Roasted Brussels Sprouts With Garlic Recipe (2024)

By Mark Bittman

Updated Nov. 13, 2023

Roasted Brussels Sprouts With Garlic Recipe (1)

Total Time
35 minutes
Prep Time
5 minutes
Cook Time
30 minutes
Rating
5(11,568)
Notes
Read community notes

This recipe for roasted brussels sprouts from Mark Bittman is our most popular version and is perfect as a Thanksgiving side dish. If you haven’t yet figured out a go-to recipe, this simple preparation is the answer. It results in sweet caramelized brussels sprouts that will make a believer out of anyone. Discover more ideas for the big day in our best Thanksgiving recipes collection.

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Learn: How to Cook Brussels Sprouts

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Ingredients

Yield:4 servings

  • 1pint brussels sprouts (about a pound)
  • 4 to 6tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, to coat bottom of pan
  • 5cloves garlic, peeled
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 1tablespoon balsamic vinegar

Ingredient Substitution Guide

Nutritional analysis per serving (4 servings)

208 calories; 17 grams fat; 2 grams saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 12 grams monounsaturated fat; 2 grams polyunsaturated fat; 12 grams carbohydrates; 4 grams dietary fiber; 3 grams sugars; 4 grams protein; 322 milligrams sodium

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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Roasted Brussels Sprouts With Garlic Recipe (2)

Preparation

Make the recipe with us

  1. Heat oven to 400 degrees. Trim bottom of brussels sprouts, and slice each in half top to bottom. Heat oil in cast-iron pan over medium-high heat until it shimmers; put sprouts cut side down in one layer in pan. Put in garlic, and sprinkle with salt and pepper.

  2. Step

    2

    Cook, undisturbed, until sprouts begin to brown on bottom, and transfer to oven. Roast, shaking pan every 5 minutes, until sprouts are quite brown and tender, about 10 to 20 minutes.

  3. Step

    3

    Taste, and add more salt and pepper if necessary. Stir in balsamic vinegar, and serve hot or warm.

Ratings

5

out of 5

11,568

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Private Notes

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Cooking Notes

Peggy

Can I make this today to serve tomorrow at Thanksgiving? Oven gets too full at zero hour...

Susan

I think I use Ina Garten's recipe. Much easier and less oil. Just halve the brussel sprouts and toss them in a tablespoon and a half of olive oil and roast at 450 degrees.

Margaux Laskey, Staff Editor

Since reading all of the comments here, we've taken another look at the recipe and adjusted it. 10-20 minutes @ 400 degrees with a few shakes of the pan in between. I hope this change yields better results for all of you!

ChadBad

“Cook, undisturbed, until sprouts begin to brown on bottom...” okay, Schrödinger's cat instructions.

Brent

I chop my garlic (but use less) and add dried cranberries & walnuts at the end. People go crazy.

Karen Backus

I have made this recipe twice. The first time, I followed the directions and it was burned to a crisp after 20 minutes. The second time, I doubled the garlic, slivered it, and cooked the brussels sprouts for 10 minutes in the oven after sauteeing as directed. They were perfect.

Mary

Can I make this the day before Thanksgiving? How do I warm on Thanksgiving?

John

Cover the pan with large heavy duty foil for the first 10 minutes so the sprouts steam and soften a bit. Then remove the foil for the last 20 minutes.

Add chopped pancetta or bacon with the brussels sprouts when you toss them with olive oil - it add a wonderful flavor. And mince the garlic instead of whole cloves, but add the garlic in the last five minutes since minced will burn if roasted for the entire time. (The recipe also works well w/cauliflower although no need to cover it with foil.)

Carey

It never ceases to amaze me when knowledgeable cooks use extra virgin olive oil in dishes like this. EVOO is a complete waste of money and mainly just a good way to set off the smoke detectors. Not only does it completely lose its distinctive flavor when heated this hot, it also has a very low smoke point (375F, so expect smoke). An extra light olive oil would be a good choice here, as would peanut, soybean, canola, corn, or even ghee.

