Looking for some nutrient-rich comfort food? Iโve got you. These roasted Brussels sprouts and sweet potatoes are drizzled in a balsamic dressing and sprinkled with pecans and feta cheese. The result? An insanely flavorful side dish thatโs absolutely packed with goodness! Serve alongside your favorite entrรฉe for a healthy, complete, and filling meal.
For me, the fall months are all about getting cozy and indulging in things that warm me up inside and out. Iโm talking kitsch color schemes, vintage throws, cinnamon, mulled wine, and incredible side dishes!
When Thanksgiving is just around the corner, and my mind is fully on comfort food. And for me, that means roasted vegetables! I love offering a range ofย crowd-pleasing roasted vegetablesย at my table, but Iโm keeping it simple and punchy and simple today with these roasted Brussels sprouts and sweet potatoes.
Iโm not kidding when I say that this recipe is the perfect fall and winter side dish! We simply roast the Brussels sprouts and sweet potato with a delectable spice mix to give them extra flavor.
Then, weโll top them with nutty pecans, tangy feta, and a mouthwatering balsamic reduction. Trust me when I say thisย seriouslyย ramps up the flavor without adding anything complicated.
This stunning combination of flavors and textures pairs beautifully with just about any entrรฉe, butย Instant Pot Lamb Shanks, Slow Cooker Pot Roast and Instant Pot Whole Chickenย are some of my favorites to enjoy it with.
So, what are you waiting for? Grab a casserole dish, turn on the oven, and indulge in a big plate of tender sprouts and nutty sweet potatoes. Itโs pure comfort!
Ingredients for Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Sweet Potatoes
Hereโs everything youโll need for these roasted Brussels sprouts and sweet potatoes. The flavors are powerful, but the ingredients are super straightforward! So, itโs the perfect pick for beginners.
Fresh Brussels Sprouts: Anyone who thinks Brussel sprouts are slimy and bitter has simply never cooked them correctly! When roasted, sprouts caramelize and develop an earthy, slightly sweet taste.
Sweet Potato:ย Hearty chunks of sweet potato are the backbone of this dish. Roasted sweet potatoes are gorgeously creamy and buttery. Plus, they absorb the balsamic reduction beautifully.
Olive Oil: Helps the spices stick to the sprouts and potato and the veggies crisp up as they roast.
Garlic Powder: Adds a robustly savory kick to our roasted Brussels sprouts and sweet potatoes. Iโve used powder over fresh garlic to spread the flavor around to every bite!
Ground Cumin: Peppery, smoky ground cumin adds a subtle heat to our vegetables that complements the sweetness of the potato.
Allspice: Jamaican allspice is the perfect blend of cozy, autumnal spices. Find it on the shelf at any large grocery store!
Sea Salt and Black Pepper: Adds a classic savory flavor to this recipe. But it also helps the surface of the vegetables develop a crisp crust as they cook!
Raw Pecans:ย We sprinkle a handful of raw pecans over the sprouts and potatoes before serving to add crunch.
Feta Cheese:ย Tangy, crumbly feta cheese pairsย soย well with our sweet, caramelized veggies. The white crumbles look great, too!
Balsamic Vinegar:ย Weโll reduce the balsamic vinegar until it has a rich, syrupy, velvety texture. This balsamic reduction has a complex sweetness that elevates the entire dish.
Recipe Customizations
- If you donโt have olive oil, any other high-smoke-point, neutral-tasting oil will do. Try avocado oil for a nuttier flavor!
- Canโt find allspice? Just use a mixture of cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves instead.
- Substitute raw pecans for walnuts for a more Christmassy feel!
- Add in chopped red onion or yellow onion for added flavor. Toss in 2 to 3 fresh cloves of garlic instead of garlic powder.
- Drizzle in 1 to 2 tablespoons of pure maple syrup to add a sweet glaze.
- Swap out the sweet potatoes for butternut squash, acorn squash, or any winter squash you love.
- Add in some fresh green beans!
How to Make Roasted Brussel Sprouts and Sweet Potatoes
Start by preheating your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and preparing your vegetables.
Trim and halve the Brussels sprouts, and chop the sweet potato into ยฝ-inch chunks.
Then, toss the veggies in a small casserole dish with the olive oil, garlic powder, cumin, allspice, and sea salt until theyโre nicely coated. As an alternative, you can spread everything over a large baking sheet in a single layer.
Place the full casserole dish on the center rack of the oven and bake for 30 to 45 minutes. Stir once halfway through and cook until the veggies are golden brown.
While your veggies are cooking, heat the balsamic vinegar in a saucepan over medium-high heat until it comes to a boil.
Cook at a full, controlled boil, stirring frequently, until the vinegar has reduced in volume by ยฝ. This should take roughly 5 minutes.
Sprinkle a little salt over the veggies to taste, then serve topped with the pecans, crumbled feta, and the balsamic drizzle.
Transfer this delicious side dish to a serving bowl and enjoy it with your meal. I recommend it for any weeknight dinner and your holiday table too!
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Tips to Perfect Your Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Sweet Potatoes
- Aim to cut your potatoes and sprouts into similar-sized pieces. This ensures they cook at the same speed (and youโre not left with any raw or cold centers)!
- Watch the vinegarย reallyย closely as you reduce it. The line between reduction and evaporation is a thin one, and this dish can quickly turn into a burnt mess.
