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Brussels sprouts with blue cheese is a delightful twist on a classic side dish, transforming one of our favorite cool weather vegetables into a flavorful and elegant accompaniment. Roasting at high heat brings out their natural sweetness while creating a crispy exterior and tender interior. This simple cooking method, combined with the tangy creaminess of blue cheese, roasted red onions, and a touch of fresh lemon, elevates the Brussels sprouts to an exceptional side that pairs beautifully with a variety of main courses, especially red meats.
Notes From the MGC Kitchen
Brussels sprouts might have a bold flavor, but they’re surprisingly easy to pair with other ingredients – that’s part of what makes them so fun to work with. We’ve created a few different side dishes with them, each with a different flavor profile (see below), but this one with blue cheese is truly one of our favorites, particularly around the holidays.
Key Ingredients
Here’s what you need to know about the key ingredients in this recipe. The complete list, including quantities, is in the printable recipe card below.
- FRESH BRUSSELS SPROUTS: Look for vibrant, green sprouts without yellow or brown sprouts. Small Brussels sprouts tend to be more tender and sweeter, and those that are firm to the touch with tightly packed leaves are the freshest.
- RED ONION: We like the slightly sweet, mild flavor of red onion paired with Brussels sprouts, but shallots would be a nice alternative, too.
- BLUE CHEESE: It’s always best to buy a block of cheese and crumble it yourself. Blue cheese that comes already crumbled tends to be less flavorful and can spoil more quickly.
How to Make Brussels Sprouts with Blue Cheese
Planning to make this recipe? Here’s a quick overview of how it’s done. Detailed, step-by-step instructions are in the printable recipe card below.
PREHEAT AND BOIL WATER: Preheat oven to 400°F and spray a baking sheet with nonstick spray. Bring a pot of salted water to a boil and set aside a large bowl of ice water.
BLANCH THE BRUSSELS SPROUTS: Trim and clean the Brussels sprouts and drop them into the boiling water, cooking for about 4 to 5 minutes. Quickly drain them and add them to the ice water to stop the cooking process.
CUT THE BRUSSELS SPROUTS: Once cool enough to handle, cut the sprouts in half lengthwise and place them in a bowl with the red onion slices. Toss with the olive oil and lemon juice and season with salt and pepper.
ROAST THE BRUSSELS SPROUTS: Arrange the sprouts and onions on the prepared baking sheet in a single layer and roast until they are tender and lightly caramelized.
TOSS WITH BLUE CHEESE AND SERVE: Remove from the oven and toss with the crumbled blue cheese. Taste and adjust the seasoning if necessary. Serve immediately.
Serving Suggestions
The bold flavors in this side dish make it a great choice for serving with hearty, simply flavored entrées like our standing rib roast, roasted beef tenderloin, and roasted capon.
More Ways to Cook Brussels Sprouts
Brussels sprouts are one of our favorite veggies that we love to make all the time. Here are a few more ideas to try:
- Maple Glazed Brussels Sprouts with Bacon (the perfect flavor pairing)
- Orecchiette With Brussels Sprouts and Bacon (a satisfying pasta dish)
- Warm Brussels Sprouts Caesar (a delicious twist on a favorite salad)
Brussels Sprouts With Blue Cheese
Ingredients
- 1-1/2 to 2 lbs fresh brussels sprouts
- 1/2 large red onion, sliced
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1/2 cup crumbled blue cheese
- Salt and freshly ground pepper
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F. Bring a pot of salted water to a boil and set aside a large bowl of ice water.
- Clean the brussels sprouts; trim the ends and remove loose outside leaves. Drop them into the boiling water and cook for about 4 to 5 minutes, until they are bright green and crisp-tender.
- Quickly drain and add to the bowl of ice water to stop the cooking.
- Cut the sprouts in half lengthwise and place in a bowl. Separate the onion slices into rings and add to the sprouts.
- Add the olive oil and lemon juice and season with salt and pepper.
- Arrange the mixture on a large baking sheet that has been coated with nonstick spray. Roast until the brussels sprouts are very tender and lightly caramelized, 18 to 20 minutes.
- Remove from the oven and toss with the crumbled blue cheese. Taste and adjust the seasoning if necessary.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Love this recipe ~the high heat roasting of the sprouts gives an excellent flavor ~and the bleu cheese adds something unusual to the taste. My family loves it!
Hi Karen,
Glad you liked the Brussels sprouts. It’s a good one to make for company and goes great with pork.