Cate Doty, Senior Staff Editor, NYT Cooking

You can roast frozen brussels sprouts; just make sure they don't thaw before you put them in the oven. Steaming the water off in the oven will help keep them crispy.

Steve Abbott

This is a marvelous way to prepare Brussels sprouts and is probably my family's favorite presentation. I would, however, maintain an oven temp closer to 375 degrees with an oven cooking time closer to 15-20 minutes. This still produces, at least in my oven, very brown, slightly charred sprouts which we prefer to the more extensively charred sprouts cooked at the higher temperature. Just watch them closely and you'll get what YOU like!

Joanna

Unnecessary fussing. No need to use skillet. No need to "cut side down". Simple stir with oil. season bake as directed. Stir half way though.

JL Rivers

I like to toss the brussels sprouts in the olive oil to get them nicely coated before placing them on a baking sheet and in the oven for 20 to 25 minutes at 400F.

jeffsf

A pint of brussels sprouts is nowhere near a pound. A quart is about 13 ounces.

Kathryn

another look at the recipe and adjusted it. 10-20 minutes @ 400 degrees with a few shakes of the pan in between. I hope this change yields better results for all of you!Cover the pan with large heavy duty foil for the first 10 minutes so the sprouts steam and soften a bit. Then remove the foil for the last 20 minutes. Add chopped pancetta or bacon with the brussels sprouts when you toss them with olive oil - it add a wonderful flavor. And mince the garlic instead of whole cloves, but

Nemo

Transfer to a pre-heated ceramic serving dish, THEN add the balsamic vinegar -- an easier clean up of your cast-iron pan!

cindy

I am a super picky eater and I love this recipe, although I double the garlic.

Kurt

A little chopped pancetta with the sweetness of the roasted brussels sprouts and slight acidity from the balsamic made this “delicious” according to my 5 year old granddaughter.

citymombt

if u have steam oven, it makes this recipe very fast..sear on stove, preheat steam oven - then when ready , turn off steam to reg. convection and put in for maybe 5 min...drizzle balsamic. done!

Erin Kurinsky

I loved this recipe, but I need a little more clarity. How long in the pan before going into the oven? How long in the oven? I ended up with beautifully tasting, melt-in-your-mouth sprouts. They literally dissolved upon eating. Were they supposed to have a little firmness to them? I liked them this way, but my husband wanted a little more bite. What is the correct firmness for a brussels sprout?

SK19118

YES!!!!! Finally got my Brussel sprouts to turn out the way I wanted! Will prepare this way from now on.

Jsully

Made on Feb 7 2024.

GRP

Absolutely perfect and utterly simple recipe for brussels sprout lovers.

theSOW

The platonic ideal of Brussels sprouts recipes. Delicious and easy.

Sam K

10min in oven should suffice. I like how browned the brussels gets by cooking on the stove face down first.

BeeQuay

Toss in oil, roast in an airfryer, finish in a mixing bowl. This leaves the oven to cook the roast or whatever else you're cooking. I prefer to finish with fig reduction instead of balsamic.

yup

Just roast no stove top. 400 for 20 ish

Heather W

I subbed pomegranate molasses for balsamic. Also used a nonstick pan—that could take 390F temp in oven. Delicious!

Pamela

It was excellent. Great texture--soft but not mushy sprouts with the perfect amount of charred and crisp leaves. My only change, in future, will be the reduction of the amount of balsamic vinegar (not a fan) or the substitution of said vinegar with another aromatic liquid.

Lily K

These were so good! Made exactly as written, but added shallots!

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Roasted Brussels Sprouts With Garlic Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Should brussel sprouts be dry before roasting? ›

There's nothing wrong with soft and chewy Brussels, but if your goal is the type of crispy Brussels that they're serving at your favorite bistro you MUST thoroughly dry the surface of the sprouts before sautéing and/or roasting them. If they are wet they will steam instead of crisp. Surface area is your friend!

