These caramelized oven roasted Brussels sprouts are cooked with smoky vegan bacon (made with mushrooms), making for a delicious dinner side dish that everyone is going to love.
At this point we shouldn’t be surprised at the magic we can create with oyster mushrooms, right? I mean there’s the all-time favorite pulled “pork”, and the fried “chicken”, and now…BACON.
And what better way to serve up our oyster mushroom bacon than with Brussels sprouts? The two are a match made in heaven and make their way onto our dinner table all the time in the autumn (usually accompanied by some crumbled feta and a drizzle of balsamic dressing).
But today we’re keeping it simple with caramelized Brussels sprouts and smoky vegan mushroom bacon. Let’s cook!
Ingredients for these Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Vegan Bacon
- Brussels Sprouts: Trim and halve Brussels sprouts, drizzle with a bit of olive oil, and spread onto half of a baking sheet.
- Oyster Mushrooms: We’ll use pearl oyster mushrooms, which can be shredded into bacon-like chunks! If you can’t find these in your neighborhood grocery, try looking in an Asian supermarket or healthy food store.
- Bacon Flavor: To transform these oyster mushrooms into vegan bacon, we’ll mix them with some oil, soy sauce, liquid smoke, maple syrup, salt, pepper, and smoked paprika!
This recipe has two components: the Brussels sprouts and the “bacon”. The Brussels sprouts don’t require much – just trim off the bottom and cut them in half (unless they are small, in which case you can cook them whole). Remove any damaged outer leaves and spread onto half of your baking sheet. Drizzle with oil and toss around the evenly coat.
Then comes the vegan bacon! Shred the oyster mushrooms into rough pieces using either a fork or by hand. Then just mix the mushroom pieces with all the delicious bacon flavorings!
Bake until the sprouts are caramelized and the mushrooms have begun to crisp on the outsides. The ease of this recipe makes it perfect for everyday kind of dinners, but it’s also a fun one for Thanksgiving dinner!
Roasted Brussels Sprout Variations
This roasted Brussels sprouts recipe is super flexible and fun to play around with! Here are a few ways to change it up:
- Grapes: The sweetness of grapes pairs perfectly with bitter Brussels sprouts! Add a handful of halved grapes and roast with everything else.
- Feta Cheese: Tangy feta cheese also goes well here. Just sprinkle in a handful of crumbled feta after roasting.
- Balsamic Reduction: Drizzling on some sweet and tasty balsamic vinegar reduction after roasting.
- Lemon: A squeeze of lemon juice and sprinkle of grated lemon zest after roasting brightens up the flavors, perfect for summer.
- Air Fryer: Brussels sprouts are also easy to make in the air fryer! Rather than oven roasting, cook the Brussels sprouts and bacon in your air fryer at 375 degrees F for 10 to 15 minutes (grease the tray well before adding everything). More on cooking vegetables in an air fryer here.
Pairing Ideas
- Vegetarian Thanksgiving Dinner on a Sheet Pan
- Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Grapes
- Thanksgiving Sides in a Slow Cooker
- Shaved Brussels Sprout Salad
- Autumn Pomegranate Salad
Ingredients
- 3 cups Brussels sprouts 500 g
- 3 Tbsp olive oil divided, 45 mL
- 2 Tbsp soy sauce 30 mL
- ½ tsp liquid smoke
- ½ tsp maple syrup
- ¼ tsp each salt, pepper, smoked paprika
- 4 cups oyster mushrooms 300 g
Instructions
- Prep Sprouts: Preheat oven to 425°F (220°C). Trim the tough bottom of the sprouts and cut in half, removing any damaged outer leaves. Spread onto half of a baking sheet, drizzle with 1 Tbsp of oil, and toss to evenly coat.
- Prep Mushrooms: In a medium bowl combine remaining oil, soy, liquid smoke, maple, and spices. Tear mushrooms into rough chunks, then mix with the marinade. Spread mushrooms in a single layer onto the other half of the baking sheet (use a second baking sheet if you can't get them in a single layer – they need space to crisp up!)
- Bake: For 20 to 25 minutes, flipping everything after 15 minutes, until sprouts are caramelized and mushroom "bacon" is crispy at the edges. Mix everything together and serve warm.
Tips & Tricks
- Add grapes: The sweetness of grapes pairs perfectly with bitter Brussels sprouts! Add a handful of halved grapes and roast with everything else.
- Add feta cheese: Tangy feta cheese also goes well here. Just sprinkle in a handful of crumbled feta after roasting.
- Drizzle with balsamic reduction: Drizzling on some sweet and tasty balsamic vinegar reduction after roasting.
- Add lemon: A squeeze of lemon juice and sprinkle of grated lemon zest after roasting brightens up the flavors, perfect for summer.
- Cook in the air fryer: Brussels sprouts are also easy to make in the air fryer! Rather than oven roasting, cook the Brussels sprouts and bacon in your air fryer at 375 degrees F for 10 to 15 minutes (grease the tray well before adding everything). More on cooking vegetables in an air fryer here.
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