October 3, 2020

Maple Balsamic Brussels Sprouts and Cranberries

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Maple Balsamic Brussels Sprouts and Cranberries are roasted to perfection and then tossed with sweet cranberries and a delectable maple balsamic dressing. This vegan/vegetarian side dish is guaranteed to be the BEST brussels sprouts for your Thanksgiving table.

Brussels Sprouts Thanksgiving

It's never too early to plan your Thanksgiving and holiday meals including planning your brussels sprouts for Thanksgiving. My Maple Balsamic Brussels Sprouts with Cranberries is one dish that is totally irresistible for the holidays. These roasted Brussels sprouts really shine with a Maple Balsamic glaze and perfectly dried cranberries which literally taste like candy after roasting. The catch is this vegan Thanksgiving side dish only looks like you labored over these brussels sprouts for Thanksgiving for much longer.

This dish might LOOK like the holidays... but here's a secret... it's easy enough to make for any weekday meal.

I make several well-loved, tried and true recipes for my Thanksgiving dinner, and this delightfully tasty Maple Balsamic Brussels Sprouts and Cranberries is at the top of the list. These are simply THE best brussels sprouts for Thanksgiving. It's everything that is good and right about my favorite foodie holiday in one little side dish. If you are looking for truly the best brussels sprouts recipes... this is it!

The flavors really just POP off the plate.

Why You'll Love These Maple Balsamic Brussels Sprouts with Cranberries...

Yes, you could just make my simply roasted Lemon Garlic Brussels Sprouts... BUT with just a few more steps you've got a total WOW dish for the big day. The trick is adding those dried cranberries (because there can never be too many cranberries at Thanksgiving in my opinion!) You add them in the last few minutes of roasting the sprouts and the flavor gets even more intense with just a few glorious minutes in the oven. Brussels sprouts and cranberries are the way to go. They almost taste like candy.
The second trick is that ever so delightful Maple Balsamic glaze. It's made with simple, easy-to-find ingredients. These are the types of things I keep on hand in my pantry. The glaze takes this from a wonderful weekday meal to a WOW dish for the holidays.
These brussels sprouts for Thanksgiving (or Christmas!) are simple to make but will really pop at the holiday table.

Ingredients:

Here's what you will need to make these Brussels Sprouts for Thanksgiving.

Brussels sprouts: Use fresh Brussel sprouts and cut them in half for this recipe. Look for ones that are bright green with no brown spots and not mushy. Cut the end of the sprout off and remove any outer leaves that aren't fresh.
Dried cranberries: Cranberries provide just the right amount of sweetness and taste like candy when roasted. Feel free to use any brand you enjoy.
Dijon mustard: Dijon mustard adds just a bit of tang to the glaze or dressing. It's great because it's low-calorie but big on flavor.
Balsamic vinegar: Balsamic vinegar and brussels sprouts go together like peanut butter and jelly. It's a combination that works so well! Use a nice balsamic vinegar like this one.
Maple syrup: Use the highest quality, real maple syrup you can find. Trust me on this one! This is a great option.
Olive oil: I like to keep a nice olive oil on hand for roasting vegetables like these Thanksgiving Brussel sprouts. This one is great.
Salt and pepper

How to Make the Best Brussels Sprouts for Thanksgiving:

Preheat the oven to 450 F.
In a large bowl, mix the brussels sprouts with salt, pepper, and drizzle the oil. Pour onto a baking sheet and roast 20-30 minutes or until tender and slightly charred. You'll want them to have a bit of color and be like caramelized brussels sprouts.
In the same bowl, toss the cranberries in the excess oil and set them aside.
In the last 5 minutes of cooking the brussels sprouts, add the cranberries to the pan.
Mix together the dressing ingredients.
Once the brussels sprouts are done cooking, toss them in the dressing.

Recipe Variations & Pro Tips

If you aren't vegan or vegetarian you could add bacon or pancetta to this.
If you aren't vegan you can substitute honey for maple syrup.
Adding nuts like walnutd or pecans would give this dish some crunch.

Can you make these roasted Brussels sprouts of Thanksgiving ahead of time?

You COULD but I think roasted vegetables like this would taste better coming right out of the oven. This might want to be one of the last dishes you make for the holidays or for your meal.

Are brussels sprouts good for you?

Brussels sprouts aren't only delicious (especially when roasted with a maple balsamic dressing), but they are nutritious too! They are loaded with fiber, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Making them the perfect side to balance out your holiday feast.

Best Brussel Sprout Recipes for Thanksgiving?

There are a lot of brussel sprout recipes for Thanksgiving BUT I venture that this one really is the best because of the combination of perfectly roasted Brussels sprouts, sweet maple syrup and savory balsamic. The cranberries give this dish the POP you need for the holiday table.

This recipe is easy to make too making it the perfect dish to make on an already very hectic cooking day.

Add this to your Thanksgiving or holiday meal plan today. Or make it on a Tuesday... whichever suits your fancy. Don't forget to drop me a note to let me know what you think!

More Thanksgiving Sides to Try

If you make this recipe, I’d love to hear what you think! Leave a comment and a star rating ★ below. Make sure to follow me on Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook too!