Low Carb Parmesan Roasted Brussels Sprouts
Halved Brussels sprouts roasted crisp at 425°F, finished with garlic, melted parmesan, crisp turkey bacon and lemon zest. A low carb Christmas side with 7 g net carbs per serving.
This post has affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Disclosure
When I start planning low carb Christmas sides, a big pan of roasted Brussels sprouts is the first thing I write down. These low carb parmesan roasted Brussels sprouts go into a hot oven cut side down, come out with dark, crackly edges, and get a blanket of parmesan that melts into the gaps. Crisp turkey bacon and a little lemon zest go on at the very end.
That’s the whole idea. No glaze, no sugar, nothing to babysit on the stove. The sheet pan does the work while you carve the roast or set the table.
And here’s what I like most. A pan of these looks like you tried hard. You didn’t. You trimmed some sprouts, cut them in half and kept an eye on the oven timer.
Where Brussels sprouts come from
The name most likely comes from the city of Brussels. Belgian growers made them a common crop there in the 1500s, and the Royal Horticultural Society traces them back even further, to Flanders in the 1200s. They look like tiny cabbages because that’s close to what they are. They grow in rows up a tall, thick stalk, a cousin of cabbage, broccoli and cauliflower.
In Britain, sprouts are a fixture of the December feast. For a long time that mostly meant a bowl of sprouts boiled until they were soft and gray, which is why so many people say they grew up hating them. Roasting is what changed their reputation. High heat browns the cut sides and turns the outer leaves into crisp little chips. The bitter edge fades and a nutty, almost sweet flavor takes over.
They’re also a smart vegetable to build a side around. Ohio State University Extension lists Brussels sprouts as an excellent source of fiber, folate and potassium, plus vitamins A and C. That fiber is a big part of why the net carbs on this pan stay reasonable.
At our table
I cook every recipe on this site in my own kitchen before it goes up. Every side dish on my holiday table has to pass one test: if it only works for the grown-ups who are counting carbs, it doesn’t make the list.
Christmas dinner is usually a crowded oven. The roast gets the best spot, something creamy waits on the stove, and the sides have to fit in around it. This one is built for that. It roasts on one sheet pan at 425°F, finishes in about 25 minutes, and it’s happy to sit on the counter for a few minutes while everything else lands. If you want a second green side, my low carb Christmas creamed spinach is the rich one I set right beside it. The crisp sprouts and the soft spinach balance each other out on a plate.
Low Carb Parmesan Roasted Brussels Sprouts
- Prep
- 15 MIN
- Cook
- 25 MIN
- Total
- 40 MIN
- Serves
- 6
01Ingredients
02Gear & pantry
03Method
Tap a step when it's done. The next one lights up.
0 OF 8 DONE04Recipe notes
- 01Each serving has 7 g net carbs (13 g total carbs minus 6 g fiber). Pick sprouts of a similar size so they roast evenly, and cut any large ones into quarters. Most turkey bacon is sold fully cooked; if yours is labeled uncooked, cook it to 165°F (74°C). Leftovers keep 3 to 4 days in the fridge; re-crisp them in a 400°F oven for 6 to 8 minutes.
05Nutrition
Per serving- Calories
- 187
- Protein
- 10G
- Net carbs
- 7G
- Fat
- 12G
- Fiber
- 6G
Net carbs are total carbs minus fiber. Numbers are estimates from the ingredients listed.
How did it turn out?
No ratings yet. Tap a star to be the first.
Snap a photo and tag @recipe_smoke1 so I can see how yours came out.
Making low carb Christmas side dishes that taste like the real thing
A lot of roasted Brussels sprouts recipes finish with honey, maple syrup, brown sugar or a sweet balsamic glaze. Those are the carbs that sneak up on you. I left all of them out. The browning gives you plenty of sweetness, and the parmesan adds the salty, savory bite.
The bacon is turkey bacon. Cut it into small pieces and crisp it in a skillet with a spoonful of olive oil while the sprouts roast. Turkey bacon is lean, so it won’t leave much fat in the pan. That’s why the oil is there. Many brands are sold fully cooked, but check your package. If yours says uncooked, cook it until it reaches 165°F (74°C), the safe temperature for poultry.
Timing matters with the garlic and cheese. Garlic burns fast at 425°F, and so does finely grated parmesan. So the sprouts roast on their own first. The garlic goes on about halfway through, and the parmesan goes on for the last few minutes, just long enough to melt and turn golden.
A serving is one sixth of the pan. It comes to 7 grams of net carbs, with 13 grams of total carbs and 6 grams of fiber. Each serving has 187 calories and 10 grams of protein. That’s a side dish that leaves room on your plate for the main event.
Swaps, make ahead and leftovers
A few easy swaps:
- Beef bacon
- in place of the turkey bacon. Crisp it the same way and drain it well.
- Grated pecorino romano
- in place of the parmesan, for a sharper, saltier finish.
- A squeeze of lemon juice
- instead of the zest, added right before serving.
- Garlic powder
- , about 1 teaspoon, if you’re out of fresh garlic. Toss it on with the oil at the start.
You can trim and halve the sprouts up to two days ahead and keep them in a covered container in the fridge. Cook the turkey bacon a day ahead too, then warm it in the oven for the last minute of roasting. The sprouts themselves are best roasted right before dinner, because that’s when the edges are crispest.
Leftovers go into an airtight container in the fridge within two hours, and they keep 3 to 4 days. The USDA says to reheat leftovers to 165°F (74°C) in its leftovers and food safety guidance. A 400°F oven for 6 to 8 minutes brings back some of the crunch. The microwave works, but they’ll come out softer. I don’t freeze these, because roasted sprouts turn soggy once they thaw.
Questions people ask
What are good low carb Christmas sides to serve with a roast?
Roasted green vegetables are the easiest place to start. These Brussels sprouts sit at 7 grams of net carbs per serving, and creamed spinach or a crisp green salad round out the plate.
Why are my roasted Brussels sprouts soggy?
Usually the pan is too crowded. Give them space in a single layer, cut sides down, and use a large rimmed baking sheet. Crowded sprouts steam instead of browning.
Can I roast them without the turkey bacon?
Yes. Skip it and add an extra 2 tablespoons of parmesan. The numbers on the card include the turkey bacon, so they’ll change a little.
Set the pan right next to the roast. If your main is my low carb Christmas beef tenderloin, the sprouts can go into the oven while the beef rests, and they’ll be crisp and golden by the time it’s sliced.
Dinner
Casseroles
Side Dish
