If you’re serving up Brussels Sprouts for Christmas dinner, you need to cook them like this! This easy recipe includes a few little special additions of bacon, chestnuts and parmesan to elevate the dish into something worthy of a festive dining table.
It’s honestly delicious and saves so much time – make them the day before for ultra convenience.

I know, I know. Brussels Sprouts are the great divider, and over recent years efforts have been made to enhance them in all kinds of ways at Christmas. I think I have cracked it.
This is simply a quick and easy Brussels Sprouts with Bacon recipe that you can make ahead on Christmas Eve to save time while you’re preparing the big feast. And those few trimmings really do make a huge difference to the dish. Yes they still taste like sprouts should, but better!
Disclaimer: You don’t just have to serve sprouts at Christmas – these are a lovely side dish to any winter warmer!
Why you’ll love this recipe
⭐️ Super easy prepare-ahead dish
⭐️ So delicious!
⭐️ Not too different from tradition

How to prep ahead
On Christmas Eve:
- Cook the sprouts in boiling salted water for about 5 minutes, then drain and dunk them into very cold water. Drain again and store in the fridge overnight.
- Fry up some bacon lardons or pancetta until crispy, then add some chestnuts. Allow this to cool and pop the whole pan in the fridge overnight too.
On Christmas Day:
- Heat up the pan with the bacon and chestnuts to a high heat. Throw in the sprouts and cook for 2-3 minutes until they are heated through and coated in the bacon deliciousness. Add salt and pepper, then sprinkle with parmesan.
What you’ll need
- Brussels Sprouts
- Pancetta cubes
- Chestnuts
- Grated parmesan
- Salt and pepper
How to make it

- Cook the sprouts in salted boiling water according to the recipe bolo. Drain and dunk into very cold water.

2. Drain again and store in a airtight container in the fridge.

3. Fry up some pancetta until crispy and add chestnuts. When the pan is cool, put it in the fridge.

4. The following day, reheat the pan, add the sprouts in and mix until everything is coated and heated through. Add salt, pepper and parmesan to serve.
Top tip
Plunging the sprouts into cold water after you’ve boiled them stops them cooking and becoming soggy! This way they stay nice and firm and crunchy for the following day.
FAQ
Yes. Just omit the bacon and parmesan (or use alternatives), but bear in mind you’ll need to add oil to cook the chestnuts as the fat from the bacon will be missing.
These would be ideal to use in Bubble and Squeak! Thrown them together with all the other leftovers from Christmas Dinner – yum.
They are so delicious and add a really lovely taste and texture to this dish. They are very traditional to eat at Christmas too!
I buy them from the supermarket in a small vacuum pack pouch, they are cooked, peeked
Let me know how you got on and what you thought of these recipes. Please rate the recipe using the ⭐️ below.
Also I’d LOVE to see your cooking creations. If you’d like to share yours with me, you can tag me on Instagram (@tamingtwins).

