Boiled Brussels Sprouts

These boiled Brussels sprouts are quick to make and delicious! Mix them with butter and Parmesan cheese for a tasty side dish.

The words “boiled Brussel sprouts” might conjure images of a pile of soggy, wet, lifeless greens. But I’m here to tell you otherwise. These perfect Boiled Brussels Sprouts with Parmesan are anything but!

When boiled and seasoned the right way, they’re deliciously crisp, tender, and buttery. I like them with a little sprinkle of Parmesan cheese to add a savory pop. While the best Brussels sprouts are crisp roasted, boiling them is faster. Here’s what you should know.

Tips for boiling

The most important thing to remember when boiling Brussels sprouts is: do not overcook them! When overcooked, they become mushy and develop a bitter taste. Overcooking Brussels sprouts actually releases sulfur-containing compounds, which make an offensive odor. Here’s how long you should boil Brussels sprouts to avoid that misstep:

• Slice the Brussels sprouts in half. Remove any tough ends or browned outer leaves. This is important, as they are quicker to cook and easier to eat when halved.
• Boil 4 to 5 minutes, until crisp, tender, and bright green. Taste test using a fork as soon as possible, and avoid over-boiling.
• Immediately drain. Toss with salt, butter, black pepper, and Parmesan cheese.

Make sure to salt well

Once you’ve made your boiled Brussels sprouts, season them generously with salt! If you taste before they’re salted, they’ll probably taste bland. Here are some notes on salting:

• Use kosher salt. Kosher salt has flat grains, which makes it salt more gently than table salt. It brings out flavor, instead of tasting salty.
• With 1 pound, start with ½ teaspoon salt. Start here, then taste and adjust salt as necessary. The exact amount will also depend on the other flavorings you add.

Ways to season this vegetable

Add a little richness to your sprouts by adding butter or olive oil. Without it, they may taste too plain. Here’s what I like to do and a few other ideas:

• Butter and Parmesan cheese. This is my favorite! Mix butter with the warm Brussels sprouts, and watch it melt into a sauce. Top with grated Parmesan cheese, and you won’t be able to stop noshing on them.
• Maple glaze. Check out these Brussels Sprouts with Maple Glaze for a tasty balsamic maple glaze recipe.
• Sriracha. Add heat to your Brussels with the sauce from Spicy Brussels Sprouts.

More Brussels sprouts recipes

The best way to cook Brussels sprouts is to roast them in the oven until crispy! Boiled Brussels sprouts are handy because they’re so quick, but for the best flavor, I recommend roasting. My second favorite way is to have them raw and shaved in a salad. Here are a few more Brussels sprouts recipes to try:

• Try fresh and healthy Brussels Sprout Salad
• Make Crispy Brussels Sprouts or Brussels Sprouts with Maple Glaze
• Go for Brussels Sprout Casserole (it tastes like mac and cheese!)
• Try Smashed Brussels Sprouts or Quick Sauteed Brussels Sprouts
• Try pan Fried Brussels Sprouts
• Fire up the grill for Grilled Brussels Sprouts

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Brussels Sprout Salad

02

Perfectly Crispy Brussels Sprouts

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Brussels Sprouts with Maple Glaze

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Fried Brussels Sprouts

Dietary notes

Vegetarian and gluten-free. For dairy-free, plant-based, and vegan, use olive oil and omit the Parmesan cheese.

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