I serve these Brussels sprouts often, and folks gobble them up each time. They love the heat from the kicky spice blend, the sweetness from the apple cider-plumped cranberries, and the crunch of the nuts. These couldn’t be easier to make or more impressive to serve.
Contents
What You’ll Need to Make This
- Brussels sprouts–Choose sprouts that are firm with closed leaves and no blemishes or bruises.
- Coconut oil–You can substitute olive oil, or another oil suitable for roasting, such as vegetable or canola, if you prefer.
- Dried cranberries–I like to use sweetened dried cranberries (aka craisins) and plump them with apple cider. They become jammy and create a more complex autumnal flavor.
- Pecans–The nuts are optional but do add a lovely crunch to the finished dish. Feel free to swap in other nuts, such as almonds, macadamia, or walnuts.
How to Make Spicy Brussels Sprouts
- Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment and preheat the oven to 425°F.
- Whisk the dressing ingredients together in a large bowl.
- Add the Brussels sprouts to the bowl and toss to coat them thoroughly.
- Arrange the sprouts in a single layer on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Roast for 15 minutes. If you want extra-brown sprouts, roast them cut-side down the whole time.
- Combine the cranberries and 1/4 cup of apple cider in an uncovered saucepan over low heat.
- Simmer until the liquid is absorbed and the cranberries are plump.
- Add the cranberries to the Brussels sprouts and continue to roast until the sprouts begin to brown.
- Transfer the roasted sprouts and cranberries to a serving dish and top with the nuts and garam or chaat masala, if desired.
Common Questions
Cut away exposed stems and discard any leaves that are bruised or blemished, then slice them in half. That’s it.
The sprouts should be golden brown outside, with some crispy edges. If you poke them with a fork, they should be tender and offer no resistance. Be mindful not to roast them too long, or they’ll be mushy.
If you want extra-crispy leaves on the outside but don’t want them to become mushy in the middle, switch the oven to broil for the last 1 to 2 minutes. Watch them carefully, as they can scorch quickly.
In the oven: Arrange the nuts in a single layer on a baking sheet and roast them at 350°F until fragrant, 5 to 10 minutes. Halfway through, give them a stir and make sure they’re not burning.
In a skillet: Toast them in a single layer over medium heat for 3 to 5 minutes. Toss them frequently to avoid burning.
Helpful Tips
- Store leftover roasted Brussels sprouts in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
- To reheat leftover sprouts, spread them on a baking sheet and pop them in a 400°F oven until they are warmed through and the edges are beginning to crisp.
- This recipe is suitable for gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegan diets.
More Easy Brussels Sprouts Recipes
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If you make this recipe, or any dish on LC, consider leaving a review, a star rating, and your best photo in the comments below. I love hearing from you.–David
Spicy Roasted Brussels Sprouts
Ingredients
For the dressing
- 2 tablespoons unrefined coconut oil, melted over low heat
- 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon grated nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon turmeric
- 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon cayenne powder
- 1/4 teaspoon allspice
- 1 tablespoon pure maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar
For the Brussels sprouts
- 1 pound Brussels sprouts, trimmed and halved (about 3 1/2 cups)
- 3 tablespoons unsweetened dried cranberries
- 1/4 cup apple juice, apple cider, or water
- 1/4 cup pecans, toasted and roughly chopped (or substitute macadamias, almonds, or walnuts), optional
- 1 teaspoon garam masala or chaat masala (optional)
Instructions
Make the dressing
- Crank up the heat to 425ºF (220°C). Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, whisk together all dressing ingredients.
Make the Brussels sprouts
- Add the Brussels sprouts to the dressing and toss to coat. Spread in a single layer on the baking sheet. (If your Brussels sprouts are cold from the fridge, the coconut oil will harden. Fear not, it all will work out in the oven.)
- Roast the Brussels sprouts for 15 minutes, stirring and rotating the baking sheet once.
- Meanwhile, warm the cranberries in apple cider or juice in a small saucepan over low heat until the liquid is absorbed and the cranberries are plumped and jammy, 6 to 10 minutes. If the liquid doesn’t fully absorb, simply drain off any excess.
