Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Balsamic Reduction

Roasted Brussel Sprouts with Balsamic Reduction is a simple side dish recipe that both kids and adults love! They’re crispy, delicious and packed with so much flavor. I get asked to make this dish every year for Thanksgiving and Christmas!

PS – Craving more crispy brussel sprout recipes? Be sure to try these Smashed Brussel Sprouts with Lemon Tahini Sauce or these Air Fryer Brussel Sprouts.

Brussels sprouts get a bit of a bad rap.

Let me preface this post by saying these balsamic reduction brussels sprouts are not your grandmother’s brussels sprouts. Those ones from back in the day that were boiled and slimy…

These beauties are roasted until nice a crunchy and then topped with tart cranberries and a sweet, balsamic reduction.

My favorite part is the little leaves that fall off and get super browned and crispy, they’re almost like little potato chips!

Just look at how pretty this delicious side dish is. I promise it tastes as good as it looks.

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EXTREME CLOSE UP OF ROASTED BRUSSEL SPROUTS WITH BALSAMIC REDUCTION AND CRANBERRIES SPRINKLED ON TOP.

Plus, these easy roasted brussels sprouts are made with simple ingredients.

It’s the perfect side dish for your Thanksgiving or Christmas holiday meal. I have served it to kids and adults and everyone ends up loving this dish! If you can believe it or not, kids actually ask me to make this recipe over and over again. It’s my favorite recipe for turning kids into sprouts lovers.

What’s the best way to cook brussels sprouts?

My favorite way is to roast fresh brussel sprouts in a 400-degree oven in a single layer on a sheet pan tossed with a little olive oil. At 400-degrees, it takes about 25-30 minutes of cook time for brussel sprouts to get perfectly golden brown and crispy.

Ingredients needed

You only need a handful of simple ingredients to make this recipe:

  • Brussels Sprouts – look for sprouts that are all roughly the same size so that they will roast evenly.
  • Olive Oil – extra-virgin is preferred. You can also use any other neutral oil that you may have on hand, like canola, vegetable, or sunflower oil.
  • Brown Sugar – this is what helps to thicken the balsamic glaze.
  • Balsamic Vinegar – reduces to a lovely, syrupy glaze for your finished dish.
  • Dried Cranberries – optional. But they add a delightful tart + sweet taste, and are just so pretty!

How to make them

  • Preheat your oven to 400 degrees. 
  • Cut the brown ends off of the Brussels sprouts and then cut them in half.
  • Toss them with olive oil and arrange in a single layer on two baking sheets.
  • Roast for 25-30 minutes, until crisp on the outside and tender on the inside. 

Crispy roasted brussel sprouts on baking sheet.

How to make the balsamic reduction

  • In a small saucepan, bring brown sugar and balsamic vinegar to a boil over medium-high heat.
  • Cook until the mixture reduces and becomes thick and syrupy, about 20 minutes.
  • Tip: Be sure to not let it reduce too much, or it will become one solid mass, like hard candy.

How to cook them at different oven temperatures

If you’re preparing another dish in the oven at the same time, you can adjust your oven temperature to match that dish’s cooking temp as follows:

  • 350-degree oven for 35 minutes.
  • 375-degree oven for 30-35 minutes.
  • 400-degree oven for 25-30 minutes.
  • 425-degree oven for 25 minutes.
  • 450-degree oven for 20-25 minutes.

Tips & tricks

  • DO NOT try to make the balsamic glaze ahead of time. Once reduced, it keeps getting thicker and thicker, eventually turning into a rock hard mass! (Don’t ask how I know this…)
  • Line your baking sheets with parchment paper or tin foil for easy clean up.
  • Want to switch things up? Try swapping out the cranberries for some crispy bacon.
Roasted sprouts in bowl drizzled with balsamic glaze and sprinkled with cranberries.

Recipe FAQs

How do you get crispy brussels sprouts?

Roasting them at a high temperature ensures that they are crispy. I prefer to roast them at 400-degrees or above based on the cooking chart above.

Do you have to boil brussel sprouts before roasting?

No! Just trim brussel sprouts and pop them into a hot oven on large baking sheet and let them roast. They will become tender and delicious.

What to serve with them

These roasted brussels sprouts make a great side dish for holiday dinners like roasted turkey or Brown Sugar & Mustard Glazed Ham.

Or, try serving them with these Pork Chops with Cherry SauceEasy Roasted Chicken, One Skillet Chicken with White Wine & Mustard Cream Sauce, or Red Wine Braised Beef Short Ribs.

Wine pairings

  • A light Pinot Noir with bright acidity, cherry notes and earthy notes will compliment the flavors in these Brussels sprouts nicely.

Roasted brussels sprouts in bowl drizzled with balsamic glaze and sprinkled with cranberries.

More vegetable recipes

More brussel sprouts recipes

Did you make these roasted brussel sprouts with balsamic reduction?

If you loved these balsamic brussel sprouts I would appreciate it so much if you would give this recipe a star review! Also, be sure to snap a picture of your finished dish and share it with me on Instagram using the hashtag #platingsandpairings and tagging me @platingsandpairings.

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Roasted brussel sprouts in bowl drizzled with balsamic glaze and sprinkled with cranberries.

