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    Home » Starters & Side dishes

    Pan Fried Brussels Sprouts With Bacon & Garlic

    Published: Dec 7, 2022 by Lauren Woodger · Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links - This means I receive a commission for purchases made through those links, at no cost to you · Leave a Comment

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    These Pan Fried Brussels Sprouts With Bacon & Garlic make the perfect vegetable accompaniment to any roast dinner whether it is Christmas or not! This will become your new favourite way to cook sprouts.

    Brussel sprouts with bacon and garlic in a white square bowl with a jar of peppercorns to the side. White background.

    Brussels sprouts are a bit like marmite in the UK, they divide the nation. You either seem to love them or hate them! 

    I’m in the love them camp, my husband not so much, although he changed his mind after eating sprouts cooked this way!

    We also only tend to eat them at Christmas time, a lot like mince pies, although you can buy them all year round they are normally in season from around October to March each year.

    I can guarantee these Brussels sprouts with bacon & garlic will turn even the hardiest of sprout dodgers into sprout lovers.

    No more soggy, boiled sprouts! 

    The trick here is to chop the sprouts in half and boil them for no longer than 5 minutes (that’s when they start to smell!!) then sauté them until charred in a pan with some crispy bacon and garlic…. Delicious!

    Serve them alongside this Gluten Free Cauliflower Cheese & Slow Cooker Roast Potatoes for your next roast dinner.

    This recipe will serve 4-6 people as a side dish alongside other vegetables.

    Jump to:
    • 🥘 Ingredients
    • 📖 Ingredient Notes & Substitutions
    • 💡 How To Prepare Brussels Sprouts
    • ✏️ How to Make This Recipe
    • 🥡 Storage & Leftovers
    • 🍴 Serving Suggestions 
    • 💬 Recipe FAQ
    • 📖 Recipe
    • 📌 Pin For Later...
    • 💬 Comments

    🥘 Ingredients

    Ingredients laid out for Christmas brussel sprouts.

    ✋ Be sure to double check all packaging for allergens. ✋

    📖 Ingredient Notes & Substitutions

    • Brussels Sprouts - I have used fresh sprouts for this recipe as I prefer the taste. You can use frozen if you like, cook them as per the packet instructions & cut them in half after boiling or steaming.
    • Bacon - You can either use smoked or un-smoked bacon. I use smoked as I prefer the flavour. Bacon lardons or pancetta can also be used. I would advise 100g of lardons or pancetta for this recipe.

    Scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of the post for quantities.

    💡 How To Prepare Brussels Sprouts

    The most common way to buy Brussels sprouts in the UK is loose, but you can also buy them still on the stalk. They are usually more expensive to buy this way.

    Start by pulling off any discoloured or damaged leaves (you don’t need to peel them fully) and then trim the base of each sprout with a knife as the base will be hard and discoloured.

    Then you are done! You don’t need to score a cross in the bottom of each sprout as this actually doesn’t speed up the cooking time and lets water into the sprout causing them to go soggy.

    ✏️ How to Make This Recipe

    Brussel sprouts boiling in. a saucepan.

    Start by preparing the sprouts as above, then cut each sprout in half.

    Either boil or steam the sprouts for 5 minutes until just tender & then drain. (Don’t let them cook for any longer as this is when they start to smell)

    Bacon frying in a frying pan.

    Whilst the sprouts are cooking, chop the bacon into small squares and crush the garlic using a garlic press.

    Heat the olive oil in a frying pan on a medium/high heat and fry the bacon until it starts to go crispy, this should take around 4-5 minutes.

    Brussel sprouts with garlic and bacon frying in a pan.

    Add the drained sprouts to the pan and continue to fry for another 5 minutes until they start to char and brown on the outside.

    Turn down the heat to medium, add the garlic and continue to stir for another minute or so.

    Brussel sprouts with garlic and bacon frying in a pan.

    Season well with some freshly ground black pepper and serve immediately,

    🥡 Storage & Leftovers

    If you have leftovers they will keep in the fridge in an airtight container for around 2-3 days. Re-heat them in a frying pan with a drizzle of olive oil for 5-10 minutes until warmed through.

    You can also re-heat in the microwave but the sprouts will take on a softer texture and the bacon will lose it crispiness.

    You can also add any leftovers to this these Bubble & Squeak Cakes!

