Veggies on the smoker are delish, especially when there’s bacon involved! Smoked Brussels Sprouts with Bacon are an easy side that you can pop onto the smoker while everything else is cooking. Hungry? Read on and I, Chef Jenn, will show you all my tips and tricks to make this amazing dish perfectly every time!
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Loaded with flavor and a nice bit of crunch, Smoked Brussels Sprouts with Bacon is an easy side dish that’s going to wow sprouts fans.
This full-color ebook cookbook features more than 50 of Chef Jenn’s tried, tested, and favorite smoker recipes! Enjoy:
- Smoked Beef Kabobs
- Smoked Chicken Thighs
- Smoked Bacon-Wrapped Pork Stuffed Jalapeno Poppers
- Smoked Spaghetti Squash with Herbs and so much more!
Traditionally bitter and with a funky after taste, today’s Brussels sprouts have no bitterness, and while you’ll get a nasty bite if you overcook them, smoking Brussels sprouts on your Traeger pellet grill makes them difficult to overcook.
Plus, the light kiss of smoke really enhances the flavor, and the bacon? Heck ya! Sprouts and bacon are a natural and delicious combination.
What You Need To Make Smoked Brussels Sprouts on the Traeger
- Traeger pellet smoker
- Pellets
- Recyclable foil pan or Grill Basket
- Brussels Sprouts – I trim the ends and remove any yellow leaves so they cook evenly and don’t taste bitter.
- Bacon – Use thick-cut bacon if you want chewy bites; thin-cut will crisp faster and can burn in the smoker.
- Salt and pepper – Season to taste; I cook with kosher salt.
How To Smoke Brussels Sprouts with Bacon
Scroll down for the full recipe card with exact measurements and printable instructions.
Preheat your smoker according to the manufacturer’s instructions and set it to 180°F (82°C).
Trim and clean the Brussels sprouts. Chop the bacon and cook it in a skillet over medium heat for a few minutes until partially crisp. Reserve 2 tablespoons of the bacon fat. Toss the Brussels sprouts with the bacon fat, salt, and black pepper until evenly coated.
Arrange the Brussels sprouts in a single layer on a grill pan or smoker-safe tray. Place them in the smoker and cook at 180°F for about 30 minutes to absorb smoke flavor.
Increase the smoker temperature to 250°F (121°C) and continue cooking for about 1 hour, stirring once halfway through, until the Brussels sprouts are tender-crisp and lightly browned at the edges.
Remove from the smoker and serve hot as a smoky, savory side dish.
Chef Jenn’s Tips
- Look for Brussels sprouts that are tight and closed at the stem end. They’re less likely to be buggy.
- Buy sprouts that are all about the same size for even cooking.
- This recipe won’t work with frozen sprouts – they’re just too watery.
- Change up the flavor with pepper bacon, or add a bit of heat with a pinch of red pepper flakes.
- Don’t be afraid to cook these sprouts a bit longer to get them as tender as you like them.
What To Serve With Smoked Brussels Sprouts
I love adding a pan of these tasty smoked vegetables to the smoker when doing long-haul smokes – it uses up the extra space on the smoker. But, if that’s too much smoke flavor for you, try pairing this easy smoker recipe with Garlic Shrimp Scampi or Oven-Baked Chicken Thighs.
Smoked Brussels Sprouts
Add Preferred SourceEquipment
Ingredients
- 1 pound Brussels sprouts trimmed and cut in half
- 4 slices bacon chopped
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp ground black pepper
Instructions
- Pan fry the chopped bacon until it is just staring to get crispy. Remove the bacon and reserve 2 tbsp of the bacon fat.
- Toss the cleaned and halved Brussels sprouts with the bacon, reserved bacon fat, salt and pepper.
- Lay the Brussels sprouts out on your grill pan in a single layer.
- Set the smoker to 180-F and smoke the sprouts for 30 minutes.
- Turn the heat up to 250-F and cook for an additional 40-60 minutes or until the sprouts are tender-crisp. Toss halfway through the cooking time.
- Serve hot and enjoy!
Notes
Chef Jenn’s Tips
- Look for Brussels sprouts that are tight and closed at the stem end. They’re less likely to be buggy.
- Buy sprouts that are all about the same size for even cooking.
- This recipe won’t work with frozen sprouts – they’re just too watery.
- Change up the flavor with pepper bacon, or add a bit of heat with a pinch of red pepper flakes.
- Don’t be afraid to cook these sprouts a bit longer to get them as tender as you like them.
Nutrition
A Note on Nutritional Information
Nutritional information for this recipe is provided as a courtesy and is calculated based on available online ingredient information. It is only an approximate value. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site cannot be guaranteed.