Here’s the secret to the best crispy Brussels sprouts! They’re roasted until blackened and caramelized, then tossed with a tangy sweet balsamic sauce.

Crispy Brussels Sprouts

Oh my. These crispy Brussels sprouts are so crispy, you’ll think they were fried. But they’re baked! Yes, this is our new favorite way to eat Brussels sprouts: and we didn’t need a new one. But you know those crispy Brussels that you can get at a restaurant? These are just as good. They’re baked until impossibly crunchy, then tossed with a balsamic and honey sauce that brings in the tangy and sweet notes. Alex and I could eat at least 10 pans of these in a sitting. So we try to make only one at a time! Here’s how to do it in your kitchen!

The secret to making ultra crispy Brussels sprouts

Every time I see crispy Brussel sprouts on a menu, I can’t resist ordering them. This formerly hated vegetable has had a huge resurgence in popularity lately. And for good reason: roasting or frying these babies makes them taste infinitely better than the cooking methods of the 1950’s. Luckily, you can recreate restaurant-style glamour at home using simply your own oven. It’s a healthy and easy side dish that tastes much greater than the sum of its parts.

Here are a few tips to getting the crispiest sprouts in town:

  • Roast at very high heat (450 degrees). The best roasted veggies are roasted at very high heat, otherwise they’ll turn out soggy.
  • Place them on the baking sheet cut side down. Turn down all those flat sides, and you’ll get the perfect browning.
  • Don’t roast anything else at the same time! This one’s important. To get crispy Brussels sprouts with the recipe below, it’s easiest to have them as the only thing in the oven. Cooking other foods at the same time changes the cook time and moisture level.
Crispy Brussels sprouts

Avoid silicone baking mats

Alex and I suggest using parchment paper in all of our roasting recipes.Why? Parchment paper is great for easy cleanup: so food doesn’t get glued to the pan! If you don’t have any parchment paper, you can roast right on the baking sheet (just have fun later!).

Whatever the case: Don’t use a silicone baking mat for this recipe. Over time, we’ve found the silicone baking mats make veggies more soggy. To get the crispiest of crispy Brussels sprouts, use either parchment paper or just skip it.

Crispy Brussels sprouts

Toss with balsamic sauce!

Follow all those hints, and you’ll have supremely crispy Brussels sprouts! To take them over the top and make restaurant-style flavor, we tossed them with a balsamic and honey sauce. It adds huge tangy sweet flavor. Here are a few notes on the sauce:

  • Omit for the crispiest sprouts. Adding the sauce does wet the sprouts, making them a little less crispy. So if your goal is ultra crispy, try them without it first. But it does add huge flavor, so we liked it with the sauce.
  • Use maple syrup for vegan. The flavor is great with honey, but it tastes almost exactly the same with maple syrup. So it’s a great vegan substitute!
  • Add hot sauce for a spicy variation. If you like the heat, add a little hot sauce into the honey balsamic sauce.
Brussels sprouts

More crispy Brussels sprouts variations!

There are lots of other tasty ways to top crispy Brussels sprouts! Here are few more ideas we’d recommend:

Crispy brussel sprouts

This crispy Brussels sprouts recipe is…

Vegetarian, vegan, plant-based, dairy-free and gluten-free.

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Crispy Brussels Sprouts

Perfectly Crispy Brussels Sprouts


  • Author: Sonja Overhiser
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 25 minutes
  • Total Time: 35 minutes
  • Yield: 4 1x

Description

Here’s the secret to the best crispy Brussels sprouts! They’re roasted until blackened and caramelized, then tossed with a tangy sweet balsamic sauce.


Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 1/2 pounds Brussels sprouts
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
  • 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
  • 2 tablespoon honey (or maple syrup)
  • Spicy variation: 1 teaspoon hot sauce, plus more to drizzle

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit. (To get them perfectly crispy, make sure this is the only pan in the oven and you’re not roasting anything else at the same time.)
  2. Slice off any hard ends of the Brussels sprouts, as needed. Slice them in half lengthwise and place them in a large bowl.
  3. Mix the sprouts with the olive oil, kosher salt, and lots of fresh ground black pepper.
  4. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper*, then pour the spouts onto the sheet. Turn them all cut side down.
  5. Roast for 25 minutes until very browned and tender (don’t stir!). For the crispiest sprouts you can eat them as is, or go to Step 6.
  6. While the sprouts are roasting, whisk together the balsamic vinegar and honey or maple syrup (and 1 teaspoon hot sauce, if using). When the sprouts are done, pour over the mixture and toss to combine. For the spicy variation, drizzle with additional hot sauce to taste. Serve immediately.

