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closer view of smashed brussel sprouts with balsamic
Home > low carb side dishes > Smashed Brussels Sprouts

Smashed Brussels Sprouts


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Cheesy, crispy, and perfectly seasoned, these smashed brussels sprouts are the tastiest way to fall in love with roasted brussels sprouts… Plus they’re super fun to make. Tired of cauliflower everything? This one’s for you!

Looking for other veggie swaps? Check out my whole list of roasted vegetables.

smashed brussel sprouts in a plate

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Are Smashed Brussels Sprouts Healthy? Low Carb? Keto?

These smashed Brussels are a GREAT way to sneak in some greens, as they’re hard not to love. They are coated in cheese, which may not work for you depending on your eating plan. However, brussels sprouts are a low carb vegetable, making this recipe a great keto side dish.

top view of smashed brussels sprouts with parmesan

Ingredients You’ll Need

Smashed brussels sprouts come together with some oil, seasoning, and of course parmesan. Here’s what you should know about a few of your ingredients:

  • Brussels sprouts – You can use fresh or frozen, although I much prefer the texture of fresh (frozen often gets mushy).
  • Balsamic vinegar – Opt for high-quality balsamic (check out this list). Making smashed brussels sprouts with balsamic adds a bit of sweet tang to this dish.
  • Leeks – be sure to wash very well by slicing and placing leeks in a bowl of water, so that any sandy soil stuck between the layers will sink to the bottom of the bowl.
  • Parmesan – making smashed brussels sprouts with parmesan is the best way to get them nice and crispy (parmesan crisps up as it bakes). If you’d prefer a meltier, less crispy version, make smashed brussels sprouts with mozzarella.

Recipe Variations

Add your twist to this recipe by switching up the seasoning, or adding some protein. Here are a few ideas for you:

  1. Add cooked + crumbled bacon after baking.
  2. Mix in some potatoes, keto potatoes, or other smashable veggies.
  3. Add more seasoning.
closer view of smashed brussels sprouts with parmesan with parmesan

How to Trim & Cut Brussels Sprouts

Trimming brussels sprouts for smashing is as simple as removing the bottom tip, and discarding any yellow or faded color leaves. From there, we’ll steam the sprouts whole.

How To Make Smashed Brussels Sprouts

These smashed brussels sprouts are as fun to make as they are to eat. Here’s how:

1. Steam: The goal is to get them soft enough to smash with little pressure. I do this in a pot of boiling water, a microwave works as well.

2. Toss: in oil and seasonings, then spread onto a baking sheet.

top view of smashed brussels sprouts with parmesan
closer view of smashed brussels sprouts with parmesan

3. Smash using the bottom of a clean cup.

top view of smashed brussels sprouts with parmesan
closer view of smashed brussels sprouts with parmesan

4. Sprinkle with parmesan + bake in preheated oven.

top view of smashed brussels sprouts with parmesan

Tips for Perfect Crispy Smashed Brussels Sprouts

Follow the steps above, and its hard not to get these perfect every time. If you run into any trouble, here are some troubleshooting answers:

  • Why don’t my brussels sprouts get crispy? There are a few reasons why this can happen, such as the brussels getting too crowded on the pan, they’re not fully dry before roasting them, or there isn’t enough cheese.
  • How do you keep brussels sprouts from burning? Coating your brussels sprouts in a good amount of oil and parmesan will prevent the bottom and tops from burning.
top view of smashed brussels sprouts with parmesan

Reheating Your Brussels Sprouts

Heating up some leftovers? This is best done in an oven or toaster oven to re-crisp the cheese on top. Or chop them up and use them for a shaved brussels sprouts salad base!

Smashed Brussels Sprouts Video Tutorial

More Easy Roasted Veggies

smashed brussel sprouts in a plate

Smashed Brussels Sprouts

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Servings :12
Prep Time20 minutes
Cook Time35 minutes
Total Time55 minutes
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Ingredients

  • 2 Pounds Brussels Sprouts
  • 1/4 Cup Olive Oil
  • 1 1/2 Tablespoons Balsamic Vinegar
  • 2 Garlic Cloves minced
  • 1 1/2 Teaspoon Kosher Salt
  • 1/2 Teaspoon Ground Black Pepper
  • 1 Large Leek white and pale green parts only, washed well and thinly sliced
  • 1 Cup Parmesan grated
US Customary – Metric

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
  • Prep brussels sprouts: Trim the bottom of the brussels sprouts (2 pounds) and discard yellow leaves. Steam the brussels sprouts for about 20-25 minutes, or until they’re tender. Allow brussels to drain in a colander while you prep the remaining ingredients.
  • Combine: In a large bowl, whisk together olive oil (1/4 cup), balsamic vinegar (1 1/2 tablespoons), minced garlic (2 cloves), salt (1 1/2 teaspoon), and ground black pepper (1/2 teaspoon). Add brussels sprouts, leek, and toss to coat evenly.
  • Spread brussels sprouts out onto a rimmed baking sheet. You want to leave room between the brussels as we’ll be “smashing” them — you may need to spread them out onto 2 baking sheets. Use a small mason jar (or cup), to press the brussels sprouts into flat patties.
  • Cover brussels sprouts in grated parmesan (1 cup). Bake for 15 minutes. Serve warm and enjoy!
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Fans Also Made These Healthy Recipes:

Lindsey’s Tips

  • Recipe inspired by my Mama’s famous brussels sprouts (no holiday is complete without these!)
  • To save time: Boil the brussels as you chop, mix and cook the other ingredients.
  • To save carbs: leave out the leeks (although they add SO much flavor!)
  • Nutritional information: nutritional information below is based on 1 serving, if you were to divide this recipe into 12 servings.

Nutrition

Calories: 112kcalTotal Carbohydrates: 9gProtein: 6gFat: 7gSodium: 445mgFiber: 3gSugar: 2gNet Carbs: 6g
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Reader Interactions

Comments

  2. We loved these brussel sprouts! My family was groaning the whole time I was making them because “we don’t like brussel sprouts”. They all enjoyed them! They even went for seconds! Thanks for the wonderful recipe!!

    Reply

  3. Hi Lindsey,
    If I don’t get parmesan around me, If there is any other type of cheese that I can use in this smashed Brussel sprouts recipe? Another question is while baking the veggies, would it cause any smoke in my kitchen? I Don’t install a ductless range hood in my kitchen yet.

    Reply

    • Hi Adam. You can use any type of cheese you like! Pecorino and grana padano are the 2 closest swaps. When baking these, there was no smoke in my kitchen — not sure about your kitchen as I don’t know your oven setup. Enjoy!

      Reply

  10. I made these last night, and they were so good. I make brussel sprouts a lot so I was eager to try making them in a new way. I love the flavor and the texture.

    Reply

  12. Our family loves brussel sprouts and enjoy playing around with different flavors. I cannot wait to try this one!

    Reply

    • Hi Candace! Yes they can, although they won’t be as crispy. To make them ahead, I would prep everything, and bake with the cheese on top right before serving ti keep the cheese crisp. Enjoy!

      Reply

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