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Everything is better with bacon and these shaved Brussels sprouts with bacon are no different. It's an easy side dish that's perfect for the holidays.
I'm always on the lookout for new ways to make Brussels sprouts. My go-to is normally roasted Brussels sprouts. But last Christmas, my wife's Aunt made a lemon shaved Brussels sprouts salad that was outstanding. Now she might have sliced part of her finger off but that's a different story and I have a way to prevent that from happening - food processor!
While I loved the recipe with lemon, I wanted something that could go with my favorite holiday - Thanksgiving! To be honest though, after having this I realized it really could be made any time of the year!
A lot of Brussels sprouts recipes are served cold, but these shaved Brussels sprouts topped with bacon are meant to be cooked and served warm! By cooking the bacon in the skillet and then using the bacon fat, it gives the Brussels sprouts great flavor. What's crazy is this recipe only has 4 ingredients, with two of them being salt and pepper!
I mentioned above that you should be careful with shaving the Brussels sprouts. If you use a mandolin, just be careful! Learning from others mistakes, I didn't want to take that chance and used the food processor. It's way easier anyway!
I know Brussels sprouts got a bad rap for a long time, but if there was ever a recipe to convince people to change their tune, this would be it.
Jump to:
Recipe Ingredients
- Brussels sprouts - can buy pre-shaved Brussels sprouts if necessary.
- Bacon - where a lot of the flavor comes from.
- Salt and black pepper - enhances the flavor.
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Cut the stems off the Brussels sprouts. In a food processor fitted with the slicing attachment, shred the Brussels sprouts. You might have to do it in batches depending on how large your food processor is. You can also thinly slice with a knife if you don't have one.
- Heat large skillet over medium-high heat. Add bacon and cook until crisp, about 5-8 minutes. Remove bacon and add to paper towel-lined plate.
- Reserve about ¼ cup bacon fat in skillet. Add Brussels sprouts and sauté for about 10 minutes or until your desired doneness. Remove from heat and add bacon. Season with salt and pepper to your liking. Serve immediately.
Benefits
Like most vegetables, there are a ton of benefits to eating Brussels sprouts which include:
- High in nutrients and antioxidants - low in calories but high in fiber and minerals as well as help lower risk of chronic diseases.
- Maintain healthy blood sugar levels - being high in fiber, Brussels sprouts help regular blood sugar.
- Rich in Vitamin C and K - both are essential vitamins which enhances your immune system and good for your bones.
Ways to Shave Brussels Sprouts
There are three ways to shave Brussels sprouts:
- The easiest is adding Brussels sprouts to a food processor with a slicing attachment.
- You can also use a mandoline to slice although I find that the most cumbersome and dangerous.
- If you have neither you can just go old school and use a knife to thinly slice the Brussels sprouts. Yes it takes the most work, but you'll be done before you know it.
Pro Tips/Recipe Notes
- Use a food processor with a slicing attachment to shave the Brussels sprouts quickly and safely.
- If you don't want to cook the Brussels sprouts in bacon fat, use unsalted butter instead.
- Add some sautéed shallots if you want additional flavor.
Other Thanksgiving Recipes
- Instant Pot Turkey Breast
- Sweet Corn Pudding
- Cream Cheese Mashed Potatoes
- Easy Turkey Gravy
- Homemade Cranberry Sauce
- Roasted Thanksgiving Salad
- Baked Cheddar Mac and Cheese
If you’ve tried these shaved Brussels sprouts with bacon or any other recipe on Chisel & Fork, please let me know how it turned out in the comments below! You can also follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and YouTube to see more tasty meals and anything else I'm up to.
Shaved Brussels Sprouts with Bacon
Ingredients
- 1 lb Brussels sprouts
- ½ lb bacon, cut into ½" pieces
- ½ tsp sea salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Cut the stems off the Brussels sprouts. In a food processor fitted with the slicing attachment, shred the Brussels sprouts. You might have to do it in batches depending on how large your food processor is. You can also thinly slice with a knife if you don't have one.
- Heat large skillet over medium-high heat. Add bacon and cook until crisp, about 5-8 minutes. Remove bacon and add to paper towel-lined plate.
- Reserve about ¼ cup bacon fat in skillet. Add Brussels sprouts and sauté for about 10 minutes or until your desired doneness. Remove from heat and add bacon. Season with salt and pepper to your liking. Serve immediately.
Notes
- Use a food processor with a slicing attachment to shave the Brussels sprouts quickly and safely.
- If you don't want to cook the Brussels sprouts in bacon fat, use unsalted butter instead.
- Add some sautéed shallots if you want additional flavor.
I love Brussels sprouts!