my favorite spins:
Bacon. Add the bacon pieces to the sheet pan right along with the Brussels sprouts. They will cook in about the same amount of time. (Or follow the directions for these delicious Maple Bacon Brussels Sprouts.) This version is great with pancetta too! Onion. Thinly slice a red onion and add slices to the sheet pan with the Brussels sprouts. The colors are beautiful! Lemon. Delicious. A hint of acid really makes this recipe pop (just like with these Cabbage Steaks). After the Brussels sprouts have baked, squeeze the juice of half a lemon over the top. Extreme lemon lovers can use the full lemon (or try tossing the roasted sprouts with the zest too!). Balsamic Vinegar. In the last few minutes of baking, drizzle the roasted Brussels sprouts with 1 tablespoon of balsamic vinegar. Toss to coat, then return the pan to the oven and continue baking as directed. Herb. Fresh and fabulous. After the Brussels sprouts have finished roasting, sprinkle them with your fresh herbs of choice. I especially love rosemary or thyme. If using dried herbs, toss Brussels sprouts with them before roasting. I recommend using about 1 to 1 1/2 teaspoons total dried herbs; for fresh, you can use a larger amount (1 to 2 tablespoons). Red Pepper Flakes. Add a little heat! Before placing the Brussels sprouts on the sheet pan to roast, toss them with 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes, depending upon how much heat you’d like. Honey. After removing your roasted Brussels sprouts from the oven, drizzle them with a tablespoon of honey and toss to coat for sticky, sweet goodness! Brown Sugar. Mix a teaspoon of olive oil or melted butter and a teaspoon of brown sugar together and then toss with your fully-cooked roasted Brussels sprouts, until they are evenly coated. YUM!
How to Store and Reheat Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Garlic
As mentioned in the blog post above, roasted Brussels sprouts (and almost all roasted veggies!) can be stored for several days and reheat like a dream! Make a big batch tonight and enjoy having the healthy leftovers all week long.
To Refrigerate: Store roasted Brussels sprouts with garlic in an airtight container for up to four days in the fridge. To Reheat: Place desired amount of Brussels sprouts on a lightly oiled sheet pan. Rewarm in the oven at 350 degrees F for 5 or so minutes, until heated through. To Freeze: I don’t love freezing Brussels sprouts (or most roasted veggies) because they become somewhat soggy. That said, if you find yourself with a large amount leftover and don’t want to waste them, it’s still worthwhile. Place roasted Brussels sprouts with garlic in an airtight freezer-safe container to enjoy them again and again! When ready to eat, let thaw overnight in the refrigerator, then reheat as directed above.
Brussels Sprouts: To Trim or Not To Trim
You can either leave the end on your Brussels sprouts (fastest) OR trim it off.
Generally, I recommend trimming off the end of your Brussels sprouts. It only takes a few minutes, has a nicer presentation, and the resulting roasted Brussels sprouts will be more tender. To trim: Use a knife to trim off the bottom of the tough stem end of each Brussels sprout. Remove any yellow or damaged leaves, then cut each Brussels sprout in half.
What to Pair with Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Garlic
Chicken. This Baked Chicken Parmesan is one of our favorites, and it goes SO well with the crispy Brussels sprouts! Butternut Squash. Brussels sprouts and butternut squash are an ideal match. Both this Easy Roasted Butternut Squash Parmesan and Slow Cooker Risotto with Butternut Squash would be excellent pairings! Pork Chops. These easy, Crock Pot Pork Chops make for great meal prep. Pasta. We love to eat these Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Garlic as a side with our favorite pasta dishes like Creamy Chicken Bacon Pasta, Slow Cooker Beef Stroganoff, Crock Pot Pasta, and Creamy Sundried Tomato Chicken Pasta. Salmon. These Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Garlic pair perfectly with a juicy piece of salmon. Try them with Soy Ginger Salmon, Spicy Baked Salmon, and Balsamic Glazed Salmon.
Recommended Tools to Make Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Garlic
All purpose sheet pans. These are one of my most-often used kitchen tools. Fish turning spatula. BEST EVER for flipping pans of roasted veggies. Non-slip cutting board. Ideal for chopping garlic and trimming sprouts. Grater (for the Parmesan). I like a box grater box grater like this one or a coarse plane-style grater like this one.
Roasted Brussels sprouts with garlic and Parmesan have become a recipe that I make over and over. It’s so simple to pop a pan in the oven while you get the rest of dinner together. Serve them as a side with this Sautéed Cabbage, and everyone will be pleased! The leftovers I’ll toss with a salad, mix into an omelet, and often eat cold right out of the refrigerator, because that is just how good they are!
Which version do you plan to try? I’d love to hear from you in the comments section below!
