Bacon and brussel sprouts are made for each other and in the Instant Pot, they can be made in just minutes! A simple and easy side dish that's full of flavor and greens. Yum!
We are huge fans of brussel sprouts in this house. It's one of the veggies we can all agree on (including the picky eaters). While my daughter prefers hers cooked softer, the rest of us enjoy it to still have a nice crunch. With the Instant Pot, both options are easily attainable.
Flavoring brussel sprouts with bacon, onions, and garlic is what has us always asking for more. Next to my Bacon Ranch Brussel Sprouts, I think these ones might just be the group favorite.
With perfectly cooked brussels and some cooked bacon, every bite Instant Pot brussels and bacon side dish is flavorful and wonderful. But the best part is that it's 100% made in the Instant Pot, including cooking the bacon.
Note: For tips on cooking bacon, you can refer to my Instant Pot Bacon post for further details.
Why This Recipe Works
- It's convenient. One pot to do it all. From the crispy chewy bacon to the perfectly cooked brussel sprouts, this recipe is perfect for stove-free cooking.
- Goes great with anything. Serve this dish up with your next Garlic and Brown Sugar Crusted Pork Roast or Crispy Baked Chicken Quarters, and you're sure to have a hit on your hands.
- Simple ingredients. Brussel sprouts, bacon, some oil, and seasonings, this recipe is very simple and easy to throw together. Minimal shopping, maximum flavor.
🥘 Ingredients
Fresh brussel sprouts- You will want to use fresh brussel sprouts that have been washed and trimmed.
Water- To get your Instant Pot up to pressure and cooking properly, you'll need some water.
Olive oil- This will help to get the flavors to stick well to the brussel sprouts.
Minced garlic- Use freshly minced garlic or jarred minced garlic and the recipe will taste great either way!
Onion- Adding in onion will help to give us a little natural sweetness that pairs well with the savory flavors we have going on.
Bacon- This adds a nice salty touch and a wonderful flavor!
Salt and pepper- For simple seasonings, just use some salt and pepper.
For the exact amounts needed, please see the recipe card below.
🍽 Equipment Needed
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🔪 Instructions
Check out how to make Instant Pot brussel sprouts and bacon with these simple step-by-step instructions:
Wash your brussel sprouts and slice in half if using large ones, keep smaller ones whole.
Place the brussels and water in your Instant Pot (in a steamer basket, on a trivet, or in the water directly). Close the Instant Pot and set the seal.
Set it to High Pressure for 1-3 minutes. 3 is tender and 1 is more crisp, for larger brussels 2 is good but small brussels may do better with 1 minute cook time.
When the timer goes off and the cooking has finished, Manually Release the Pressure.
Remove the brussel sprouts and drain the water. Set the brussels aside in the steamer basket or colander.
In the Instant Pot, set it to Saute mode and set the timer for 10 minutes.
Lay your bacon strips down and let them cook, flipping when needed. Then remove bacon, chop, and add back into the pot. Alternatively, you can chop your bacon raw and add it straight in with the onions.
Add olive oil, onions to the pot and cook with the bacon until soft.
Add in garlic and seasonings.
Turn off Instant Pot.
Add the brussel sprouts back into the pot and stir to combine.
Serve warm.
🍴 Recipe Tips
Whether you're like my daughter and enjoy your brussel sprouts soft enough you can mash them with a fork, or you're like me and like a crisp but soft bite into the green tiny cabbage things, you can get them either way with just one VERY SMALL change.
Literally, all you have to do is increase the cooking time by 1 or 2 minutes. Simple right?
Now I should also warn you that not all brussel sprouts should be treated equally. You may have noticed that sometimes they're small like a quarter or other times they're larger than a baby's fist.
While they might taste the same, they won't cook the same so pay attention to this good rule of thumb (which I found out the hard way).
If your brussel sprout is smaller than a baby's fist or looks about the size of a quarter, do NOT slice it in half. This will increase the speed of its cooking and cause it to get mushier fast. Feel free to do that if mushy brussels are what you're looking for.
For large brussels, slice in half vertically as shown. I cooked mine at 2 minutes and they were firm enough to hold shape but still cooked enough for easy chewing without being overdone. Follow along with this and you'll have the perfect brussel sprout side dish every time.
💭 FAQs
Just about anything! We really enjoy serving it up with pork roasts, chicken, or creamy pasta dishes but the possibilities are endless.
Start by washing and trimming off the hard bottom ends. Then peel away any loose/yellow/discolored leaves on the outside. As a general rule of thumb, I always remove the outermost 2 leaves. Then rinse again in a colander to remove any dirt that may have been trapped underneath the leaves. Slice and use as directed in recipe.
Yes, you can slice, wash, and prep the brussel sprouts the day before and keep them in an airtight container or make this side dish the day before and reheat before eating. To reheat just lay the brussel sprouts and bacon on a foil lined baking sheet and roast for about 5 minutes at 400 degrees F.
Here are some more great Instant Pot recipes to try
- Instant Pot Chicken Drumsticks
- Instant Pot Ground Beef
- Instant Pot Kraft Mac and Cheese
- Instant Pot Zucchini
📖 Recipe
Instant Pot Brussel Sprouts with Bacon and Onion
Equipment
- Steamer Basket or trivet
Ingredients
- 1 pound Brussel sprouts ($1.98)
- 1 cup Water ($0.00)
- 1 Tablespoon Olive oil ($0.13)
- 2 teaspoons Minced garlic ($0.10)
- ½ cup Onion, diced ($0.35)
- ½ cup Chopped bacon (about 3 strips) ($1.08)
- ½ teaspoon Salt ($0.05)
- ¼ teaspoon Black pepper ($0.02)
Instructions
- Wash your brussel sprouts and cut them in half if desired. (Recommended for much larger brussel sprouts, but any the size of a quarter or smaller will end up mushy if sliced).
- Place your brussel sprouts and water in the Instant Pot and close it up.
- Set to HIGH pressure for 2 or 3 minutes. If you want them slightly more crisp, 2 minutes is great. If you want them really tender, 3 minutes is perfect.
- When the time is up, manually release the pressure.
- Remove the brussels and drain out the remaining water.
- Set the Instant Pot to Saute Mode and set the timer for 10 minutes.
- Add your olive oil, chopped onion, and bacon to the pot. Stir until cooked to your liking. I like mine soft, but you can make yours more crisp.
- Add in the garlic, salt, pepper, and stir. Add the brussels back into the pot and stir to combine.
- Turn off Instant Pot and place brussel sprouts in a serving bowl or on a plate. Serve warm.
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