Image credit: Ariane Resnick for Clean Plates

Brussel sprouts have gotten seriously popular in the last few years, and we can see why: There’s an awful lot going for these tiny little crucifers. They’re high in fiber, which helps support gut health, and vitamin C, an antioxidant that helps promote iron absorption — which means that brussel sprouts are great served with an iron-rich source of protein like grass-fed steak, spinach, or quinoa. They also have massive amounts of vitamin K, a very important nutrient for bone health, and pack a considerable amount of vitamin A, which may lower your risk of certain cancers.

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When they’re cooked well, Brussel sprouts are crispy on the outside yet soft and tender in the center, and they’re richly flavorful, nutty, and lightly sweet. However, a lot of people think that Brussel sprouts must be inherently gross and slimy because they’d only had Brussel sprouts served one way in their childhoods: Steamed. So if you think you’re simply not a fan of brussel sprouts, you might just have not tried an updated cooking method for them.

Cooked right, Brussel sprouts are so enjoyable that a lot of people absolutely crave them — like this copycat Longhorn brussel sprouts recipe. Brussel sprouts have become a cult favorite side dish at Longhorn Steakhouse, and for good reason: They’re super-crispy, lightly spicy, sweet, and frankly delicious. Who knew that a Brussel sprout could be so craveable that they’d steal the show at a steak restaurant?

It’s common to cover up Brussel sprouts in fat and sugar to hide their natural taste, but that really isn’t necessary to make them taste good. In making this Healthy Copycat Longhorn Brussel Sprouts recipe, we’ve adjusted the recipe’s cooking methods but kept the traditional flavor profile alive with a healthy makeover.

The classic Longhorn Brussel sprouts recipe allegedly involves blanching the sprouts — a process that leaves many of their valuable nutrients behind in water — then frying them. Instead, we’ve oven-roasted these sprouts at a high temperature. A little goes a long way with flavorful, rich ingredients like honey and butter, so we’ve added just a pinch of each — but despite being a healthier version with less added fat and sugar, the flavors absolutely still shine through.

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Longhorn Brussel Sprouts Recipe

SERVES

4

PREP TIME

05 min

COOK TIME

15 min

Ingredients

1 pound Brussel sprouts, halved

1 tablespoon neutral oil such as avocado or grapeseed

3/4 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon chili flakes

½ teaspoon smoked paprika

½ teaspoon garlic powder

½ tablespoon grass-fed butter

Directions

  1. Preheat your oven to 425 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper, and drizzle half the oil onto the parchment.

  2. Place the Brussel sprouts on the baking sheet and drizzle the remaining oil over the top. Sprinkle the salt, chili flakes, smoked paprika, and garlic powder over the Brussel sprouts.

  3. Roast the Brussel sprouts for 15 minutes. In a medium sized mixing bowl, add the cooked Brussel sprouts, honey, and butter. Toss to coat, allowing the butter to melt completely, and serve.

RECIPE NOTES

This recipe can easily be doubled or tripled to serve a larger group.

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