- Add the plumped cranberries to the Brussels sprouts and continue to roast until the sprouts begin to brown at the edges and are tender but not mushy, 5 to 10 minutes more.
☞ TESTER TIP: If you like some of your sprouts a little extra crispy, slide the Brussels sprouts under the broiler for a minute or so before removing them from the oven. Watch them carefully, as the leaves can quickly scorch.
- Scrape everything from the baking sheet into a serving bowl and top with the macadamia nuts and garam or chaat masala, if using. Serve immediately.
Notes
- Storage–Store leftover roasted Brussels sprouts in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
- Reheating–To reheat leftover sprouts, spread them on a baking sheet and pop them in a 400°F oven until they are warmed through and the edges are beginning to crisp.
- Dietary–This recipe is suitable for gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegan diets.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Recipe Testers’ Reviews
These are the most exciting and flavorful Brussels sprouts I’ve had! The combination of sweetness, spice, and heat makes this the most interesting Brussels recipe I’ve tried and enjoyed so thoroughly.
I was unable to find the chaat masala but went ahead without it. However, I still plan to try it in the near future to see what it adds to the recipe.
The timing was spot on. It took fewer than 10 minutes to prepare everything, and this makes six plentiful servings.
This spicy Brussels sprouts recipe was delicious and so easy to prepare, it felt a little guilt-inducing to put so little effort into the preparation.
The dressing was delicious as-is, but the chaat masala added a fruity, floral note that was unexpected and reminded me of other Indian vegetable dishes I’ve had. The dressing came together quickly, and the cayenne heat added a nice note to the mix.
The dressing would go well with almost any type of roasted vegetable. Sweet potatoes come to mind, but roasted carrots, butternut squash, or a mix of vegetables would be great. Any type of nut would also work with this dish, especially hazelnuts or almonds.
Wonderfully spicy sprouts that are worth making year-round. I thought I’d tried almost every variation on preparing Brussels sprouts out there, from raw salads to slightly stir-fried leaves to full-on bacon and roasted chestnuts, but this was new. The spiciness and slight caramelization of the leaves work well with the slight bite of sweet cranberries (and you could substitute dried cherries if you wanted).
Don’t you dare reserve these Brussels sprouts just for Thanksgiving dinner. They’re super easy to make.
The dressing’s flavor is assertive enough to stand up to the sprouts, but do adjust the amount of cayenne to suit your taste. That much tongue-twisting heat isn’t for everyone and may affect your enjoyment of the rest of your meal.
I’d have liked more cranberries in this dish. They added a nice, sweet tartness to counterbalance the heat of the cayenne.
These are not my mother’s Brussels sprouts! I admit that while I didn’t like them as a child, I love them as an adult. My go-to is simply to roast them with olive oil, salt, and pepper. This recipe elevated Brussels sprouts to a new, wonderful level and required a minimum of additional effort.
While my initial thought was to omit the cranberries, I’m so glad that I didn’t. The spices are very forward in this dish and the cranberries offered a nice counterbalance to them. The chaat masala and toasted macadamia nuts were a great finish.
Next time, I may adjust the amount of cayenne that I use to 1/4 teaspoon. My husband and I loved spicy food, but it may be a little overwhelming to guests who are sensitive to spice.
I served the Brussels sprouts with grilled pork tenderloin. It was a wonderful pairing. I cannot wait to make this dish again. It may even have a space at our Thanksgiving table.
Wonderful, Jennifer! Thanks so much for taking the time to share your experience.
I’m a Brussels sprouts enthusiast. They are such an easy vegetable to prepare—simply toss with oil, salt, and pepper and roast in the oven. Because they’re so simple to make, I was drawn to this new combination of spices to add to them. The combination of warm spices like cinnamon with the more spicy ones was excellent. The flavors were both exotic yet familiar. Also, the addition of cranberries and macadamia nuts was an excellent textural surprise. The super crunchy nuts and plump, juicy cranberries contrasted and complemented the sprouts beautifully.
This would be a wonderful side dish for Thanksgiving or, as I served it, with dinner on the porch on a warm summer evening.
I’m with you, Olivia. It’s so fun to elevate simple dishes like this and add new flavors.