Welcome to my new go-to grilled veggie on a stick: Grilled Bacon Brussel Sprouts Kebabs! Brussel sprouts, we love you! We love you even more when you are wrapped in bacon and grilled! Not always the first thing you think about making when you are looking at grilling vegetables but it is so much fun to put any food on a skewer for dinner!
Quick! Easy! Tasty! Let’s grill!
Brussel sprouts remind me of little cabbages and when I was growing up, I loved them. I didn’t think about the fact that they were good for you, or were low in calories and high in fiber. I just knew they were so cute and I wanted them on my plate. As I aged, I am always on the look out for foods that give a lower calorie but high flavor and brussel sprouts win every time! You don’t have to do much to cook them and they are oh-so delicious!
Adding Bacon to Grilled Brussel Sprout Kebabs
Bacon is a delicious flavoring that a lot of people forget to use. It is simply salt cured pork. If you haven’t cured your own bacon, you should! Jason is going to write a post on his adventures with curing bacon and holy smokes is it amazing! He has sweet and savory versions and both are outstanding.
Bacon’s salt and fat complement the brussel sprouts but don’t overtake it.
Make a decision about which bacon to use prior to selecting it for this recipe. Thicker bacon will be a bit more challenging the thicker bacon will take longer to grill, but that extra time make cause the brussel sprouts to be over-cooked. I’d stick to the thin sliced for this one.
In addition, select a flavor of bacon that will enhance the flavor to your liking. There are hardwood smoked, apple smoked, maple infused…You get the idea. Use a bacon that your family likes and it’s sure to be a hit!
Preparing the Bacon Brussel Sprouts Kebabs for the Skewer
Cut the brussel sprouts in half prior to loading on the skewer. That thickness worked out well with the thinly sliced bacon. Both the veggie and the bacon were done at the same time.
Spray the metal skewers with an oil spray to minimize sticking and alternate the brussel sprouts and weaving the bacon. Try to think of that ribbon candy we would eat at holiday time. The bacon is the ribbon and the brussel sprouts go in the open space.
Setting up your Grill:
Set up the grill to 350 degrees on well sprayed or oiled grill plate to minimize clean up later. Place each skewer on the grill and close the lid. Flip over after about 3-5 minutes on each side. Check to make sure the bacon is fully cooked and serve immediately.
Additional Options for Grilled Bacon Brussel Sprout Kebabs:
- In between the brussel sprouts and bacon, add red peppers!
- Mushrooms and brussel sprouts together are a natural combination. Throw some on the skewer.
- Try alternating cauliflower and brussel sprouts while still weaving the bacon through.
- Stay away from mixing quick cooking vegetables like zucchini or yellow squash with brussel sprouts. They will cook too fast and fall apart on the grill.
Ingredients
- Thinly sliced bacon
- Fresh brussel sprouts
- Cooking Spray
- Skewers
- 1 tbs Olive Oil
Instructions
Prepare the skewer
- Slice Brussel Sprouts in half lengthwise
- Stick the end of the bacon through the skewer
- Add a Brussel Sprout
- Fold the bacon over the brussel sprout and onto the skewer
- Add the next brussel sprout, and fold the bacon over again
- Rinse and repeat until the skewer is full or the bacon is fully used
Grill the kebab
- Set your grill to medium direct heat. I used the Big Green Egg set to 350 degrees
- Before placing the kebab on the grill, lightly coat the brussel sprouts and bacon with olive oil
- Grill for about 3-4 minutes on each side
Note:
- Be careful in adding the brussel sprout the skewer. It is a relatively hard vegetable and you should take care.