Brussels Sprouts with Bacon
Ingredients
- 500 g Brussels sprouts
- 150 g Pancetta cubes
- 100 g Chestnuts The vacuum packed, peeled type.
- 25 g Grated parmesan
Instructions
On Christmas Eve:
- Plunge sprouts into boiling salted water for 5 minutes.
- Drain and dunk into very cold water. (Don’t skip this! It stops them overcooking.)
- Drain again and set aside in the fridge overnight.
- In a large frying pan or saucepan, fry the pancetta until crispy. Add the chestnuts, allow to cool and pop the whole pan into the fridge.
On Christmas Day:
- Heat up the pan with the bacon and chestnuts on a high heat.
- Throw in the sprouts and cook for 2-3 minutes until they are heated through and coated in the bacon deliciousness.
- Add salt and pepper, and parmesan.
iain maciver says
sprouts
lucy higgins says
PEAS AND PANCETTA
Leila Benhamida says
Green beans and carrots.
Helen Moulden says
Honey glazed carrots!
Kevin Honey says
I don’t have anything on a side dish! Chestnut stuffing would be the closest.
Jo Hutchinson says
Ginger & orange-glazed baby carrots
Imogen Richards says
I’m trying to become a vegetarian however my favourite side dish has to be pigs in blankets!
Sue McCarthy says
I’m veggie so don’t have a roast dinner – I have pizza for my xmas meal!
Jennifer Haden says
I love a simple side dish of baby carrots, very tender 🙂 x
Joanne Beale says
Sprouts with Bacon
Graham Ross says
Sprouts with chestnuts
ElizM says
chestnut stuffing
Tracy Nixon says
Sprouts with chestnuts
Peter Watson says
Parsnips glazed with honey
Jeanette says
Carrots
Steven Appleton says
Gotta have plenty of pickled onions as a side dish in our house!
Alana Walker says
Glazed carrots and bread sauce
Maggie Coates says
Roast parsnips
amy bondoc says
has got to be stuffing 🙂
Fiona K says
Brussel sprouts
Susan Smith says
Roasted Parsnips
ADEINNE TONNER says
Has to be pigs in blankets with mash potatoes
Jamielee Wells says
roast potatoes – its taken me years to perfect them but this year I’ve done it – so even more excited about christmas dinner 🙂
Heather T says
Pigs in Blankets yummy yum yum can eat loads of these!
Sarah Mackay says
Skirlie
val Young says
Red cabbage
Alica says
Roast potatoes done in duck fat!
Stacey Carnell says
Sprouts with bacon Mmmmm
glenn hutton says
Has to be parsnips…
Laura Jeffs says
It has to be roast potatoes
Emma Salter says
I love pigs in blankets
Lyla says
Honey roasted parsnips
Farhana says
Roast potatoes and honey roasted parsnip
emma walters says
honey roast parsnips mmmmmmm
Sarah Parkin says
Roast Parsnips
John Tingay says
pigs in blankets are my favourite
Lillian Fisher says
Do love pigs in blankets, has to be crispy though.
purpleshoes says
parsnips
Richard Eldred Hawes says
Roast Potatoes
Sarah Cooper says
bread sauce
Helen Tovell says
Cranberry stuffing
Amy Ripley says
sprouts
Edward Guerreiro says
I’m all about the stuffing. We always have multiple types.
Lee Thomas says
Roast potatoes
Stevie says
I like corn on the cob with loads of butter.
karen A hill says
The stuffing, i adore it, i probably eat half as i am making it lol x
Helen says
We’re giving the SPROUTS WITH BUTTERNUT SQUASH AND BACON a trial run tomorrow – looks lovely 🙂
Lindsey Stuart says
Brussel sprouts and lots of cranberry sauce! 🙂
Janet Birkin says
Roast Potatoes
Jennifer Toal says
Pigs in blankets
Diane Waugh says
Brussels sprouts
judy kennedy says
HONEYED CARROTS BIT OF A SWEET TOOTH
Julie Scattergood says
Pigs in blankets.
Sally Collingwood says
Srouts!!
sb says
pickled onions
Beverley Cousins says
Button sprouts
michelle o'neill says
parsnips x
Deborah Clarke says
I caapn never get enough of my cranberry and chestnut stuffing. Yum yum yum
Dot Hurst says
Must try this recipe. Sounds delicious and can be adapted to Slimming World.
MANDY DOHERTY says
Honey roasted parsnips
suzanne sendell says
Brussell sprouts
Loma Wood says
Roasties!
Sarah Armstrong says
parsnip soup
Sarah Casey says
Chestnut stuffing – yummy! In fact, as many different stuffings as possible.
Lorraine Stone says
Spiced braised red cabbage – yum!
Lisa Wilkinson says
Sprouts!
Jayne Townson says
The stuffing.
AnnaH says
Mashed swede and carrot
Sheri Darby says
Roast Potatoes
Jill Donaldson says
Roast potatoes and honey roast parsnips
Kat Allinson says
Bread sauce <3
Patricia Avery says
Roast parsnips 🙂
Rachael ashmore says
Yum Brussels ????????????
Jane Middleton says
roast parsnip
Kat Glynn says
Sprouts! I only eat them once a year, but its not Christmas without them x
Allan Wilson says
The Roasties
jo liddement says
carrots with honey and sesame seeds
Louise Crocker says
Crispy roast potatoes cooked in goose fat
Jenny Rogers says
Pigs in blankets – yum!
Ellen Stafford says
Sprouts! I love them!
carole n says
love the bread and cranberry sauces
Carly Belsey says
The only time I like brussel sprouts is at Christmas when I do them with nutmeg, yummy 🙂
donna l jones says
chestnut stuffing
Lynne OConnor says
Roast potatoes
Mary H says
Booze. Is booze a side? It is in my house. Cheesey sprouts come a close second.
Vicki A Smith says
Roasted parsnips
Sam Parkes says
Sprouts and bread pudding
Kerry Kilmister says
ooh I love Pigs in Blankets.
Bob Clark says
brussel sprouts
Angie McDonald says
I love crispy macaroni cheese!
Lauren Old says
Honey roasted parsnips!
karen watt says
sage & Onion Stuffing and cranberry sauce
Teresa Sheldon says
Parsnips roasted tossed in honey and Parmesan cheese
olivia Kirby says
The roast parsnips and tatoes!!
Rebecca Powell says
Roast potatoes
jessica cook says
honey roast carrots
Rich Tyler says
Leeks & Cheese!
Sarah Mills says
carrots and swede
ann clements says
Honey roasted parsnips
Diana says
Crispy roast potatoes 🙂
Oksana Fitzgerald says
Roast potatoes
Kim Neville says
pigs in blanket
samantha buntain says
chicken skewers
Natalie Gillham says
Sprouts with chestnuts
Charlie Mace says
OOoohh just happened upon this recipe – perfect timing as it sounds like such a perfect autumn/winter warmer recipe, would be amazing on Christmas Day too! I love the sound of the flavour combinations – might even persuade the kids to try a sprout (I won’t hold my breath!) ha xx