    They will also freeze really well. Allow the Brussels sprouts to cool completely, then place in a freezer safe container or bag and freeze for up to 3 months.

    Defrost in the fridge overnight and re-heat as above.

    Brussel sprouts with bacon and garlic in a white bowl.

    🍴 Serving Suggestions 

    These sprouts will taste amazing with your turkey roast alongside these Slow Cooker Roast Potatoes or Baby Hasselback Potatoes With Garlic & Rosemary, Roasted Carrots and Green Beans and my Creamy Dairy Free Carrot and Swede Mash.

    But sprouts are not just for Christmas! They also make a great side dish to any winter meal like this Minced Lamb and Sweet Potato Hotpot or my Chicken & Bacon Potato Topped Pie.

    If dairy isn’t a problem for you, some freshly grated parmesan sprinkled over the top of the sprouts is divine. Alternatively you can use a dairy free parmesan.

    💬 Recipe FAQ

    Can I make Pan Fried Brussels Sprouts With Bacon & Garlic in advance?

    Yes, you can either prep the sprouts and leave them in a saucepan of water overnight until ready to cook, or you can boil or steam the sprouts for 5 minutes, leave them to cool, then store them in an airtight container in the fridge overnight.
    When you are ready, cook the bacon and garlic and add the sprouts as you would in the recipe.

    If you loved this recipe, please leave me a 5🌟 rating or comment below. I really do appreciate it. 😊

    📖 Recipe

    Brussel sprouts with bacon and garlic in a white square bowl with a jar of peppercorns to the side. White background.

    Pan Fried Brussels Sprouts With Bacon & Garlic

    Lauren Woodger
    These Pan Fried Brussels Sprouts With Bacon & Garlic make the perfect vegetable accompaniment to any roast dinner whether it is Christmas or not! This will become your new favourite way to cook sprouts.
    5 from 3 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 20 minutes mins
    Cook Time 15 minutes mins
    Total Time 35 minutes mins
    Course Side Dish
    Cuisine British
    Servings 4 servings
    Calories 90 kcal

    Equipment

    • Large non stick frying pan
    • Garlic press
    • Vegetable streamer optional

    Ingredients
     
     

    • 500 g Brussels sprouts trimmed (see notes below)
    • 4 rashers back bacon smoked or un-smoked depending on preference
    • 3 cloves garlic crushed
    • 1 tablespoon olive oil
    • salt & pepper to season. You may wish to leave out the salt if cooking for young children.

    Instructions
     

    • Prepare the Brussels sprouts as per the notes below, then cut each sprout in half.
    • Boil or steam the sprouts for 5 minutes until just tender & then drain.
    • Whilst the sprouts are cooking, chop the bacon into small squares and crush the garlic using a garlic press.
    • Heat the olive oil in a frying pan on a medium/high heat and fry the bacon for 4-5 minutes until it starts to go crispy.
    • Add the drained sprouts to the pan and continue to fry for another 5 minutes until they start to char and brown on the outside.
    • Turn down the heat to medium, add the garlic and continue to stir for another minute or so.
    • Season well with some salt & freshly ground black pepper and serve immediately, 

    Notes

    How To Prepare Brussels Sprouts
    The most common way to buy Brussels sprouts in the UK is loose, but you can also buy them still on the stalk. They are usually more expensive to buy this way.
    Start by pulling off any discoloured or damaged leaves (you don’t need to peel them fully) and then trim the base of each sprout with a knife as the base will be hard and discoloured.
    Then you are done! You don’t need to score a cross in the bottom of each sprout as this actually doesn’t speed up the cooking time and lets water into the sprout causing them to go soggy.
     
    This recipe will serve 4-6 people as a side dish alongside other vegetables.
    • Brussels Sprouts - I have used fresh sprouts for this recipe as I prefer the taste. You can use frozen if you like, cook them as per the packet instruction & cut them in half after boiling or steaming.
    • Bacon - You can either use smoked or un-smoked bacon. I use smoked as I prefer the flavour. Bacon lardons or pancetta can also be used. I would advise 100g of lardons or pancetta for this recipe.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 90kcalCarbohydrates: 12gProtein: 5gFat: 4gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 1mgSodium: 41mgPotassium: 499mgFiber: 5gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 943IUVitamin C: 107mgCalcium: 57mgIron: 2mg
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

    📌 Pin For Later...

    Pinterest image for brussel sprouts with garlic and bacon.

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