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Brussels Sprouts with Pancetta (Oven Roasted)

Brussels sprouts with pancetta are so much more appealing to most of us than boiled or steamed Brussels sprouts. Adding pancetta takes them to the next level!

roasted brussels sprouts with pancetta in an oval dish

Even if you don’t like Brussels sprouts, you may be surprised by how tasty they are when roasted with pancetta, especially if you have purple Brussels sprouts!

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Edited 10/2021: If you watched Stanley Tucci’s Searching for Italy series and have become a fan (like me), you might like to know that he just mentioned that he’ll be making Brussels sprouts with pancetta for Thanksgiving this year! If that’s not a sign to make them, I don’t know that is!

Simple, easy to make and such a nutritious side dish, this recipe may actually convert sprout-haters! Yes, it’s true. You see, purple Brussels sprouts are a much sweeter tasting heirloom variety than standard green Brussels Sprouts. As you can see, they’re still purple after roasting, too!

roasted brussels sprouts with pancetta in an oval dish

Do you like spicy food? Add some flakes of hot pepper, and these Brussels sprouts with pancetta are a crispy, salty, spicy side dish that goes with so many different main courses.

Love pancetta? Try this easy, 4 ingredient pancetta pasta!

pancetta pasta in a bowl with cheese on top

Are Brussels Sprouts Good for You?

Brussels sprouts are a cruciferous vegetable, meaning they grow with a cross pattern like cabbages and cauliflower. Cruciferous vegetables are excellent nutritient-rich foods which carry a multitude of benefits, including possible cancer prevention. Both green and purple Brussels sprouts are super foods: low in calories, high in fiber and chock full of vitamins and minerals. Did you know that there is more vitamin C in Brussels sprouts than in an orange! So in fact, yes, Brussels sprouts are very good for you!

Another Superfood: Rapini

sauteed rapini

What is the Best Way to Eat Brussels Sprouts?

Obviously, this is a subjective question and everyone will have their own opinion, but I would say that one of the best ways to eat Brussels sprouts is oven roasted with pancetta. Roasting is healthier than frying, yet tastes so much better than boiled or steamed.

Give this roasted Brussel sprout recipe a try and give me your opinion! !

adding oil to purple vegetables

What is the Easiest Way to Cook Brussels Sprouts?

Again, I’m a fan of roasting Brussels sprouts and one of the reasons is because of how simple and easy it is! Throw the oiled sprouts on a tray with some pancetta and let the oven do all the work.

Brussels sprouts with pancetta

Thank you to Melissa’s Produce for sending me the awesome purple Brussels sprouts to try! I’d never seen or had purple ones before they sent them to me in a mixed produce box. You may or may not know that purple is my favorite color, and more color in vegetables means more nutrients, too! Yay! They’re only in season November through January, so they’re perfect for Thanksgiving!

Serving these for Thanksgiving? Don’t miss my triple orange cranberry sauce recipe!

cranberry orange sauce with citrus in background

Attention vegetarians and vegans: you may have noticed that I put pancetta in parentheses, and this is because I want to encourage vegetarians to make this recipe, too. It’s so easy to omit the pancetta.

roasted brussels sprouts with pancetta in an oval dish

Roasted Brussels Sprouts (with Pancetta)

Recipe by Christina Conte               serves 5
FULL PRINTABLE RECIPE BELOW

Ingredients

  • Brussels sprouts
  • extra virgin olive oil
  • sea salt
  • (optional: red pepper flakes/black pepper)
  • (optional: pancetta)

Directions

Preheat oven to 400 F (200 C)

Prepare the Brussel Sprouts

Clean each sprout, but cutting off any dead leaves, trim a little off the bottom. Wash them, and dry in a tea towel, then cut an x into each bottom of the sprouts.

holding a sprout with an x in the bottom

Put all the Brussels sprouts into a bowl and drizzle with a good quality extra virgin olive oil.

adding oil to Brussels sprouts

Sprinkle with Kosher, or sea salt (and hot pepper, or black pepper, if you choose), then toss well until all the Brussel sprouts are coated in oil. Place onto a baking pan (I used a tart dish) and toss the pancetta over the top.

adding sprouts onto a baking pan

Roast the Brussels Sprouts with Pancetta

Brussels sprouts with pancetta

Place the dish into the preheated oven, and set a time for 10 minutes.