Notes

*Don’t use a silicone baking mat, since these can also make the Brussels sprouts less crispy. If you don’t have parchment paper, you can skip it and roast directly on the sheet.

  • Category: Side Dish
  • Method: Roasted
  • Cuisine: Vegetables
  • Diet: Vegetarian

Keywords: Crispy Brussels Sprouts, Crispy Brussel Sprouts

More Brussels sprouts recipes

Brussels sprouts are some of our favorite healthy veggies to eat! Here’s a list of some more Brussels sprouts recipes you might enjoy:

Want more roasted vegetables? Here are the Best Vegetables to Roast.

About the authors

Sonja & Alex

Meet Sonja and Alex Overhiser: Husband and wife. Expert home cooks. Authors of recipes you'll want to make again and again.

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18 Comments

  1. These look great! I just made the glazed pecans from your link. They are wonderful. If you use a Balsamic reduction, is the Maple syrup necessary in the Balsamic sauce?

    1. So glad you liked them! Yes, you could just throw them together with some balsamic reduction instead of making the sauce. Or reduce the maple down to 1 tablespoon if you want more of a sauce consistency!

    2. I followed this recipe exactly and while I did get a decent crisp on the outside on some, many of them were burnt mush:(

      I’m going to resign to having to pan fry I’ve tried every recipe out there for oven baked and nothing can replace the pan.

      1. Same! Only the vey outer layer was crispy and the rest mushy
        Will tweak and try again! Any suggestions? Thank you!

  2. I skipped the Maple syrup, added the glazed pecans and shaved Parmesan. I served them along with a kale salad (made last night to “wilt” or bruise the kale) with Tahini dressing and grilled chicken. They were delicious! I will make the again, for sure!

  3. I visited an Italian Restaurant over the weekend and had Brussel Sprouts as my appetizer. They were so good, crispy and wonderfully flavored, I came home anxious to find a recipe to try for myself. I’m glad I found yours!! It looks/sounds very similar to it. I will make them and let you know how it goes! Thank you.

  4. I just made this recipe and they were amazing! I added sauteed red onion and some pancetta (not vegan) and added that when the Brussels came out of the oven. The whole family loved them. Follow their instructions – they really are crispy yummy Brussels.

  5. Made these tonight. The sauce is great! I used a pomegranate balsamic vinegar with the honey after I took them out.

    I set off the fire alarm, I feel like I should have used a high heat oil like Safflower or Canola.

    All in all, I would totally make these again. they were crispy on the outside and very enjoyable on the inside since the sauce was soaking in. The little Brussels sprouts were the best because they cooked faster. Yum!!

  6. Follow the recipe exactly and I gotta say these aren’t “restaurant” crispy. The outside few leaves are and the inside is mush. Mediocre.

    1. You can! They are not quite as good as freshly roasted sprouts, but it can work. Roast them in advance (you could go slightly less on the bake time if desired), then let cool to room temperature and refrigerate — don’t add the sauce until serving! When you’re ready to serve, pop them in a 375F oven for about 5 to 10 minutes until warmed — they will get slightly crispy again though not as crispy as originally. Then add the sauce!

  7. I attempted these – the outside were super crispy, the insides were mush. My oven tends to run hot – I wonder if I should decrease the cook time? I don’t have a convection oven. Any help is appreciated! I know it’s possible, I just want to perfect these!!

    1. Usually that’s about the best you can do without deep frying! If you have very large brussels sprouts you can smash them a bit to expose more to the air.

  8. At 450, mine were burnt to a black crisp after only 17 minutes (25 mins was recommended). Had to toss 75% of them and peel the rest for a nibble of the center. Im guessing this recipe is for 1lb of the giant Brussel sprouts, not the small cute ones i had. The sauce was amazing i just wish there was a caution about size/length of time