Pan-Seared Brussels Sprouts

By
Danilo Alfaro
Danlio Alfaro
Danilo Alfaro
Danilo Alfaro has published more than 800 recipes and tutorials focused on making complicated culinary techniques approachable to home cooks.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 02/25/22
Bowl of cooked Brussels sprouts

Ray Kachatorian / Photodisc / Getty Images

Prep: 5 mins
Cook: 10 mins
Total: 15 mins
Servings: 4 servings
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
103 Calories
7g Fat
9g Carbs
3g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories 103
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 7g 9%
Saturated Fat 2g 12%
Cholesterol 8mg 3%
Sodium 131mg 6%
Total Carbohydrate 9g 3%
Dietary Fiber 3g 11%
Total Sugars 2g
Protein 3g
Vitamin C 71mg 353%
Calcium 42mg 3%
Iron 1mg 8%
Potassium 383mg 8%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Once you've had these crispy but tender perfectly pan-seared Brussels sprouts, you'll never go back to another version again. Cooking in a hot skillet caramelizes the sprouts, adding sweetness and crunch, while the chicken stock (or vegetable stock, if you prefer) and butter provide a savory twist. A squeeze of lemon juice at the end provides the perfect amount of tang and balances out the flavors.

Serve these Brussels at your next holiday dinner or alongside a grilled steak, baked chicken, or pork chops.

1:01

Click Play to See This Pan-Seared Brussels Sprouts Recipe Come Together

Ingredients

  • 1 pound Brussels sprouts

  • 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

  • 1/3 cup chicken stock

  • Kosher salt, to taste

  • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter

  • Freshly squeezed lemon juice, to taste

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

  2. Trim the stems off the Brussels sprouts and then halve them lengthwise. Keep any outer leaves that fall off.​

  3. Over medium-high heat, heat the oil in a wide skillet or sauté pan and place the Brussels sprout halves face-down in the oil.

  4. Arrange any loose leaves over the tops, as if you're covering the sprouts with little blankets.​

  5. Let the sprouts brown in the oil for about 5 minutes, after which time you can turn them with tongs. They should be a beautiful golden brown. If not, leave them face-down until they have a nice color, then flip them over.​

  6. Add the stock to the pan, which will create quite a big sizzle. Sprinkle salt over the Brussels sprouts.

  7. Cover the pan and turn the heat to low. Simmer for about 5 more minutes, after which time the liquid should be mostly gone.

  8. Swirl a little butter in the pan, adjusting the seasoning with lemon juice, and adding more salt if you want.

  9. Serve right away and enjoy.

Tips

  • Be very careful not to overcook the Brussels sprouts. When cooked for too long, Brussels sprouts take on a telltale greenish gray color and release a sulfur compound, producing an unpleasant smell and flavor—the cause of their bad rap through the years. They should be cooked just enough so that they're tender but still retain a good amount of crunch and a vivid bright green color.


  • Another reason Brussels sprouts have earned a bad reputation is that they can taste bitter. There are a few ways to remedy this, however, such as cutting the sprouts in half before cooking or blanching before roasting or pan-searing.