Cast Iron Skillet Brussel Sprouts with Lemon

This recipe for pan roasted brussel sprouts made in the cast iron skillet only needs 4 ingredients! With just olive oil, salt and lemon, these roasted brussel sprouts get crispy on the outside with a delicious charred texture and stay tender on the inside. No pre-boiling needed!

Grab that cast iron pan and get ready for the BEST roasted brussel sprouts recipe!

Honestly, after making these in the cast iron skillet, my husband and I were like: how are THESE brussel sprouts?! The thing that has the worst reputation - right up there with liver and blood pudding.

But not these sprouts! Omg no. These are crispy on the outside and tender on the inside.

And with only olive, salt and lemon as the ingredients, these cast iron brussel sprouts will be your new favourite side dish to make at supper on a weeknight.

Yes, they're great for Thanksgiving and Christmas but man. We'll eat this roasted vegetable side dish all dang year long.

Let's get cooking!

Jump to:

• ✅ Ingredients for cast iron skillet roasted brussel sprouts
• 📝How to pan roast brussel sprouts
• 💃Variations
• 🔪Equipment
• 🥡Storage and Leftovers
• 🥘What to serve with pan roasted brussel sprouts
• 😍Are brussel sprouts a Super Food?
• ❓Why are my roasted brussel sprouts not crispy?
• Should you boil brussel sprouts before roasting?
• 🏅Top tip
• 🙋‍♀️More easy side dish recipes
• Want more?
• 📖 Recipe
• 💬 Comments

✅ Ingredients for cast iron skillet roasted brussel sprouts

All you need for this easy recipe is:

• Fresh brussel sprouts
• Olive oil
• Kosher salt
• Lemon

See recipe card for quantities.

📝How to pan roast brussel sprouts

💃Variations

Changing up these roasted brussel sprouts is so easy! You can customize them to whatever flavour profile you're into.

Here are a few classic combinations to try on for size:

• 🧀Parmesan cheese - after plating these cast iron skillet brussel sprouts, sprinkle on some parmesan cheese for a cheesy and salty taste😋
• Balsamic vinegar - another way to amp up the flavour is to use balsamic vinegar on the brussel sprouts instead of the fresh lemon juice. The balsamic vinegar gives the same hit of brightness as the lemon and adds more depth of flavour too
• 🥓Bacon - if you're so inclined to up the indulgence factor, bacon and brussel sprouts are a match made in heaven. Sprinkle some pre-made bacon overtop of the brussel sprouts in the last few minutes of cooking and infuse those sprouts with a smoky flavour

🔪Equipment

A cast iron pan is all the equipment you'll need for this recipe. If you don't have cast iron, you can use another oven safe pan.

🥡Storage and Leftovers

One of the BEST things about these pan roasted brussel sprouts is that they're good for days after cooking.

Keep any leftover cooked brussel sprouts in the fridge and re-heat when you want them.

🥘What to serve with pan roasted brussel sprouts

Who doesn't love some roasted and blackened brussel sprouts on their Thanksgiving or Christmas day plate of food!

But these brussel sprouts aren't just for fall and winter holidays, no siree Bob. This nutrient-packed veggie pairs well with a ton of other dishes. Be sure to make them part of your veggie side-dish repertoire any day of the week!

Try them any one of these main dishes:

• 🐔Grilled chicken - BBQ'd or made in the cast iron pan, you can't go wrong with a lovely chicken breast and these brussel sprouts. Try this recipe for Cast Iron Skillet Chicken Breast or this one for Greek Yogurt Chicken Marinade
• 🐟Baked salmon - a piece of delicious omega-3 packed salmon goes really well with brussel sprouts. Try out this recipe for Cast Iron Skillet Salmon or this Easy Baked Salmon with Mayo
• 🍔Burgers! Balance out a burger meal with a green veggie like brussel sprouts. These The BEST Cast Iron Skillet Burgers (EASY RECIPE)
• 🥘Boneless Chicken Thighs - dig into a healthy, balanced meal with this recipe for Instant Pot Chicken Thighs with Sweet and Spicy Sauce - a perfect pairing to go with cast iron skillet brussel sprouts
• 🍳Eggs, yes you heard me - eggs! Don't be shy about heating up any leftover sprouts with a couple scrambled eggs in the morning. A super way to start your day😎

😍Are brussel sprouts a Super Food?

Brussel sprouts are absolutely PACKED with nutritional goodness to fuel you through your whole dang day - and more.

Here's the sprouts nutritional highlights:

1. Fiber: Brussels sprouts are a good source of dietary fiber, which keeps your digestive system on track and promotes and healthy gut microbiota.
2. Vitamin C: move over oranges! Brussel sprouts are packed with vitamin C, a powerful antioxidant. It helps boost the immune system, promotes collagen formation for healthy skin, and is needed for absorbing iron.
3. Vitamin K: Brussels sprouts are an excellent source of vitamin K, which is essential for blood clotting and bone health.
4. Folate: They contain folate, which is essential for cell growth and development, and is especially important during pregnancy.
5. Iron: Brussels sprouts contain iron, which you're gonna need for healthy blood cells and getting oxygen around the body.
6. Calcium: Not just in dairy products, brussel sprouts have calcium, which is essential for healthy bones and teeth.
7. Potassium and Magnesium: Brussels sprouts are a good source of both potassium and magnesium. Two minerals a lot of us don't get enough of. Both of these help in regulating blood pressure, bone development and keeps muscles and nerves functioning in tip top shape.
8. Vitamin A: They contain vitamin A, which is important for healthy eyesight, skin, and immune function.
9. Vitamin B6: Brussels sprouts contain vitamin B6, which is SO important for brain development and function, and immune system function.

❓Why are my roasted brussel sprouts not crispy?

To really promote those crispy, crunchy brussel sprouts, they need 2 main things: space and heat. Whether you're roasting in a cast iron pan like this recipe or just on a sheet pan in the oven, this cruciferous vegetable needs to release some of that stored water. Brussel sprouts will do this in the form of steam during the cooking process. But if they're too crowded on the pan, the moisture gets trapped and the steam can't escape. So use a big pan for roasting and spread those sprouts out! The other factor is heat. When you're roasting on the stovetop, set your burner to medium high heat (that's a 7 on my stove.) And don't put the brussel sprouts in the pan until the oil is shiny and hot. If you're roasting the oven, go for temperature between 425F and 450F. And don't use parchment paper or tinfoil on the pan! That'll also prevent the brussel sprouts from getting nice and crispy.

Should you boil brussel sprouts before roasting?

You really don't have to boil brussels sprouts before roasting them. In my experience, it just ends up making them mushy and overcooked. But, if you find cooking them pan roasted right from raw is not enough cooking for you, then you can use a quick boil to soften them up. Here's how to do it the right way: boil them for a few minutes - but only a few minutes! Then get them right into to an ice bath to stop the cooking process. This blanching step will help the brussel sprouts to cook more evenly when they're roasted and they'll still have their gorgeous green colour. It will give a slightly different flavour too then just roasting only like this recipe.

Hope you love these Cast Iron Skillet Brussel Sprouts like we do❣️

~April

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