- Toss in 1/2 cup of dried cranberries and a dash of cinnamon for an even bigger holiday vibe.
- โIf making ahead of time, prepare the whole recipe and store covered in aluminum foil in a casserole dish. Reheat in your oven or air fryer.
- I like roasting everything in a roasting pan or casserole dish rather than spreading it over a large sheet pan in an even layer for soft and tender oven-roastedย vegetables. Nevertheless, choose which method you prefer.
What Does It Taste Like?
This roasted Brussel sprouts and sweet potatoes recipe tastes like comfort in a tray.
The flavors are familiar and versatile. So, this is the perfect partner for almost any main dish.
The veggies have a subtle sweetness, the vinegar reduction is smoky and punchy, and the feta adds an irresistible tang.
it is the perfect side dish during the holiday season when fall produce is on the menu!
Oh, and it tastes as good as it looks!
Healthy, tasty, and super-comforting, these roasted Brussels sprouts and sweet potatoes are a firm fall favorite. This easy side dish has such delicious flavor, it’s just too good to pass up no matter the time of year.
Big fan of these roasted Brussels sprouts and sweet potatoes? Here are five more gorgeous vegetable dishes for you to try!
More Vegetable Side Dishes:
- Garlic Herb Roasted Vegetables
- Balsamic Roasted Root Vegetables
- Orange Ginger Turmeric Roasted Root Vegetables
- Charred Summer Vegetables
- Big Batch Roasted Vegetables
Let me know in the comments if they hit the spot!
Roasted Brussel Sprouts and Sweet Potatoes
Ingredients
- 4 cups brussels sprouts trimmed and halved
- 1 large sweet potato chopped into ยฝ-inch chunks
- 3 Tbsp olive oil or avocado oil
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- ยฝ tsp ground cumin optional
- Pinch allspice
- 1/4 tsp sea salt to taste
- ยผ cup raw pecans
- 1/3 cup feta cheese
- 1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
- Add the brussels sprouts, sweet potato, olive oil, garlic powder, cumin, allspice, and sea salt to a small casserole dish (8" x 8" or 9" x 13" will both work!). Toss everything together to coat the veggies.
- Place on the center rack of the oven and bake 30 to 45 minutes, stirring once half-way through, or until veggies are golden-brown and cooked through.
- In a small saucepan, heat the balsamic vinegar over medium-high and bring to a full boil. Cook at a full (but controlled) boil, stirring frequently, until vinegar is reduced by 1/2 of its original volume, about 5 minutes.
- Taste veggies for flavor and add salt to taste. Serve roasted veggies with pecans, feta, and balsamic reduction drizzled on top.
The timing of this is too funny– I needed a recipe for brussels sprouts and just saw this awesome picture. Recipe found! And our toaster oven crapped out after 9 years. Hmm
Sounds great, I am always looking for way to cook Brussels sprouts, one of my favorites, can’t imagine anyone not liking them.
Can’t wait to try out this recipe, I love all of the ingredients in this!!!
Roasted brussles sprouts are at the top of our favorites list. This oven would be so handy!
I’m always on the lookout for a good brussel sprout recipe. This one looks fantastic and easy! I can’t wait to try it. Thanks!
I am all about brussels and sweet potatoes right now. Roasted veggies are my favorite part of the fall season! And the feta and balsamic – yes yes yes!
I am new to this website and this is the first recipe I am going to try. It looks delicious!
Gotta love the simplicity of roasted veg – especially when they are my favourite vegetables. ๐
This countertop oven looks awesome! Perfect for quick weeknight meals!
I would love this!
Mmmm. Tried this recipe this weekend, and it was delish! I bet it would be easy-peasy in that countertop oven, too.
I don’t know – I found it a bit bland but with both the balsamic and feta in unknown quantities, I had to guess. Guessed *almost* right – 1/2 cup balsamic but only 1/4 cup feta instead of 1/3 (thanks for fixing!!). There was a power failure part way through the cooking that fortunately only lasted a few seconds but required the restart of the oven Unfortunately, I didn’t notice that the toaster oven where I was keeping my store-bought chicken warming also shut off so only after I added the feta etc. I discovered the chicken had cooled off. So while the chicken was getting heated up again, the feta melted into nothingness. And even after 55-60 minutes in the oven, the Brussels sprouts were also a bit harder than I would’ve liked and they weren’t huge honkin’ ones (the stray leaves were tasty though). I don’t know what the leftovers will need to make them a bit tastier – maybe some maple syrup and a bit of spice? A bit of broth? Right now, it’s all just meh.
Stephanie (of Girl Versus Dough) and I were just talking about how much we love vegetables the other night. They are so wholesome and comforting, especially when they are roasted! LOVE this amazing fall dish and totally making later this week. ๐
All of my favorites in one dish… we must have been separated at birth. I cannot tell you how much I am looking forward to devouring this dish!
This sounds like fall in a pan! My parents have a counter top oven similar to that one and it’s amazing how convenient it is. Preheat in like negative 5 minutes instead of a million hours for my normal oven? All about that life.
This is a perfect combination for me I love sweet potatos and brussel sprouts, roasted! Would love to roast in a Wolf oven!
OHHHHHH boy, do I want that oven!!
And I’m making that dish tonight. ๐