Brussels Sprouts with Bacon, Pecans, and Cranberries

  • Line the separate baking sheet with foil.  Add the bacon slices in one layer.  Bake in the preheated oven at 400 F for about 20 minutes or until the bacon is done.  You can do it at the same time as roasting the Brussels sprouts.
  • Drain bacon of fat and slice the bacon into small bites.

How to Toast Pecans

  • Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.  Add pecans in one layer.
  • Toast the pecans for about 5 minutes (maybe a bit longer) in the preheated oven at 350 F until they get darker in color.

Prepare Dried Cranberries

  • For best results, briefly soak the dried cranberries in hot water.   Bring a small pot of water to boil.
  • Add dried cranberries to a medium bowl.  Pour hot water over the cranberries and soak them for about 10 minutes.  Drain.

Assembly

  • In a large bowl, combine roasted Brussels sprouts, warm chopped cooked bacon, toasted pecans, and soaked dried cranberries.   Toss everything together.  The olive oil from Brussels sprouts and fats from bacon should be enough to coat the ingredients.  If desired, add 1 tablespoon of olive oil to mix with the salad (optional).

Notes

If you would like to ADD SAUCE TO CREATE MORE FLAVOR, here are some easy options:

  • Drizzle with a balsamic glaze.  Make the balsamic glaze by cooking down the balsamic vinegar together with a small amount of honey or brown sugar until the mixture reduces by about half.  For example, combine 1 cup of balsamic vinegar + ¼ cup of honey or brown sugar and cook it down. Consistency should be thick enough to coat the back of the spoon but should not be overly thick.
  • Drizzle with a very high-quality aged balsamic vinegar made in Italy.  Aged balsamic vinegar is often sold in specialized stores or sections of foreign foods at some grocery stores.  High-quality Italian-made aged balsamic vinegar is usually expensive but it does not need cooking down.  Just use it as is.  And, you don’t need to use much.
  • Or, use your favorite balsamic vinaigrette-based salad dressing.
  • You can use white balsamic vinegar to brighten this dish!

Looking for more THANKSGIVING SIDE DISHES?

  • I have created a comprehensive recipe collection of 60 Thanksgiving side dishes conveniently categorized by ingredient: Green Beans, Butternut Squash, Sweet Potatoes, Brussels Sprouts, Potatoes, Acorn Squash, Spaghetti Squash, Asparagus, Broccoli, etc. It’s a great resource to browse through for a last moment holiday inspiration! This side dishes will also work great for Christmas and New Year’s Eve.

Looking for a complete THANKSGIVING MENU?

  • Be sure to check out my 50 Best Thanksgiving Recipes (The Complete Holiday Menu) – it includes everything: Fall-inspired holiday appetizers, side dishes, salads, main courses, pasta recipes, desserts, and even breakfast. This holiday menu features proven, tried, and true Thanksgiving dishes that have been reader favorites for years (I’ve been publishing recipes since 2012).

Nutrition Disclaimer:

The nutritional information on this website is only an estimate and is provided for convenience and as a courtesy only. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed. It should not be used as a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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