Brussels sprouts with pancetta

After 10 minutes, stir the sprouts and pancetta or shake the dish well, and return to the oven for another 10 minutes.  Continue this at least two more times, until your desired crispiness is achieved on the Brussels sprouts and pancetta. Taste one sprout to make sure it’s cooked to your liking, and season if needed.

Brussels sprouts with pancetta

Place into Serving Dish

Brussels sprouts with pancetta

Serve hot with your choice of main dish. I may add that these Brussels sprouts with pancetta are perfect for Thanksgiving or Christmas! (I wrote this entire post before Mr. Tucci’s Bon Appetit interview!)

roasted brussels sprouts with pancetta in an oval dish

More healthy recipes using sprouts: Brussels Sprouts Slaw with Cabbage and Apples

Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Red Pepper and Parmesan Cheese.

*Brussels sprouts have an s added to the first word, as in the city in Belgium, but Americans mostly write it as Brussel sprouts. I’ve added a smattering of that version in hopes that some readers will end up on this recipe. :)

Brussel sprouts with pancetta

Roasted Brussels Sprouts (with Pancetta)

Servings: 5
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes
A super easy roasted Brussels sprouts dish with pancetta.
5 from 21 votes

Special Equipment

  • 1 baking sheet

Ingredients

  • 1 lb Brussels sprouts (purple)
  • 4 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 ½ tsp Kosher salt (or sea salt)
  • 8 oz pancetta (cut into bite-sized pieces)
  • tsp pepper (black pepper or red pepper flakes- optional)

Instructions

Prepare the Brussels Sprouts:

  • Clean each sprout, but cutting off any dead leaves, trim a little off the bottom. Wash them, and dry in a tea towel, then cut an "x" into each bottom of the sprouts.
  • Put all the Brussels sprouts into a bowl and drizzle with a good quality extra virgin olive oil. 
  • Sprinkle with Kosher, or sea salt (and hot pepper, or black pepper, if you choose), then toss well until all the Brussels sprouts are coated in oil. Place onto a baking pan (I used a tart dish) and toss the pancetta over the top.

Roast the Brussels Sprouts with Pancetta:


  • Preheat oven to 400 F (200 C)
  • Place the dish into the preheated oven, and set a time for 10 minutes.
  • After 10 minutes, stir the sprouts and pancetta or shake the dish well, and return to the oven for another 10 minutes.  Continue this at least two more times, until your desired crispiness is achieved on the Brussels sprouts and pancetta.
  • Taste one sprout to make sure it's cooked to your liking, and season if needed.
  • Serve hot with your choice of main dish. 

Notes

  • Omit the pancetta for a vegetarian and vegan dish.

Nutrition

Serving: 1 | Calories: 327kcal | Carbohydrates: 9g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 29g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 16g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 30mg | Sodium: 1021mg | Potassium: 444mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 701IU | Vitamin C: 77mg | Calcium: 41mg | Iron: 2mg

Christina’s Cucina is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

4.96 from 21 votes (21 ratings without comment)

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9 Comments

  1. This is lovely, Christina! While I have different plans for Thanksgiving, i will be making his soon with not home-cured pancetta. The first and only time I have seen purple Brussels sprouts was at the Burrough Market in London at Christmas several years ago – wish I had bought s some!

  2. Instead of using pancetta you can add warmed up heavy cream with freshly grated nutmeg. Stir the sprouts gently through the cream. The cream just needs to coat them. I know from experience that including the pancetta is en better. This how we eat spaghetti with baby sprouts. In the Netherlands it’s possible to buy different sized sprouts.

  3. I haven’t seen these purple beauties yet. Such a fun way to mix things up at the Thanksgiving table! And with the pancetta . . . oh my! Delicious! :-) ~Valentina