Let’s take life al fresco, including our side dishes! Grilled Brussels Sprouts are deeply savory outside, caramelized and tender inside, and heed summer’s sweet call to soak in the outdoors.
Since you are reading this post, I suspect that you, like myself, spend at least a portion of your day in the kitchen.
Instead of staying stuck inside to cook Sauteed Brussels Sprouts, or Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts, try cooking them on the grill!
You’ll give yourself more time outdoors to relish the mild, long evenings AND cook up a healthy, delish side dish in the process.
The grill imparts a signature smoky flavor that satisfies in a primal way that only food cooked over a fire can.
While Grilled Asparagus, Grilled Cauliflower Steaks, and Grilled Zucchini have long been fixtures on our easy summer menus. Lately, I’ve been seriously fixated on grilled Brussels sprouts and I know you will too once you try them.
5 Star Review
“Yum – just made these with my new grill basket and they were delicious!”
— Betsy —
How to Make Grilled Brussels Sprouts
Featuring an easy soy/balsamic/mustard marinade, these grilled Brussels sprouts are cooked on skewers for ease AND because any food on a skewer is just plain fun! (These Chicken Kabobs and these Shrimp Kabobs with Pineapple agree.)
Looking for more grilled vegetables for a change of pace? Try Grilled Broccoli or these Grilled Potatoes next!
Tip!
- While you do not typically need to soak Brussels sprouts prior to cooking, when grilling you do need to parcook them in some way or the outsides will burn before the centers become tender.
- I parcook the Brussels sprouts in the microwave, which is quick and easy. If you prefer, you can blanch and dry them instead.
The Ingredients
- Brussels Sprouts. The star of the show! Grilling is one of the healthiest ways to cook Brussels sprouts (Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Garlic are another healthy method). This super green veggie is rich in antioxidants, fiber, and vitamins so go ahead and take second helpings.
- Olive Oil. Olive oil helps crisp the outsides of the sprouts and keeps them from burning or sticking to the grill.
- Soy Sauce. For umami goodness in every bite!
- Balsamic Vinegar. Sweet and acidic to complement the savory soy sauce. It helps give the sprouts a wonderful caramelization (like in this Balsamic Brussels Sprouts recipe).
- Dijon Mustard. Tangy, delicious, and perfect for pairing with balsamic and soy sauce.
Make it Spicy
For spicy grilled Brussels sprouts, add 1 to 2 teaspoons of your favorite hot sauce or a pinch of cayenne pepper to the soy/balsamic mixture.
The Directions
- Soak wooden skewers in water.
- Trim the sprouts, and remove any brown leaves. Microwave the sprouts for 3 minutes.
- Toss them with the marinade ingredients.
- Add 4 to 5 Brussels sprouts to each skewer, leaving 1/2-inch between each one.
- Grill the skewers over medium heat (about 375 degrees F) for 5 minutes.
- Flip, then cook for another 5 minutes.
- Pull the sprouts off of the skewers and toss them with the remaining marinade. ENJOY!
Alternative Cooking Methods
You can also use this recipe to grill Brussels sprouts in foil, in the oven, or in a grill basket.
- Grilled Brussels Sprouts in Foil. Prep and microwave the Brussels sprouts as directed. Toss them with the marinade. Use aluminum foil to create a basket-like vessel that is large enough to hold all the sprouts. Fold up the sides, but leave the top open (rather than sealing it like when you make Grilled Salmon in Foil). Place the foil basket directly onto the grill grates, and cook for 8 to 10 minutes (flipping the sprouts once halfway through).
- In a Grill Basket. Prep and microwave the Brussels sprouts as directed. Toss them with the marinade. Preheat a grill with a grill basket to medium heat (about 375 degrees F). Lay the sprouts in the grill basket, and cook for about 8 to 10 minutes. Shake the basket during cooking to ensure all sides get browned.
- Pan Grilled Brussels Sprouts (stovetop). Prep and microwave the Brussels sprouts as directed, then toss them with the marinade. Thread the sprouts onto skewers as directed. Preheat a grill pan on the stovetop over medium-high heat. Carefully lay the skewers on the grill pan, and cook for 10 minutes (flipping once halfway through).
- Oven Grilled Brussels Sprouts. Prep and microwave the Brussels sprouts as directed, then toss them with the marinade. Thread the sprouts onto skewers as directed. Preheat a grill pan in the oven at 400 degrees F. Very carefully place the skewers on the grill pan and return it to the oven. Roast for about 20 minutes, flipping the skewers once halfway through.
