“This post was sponsored by Kroger. All opinions expressed in the post are my own and not those of [The Kroger Co.].”
Any other brussels sprouts fans out there?! I always thought they were gross growing up, but that’s because I ate them boiled so I wouldn’t eat them. Add a little fat and seasoning to something & boom, it’s transformed. Brussels sprouts got so popular after a little while and they still seem to be on so many menus! People have gotten so creative at making them! This recipe is by far one of my favorite ways to enjoy them.
Thomas first made this recipe back in December, and we literally haven’t made them any way since. There’s no need to. They are just too good! I had the amazing opportunity to team up with my local Kroger to share the recipe with you guys. I’ve been going to Kroger for as long as I can honestly remember. It has completely transformed since I was younger, and I love that. They have so many healthy & affordable options now which is amazing. There prices are also super affordable, and it always feels like I get some sort of discount every time I use my Kroger card so that’s definitely a plus! P.S. if you have a Kroger card and you don’t get Kroger gas, DO IT! You literally can almost always get a few cents off. We get our gas here whenever we can!
Now that we’ve moved, we live maybe 5 minutes from Kroger which has been SO nice. It’s easy to just run there when we need to grab something from produce, to meat, or even toiletry type things. Basically a one stop shop. Whenever I bring T, they always have the free fruit for kids and he wants a banana every time, but hey I’m not complaining. Makes shopping such a better experience, because no one should shop hungry!
Okay, finally moving onto the recipe. It’s basically five ingredients and really simple overall. It’s one of those sides that you make for people and they’re amazed how good it tastes and they always want more. Main things you need are: brussels sprouts, thick cut pancetta, and fresh garlic. Other ingredients: balsamic, olive oil, a little bit of butter, sea salt & pepper. That’s it!
So you make sure to chop everything up and get your pans ready. We used a cast iron, but you can use any pan! You start by heating the skillet and cooking that delicious pancetta that creates the most magical flavor with the veggies.
Then you take out the pancetta and add in your brussels and garlic. Season away with salt and pepper (as Thomas is doing in the photo, haha!)
We added in a bit of butter because it helps everything caramelize more and well, butter makes everything better, right? You can see the brussels starting to get all browned and delicious.
Lastly, we added back in the pancetta, poured in a little bit of balsamic & seasoned just a bit more (the one we used is from Kroger’s Private Selection brand and is pictured above). This balsamic was a little thicker which I loved so it really gave the brussels that rich flavor. You can see how yummy and they turned out below!
FULL RECIPE:
Serves: 3-4 people (as a side dish)
Ingredients:
-1.5 lb (24 oz) bag brussels sprouts, cut off ends & sliced lengthwise
-1/4 thick cut pancetta, chopped into cubes
-4 garlic cloves, chopped
-1.5 tbsp balsamic vinegar
-1/2 tbsp grass-fed butter
-1-2 tbsp olive oil
-1 tsp sea salt
-1/2 tsp black pepper
Directions:
Heat skillet with a little olive oil. Add in chopped pancetta. Cook until browned on medium high heat.
Remove from pan and set aside. Add in more olive oil, add in the brussels sprouts & garlic. Cook until tender. Season with sea salt and pepper. Add in the butter with the brussels & garlic. You want them to start browning on the sides so cook until they start doing that.
Next, add back in pancetta. Stir everything together until combined and let cook for a few minutes. Pour in your balsamic vinegar and reduce heat to simmer. Let marinade together for a few minutes. Then you’re done! Pair with some meat and carbs and you’re good to go. Enjoy!
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