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Home » Recipes » Food

Published: Jan 1, 2021, By: Melissa, Updated: Oct 16, 2023

Caramelized Brussels Sprouts With Olive Oil And Lemon

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Caramelized Brussels Sprouts with olive oil and lemon are so delicious and really easy to make. They are the perfect side to any meal.

top view brussels sprouts on plate

I think Brussels sprouts get a bad wrap because many people grew up with terribly cooked Brussels sprouts. I have found that many people do not know how to cook them to minimize their naturally bitter flavor.

This is my tried and true recipe for Brussels sprouts which is to caramelize them in a hot pan with some olive oil and a little lemon at the end. It is the recipe I teach all of my friends when they are learning to cook them for the first time. It really brings out the delicious sweet flavor of the Brussels sprouts and it is so good.

If you like a sweeter taste to your Brussels sprouts, you can add a simple balsamic reduction over the top once they are done cooking.

Brussels sprouts with some lemon and olive oil.

Ingredients

  • Brussels sprouts. Trimmed and cut in half.
  • Lemon. Lemon is the acid in the recipe that is going to help cut the natural bitterness in the Brussels sprouts.
  • Olive oil. Make sure to use a good quality olive oil.
  • Salt and pepper. I like to use kosher salt in all my recipes. If you are using table salt I recommend switching to Kosher salt because it makes a much better seasoning when cooking.

These are all simple ingredients and very manageable. You want to make sure you use good-quality olive oil since there are only a few ingredients in this recipe. You may also want to read through our how to clean Brussels sprouts if it is your first time doing it.

How To Make Caramelized Brussels Sprouts

Brussel sprouts on a cutting board with a knife.
Cleaned and prepared Brussels sprouts in a pan on the stove.
  • Pre-heat your olive oil in a large flat bottom pan over medium-medium-high heat.
  • Prepare and trim your Brussels sprouts.
  • Add your Brussels sprouts to the hot pan making sure they are all touching the pan. If you need to, cook the Brussels sprouts in batches to ensure each one touches the pan so it can caramelize.
  • Sauté for 5 minutes on each side.
  • Add your lemon and seasoning and cook for a few more minutes or until a fork can pierce the Brussels sprouts.
top view brussels sprouts
Brussels sprouts are nice and caramelized.

Storing And Reheating

If you do have any Brussels sprouts that you did not finish, they can easily be stored in an air-tight container in the fridge. When I do this, it stays fresh for up to 3 days.

To reheat them, place them in a microwave-safe bowl and heat them on medium heat for about 2 minutes! They will not be as crisp but they will still be delicious.

More Brussels Sprouts Recipes

  • Brussels sprouts pasta
    Quick Pasta With Brussels Sprouts And Pancetta
  • Brussels sprouts hash on plate
    Brussels Sprouts Hash With Pancetta
  • italian brussels sprouts
    Roasted Italian Style Brussels Sprouts
  • potato and brussels gratin with piece cut
    Brussels Sprouts Gratin with Potatoes

I have converted haters with this Brussels sprouts recipe and now I have it requested by our guests when they come to visit. Give this a try and I promise you will love it too!

caramelized Brussels sprouts on plate
Print Recipe
5 from 7 votes

Caramelized Brussels Sprouts With Olive Oil And Lemon

Caramelized Brussels Sprouts with olive oil and lemon are so delicious and really easy to make. They are the perfect side to any meal.
Prep Time10 minutes mins
Cook Time10 minutes mins
Total Time20 minutes mins
Servings: 4 servings
Author: Melissa Oleary

Ingredients

  • 1 pint Brussels sprouts whole (not shredded)
  • ⅛ cup of olive oil
  • 1 lemon
  • 1 teaspoon tsp of kosher salt
  • ¼ teaspoon of fresh ground black pepper

Instructions

  • First, you want to prep your Brussels sprouts by rinsing them well and then cutting off the stalky ends.
    1 pint Brussels sprouts whole (not shredded)
  • Next, slice your brussels sprouts in half paying attention to making sure they are all around the same size so they all cook at the same time.
  • In a large heavy bottom pan, heat your olive oil on medium heat. Once pan is heated, add your brussels sprouts to the pan making sure they are not overlapping and that they are all touching the pan.
    ⅛ cup of olive oil
  • You are going to be browning them and getting a nice caramelized outside.
  • Cook them without touching them for about 4 minutes. You will hear some pops and discussion coming from the pan and that is ok!
  • After 4 minutes toss them around with a spatula and you should start to see the nice browning happening. Press them all back down in the pan after tossing so they do not overlap and Cook for another couple minutes.
  • Now, at this stage squeeze your lemon over the top and add your salt. The lemon will start to sizzle and begin steaming your brussel sprouts while the salt will start pulling the moisture from them.
    1 lemon
  • Go ahead and toss around again and flatten out again.
  • Just keep repeating this process every couple of minutes until the brussel sprouts are fork tender (about another 5 minutes).
  • Add salt and pepper and mix well for one minute.
    1 teaspoon tsp of kosher salt, ¼ teaspoon of fresh ground black pepper
  • Taste and add any additional salt and pepper and enjoy!

Nutrition

Calories: 118kcal | Carbohydrates: 13g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Sodium: 30mg | Potassium: 497mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 898IU | Vitamin C: 115mg | Calcium: 57mg | Iron: 2mg

Nutrition Values are estimates only.

See full nutrition disclaimer here

Tried the Recipe? We Would Love To Hear From You In The Comments Below!

Course :Side Dish

Reader Interactions

Comments

    5 from 7 votes (3 ratings without comment)

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  1. Beth says

    January 02, 2023 at 9:46 pm

    5 stars
    Came out delicious

    Reply
    • Melissa says

      January 02, 2023 at 10:11 pm

      So glad you enjoyed them!

      Reply
  2. Mike says

    December 30, 2022 at 1:31 pm

    5 stars
    Loved that this recipe has no sugar! The Brussels sprouts came out nice and crisp following this recipe. The key was leaving them alone to crisp up and the lemon at the end really makes it delicious.
    Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
    • Melissa says

      December 30, 2022 at 1:39 pm

      I'm glad you enjoyed them!

      Reply
  3. Deb R says

    December 27, 2022 at 2:46 pm

    5 stars
    These Brussels sprouts were really good!

    Reply
    • Melissa says

      December 27, 2022 at 2:50 pm

      I am so glad you enjoyed them Deb!

      Reply
  4. Erica says

    August 04, 2022 at 12:05 am

    5 stars
    Served these at a function and they were an instant hit!

    Reply

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I am so excited you are here. My name is Melissa and I started this recipe website to share easy recipes that I have been cooking for years. I have written hundreds of easy recipes that are tested and perfected. Some of the recipes I learned during my years of working in restaurants, some from owning my own food company, and others from friends and traveling.

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