Bacon Braised Brussels Sprouts with Caramelized Onions

Bacon braised brussels sprouts with caramelized onions would look great as a side at a holiday meal or simply a more interesting weekday dinner. This recipe is paleo, gluten free, and dairy free.

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Brussels sprouts can have a bitter taste, so I think it's necessary to do a little tweaking to brighten up the flavor.

I've made Asian brussels sprout cauliflower rice where the Asian flavors carried the load.

And today, we have bacon braised brussels sprouts with caramelized onions for some sweet and savory balance.

I've been eating more bacon while diving deeper into the paleo world.

Of course, not all bacon is created equally. You don't want added sugar, or nitrates or fillers. That's the junk. And like all meat, you want to make sure the animal is pasture raised, without GMOs or drugs.

I like Vital Choice for my seafood and bacon as they always carry responsible and sustainable products.

Then there's caramelized onions.

That could very well be one of my favorite things to smell, and then eat.

They brighten up any dish with their natural sweetness that comes out over a long, slow cooking period. Caramelized onions make most dishes taste better.

So with savory notes from the bacon and sweetness from the caramelized onions, you have a nice balance for the bitterness in the brussels sprouts. Cooking the sprouts in the pan with the bacon drippings adds to the overall flavor. 

And since most people love a little crispy texture in their brussels sprouts, I like to finish these in the broiler. That's totally optional as the dish can be ready to go after cooking in the pan.

Whether you have a special holiday dinner or just need a more interesting vegetable side dish, I hope you enjoy these paleo bacon braised brussels sprouts with caramelized onions.

Bacon Braised Brussels Sprouts with Caramelized Onions {Paleo, Gluten Free, Dairy Free}

Serves about 4 side dishes

Ingredients

• 1 pound brussels sprouts, bottoms trimmed, rough leaves removed, cut in half

• 4 slices of pasture-raised bacon (I buy this brand), coarsely chopped into squares

• 2 large onions, peeled and thinly sliced

• 2 tablespoons ghee, avocado oil, or butter

• 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar

• 1/4 cup chicken or vegetable stock

• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

1. Place 2 tablespoons of the ghee in a large skillet over medium heat, and add the onions. Stir occasionally, but not constantly so you allow some color to develop. Season with salt. Cook the brussels sprouts for at least 30 minutes, but I like to go low and slow for about an hour to create deep flavor. In the last 10 minutes or if the pan starts to get sticky, deglaze it with the apple cider vinegar and let the onions absorb all of the flavors.

2. While the onions caramelize, place the bacon in a large pan and cook until the bacon is crisp, about 10 minutes. Remove the bacon from the pan, but leave the drippings. Add the cut brussels sprouts to the pan and season with salt and pepper, turning until evenly coated. Allow to brown for 5 minutes and then pour in the stock and cover to cook the brussels sprouts through, another 3-5 minutes. You can serve from here, or throw the brussels sprouts on a baking sheet and place under the broiler for a few minutes until the leaves crisp.

3. Serve the brussels sprouts with the caramelized onions and bacon.

Looking for other vegetable inspiration?