Roasted Asparagus and Brussels Sprouts with Dates and Bacon
Roasted asparagus and brussels sprouts with dates and bacon is the perfect combination of sweet and savory. This is a great, healthy side dish to any meal!
Drizzle or dip into my homemade dill aioli or Italian salsa gremolata for an even more flavorful dish!
Related: Risotto Basmati with Artichoke Hearts
Related: Stuffed & Roasted Avocados
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Rich and sweet, yet fresh and savory – your whole family will be running for seconds for this roasted asparagus and brussels sprouts recipe.
roasted brussels sprouts and asparagus recipe
Ingredients
1 pack bacon (no sugar added) – usually the packs are about 16 oz – more or less is just fine.
1 lb brussels sprouts (halved and butts cut)
1 bunch asparagus (ends trimmed)
1 cup dates (pitted and diced) – these are really the star of the show. They turn a bland roasted vegetable dish into something to run back to for seconds!
2 tbs avocado oil – you want to use a high smoke point oil like this for roasting. It’s tempting to use olive oil, but it will burn in the oven and that’s not healthy (or tasty).
salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees f
- Place bacon on a parchment-lined baking sheet
- Cook bacon for 15 minutes (or until crispy)
- While bacon is cooking, halve your brussels sprouts, chop your asparagus into 2 inch pieces, dice your dates and place everything in a large bowl
- Toss the mixture with avocado oil, salt, and pepper
- Remove bacon and place on a paper towel-lined plate
- Pour vegetable mixture directly over bacon fat and use a spatula to toss around
- Bake for about 15-20 minutes until starting to brown.
- Chop your bacon and sprinkle over the top of your roasted vegetables and dates.
tips for roasted asparagus and brussels sprouts
- I know it’s tempting to use olive oil for roasting since it has more flavor than avocado oil, but you really need to be using a high smoke-point oil for roasting. If not, the high temperature will burn the olive oil which will make the fats release free-radicals which are harmful for our bodies.
- Make sure your bacon is extra crispy! The crisp of the bacon is a great contrast to the dish.
- You can roast your vegetables as long as you want. You can make them more brown than what I picture here, or even less brown. This is personal preference.
- It’s totally ok to roast your dates directly with the vegetables!
- Be sure to save your bacon fat and toss the asparagus, brussels sprouts and dates in with the fat – this gives the dish so much flavor!
Storing roasted asparagus and brussels sprouts
REFRIGERATOR STORAGE
Place roasted asparagus and brussels sprouts in an airtight container and set them in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Reheating from refrigerator
To reheat from the refrigerator you can place them in a cast-iron skillet over low heat until heated through, or nuke in the microwave for about 30 seconds.
FREEZER STORAGE
Place roasted asparagus and brussels sprouts in an airtight container, let cool completely, then store in the freezer for up to 6 months.
Reheating from frozen
To reheat from frozen you can place them in a cast-iron skillet over low-medium heat until heated through, or nuke in the microwave for about 1 minute.
Serving Roasted asparagus and brussels sprouts
Serving roasted asparagus and brussels sprouts is easy since this side dish tastes great with so much! Here are some tasty ideas:
- Roasted turkey (this is the perfect Thanksgiving side dish)
- Roasted whole chicken
- Chicken breasts
- Anything meat from the grill
- Throw this roasted asparagus and brussels sprouts dish on top of quinoa or rice for a meal in itself.
- Throw in some cooked gnocchi for another meal in itself!
- Any pasta dish
- Any kind of fish
- Meatloaf
- Toss in some chicken apple sausage and make it a meal
- Meatballs
- Fried or roasted tofu (marinate the tofu in balsamic for an even more flavorful option)
Cooking methods for roasted Vegetables
For this recipe I call for roasting the brussels and asparagus on a sheet pan. However, you could also choose to roast the dish in a cast iron skillet.
To roast your vegetables in a cast iron skillet, simply follow the same directions above except fry the bacon in the cast iron, then remove and add your vegetable and date mixture to the hot bacon fat. Toss with the fat and roast directly in the cast iron skillet.
You’ll need to half the recipe to be able to use a cast iron skillet.
Related: How to cook with and season a cast iron skillet
Variations of Roasted Asparagus and Brussels Sprouts
Substitutions for the bacon
- Pancetta
- Smoked ham
- Prociutto
- Smoked sausage
- Canadian bacon
Substitutions for the dates
- Dried cranberries
- Fresh cranberries
- Raisins
- Dried figs
- Dried cherries
- Fresh apples
Substitutions for the vegetables
- Butternut squash
- Broccoli
- Zucchini
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more side dish recipes
Roasted Garlic Sourdough Bread
Small charcuterie board tutorial
Peanut Butter Stuffed Dates Recipe
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roasted asparagus and brussels sprauts faq
Cutting the brussels sprouts prior to roasting helps them to caramelize and become crispy versus being steamed and soggy.
Asparagus has less calories, more protein and about the same fat content as brussels sprouts.
Roast brussels sprouts at a high temp (425-450) with the cut side down to prevent them from becoming soggy. You also want to be sure not to overcrowd your pan.
Vegetables that pair well with brussels sprouts: asparagus, squash, broccoli.
Meat that pairs well with brussels sprouts: Bacon, smoked ham, smoked sausage, chicken sausage, prosciutto, pancetta.
Sauces that go well with brussels sprouts: coconut aminos, molasses, olive oil, mustard, Worcestershire, ancho aioli
Fruit that pairs with brussels sprouts: dried cranberries, fresh cranberries, raisins, dried figs, dried cherries, fresh apples
Yes, raffinose is the sugar contained in brussels sprouts which is the culprit for the excess gas they cause.
Yes, you can freeze cooked asparagus by letting it cool completely, placing in air tight container or bag and freezing for up to 6 months.
Yes, you can freeze cooked brussels sprouts by letting it cool completely, placing in air tight container or bag and freezing for up to 6 months.
Pin it – roasted asparagus and brussels sprouts
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Roasted Asparagus and Brussels Sprouts with Dates and Bacon
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees f
- Place bacon on a parchment-lined baking sheet
- Cook bacon for 15 minutes (or until crispy)
- While bacon is cooking, halve your brussels sprouts, chop your asparagus into 2 inch pieces, dice your dates and place everything in a large bowl
- Toss the mixture with avocado oil, salt, and pepper
- Remove bacon and place on a paper towel-lined plate
- Pour vegetable mixture directly over bacon fat and use a spatula to toss around
- Bake for about 15-20 minutes until veggies are starting to brown
- Chop your bacon and sprinkle over the top of your roasted vegetables and dates.
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