Why are my roasted brussel sprouts not crispy? ›

Why Are My Brussel Sprouts Not Crispy? Spread them out into a single layer on a rimmed baking sheet to avoid overcrowding. If they're too close together, they'll steam instead of roast which stops the crisping process.

How do you get the bitterness out of roasted brussel sprouts? ›

A splash of lemon juice, or even apple cider vinegar, works wonders on bitter sprouts. Another key ingredient is fat, which helps Brussels sprouts to crisp up.

Is it better to cut brussel sprouts before roasting? ›

Halved: Halved Brussel sprouts are the classic cut for sheet-pan roasting or sautéing. Sliced: Crisp these guys up in the air fryer. They are also great for sautéing and roasting – especially if you start with the larger sprouts and want to cut them into bite-sized pieces.

Should you cut brussel sprouts in half before cooking? ›

One of the most common ways to cut a Brussels sprout is in half or quarters. By doing so, you reduce the size of the sprouts, speeding up cooking.

Why do you soak brussel sprouts before cooking? ›

The soak time tenderizes the sprouts so the middles are softer. Don't worry, they won't be soggy! I would never do that to you. If, like me, you don't mind some chew to your sprouts, you don't need to soak the Brussels sprouts prior to cooking.

How do you keep roasted brussel sprouts from getting soggy? ›

If you want your roasted Brussels sprouts to be seriously crispy, you need to crank up the heat. Roasting at a low temperature won't allow them to brown properly, so you want to get that oven nice and hot before tossing in your baking sheet. Follow this tip: Roast Brussels sprouts at a minimum of 400°F.

Why are my brussel sprouts still hard after cooking? ›

Without oil, Brussels don't brown and soften—they dehydrate. Its also possible that they simply need more time in the oven. Cooking times vary depending on their size. A cooked Brussels sprout should be pierced easily with the tip of a sharp knife.

Are roasted brussel sprouts unhealthy? ›

Brussels sprouts make a healthy addition to any diet and are easy to incorporate into side dishes and entrees. People often enjoy them roasted, boiled, sauteed, or baked.

What makes brussel sprouts taste better? ›

In the late 1990s scientists identified specific chemicals, called glucosinolates, that made Brussels sprouts taste bitter. Plant breeders started growing old seeds, previously discarded for producing paltry harvests, to identify tastier versions with lower levels of these compounds.

Why are my roasted brussel sprouts bitter? ›

The flavor components that contribute to a bitter flavor are concentrated in the center of the brussels sprout. If you slice the the veggie in half, it helps to release some of those compounds during the cooking process. Smaller is better when it comes to tenderness and flavor.

Why do some brussel sprouts taste bad? ›

A 2011 study by Cornwall College found that sprouts contain a chemical, similar to phenylthiocarbamide, which only tastes bitter to people who have a variation of a certain gene. The research found that around 50 per cent of the world's population have a mutation on this gene.

Why boil brussel sprouts before roasting? ›

Your first step should always be to blanch the brussels sprouts. This is basically when they get submerged in boiling water just for a few minutes, not until they're fully cooked, but just enough to take away some of the bitterness. Blanching also softens them and preserves their beautiful bright green color.

Can you roast brussel sprouts ahead of time and reheat? ›

Can be made ahead of time: These roasted Brussels sprouts aren't crispy. While the roasting does provide a nice char flavor, it also leaves them soft. This means they can easily be made ahead of time and reheated for easy meal prep or leftovers.

Why do my brussel sprouts get mushy in the oven? ›

When overcooked, Brussels sprouts turn mushy and release excess sulphur (the thing that makes cabbage and Brussels sprouts smell like cabbage and Brussels sprouts)—not good eats. So what's the secret? Roasting. Seriously—the simple preparation of roasting veggies is like magic.

Why are my roasted brussel sprouts tough? ›

Like soggy steamed Brussels, Brussels sprouts that are dry and chewy are no good either. This could be caused by using too little oil for roasting. You need a nice coating of oil—enough to make the heads shiny or if they're cut, enough oil to get inside the folds of some of the leaves.

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