Everything is better when it’s wrapped in bacon! Balsamic glazed bacon wrapped brussel sprouts are the perfect easy side for your dinner and if you stick a toothpick in them, they’re a great appetizer for your next party!
Bacon Wrapped Brussel Sprouts?! Insert Drool Emoji Here!
YES! Because everything is better wrapped in bacon; except maybe Passover brisket, but that’s a different story.
So, I was at a farm stand and came across this ginormous brussel sprout stalk. Naturally I had to buy it to make an epic photo for the gram. But, sometimes when I’m shopping for food, I’m kind of like The Joker.
I just do things! Seeing as how I had no plan, I asked my Insta community.
Seriously, I just got this gigantic stalk of brussel sprouts and I’m trying to figure out what to do with all these. 
What would you do with 4 foot stalk of sprouts?There are two common themes in these comments: bacon, and balsamic! So let’s just dive in to this recipe because I can’t say much about such an awesomely simple dish.
What Happens When Kevin Takes Off His Clothes?
Bacon strips!
I could sit here and make puns about Kevin Bacon all day. I could also poke fun at that final scene in the late 90s B-Movie Wild Things that prominently features Kevin Bacon’s bacon. But, I have to be serious. I’ll get Footloose later.
How To Wrap Bacon Strips Around Brussel Sprouts
Brussel sprouts are about the size of a golf ball, give or take, while the length of a strip of bacon is usually 10 inches. Since 10 inches is longer than the circumference of a brussel sprout you’re going to have to cut them in half, crosswise. Since there are 14 strips of bacon in this pack (some have more. Some have less) this recipe calls for 28 sprouts.
Wash your brussel sprouts and dry them on a paper towel. Toss them with some olive oil and a pinch of salt and a pinch of freshly ground black pepper.
Now this is where the fun begins! Wrap a half slice of bacon around a brussel sprout and stick a toothpick through the top to hold it together while it cooks. Place the bacon wrapped brussel sprout on a baking sheet seem side down and repeat until you’ve wrapped all your gifts sprouts. Place them on the middle rack of an oven that’s preheated to 400°F and roast for 20 minutes.
How Do I Make A Balsamic Glaze?
So, while the brussel sprouts are cooking in the oven, it’s time to make the balsamic glaze. Pour 1 cup of balsamic vinegar into a small saucepan and bring to a boil. Add dark brown sugar and let it come to a boil again (this should only take a few seconds). Reduce the heat to a simmer and cook until it’s been reduced by half, about 12-15 minutes.
When the timer dings and your 20 minutes are up, take your balsamic reduction from the pot and brush it on to each brussel sprout. Put it back in the oven and cook for 5 minutes. Repeat this step and glaze the bacon wrapped brussel sprouts one more time but before you put them back in the oven, rotate the pan so they cook more evenly.
That’s it. You’re done! Serve your balsamic glazed bacon wrapped brussel sprouts warm and if you’re bringing them to a party, heat them in an oven at 400°F for 5-10 minutes.
Bacon Wrapped Brussel Sprouts With A Balsamic Glaze
Everything is better when it’s wrapped in bacon! Balsamic glazed bacon wrapped brussel sprouts are the perfect easy side for your dinner and if you stick a toothpick in them, they’re a great appetizer for your next party!
For The Bacon Wrapped Brussel Sprouts
- 1 Package Bacon Strips*
- 20-30 Brussel Sprouts** (washed and dried)
- 1 Tablespoon Olive Oil
- 1 Pinch Kosher Salt
- 1 Pinch Freshly Ground Black Pepper
For The Balsamic Glaze
- 1 Cup Balsamic Vinegar
- 1/4 Cup Dark Brown Sugar
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Preheat oven to 400°F.
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Cut the bacon strips in half crosswise and place on a clean flat surface.
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In a large bowl, toss brussel sprouts in olive oil with salt and pepper.
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Wrap each brussel sprout in half strip of bacon. Skewer with a toothpick to hold it together and place on a baking sheet. Repeat until you’ve gone through all your bacon and sprouts.
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Place the baking sheet with the brussel sprouts in the oven on the middle rack and roast for 20 minutes.
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While the sprouts roast, bring balsamic vinegar to a boil in a small saucepan. Add the brown sugar and bring to a boil whisking to make sure it dissolves. Reduce heat to a simmer and cook until reduced by half (about 12-15 minutes)
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When the 20 minutes roasting time is up, brush glaze onto each sprout and put the sheet back in the oven. Cook for 5 minutes. When that time is up, brush on another layer of glaze and turn the pan to make sure the sprouts cook evenly. Roast for 5 minutes more. Transfer to a serving dish and enjoy!
*The amount of bacon in a package can vary. This recipe was tested with a package of Smithfield Bacon which contained 14 strips.
** The amount of sprouts you use depends on the amount of bacon you have. I used 28 brussel sprouts because I had 14 strips of bacon. That makes 28 half strips of bacon.
If you are reheating the bacon wrapped brussel sprouts, put them in an oven for 5 -10 minutes at 400°F.
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