Balsamic Glazed Brussels Sprouts and Sweet Potatoes
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Balsamic Glazed Brussels Sprouts and Sweet Potatoes are perfect for both entertaining or for any weeknight dinner. This colorful side dish combines roasted Brussels sprouts and sweet potatoes, crispy bacon, and a delicious Balsamic drizzle.
Hello, favorite vegetable dish! For other sides worthy of a holiday dinner, try my Loaded Fall Harvest Salad with Honey Balsamic Dressing or my Make-Ahead Creamy Mashed Potatoes. So many choices for y’all!
Roasted Potatoes and Brussels Sprouts
Roasted Veggies are on repeat here at our home, because it’s so easy to add flavor to foods that are good for you. Even picky kids can learn to like vegetables when you incorporate olive oil, salt, and pepper. Adding bacon is one step up from that, these are always a hit around here.
Adding a balsamic glaze to vegetables gives them a slightly sweet but tangy flavor. It’s a great way to turn a regular dish into something a little more special. Add this one to your menu for the holidays!
For some other recipes incorporating brussels sprouts, try my healthy Cruciferous Salad with Honey Balsamic Vinaigrette, Roasted Potatoes and Brussels Sprouts (which also includes bacon!), and this decadent Brussels Sprouts Gratin with Gruyere Cheese!
Ingredients Required
This really is a simple recipe, using fresh ingredients. A must-make for any holiday gathering.
- Balsamic Glaze – A simple mixture of balsamic vinegar and honey, reduced on the stovetop. Feel free to use store-bought as a shortcut.
- Brussels Sprouts – If you can find them by the pound, you’re more likely to get the freshest ones. I buy mine at Sprouts.
- Bacon – Par-cook some bacon in the oven (moderately under-cooked), and then slice and throw them on top of the Brussels. Keep the leftovers in the freezer, for the next time you make roasted veggies or something else!
- Sweet Potatoes – Just peel and dice. This is our favorite spud!
- Olive Oil, Kosher Salt, and Freshly Ground Black Pepper – the three ingredients we ALWAYS use when roasting veggies.
How to make a Balsamic Glaze
- Combine the balsamic vinegar and honey in a small saucepan.
- Bring to a boil, and then reduce heat to a simmer.
- Cook for 10 – 15 minutes or until it reduces by about 1/3. You want it to be a little bit thick, but not overly sticky.
As another option, you can use this balsamic glaze or something similar.
How to make bacon in the oven:
This is definitely my preferred method of making bacon.
- Preheat your oven to 425 degrees.
- Prepare a large baking sheet with tin foil and place a wire rack on top.
- Lay bacon on the wire rack so that the bacon slightly over-laps. I always get an entire package on the baking sheet.
- Bake until the bacon is just starting to cook in spots, but not entirely. You want it to still be pliable.
- Remove pan, and set bacon aside on a paper towel to soak up some of the greases.
How to make Balsamic Glazed Brussels Sprouts and Sweet Potatoes:
Make the balsamic glaze. See directions above.
Cook the bacon. See directions above.
Prep the Brussels sprouts. Chop off the hard end of each Brussels sprout, and remove outer leaves. Chop in halves or fourths, depending on the size. Place trimmed Brussels on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Spread the prepared and chopped bacon on top.
Prep the sweet potatoes. Peel and chop the sweet potatoes in bite-sized pieces. Place on parchment-lined baking sheet, and drizzle with olive oil, salt, and pepper.
Bake. Place both trays in the oven (or ovens if you have two), and bake until the vegetables are tender, and slightly browned on top. If using one oven, you may want to rotate the pans about halfway through the baking.
Serve. Drizzle the veggies with the balsamic glaze, and additional seasonings, if needed.
If you have a convection oven, use that to roast these veggies. The time to cook will be less, and you’ll naturally get more of a browned top. If they start to get too brown, you can cover with tin foil for a portion of the baking time.
Roasted Vegetables
I’m not exactly sure what we did before the whole roasting vegetable thing started. Because it’s on the regular REPEAT here. My baking sheets are almost always being used for roasting. That’s why I bought a couple more because cookies gotta have a chance too, right?
Here is a quick list of the top 10 roasted veggies in my kitchen:
- brussels sprouts
- broccoli
- cauliflower
- carrots
- sugar snap peas
- onions
- sweet potatoes
- yellow potatoes (or any potato)
- cabbage
- cherry tomatoes
Tips for Roasting Vegetables:
- Chop veggies in similar size so that roasting time is accurate for the whole batch.
