This slow cooker balsamic brussels sprouts recipe is perfect for freeing up your oven while you’re busy with holiday cooking! + 2 More Holiday Side Dishes including Orange Ginger Glazed Carrots + Parmesan Sage Mashed Sweet Potatoes. All are set and forget recipes!
Disclosure: This post is sponsored by KitchenAid.
With the mad holiday rush this week, I’m popping in to sneak in one last recipe post for 2016.
My favorite part about any big holiday meal is loading up on the side dishes. I can never decide on just one, so I love having a variety of options to choose from.
Making them in the slow cooker helps to free up some oven space and helps take the stress out of prepping multiple recipes.
I am a big Brussels sprouts fan and my favorite way is roasting them in the oven, but last year, I started tossing them into my slow cooker on those days when I need my oven free.
These Slow Cooker Balsamic Brussels Sprouts are so easy to prep in advance and you just add a drizzle of balsamic glaze and Parmesan cheese.
I like to cook them for about 1- 1 1/2 hours on high — just until they are done and then I move them right away to a serving dish. This way, they still maintain that slight bit of crunch and have that roasted caramelized flavor you usually get from the oven.
The sweet tang of the balsamic vinegar livens up these little mini-cabbages making them extra tasty with the sprinkle of Parmesan cheese and crunchy pecans.
Next up are these Slow Cooker Orange Ginger Glazed Carrots. You just slice them up and toss them into your slow cooker along with the sweet and sticky glaze.
Super easy and the best part is that while the carrots are cooking, you’re free to walk away and continue on with preparing the rest of your feast.
They get soft and tender after 5-6 hours and are infused with a sweet and flavorful orange, ginger and honey glaze.
Finally, we have the Slow Cooker Parmesan Sage Mashed Sweet Potatoes. They are one of my kiddos favorites and they cook up easily in the slow cooker in about 2.5 hours on high in my slow cooker. No preboiling required!
Just peel and slice the sweet potatoes and toss them in.
Once the potatoes are done, I mash them directly in the slow cooker along with some butter, garlic powder, milk, sage, salt and black pepper using my hand blender.
The great thing about these mashed potatoes is that you can make it ahead of time the night before and just heat it up before serving.
You can find all three of the full recipes and directions for the Slow Cooker Balsamic Brussels Sprouts, Slow Cooker Orange Ginger Glazed Carrots and Slow Cooker Parmesan Sage Mashed Sweet Potatoes over on The Kitchenthusiast where I am sharing them with their readers too!
I also want to wish you all a merry and happy holiday season!! Thank you so much for all of your support this year! I hope you are able to enjoy lots of time with your friends and family!
Disclosure: This sponsored post is created in partnership with KitchenAid. I was compensated for my time to create the recipes and photos, however, all opinions are 100% mine.
Slow Cooker Balsamic Brussels Sprouts: a perfect "set and forget" recipe that frees up your oven too!
- 3 pounds Brussels sprouts trimmed and halved
- 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
- 3 Tablespoons pure maple syrup
- 2 Tablespoons olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 cup chopped pecans
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Add the Brussels sprouts to your slow cooker. Stir in the balsamic vinegar, maple syrup, olive oil, salt, and pepper.
Cover with the lid and cook on HIGH for 1 – 1-1/2 hours or LOW for 2 – 2-1/2 hours, until the sprouts are tender, but still have a slight crunch. Stir in pecans, sprinkle with Parmesan cheese, and transfer to a serving platter.
- Serve warm and drizzle with additional balsamic glaze from slow cooker, if desired.
For more holiday side dishes:
Miso Glazed Brussels Sprouts and Cranberries
Monica -
The holiday side dishes have definitely become the “main” dishes for me in the last few years. I would load up on all of these! I would never have thought of making brussels sprouts in a slow cooker! Love that you can make it and leave it in the slow-cooker and serve it that way if you want to. Great shares, Kelly. Enjoy the holiday weekend! Can’t wait to see what you cook up in 2017!
Annie -
I always need more space in my oven around holidays! These sides are perfect!
Cheyanne @ No Spoon Necessary -
The sides are definitely my favorite part of any holiday meal too, Kelly!! And there MUST be brussels sprouts on the table!!! I’m obsessed. 😉 While I absolutely love Brussels, I have never made them in the slow cooker! Whaaaaat? These look amazing, girlfriend! Love how easy these are! And the balsamic in here is just perfect! Can’t wait to try these! I hope you and your family have a beautiful holiday and a wonderful New Year!!!! Cheers! <3
Angie@Angie's Recipes -
That’s a cool idea! Balsamic and brussels sprouts are really great together.
Sarah @Whole and Heavenly Oven -
The veggie sides never get enough love around the holidays so I’m definitely appreciating these GORGEOUS recipes, Kelly! Such a perfect way to eat veggies the fun way!
Laura -
Very yummy! Perfect for any time of year!