Why you’ll love these chipotle maple brussels sprouts
- I love a good Brussels sprouts recipe, but this one is at the top of my list. The chipotle and maple flavors are made for a pellet grill or smoker.
- These smoked Brussels sprouts can be served as a standalone appetizer or a hearty side dish. You could even serve them as a vegetarian main course.
- You can make this recipe TWO ways – low and slow or quick and fast – so you’ll be able to tailor this side dish to your main dish. Obviously, the longer they smoke, the more flavor they will have, but sometimes you just need that flexibility.
Our pellet grill
We recently upgraded our pellet grill to a Traeger Ironwood 885, and we absolutely love it!
If you’re using an electric or other type of smoker, simply set yours to the temperatures listed and use as directed by your manufacturer.
Ingredient notes:
- Brussels sprouts – Fresh are best. I haven’t tried this recipe with frozen Brussels, but I have a feeling that they’d turn out pretty soggy.
- Chipotle peppers & adobo sauce – This all comes from a can of chipotle peppers. The adobo sauce is right in the can.
Making changes to a recipe can result in recipe failure. Any substitutions listed are simple changes that I believe will work in this recipe, but results are not guaranteed.
How to make these smoked maple brussels sprouts
Prep the sprouts. Make sure you wash and dry the sprouts really well before doing anything else, because it will help them to caramelize in the smoker which adds incredible flavor that cannot be achieved otherwise.
Once dry, remove the stems and halve the Brussels sprouts. Pop them into a bowl and the remaining ingredients. Toss to coat.
Bonus tip: use your hands to really massage them seasoning around and allow some of the leaves to fall. This gets some really beautifully flaky pieces that are just too good to miss.
Low and slow smoke: Preheat your smoker to 225˚F. When it’s ready to go, add the prepared Brussels sprouts on a grill topper or basket. Let the grill do its thing and smoke those sprouts for about 1 hour. I like to stir mine about halfway through, but you definitely don’t have to.
When the Brussels sprouts are nice and tender, they’re ready to serve. Pull them off and serve them up.
Quick smoke directions: Preheat your smoker to 400˚F (or around that temp, depending on what else you’re making). When it’s ready, add the sprouts on a grill topper for about 25 – 30 minutes, or until they’re nice and tender. If possible, stir about halfway through.
More vegetable recipes: sautéed cabbage / roasted carrots / arugula zucchini salad
Frequently asked questions
Cooking Brussels sprouts the proper way is the best way to ensure you don’t have bitter Brussels sprouts. Over cooking can enhance their bitter flavors. Starting with good quality Brussels sprouts is important as well. Avoid sprouts with yellowing leaves and sprouts that are becoming soft to the touch, they tend to have a stronger, more bitter taste.
You also want to make sure your Brussels sprouts are nice and dry before heating them, otherwise the steam produced by the water will bring out a more bitter flavor.
More brussels sprouts recipes: sautéed Brussels sprouts with bacon / shaved Brussels sprouts salad / crispy roasted Brussels sprouts / kale and Brussels sprouts salad / Brussels sprouts caesar salad
Chipotle Maple Smoked Brussels Sprouts
Ingredients
- 2 – 2.5 pounds of brussels sprouts
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 chipotle pepper, chopped
- 1 tablespoon adobo sauce
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar
- 1/2 – 1 teaspoon coarse salt, to taste
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine the ingredients and toss to coat the Brussels sprouts.
- For a quick smoke: Preheat smoker to 400˚F. Add Brussels sprouts to the smoker on a grill liner or basket and smoked for 25 – 30 minutes, or until tender with crispy edges.
- For a longer smoke: Preheat smoker to 225˚F. Add Brussels sprouts to the smoker on a grill liner or basket and smoked for at least 1 hour, or until tender with crispy edges.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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Loved this recipe!