Brussel Sprouts with Balsamic Reduction

These Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Balsamic Reduction & Cranberries make a simple and elegant side dish that both kids and adults love!
5 from 27 votes
Print Pin
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes
Servings: 8 servings

Ingredients

  • 3 pounds Brussels sprouts
  • 1/3 cup olive oil
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 3/4 cup balsamic vinegar
  • 1 cup dried cranberries

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 400 degrees. 
  • Cut off the brown ends of the Brussels sprouts and cut in half. Mix them in a bowl with the olive oil. Pour them on two baking sheets and roast for 25-30 minutes, until crisp on the outside and tender on the inside. 
  • Meanwhile, combine the balsamic vinegar and brown sugar in a saucepan. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer until glaze is thick and syrupy, about 20 minutes. 
  • Drizzle the balsamic reduction over the roasted sprouts. Sprinkle with dried cranberries and serve immediately. 
Did you make this recipe?Mention @platingsandpairings or tag #platingsandpairings!

Nutrition

Calories: 356kcal | Carbohydrates: 56g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 48mg | Potassium: 694mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 42g | Vitamin A: 1285IU | Vitamin C: 144.6mg | Calcium: 79mg | Iron: 2.7mg

This recipe was originally published in 2016. It was updated in 2023 to add new information and photographs. The original brussel sprouts with balsamic reduction recipe remains the same. Enjoy! 

47 thoughts on “Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Balsamic Reduction”

  1. The flavor is delicious; however, I do not recommend cooking until very thick. I recommend cooking until it starts to thicken. I cooked until very thick as the recipe stated, and 5 minutes after drizzling over the vegetables, it hardened and we were unable to eat it.

    Reply
    • I agree Stephanie. As I mentioned in my tips, the sauce can harden quickly. I’ve revised the recipe slightly. Thank you for the feedback!

      Reply
    • I just buy bottles of balsamic glaze. So much easier. Just drizzle over the Brussels sprouts after taking them out of oven. I usually cook the sprouts with chopped bacon, but will try the cranberries next time.

      Reply
  2. It hardens because the sugar in it cooks into hard candy. (its the ratio of sugar & liquid. ) If you want to insure you wont have hard candy, use a thermometer, and cook it to slightly under soft-ball stage.. dropping some as it ribbons off a spoon, into some ice water, will show you immediately how hard/soft it will be.

    Reply
    • Rebecca – It’s definitely a good idea to drizzle the balsamic sauce immediately after heating it – Otherwise it definitely hardens up. Thanks for this helpful tip!

      Reply
  3. Love this and have converted brussels sprouts haters into lovers with a dish very similar to this. Here’s another thing to try – sub in pomegranate molasses (a reduction of pomegranate juice) for the balsamic glaze. You’ll love it!

    Reply
  4. My kids love brussels sprouts! I hated them growing up, but my mom always boiled them. My father in law cooked them all the time and he roasted them…what a difference! Now I make them all the time too. But I usually stick with a plain jane version. I need to try yours!

    Reply
    • Hi Bridget – You can definitely use fresh cranberries. I would toss them together with the brussels sprouts and roast them together to soften them up and sweeten their flavor. Hope this helps. Happy Thanksgiving!

      Reply
      • So glad I read this thread. Mine are cooking now. I added orange zest to mine.
        Along with the fresh cranberries this is going to be awesome. I used honey instead of sugar

        Reply
  5. I made these for Thanksgiving and everyone love them. I read the comments about the sauce solidifying, so what I did was add a little dash of Cream of Tartar to prevent hardening of the sauce. It worked as I had some leftover sauce sitting in my pan and it was still liquid. Thanks for the recipe. I will be making these for Christmas Eve for my husband’s family.

    Reply
    • Hi Maggie – I have not tried it yet, but you should be able to swap out the sugar for honey or maple syrup in this recipe. Both would be delicious!

      Reply
  6. Hey! My boyfriend and I are making this this weekend, and he doesn’t like things with a lot of sugar. I saw the suggestion to substitute honey or syrup; would the instructions for making the glaze be different then? Sorry if it’s a dumb question; I’m still a bit of a cooking novice. 😀 Anyway, this looks delicious! Can’t wait to try it!

    Reply
    • Hi Laura – I would maybe make the glaze as is, but just add less of it to his portion. You can just drizzle it over the sprouts once they’re served up. Hope this helps!

      Reply
  7. Wow brussel sprouts have never looked so appetizing! I might have to try this recipe. My husband isn’t a big fan of many vegetables but I’m sure that he would be hard pressed to turn down a dish this delicious.

    Reply
    • Hi McKenna – Thanks for stopping by! Yes, I would double the recipe to be safe… Maybe. Depends on how much food you’ll be serving. It does make a really bit batch, so you may be OK with just the original recipe as written.

      Reply
  8. 5 stars
    Any suggestions on preparing this recipe ahead of time? I would like to make it the day before I serve it… does is save well in the refrigerator and reheat best in the oven?
    Thank you!

    Reply
    • Hi Maddie – I definitely prefer them made fresh the day of. But you can reheat in the oven or microwave. It’s best to make the glaze the day of if possible.

      Reply
  9. I have a version of these Brussels sprouts at the fine dining restaurant I serve at and I’ve been dying to recreate them and these are so perfect I’m obsessed!! I made it for just myself so I will have to eyeball the sugar to balsamic ratio going forward as the reduction was slightly too sweet for my taste. Love it thank you so much!

    Reply
  10. I made this recipe today for my father, and he was really impressed! He said I’m an excellent cook, but the credit is all yours, Erin. Thank you so much for your help! This recipe is really easy to follow and it turned out great. I would definitely make it again. The only thing I would change next time is to add a little more salt. Other than that, it was perfect! Thank you so much for your help. I couldn’t have done it without you!

    Reply
  11. Hi Erin,
    I’ve hated Brussel sprouts for ever. My mum also boiled them. Can I use frozen ones? I don’t know if I can get them fresh where I live. 🙂

    Reply

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