This bacon Brussels sprouts salad recipe features sauteéd sprouts, crispy bacon bits, and sharp Parmesan cheese. It’s a warm salad that’s absolutely binge-worthy!

Brussel Sprouts on a plate

Did you know? Brussels sprouts have actually become less bitter over time due to breeding that has decreased the chemical compounds causing their bitterness.

Ingredients for Brussel Sprouts salad

How To Make Brussels Sprouts Salad With Bacon

This warm salad uses only four ingredients and takes a mere five minutes of prep time. First, choose your preferred salad texture: tender halved Brussels sprouts or crunchy shredded/shaved Brussels sprouts. Then, reach for your favorite skillet and get cooking — you’ll have a delicious salad in a total time of 20 minutes.

  • Prepare the ingredients: Wash the Brussels sprouts, then cut or shred them to your preferred shape and size. Chop the bacon into thin strips and measure out the cheese and salt.
  • Cook the bacon: Add the bacon slices to the skillet and brown them until they’re crispy.
  • Add the sprouts: Add the raw brussels sprouts and season them with garlic parsley salt.
  • Continue cooking for five minutes: Cook the salad on medium high heat for about five minutes. Then, stir in the shredded Parmesan cheese and remove from the heat.
  • Serve: Serve the salad immediately in a large bowl while it is still warm.

Hot tip: If you prefer the taste of roasted sprouts, toss them with extra virgin olive oil, salt, pepper, and cheese and roast them on a sheet pan in the oven at 425°F for 15-18 minutes. Once done, toss them with the crispy bacon strips.

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Tips for Cooking With Brussels Sprouts

If you haven’t cooked with Brussels sprouts before, they may look a bit intimidating. Rest assured, they are very easy to work with! Here are our top tips to ensure this salad turns out perfect each time.

  • Trim the Brussels sprouts: Brussels sprouts often come in a bag or on the stalk. Either way, make sure to trim off the stem end, which is rough and doesn’t cook very well.
  • Cut the sprouts into bite-sized pieces: Depending on the size of the sprouts, cut them into quarters if they are large or halves if they are small.
  • Clean the sprouts: To clean Brussels sprouts, run them under cool water in a colander. Rinse them well to ensure any residual dirt comes out from under the layers.
  • Shred the sprouts (optional): If you prefer the texture of shredded Brussels sprouts over larger halves, feel free to toss the sprouts in a food processor, shred them by hand, or (if you’re comfortable with it), use a mandoline slicer.

Hot tip: If you don’t have Parmesan cheese, feel free to substitute it with blue cheese or feta crumbles.

Optional Salad Additions

Are you looking for ways to level up your salad? Here’s a list of optional, but delicious additions to make the salad more flavorful, textured, and/or colorful!

  • Nuts: For a crunch, throw in raw or roasted pecans or almonds.
  • Fruits: If you like a bit of fruity taste in your salad, toss in a half cup of dried cranberries or fresh pomegranate arils.

Serving Brussels Sprout Bacon Salad

Brussels sprouts are known as a “winter” vegetable, so naturally, this salad is perfect as a side dish to foods often served in cold weather — but honestly, Brussels sprouts pair well with just about anything. This salad is great with a main meat entreé like lamb shoulder chop or roasted turkey (especially for Thanksgiving!). If you’re serving a hearty rice or potato dish like uzbek plov, air fryer baked potatoes, or oven roasted potatoes, this salad adds a refreshing flavor.

Storing & Reheating the Salad

This Brussels sprout salad with bacon is best enjoyed fresh off the stove while it’s still hot (or warm). However, in case you have leftovers, follow these tips on how to enjoy your salad again later.

  • Refrigerator: To store for 2-3 days, place the leftover salad into an airtight container in the fridge.
  • Reheating: Since this salad is typically served warm, reheat it in a skillet over medium heat. This also helps to re-crisp the bacon and the sprouts a bit. Or, enjoy the salad cold — it’s equally as tasty!

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Natalya Drozhzhin

Natalya founded Momsdish to demonstrate that placing a homemade meal on the table is not hard at all. Natalya makes cooking easier and approachable, by simplifying the ingredients, while still producing the same great taste.