- If mixing veggies, chop quicker cooking ones larger and slower cooking ones smaller.
- Spray the baking sheet with spray (or line it with parchment paper).
- Spread veggies in pan without crowding them. This will ensure they are roasted and not steamed.
- Use a nice amount of olive oil (good fats!) and salt & pepper (or other seasonings you prefer).
- Roast your vegetables until they are fork-tender, and slightly charred.
Kitchen Tools used for this recipe: (Affiliate Links)
I also keep this Balsamic Glaze handy.
xoxo ~Sue
Balsamic Glazed Brussels Sprouts and Sweet Potatoes
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
- 1 Tablespoon honey
- 2 pounds brussels sprouts – sliced in half
- 6-8 slices bacon – par-cooked
- 2 pounds sweet potatoes – peeled and chopped
- 2 Tablespoons olive oil – or more, to taste
- kosher salt – to taste
- freshly ground black pepper – to taste
Instructions
- Make a balsamic glaze. Combine the balsamic vinegar and honey in a small saucepan. Bring it to a simmer (bubbling slightly), and cook until reduced in half, approximately 10-15 minutes. Set aside.
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
- Peel sweet potatoes and chop into bite sized pieces. Place on a baking sheet.
- Remove outer leaves from brussels sprouts and slice in half. Place on a second baking sheet. Chop up the par-cooked bacon, and add to the brussels sprouts.
- Drizzle olive oil over the sweet potatoes and the brussels sprouts. Add kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.
- Roast vegetables for 30-40 minutes or until they are fork tender and nicely browned. (For convection oven, bake at 375 degrees on convection roast for about 20 minutes. Cover for part of the time to avoid burning.)
- Drizzle balsamic reduction over vegetables, and serve.
Video
Notes
- Chop vegetables in similar sized pieces for like vegetables. If mixing veggies on one tray, chop softer veggies larger, and harder ones smaller – in order for them to be done at the same time.
- Use plenty of olive oil and spices, for best results.
- These vegetables are great leftover, and last several days in the refrigerator!
- If you have a convection oven, use that to roast these veggies. The time to cook will be less, and you’ll naturally get more of a browned top. If they start to get too brown, you can cover with tin foil for a portion of the baking time.
First time trying this recipe. Absolutely loved it. Didn’t have bacon so improvised with bacon bits but was absolutely delish 😋 … will make this again 🙌🏻
That’s a great idea, Emma! Thanks for sharing!
If I make this the day before and then heat up to serve, what would be the best way to do that?
I’ve only ever microwaved this to warm up leftovers. Instead, I think I’d chop up the veggies in advance and make it at meal time. If you warm back up in the oven, the veggies may get mushy.
I made the recipe as directed and when I took the Brussels sprouts out of the oven, the bacon was burnt. If I make it again, I won’t cook the bacon first.
It’s best to par-bake the bacon, instead of cooking it all the way.
Love this combo of veggies and the added sweetness of the balsamic glaze. So simple, healthy and delicious. I will make this often!!
Yay! So thankful for your feedback, Shari. 🙂
Made this tonight after seeing about all I had on hand were a couple of sweet potatoes, brussel sprouts and some onions. It was absolutely delicious! Thank you so much ?
Hi Stacey! I’m so glad you enjoyed this recipe. It’s a reader favorite, for sure! 🙂
This is an awesome recipe. Great deep of flavors in this dish.
Thank you so much, Carlos! I’m glad you enjoyed it! 🙂
This is one of my fav veggie combos to roast!
Ours too, Lynn! We love it, and it makes a great holiday dish! 🙂
I love this combination and could eat them daily. What an awesome recipe!
This is a good one! 🙂
one of my go to recipes!! super easy & so delicious!!!
Thanks, Tiffany! We love this one too. 🙂
The Brussels Sprouts and Sweet Potatoes are timeless and regardless of the season trend near the top of all recipes from suebeehomemaker! We have them once or twice a week and they never get old. No better way to eat your colors than with this dish.
My job at suebeehomemaker is President of Dishwashing and so take tip #4 serious! Spray the baking sheet with spray (or line it with parchment paper).
You are a great dishwasher! Thanks for your great wisdom too. 🙂