Maple Balsamic Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Butternut Squash, Walnuts, and Pomegranate—perfect for a healthy and festive holiday side dish! Vegan, gluten-free, and packed with fiber.
Who else always gets asked to bring the vegetable to Thanksgiving?
Same. I can’t recommend my Healthy Green Bean Casserole enough, but if you want something not creamy and more bright, these Maple Balsamic Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Butternut Squash, Walnuts, and Pomegranate are the answer! It’s such a stunning recipe.
I’ve been making maple balsamic Brussels spouts for yeeeears now. They have a way of converting even the strongest sprout loathers into lovers. Quite impressive! The buttery coconut oil, tangy balsamic, and sweet maple come together in the most luscious way to create this bejeweled beauty of a holiday side dish. The bites of pomegranate add a juicy pop of tartness that really takes this bad boy over the edge. And to think that it’s GOOD for you! Madness.
Besides cutting the butternut squash (peeling it is the worst part if you ask me), this recipe comes together pretty easily. And if you want to buy pre-cut squash, more power to ya. Simply chop up the veggies, stir together the coconut oil, maple syrup, balsamic, salt and pepper, and mix it all together. Roast, toss with walnuts and pomegranate, and that’s it. Flavor explosions everywhere!
You’re about to be the vegetable queen at this year’s Thanksgiving. Aren’t you excited?!
Caramelized perfection right here. Trust me when I say it pairs beautifully with my Spinach and Mushroom Herb Stuffing or Pomegranate Za’atar Stuffing. Get at it!
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Maple Balsamic Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Butternut Squash, Walnuts, and Pomegranate–perfect for a healthy and festive holiday side dish! Vegan, gluten-free, and packed with fiber.
Ingredients
- 1 lb Brussels sprouts, woody ends removed and sliced in halves or thirds (about 3 cups)
- 1 1/2 lb butternut squash, peeled, seeded, and cubed (about 3 1/2 cups)
- 4 tbsp coconut oil, melted
- 3 tbsp pure maple syrup
- 3 tbsp quality balsamic vinegar
- 1 tsp fine sea salt, or to taste
- Freshly ground pepper, to taste
- 2/3 cup walnut halves or pecans, chopped
- 2/3 cup pomegranate arils or dried cranberries*
- Fresh rosemary, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper for easy cleanup. (I used one regular and one small baking sheet so I could put them on the same rack side by side in the oven.)
- Place sliced Brussels sprouts and squash in a large bowl. Add the coconut oil, maple syrup, vinegar, salt, and pepper, tossing to combine.
- Spread in an even layer (try to get all the Brussels flat-side down) in an even layer on lined baking sheets. If they’re overlapping, they won’t brown nicely.
- Bake for about 25 minutes, stirring halfway through, or until veggies are tender and browned. When 5 minutes are remaining, sprinkle veggies with walnuts and return to the oven to toast for 5 minutes. Remove from oven and transfer to a serving platter or bowl. Taste and add salt or pepper if needed. Sprinkle with pomegranate arils. Garnish with rosemary or whatever green herbs you have on hand, if desired.
Notes
*If using dried cranberries, I suggest soaking them in a bowl of warm water while the veggies roast so they’re plump. Drain before adding to dish.
I made this recipe for Thanksgiving last year, and this dish was stellar! I loved the combination of flavors, textures, and colors. Definitely a recipe I will make again and again!
★★★★★
Such an oldie but a goodie. Love it!
I’m supposed to be eliminating oils – yes, even the “healthy” ones. Can I sub aquafaba for the coconut oil or just leave it out?
Unfortunately the oil is essential in this recipe for browning and flavor. I would recommend choosing another recipe that doesn’t have oil as a key component (I’ve never heard of subbing aquafaba for oil). Good luck!
You can sub aquafaba for oil, I am seeing others doing it online more and more, and I use it for my potato salads and bean & veggie salads. Everything browns in the oven without oil, I do my french fries without oil that way, but you might need to allow more oven time. Sometimes I turn my veggies to broil for 1-2 minutes at the end, keeping an eye on it for sure. The flavor of the maple syrup on it is so delicious! Such a beautiful dish!!!
Could I use sweet potatoes instead of the butternut squash?
Sure!
Maple and Brussels sprouts are a match made in heaven! One of my fav combos is maple-mustard over Brussels and root vegetables. I made a roasted vegetable dish to take to a group gathering, and people couldn’t get enough! A lady asked me for the recipe at the end of the evening. That was a real compliment. Thank you for being a recipe queen!!
Saved this recipe! We don’t celebrate Thanksgiving in Hong Kong but I’m definitely making this as a dinner side dish. I’ve been obsessed with roasted brussels sprouts lately and I love winter squash – so this is perfect! 🙂
Charmaine Ng | Architecture & Lifestyle Blog
http://charmainenyw.com