After a long day at work, nothing can sound more tempting than stopping by your local drive-thru for some greasy burgers or popping in a sodium-laden microwavable meal the minute you get home. Sometimes, making a dinner that is both healthy and delicious feels like a feat in itself and, while we have the best intentions to stick to our New Year’s resolutions and weight loss goals, we can’t help but cave in to convenience.
The next time you’re considering giving in to an unhealthy meal, give this recipe for Roasted Balsamic Brussels Sprouts with Bacon a try instead! With only five minutes of prep-time, you can get them in the oven in a jiffy and be only 25 minutes away from the perfect side dish which doesn’t lack in the flavor department and is filling and tasty as well!
Not only is the dish incredibly easy and fast to put together, it comes with a host of health benefits that will help you reach your fitness and health goals, along with leaving you feeling great! A few of these benefits include being high in fiber, which helps lower your LDL or “bad” cholesterol, thus reducing your chances of developing heart disease, being rich in vitamin C, which helps fight against cancer, and being relatively high in protein for a vegetable. In fact, according to HowStuffWorks.com, a full quarter of the calories in brussels sprouts can be attributed to protein. Along with that, brussels sprouts have only 25 calories per cooked cup, making them the perfect snack for those looking to lose weight or bulk up the size of a meal to keep you full longer without tacking on those extra calories!
If you’ve never tried roasting vegetables before, you’re going to be in for a pleasant surprise. Roasting brings out the natural sugars in the veggies and makes them absolutely mouthwatering and addictive! To bump-up the flavor profile of the side dish, the recipe also calls for the perfect amount of bacon to bring in extra flavor and a drizzle of balsamic vinegar to give the brussels sprouts a tangy wine-flavored finish! It’s a fantastic blend of ingredients that will be sure to keep you coming back for more.
To make things even better, you can easily make the dish into a complete meal by adding some raw chicken breast seasoned with salt and pepper on top of the brussels sprouts and bake the whole dish together for a delicious and protein-packed meal.
If you’ve never tried roasting vegetables before, you’re going to be in for a pleasant surprise. Roasting brings out the natural sugars in the veggies and makes them absolutely mouthwatering and addictive!
Ingredients
- 1 lb brussels sprouts, halved
- 1 shallot, sliced
- 3 cloves garlic, diced
- 2 slices bacon, roughly chopped
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- salt and pepper
- 1-2 tbsp balsamic vinegar, to taste
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- In a large baking dish, combine the halved brussels sprouts, sliced shallot, garlic, and bacon. Season liberally with salt and pepper, then drizzle on the olive oil. Toss together to combine and coat the ingredients evenly.
- Bake for 20 minutes, then stir the brussels sprouts. Bake for five more minutes or until browned and fork-tender.
- While still hot, drizzle on the balsamic vinegar and toss to combine.
Notes
If needed, add more salt and pepper to taste.
Enjoy hot!
Christine is a health and body image activist who is passionate about creating recipes that combine delicious and fresh ingredients with nutrition. Located on the coast of California, she enjoys spending time hiking, exploring new restaurants, and leading an active lifestyle. She is currently studying to become a physical therapist and runs her own growing food and fitness blog, Apple of My... Read More
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