These Easy Sautéed Brussels Sprouts are a simple yet incredibly delicious way to bring a bowl of nutritious, perfectly cooked cruciferous vegetables to your table, transforming a humble veggie into a culinary delight!

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Easy Sautéed Brussels Sprouts: Your New Favorite Vegetable Side

For many, Brussels sprouts are a vegetable fraught with childhood memories of overcooked, bitter morsels. However, when prepared correctly, these miniature cabbages transform into a truly delectable dish, bursting with savory flavors and delightful textures. Imagine a scenario where even the pickiest eater, perhaps a family member renowned for their vegetable aversion, asks for a second helping. Or better yet, requests leftover Brussels sprouts for breakfast! That’s the magic of this easy sautéed Brussels sprouts recipe – it turns skeptics into superfans, delivering a side dish so exceptional it’s sure to become a staple in your culinary repertoire.

This recipe focuses on simplicity and flavor enhancement, ensuring each sprout is tender on the inside with a beautifully caramelized exterior. We achieve this through a careful sautéing process involving garlic, onions, and a harmonious blend of butter and olive oil. These foundational ingredients not only infuse the sprouts with rich, aromatic notes but also contribute to that irresistible golden-brown crust. And for an unparalleled textural counterpoint, a sprinkle of chopped pecans adds a fantastic crunch that elevates the dish from good to extraordinary. Don’t be tempted to skip the pecans unless you’re certain your diners truly dislike nuts; they are a game-changer!

The key to perfect sautéed Brussels sprouts lies in a few crucial steps that maximize their natural sweetness and minimize any potential bitterness. Starting with a brief boil or blanch helps tenderize the sprouts quickly, preparing them for the intense heat of the skillet. This initial step is vital to ensure they cook through evenly without becoming mushy during the sautéing process. Once drained and halved, the cut sides are exposed to the hot pan, allowing for that coveted caramelization. This browning isn’t just for aesthetics; it deepens the flavor profile, adding complex, nutty notes that are utterly irresistible.

As you watch the sprouts transform in the pan, absorbing the fragrant garlic and onion, and taking on a beautiful golden hue, you’ll understand why this method is so superior. The combination of butter and olive oil provides the perfect fat for sautéing—butter for its rich flavor and olive oil for its higher smoke point, ensuring your sprouts brown without burning. A quick poke with a sharp knife or fork will confirm they are tender enough without being overcooked. This technique ensures a perfectly cooked vegetable every time, striking that ideal balance between crisp-tender and melt-in-your-mouth deliciousness.

A Versatile Side Dish for Any Occasion

While these easy sautéed Brussels sprouts are a phenomenal choice for a special holiday meal, like Thanksgiving or Christmas, their straightforward preparation makes them equally suitable for a casual weeknight dinner. They effortlessly complement a wide range of main courses, from roasted chicken and pan-seared fish to grilled steaks and hearty vegetarian fare. Their vibrant green color and enticing aroma add an inviting touch to any plate, elevating a simple meal into something truly memorable.

This recipe’s adaptable nature also allows for delicious variations. Consider adding crispy bacon bits for an extra layer of savory depth, a drizzle of balsamic glaze for a sweet and tangy finish, or a sprinkle of grated Parmesan cheese for a sharp, umami kick. A squeeze of fresh lemon juice at the end can brighten all the flavors, while a pinch of red pepper flakes can introduce a subtle heat. The core recipe, however, stands strong on its own, proving that sometimes the simplest preparations yield the most profound flavors.

Preparing a delicious, healthy vegetable doesn’t have to be complicated or time-consuming. This sautéed Brussels sprouts recipe is proof that with a few quality ingredients and a straightforward method, you can achieve restaurant-quality results in your own kitchen. It’s a fantastic way to incorporate more nutrient-rich cruciferous vegetables into your diet, packed with vitamins K and C, fiber, and antioxidants. So, even if your family includes a few selective eaters, don’t shy away from giving these Brussels sprouts a try. You might just find yourself, like my dad, requesting them for breakfast!

Explore More Delicious Brussels Sprouts Recipes

If you’ve fallen in love with the humble Brussels sprout, there are many other fantastic ways to enjoy this versatile vegetable. From roasting to shaving into salads, these recipes offer diverse culinary experiences.

Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Balsamic Vinegar from Two Peas and Their Pod
Roasted Autumn Vegetables with a Dijon Vinaigrette from That Skinny Chick Can Bake
Red Lobster Fresh Roasted Brussels Sprouts from CopyKat Recipes
Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad from That Skinny Chick Can Bake
Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Apples and Bacon from Barefeet in the Kitchen

The Recipe:

Easy Sautéed Brussels Sprouts Recipe

Prep Time
10 minutes

Cook Time
15 minutes

Total Time
25 minutes

Yield
6 servings

A simple autumnal side dish that’s tasty enough for the holidays!

Average Rating: 5/5 (3 reviews)

Ingredients

1 ½ pounds Brussels sprouts, trimmed
4 tablespoons (½ stick) butter
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 medium yellow onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
¼ cup roasted pecans, chopped
Salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions

Cook the Brussels sprouts in boiling, salted water until just tender, 3-5 minutes.
Drain and allow to cool slightly. When cool enough to handle, cut each sprout in half.
Heat butter and oil in a large skillet. Add onions and cook till golden.
Add minced garlic and Brussels sprouts and saute till sprouts are lightly browned.
Season with salt and pepper to taste. Add pecans if using.

Notes

Recipe adapted from Saveur magazine.

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Nutrition Information:

Yield:

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving:
Calories: 99
Total Fat: 6g
Saturated Fat: 1g
Trans Fat: 0g
Unsaturated Fat: 5g
Cholesterol: 0mg
Sodium: 74mg
Carbohydrates: 11g
Fiber: 4g
Sugar: 3g
Protein: 4g

Thatskinnychickcanbake.com occasionally offers nutritional information for recipes contained on this site. This information is provided as a courtesy and is an estimate only. This information comes from online calculators. Although thatskinnychickcanbake.com attempts to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures are only estimates. Varying factors such as product types or brands purchased can change the nutritional information in any given recipe. Also, many recipes on thatskinnychickcanbake.com recommend toppings, which may or may not be listed as optional and nutritional information for these added toppings is not listed. Other factors may change the nutritional information such as when the salt amount is listed “to taste,” it is not calculated into the recipe as the amount will vary. Also, different online calculators can provide different results. To obtain the most accurate representation of the nutritional information in any given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe. You are solely responsible for ensuring that any nutritional information obtained is accurate.

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