Smashed Brussels Sprouts Recipe

Prep: 25 mins

Cook: 20 mins

Total: 45 mins

Servings: 2 servings

This is a quick and easy Brussels sprout recipe for weeknights, weekend dinner parties, or just a delicious snack. If you’re planning to serve these for the holiday, you can easily prepare ahead by parboiling the Brussels sprouts, shocking to cool them, then storing in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days until ready to use.

Feel free to get creative with the seasoning and use some red pepper flakes for spice, juice from a fresh orange for sweetness, and some smoked salt for another fun flavor. If you’d prefer to skip the cheese you can totally leave it off. Alternatively, you could get crazy by incorporating smoked Gouda or another fun cheese. These are great paired with a medium-rare, perfectly seasoned steak.

Be sure to wash and trim your Brussels sprouts. It’s not uncommon for little critters to take up home in the tiny cabbages, so you’ll want to thoroughly wash and inspect the sprouts. If you don’t have time to do that you can also purchase pre-washed and trimmed Brussels sprouts from most grocery stores.

This is a great recipe for releasing some pent-up energy and then rewarding yourself with a delicious snack afterward. You’ll find that sprout-smashing is actually very fun!

“This will be my favorite snack from now on! The combination of dried herbs, garlic, and parmesan cheese was just on-point. These Brussels sprouts are perfectly crispy at the edges and soft in the center. I’m sure a splash of lemon juice or chili flakes would work nicely here as well.” —Tara Omidvar

A Note From Our Recipe Tester

Ingredients

• 1 pound Brussels sprouts

• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

• 4 cloves garlic, minced

• 1 teaspoon dried thyme

• 1 teaspoon dried basil

• 1 teaspoon salt

• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

• 1 cup grated parmesan

• Chopped fresh parsley, for garnish

Steps to Make It

1. Gather the ingredients.

   

2. Preheat the oven to 425 F and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. Prepare an ice bath in a large bowl.

   

3. Blanch the Brussels sprouts by bringing a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add Brussels sprouts and cook until bright green and very tender, about 8 minutes.

   

4. Transfer the Brussels sprouts to the prepared ice bath to cool, then drain onto a paper towel-lined plate.

   

5. On the large baking sheet, toss the blanched Brussels sprouts with oil, minced garlic, thyme, and basil.

   

6. Using the end of a small glass or mason jar, press down on the Brussels sprouts to smash them into a flat patty.

   

7. Season each smashed Brussels sprout with salt and pepper, then sprinkle parmesan on top.

   

8. Bake until the bottoms of the sprouts are crispy and the cheese is melty and golden, 15 to 20 minutes.

   

9. Garnish with parsley and serve warm.

   

Make-Ahead Tip

You can prepare these Brussels sprouts ahead of time by parboiling them, then shocking them to cool them down. They can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days.

Recipe Variations

• Spice them up by sprinkling on some red pepper flakes.
• Add a bit of sweet citrusy flavor with a squeeze of fresh orange juice.
• Sprinkle on some smoked salt.
• Omit the parmesan cheese and use smoked Gouda in its place, or use a combination of the two.

How to Store and Reheat

Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week. When ready to reheat, you can warm them in the microwave for 30 seconds, or use the air fryer, oven, or toaster oven to heat them through.

How do you get the bitterness out of Brussels sprouts?

Brussels sprouts these days are less bitter than they have been in the past, as they have been bred to be milder and less sharp-tasting. Roasting Brussels sprouts until browned and tender brings out the sweet, nutty flavors of this cruciferous vegetable, which helps to counteract any strong bitter notes.

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 2
Amount per serving
Calories	417
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 29g	37%
Saturated Fat 10g	49%
Cholesterol 43mg	14%
Sodium 2009mg	87%
Total Carbohydrate 24g	9%
Dietary Fiber 6g	23%
Total Sugars 4g
Protein 20g
Vitamin C 144mg	719%
Calcium 539mg	41%
Iron 4mg	25%
Potassium 848mg	18%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.