Maple-Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Bacon + Toasted Hazelnuts

There are certain things that we all take for granted. We easily forget how blessed we are to have caring people in our lives, to have good food on our plates, and to have opportunities in our future. Little things like a simple conversation with a friend or an embrace with a loved one may seem to always be there. We go through our day to day motions of buying overpriced cappuccinos and putting gas in our cars without a thought. We hardly ever think about how privileged we truly are.

There are days when we even take ourselves for granted. We forget what we love to do, those passions we all have, and get lost in the big world for a moment or two. Often, we put our dreams aside because we’re afraid to fail. We forget to say I love you to those who matter. And sometimes, we just forget to be ourselves. Our pursuit of happiness gets buried somewhere.

And so before we talk about super amazing things with bacon and maple syrup, I thought I’d write you a little inspirational post about how awesome you truly are. Because I think sometimes we all need a little reminder about the things we should never forget.

Never forget you’re beautiful and unique. You aren’t like anyone else on the planet, so don’t even try to be normal. Always, always be yourself. Embrace your quirks and weirdness. Be who you are and then you will find what you want.

Never forget to believe in yourself and those around you. This is life. We’re all just getting along on our journey; figuring it out and taking those uphill battles one day at a time. In some way, we’re all struggling, so offer compassion to those around you. Be encouraging to both yourself and others. Projecting kindness never feels bad.

Never forget to follow your dreams. Don’t be afraid of failure, because it leads to success. Having a passion is daring, but it makes you inspiring and remarkable. Remember that part of life is pursuing happiness. Forget what others think or say, go after what’s in your heart. Life is short and moments are always passing.

Never settle. On love or in life. You deserve something amazing because you are amazing.

Okay, and you should probably never forget to eat your brussels sprouts either. With maple, bacon, and toasted hazelnuts. Hehe.

I know, I know… eating brussels sprouts isn’t apart of the whole being awesome ordeal, but they do happen to be the best brussels sprouts I’ve ever made. Seriously you guys… soooo good!

The flavors from the crispy bacon and sweet maple syrup… are you kidding? My house filled with the aroma of breakfast and my mouth just couldn’t get enough. Just a typical Tuesday… being dramatic when describing food.

I can’t describe the delicious combination in a way that will truly make sense, but the brussels sprouts caramelize beautifully when finished. They were a tiny crisp on the outside from roasting in the oven, and the maple, bacon, and hazelnuts really made them pop.

Extraordinary vegetable flavor in my mouth… is that even a thing? I don’t know, and I don’t care. Just know that these are probably the world’s best side dish. Oh and I even used turkey bacon (I don’t usually eat pork), but you do your thing! I think these would make the perfect addition to your Thanksgiving meal.

Let me know if you try these and in the meantime, keep being you!

More side dishes you’ll love:

Spicy Maple Dijon Grilled Brussels Sprouts

Maple-Glazed Carrots with Goat Cheese & Pistachios

Spicy Maple Roasted Butternut Squash & Brussels Sprouts with Crispy Bacon + video

Saucy Stovetop Thai Green Beans

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Maple-Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Bacon + Toasted Hazelnuts

4.25 from 4 votes

byby :Monique Volz of Ambitious Kitchen

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Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 50 minutes minutes

Total Time 1 hour hour

ServesServes 6 servings

Crispy maple roasted brussels sprouts made with bacon and deliciously toasted hazelnuts. This easy side dish comes together right in your skillet and is perfect for holidays or weeknight dinners. 

Ingredients

• 2 pounds brussels sprouts
• 3 slices thick cut bacon cut diced into 1/2 inch cubes
• 1/4 cup chopped hazelnuts
• 1/4 cup pure maple syrup
• Sea salt, to taste
• Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
• Wash brussels sprouts, cut off ends (root) and discard, then cut each sprout in half. 
• Place brussels sprouts in a large bowl, drizzle with 1 teaspoon of olive oil, sprinkle with a bit of salt and pepper, and toss to evenly coat. Set aside.
• Cook the bacon and hazelnuts in a large oven-proof skillet over medium heat until the bacon starts to become crisp and hazelnuts become slightly toasted, about 4-5 minutes. 
• Transfer the bacon and hazelnuts to a medium bowl and set aside. Keep heat and add the brussels sprouts to the skillet. Drizzle maple syrup all over brussels sprouts and stir in pan to evenly distribute on the sprouts. 
• Cook brussel sprouts in pan for about 5 minutes or until they become a bit caramelized and get a tiny golden brown.
• Put pan in the oven and roast the brussels sprouts for about 30 minutes. 
• Add the bacon and hazelnuts to the pan with the brussels sprouts and roast about 10 minutes longer or until sprouts are caramelized and golden. Add salt and pepper to taste and serve.