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Christmas dinner isn’t complete without Brussels sprouts, but it's safe to say they're not always the most popular food on the festive table. But that might be because you're cooking them all wrong.
The key is to avoid boiling them at all costs! This just makes them soggy and waterlogged, which compromises the flavour and makes them the least popular side on anyone's plate.
If you have to, steam them so that they retain their delicious crunchy consistency or thinly slice and stir-fry, or cut them in half and roast them to impart some extra caramelised goodness.
Some classic flavours to pair with your sprouts are maple syrup and bacon, or pomegranate and blue cheese.
We also love to shred our sprouts, stir-fry them to get them lightly crispy and golden, and then top them with lashings of Parmesan.
Alternatively, for a more hands-off recipe, you could serve your Brussels sprouts in a gratin with a cheese and cranberry sauce.
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But, for the best recipe there is, don't skip our crispy parmesan sprouts - they will convert everyone!
We for one LOVE a good Brussels sprout, and we promise that with these tips, everyone will be helping themselves to the Brussels sprouts this Christmas.
The best Brussels sprouts recipes for Christmas
Air Fryer Crispy Parmesan Brussels Sprouts
These are hands down the best Brussels sprouts you'll eat all year - we guarantee you.
Creamy Sprout Gratin
A rich and creamy hands-off side dish that's tasty enough to tempt even the most ardent sprout haters.
Recipe: Creamy Sprout Gratin
Jewelled sprouts and chestnuts
It’s not Christmas without sprouts! The sweetness of apple juice and maple syrup here helps balance their brassica bitterness.
Recipe: Jewelled sprouts and chestnuts
Crispy topped sprouts
A golden lemony breadcrumb topping gives these sprouts a lovely toasty crunch.
Recipe: Crispy topped sprouts
Shredded brown butter and parmesan sprouts
Pecorino would also work well in this indulgent, brown butter sprout recipe. To save time, shred your sprouts in a food processor with the slicing attachment.
Brussels sprout and cranberry gratin
Jazz up your sprouts by cooking them in a cheesy cranberry sauce with a crunchy topping. We can't get enough.
Sizzled sprouts
Balsamic glaze adds sweetness, shine and zing to these sprouts. The perfect side dish to pair with our cider roast turkey.
Recipe: Sizzled sprouts
Jewelled Brussels sprouts
Dolcelatte cheese is suitable for vegetarians, and the burst of pomegranate seeds brings vibrancy and tang to this winter side dish.
Recipe: Jewelled Brussels sprouts
Parcel-baked sprouts and carrots
The egg white ensures that no steam escapes while the vegetables are baking in their parcel, resulting in vibrant and perfectly al dente veggies.
Recipe: Parcel-baked sprouts and carrots
Pan-fried sprouts with cavolo nero and chestnut crumbs
Stir-frying the veg adds an extra touch of freshness to help cut through rich Christmas lunch. Switch the pancetta for chopped walnuts instead of lardons to make it vegetarian-friendly.
Recipe: Pan-fried sprouts with cavolo nero and chestnut crumbs
Maple bacon Brussels
These gloriously glossy sprouts have a sweet and salty kick. Add pecans instead of lardons if cooking for vegetarians, or add to the original recipe for extra indulgence.
Recipe: Maple bacon Brussels
Creamy sprouts
It's Christmas! So don't be shy, indulge in this Creamy sprouts recipe to feed a crowd.
Recipe: Creamy sprouts
Braised Brussels sprouts with shallots and nutmeg
A touch of nutmeg and sweet shallots gives this vegetable side dish a true taste of Christmas. Trust us, this is a recipe you'll want to repeat.
Brussels sprouts with caramelised shallots and pine nuts
This recipe is a great way to serve sprouts that the whole crowd will love, thanks to the addition of sticky caramelised shallots and crunchy pine nuts.
Recipe: Brussels sprouts with caramelised shallots and pine nuts
Brussels sprouts with toasted hazelnuts
Toasted hazelnuts add crunch to this delicious side dish, without overpowering the other traditional trimmings.
Shredded sprouts
Serve up Brussels sprouts in shredded form this Christmas. This side makes a great addition to the Boxing Day buffet, too.
Recipe: Shredded sprouts
Brussels sprouts with pancetta and madeira
This sprout recipe calls for crispy pancetta and madeira wine for a side dish that's bursting with festive flavour.
Brussels sprouts with nutmeg and lemon butter
Freshen up your classic Brussels sprouts with lemon butter and nutmeg - because it's Christmas!
The GH Kitchen Team are Good Housekeeping’s resident recipe developers and all-round food obsessives. GH Kitchen Director Sarah Akhurst is our resident hosting pro and loves nothing more than putting on a foodie feast for friends. Our GH Kitchen Manager Linzi Pucino is our very own Italian food expert (originally hailing from the North East of Scotland!) and can be found working her way through midweek recipes that cover all bases, from haggis to ragu! Our Kitchen Editor Nadine Brown loves digging into the stories behind her favourite foods and enjoys applying her eclectic tastes to more modern, flavour-forward recipes - just don't give her too much chilli! Our Junior Food Content Produce Frankie Prichard combines a love of beautiful presentation and flavour-led, seasonal cooking in her recipe development, along with a passion for bringing people together through food. With a wealth of professional kitchen experience between them, they’re dedicated to ensuring every Good Housekeeping recipe is the best it can be, so you can trust they’ll work every single time