Storage Tips
- To Store. Refrigerate Brussels sprouts in an airtight storage container for up to 3 days.
- To Reheat. Rewarm leftovers on a baking sheet in the oven at 350 degrees F or in the microwave.
- To Freeze. I do not recommend freezing cooked Brussels sprouts, as they will be quite mushy once thawed. However, you can freeze Brussels sprouts if needed. Freeze them in an airtight freezer-safe storage container for up to 3 months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
Meal Plan Tip
Trim the Brussels sprouts up to 1 day in advance. Store them in the refrigerator.
Leftover Ideas
Chop leftover Brussels sprouts into bite-sized pieces for an easy addition to stir fries (like Teriyaki Beef Stir Fry), salads, and pastas (like Pasta al Limone).
What to Serve with Grilled Brussels Sprouts
Recommended Tools to Make this Recipe
- Tongs. A must-have tool for grilling recipes.
- Mixing Bowls. This set is incredibly easy to store and clean.
- Grill Pan. An easy alternative to an outdoor grill.
The Best Grill Pan
When you don’t have access to an outdoor grill, an indoor grill pan is a fantastic option.
Have you tried grilling Brussels sprouts yet (or how about Grilled Sweet Potato Fries)? I’d love to hear from you in the comments below.
Frequently Asked Questions
Brussels sprouts, on their own, are a gluten free food. However, the marinade recipe, as it is written, does contain gluten due to the soy sauce. For a gluten free version swap the soy sauce for tamari.
You can grill Brussels sprouts on any type of grill. Charcoal, gas, and wood pellet grills can all do the job. Note the cooking time may change slightly depending on the type of grill used.
Yes! Grilling, in general, is a very healthy way to prepare food since it uses minimal oil and allows any excess fat to drip away from the food as it cooks.
Grilled Brussels Sprouts
Ingredients
- 1 pound Brussels sprouts as uniform in size as possible
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce or tamari for gluten free
- 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
- Wood or metal skewers
Instructions
- If using wooden skewers, soak them in water for at least 1 hour prior to cooking.
- Trim off the ends of the Brussels sprouts and remove any outer brown leaves. Place in a large mixing bowl and microwave on high for 3 minutes (if you do not have a microwave, instead blanch the Brussels sprouts in boiling water for 3 minutes then plunge them into an ice bath. Dry well before proceeding.). Let cool.
- Preheat an outdoor grill to medium heat (about 375 degrees F). You also can cook these Brussels sprouts on a grill pan on the stove or broil them in the oven. See blog post above for suggestions.
- When the Brussels sprouts are cool enough to handle safely, using the same bowl, top them with the olive oil, garlic, soy sauce, balsamic, mustard, salt, and pepper. Toss to evenly combine.
- Assemble the skewers: Thread 4 to 5 Brussels sprouts onto each skewer with the stem ends facing in the same direction. Leave at least 1/2-inch in between each sprout. If your Brussels sprouts are mixed in sizes, group ones of similar size on the same skewers so that you can cook them evenly. Reserve the remaining soy sauce balsamic mixture in the bottom of the bowl (it's tasty and we'll use it again).
- Place the skewers onto the grill. Cover and let cook for 5 minutes. Carefully turn the skewers over. Recover the grill and continue to cook for 5 additional minutes, until nicely browned and you can easily pierce them with a sharp knife.
- Carefully remove the Brussels sprouts from the skewers, returning them to the bowl with the reserved soy sauce balsamic mixture. With a large spoon, stir to coat. Then transfer to a serving plate or serve directly from the bowl. Enjoy!
Video
Notes
- TO STORE: Refrigerate Brussels sprouts in an airtight storage container for up to 3 days.
- TO REHEAT: Rewarm leftovers on a baking sheet in the oven at 350 degrees F or in the microwave.
- TO FREEZE: I do not recommend freezing cooked Brussels sprouts, as they will be quite mushy once thawed. However, you can freeze Brussels sprouts if needed. Freeze them in an airtight freezer-safe storage container for up to 3 months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
Nutrition
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Delicious and easy! Made it twice, once on the grill and once in the oven. Both were great!
So great to hear! thank you for this kind review!
Yum – just made these with my new grill basket and they were delicious! Love your simple and yummy and recipes! Thank you :-)
Hi Betsy! So glad you enjoyed them! Thank you for this kind review!
So I got a little ahead of myself and forgot to microwave/ blanch them before I put them in the marinade, will they still turn out alright on the grill?
Hi Levi, they might be a little crunchy in the center, but you’ll have to let me know how it came out!