These healthy steamed Brussels sprouts are fast, easy and actually taste good! Here’s how to steam them to perfection.
Steaming vegetables is a quick and healthy way to cook them. But Brussels sprouts? Can even this tough-to-get-right veggie work with this method? You bet. Here’s how to make steamed Brussel sprouts taste good! The key is to cook until they’re just tender and still bright green, then toss with a little butter and salt. This healthy Brussels sprout recipe comes out beautifully tender and irresistibly seasoned: and it’s much quicker than roasted. Alex even proclaimed, “I might like these better than roasted sprouts!” Let’s see what you think.
How to steam Brussels sprouts
It’s easy to make steamed Brussels sprouts, but the timing is key! Cook them too long and they turn out brownish-green and bitter. Go too short and they’re too tough. How long to steam Brussels sprouts?
- Boil about 1 inch of water in a pan.
- Place Brussels sprouts in a steamer basked and steam for 6 to 7 minutes, until just tender all the way through and still bright green.
- Test with a fork to assess doneness. Pull them out just when a fork pierces through the thickest portion. Resist the urge to cook them too long, or they’ll become faded green and taste soggy and bitter.
The texture is soft and tender
Keep in mind: the texture of steamed Brussels sprouts is soft and tender. It does not come out crispy like a roasted or fried sprout! You’ll need to embrace this different texture to truly enjoy this recipe. If you prefer a crispy texture, try our Roasted Brussels Sprouts or Crispy Brussels Sprouts recipes.
How to make steamed Brussel sprouts taste good
Here’s the other important part to steamed Brussels sprouts: seasoning them! Taste one bite of these with no salt, and you’ll want to spit it out. Promise us: do not taste these with no salt. Here’s how to make steamed Brussels sprouts that actually taste good:
- Season with ½ teaspoon kosher salt (per pound Brussels). This is important for bringing out the flavor.
- Add 1 tablespoon butter or olive oil (per pound). Butter is best here. It adds just the right richness, with much less fat than if you’d make these Brussels roasted, sautéed or pan fried.
- Add chives or other fresh herbs if desired. Just 1 tablespoon chopped chives adds a nice fresh contrast to the steamed sprouts.
Give them one taste, and we hope you’ll agree that they’re very satisfying! In fact, we surprised ourselves by inhaling the entire bowl between the two of us in a few minutes. This quick, healthy way to cook Brussels sprouts has just moved up in our estimation.
More Brussels sprouts recipes
Are you a Brussels sprout fan? We love them every which way. Here are some of our top Brussels sprout recipes:
- Try Balsamic Brussels Sprouts, roasted with a balsamic glaze
- Go basic with Roasted Brussels Sprouts or Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Garlic
- Go fancy with Brussels Sprout Casserole or Smashed Brussels Sprouts
- Try Boiled Brussels Sprouts (a similar idea!)
- Make a Brussels Sprout Salad
This steamed Brussel sprouts recipe is…
Vegetarian, vegan, plant-based, dairy-free and gluten-free.
Print
Steamed Brussels Sprouts
- Prep Time: 3 minutes
- Cook Time: 7 minutes
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 4 1x
Description
These healthy steamed Brussels sprouts are fast, easy and actually taste good! Here’s how to steam them to perfection.
Ingredients
- 1 pound Brussels sprouts (off the stem)
- 1 tablespoon butter (or olive oil or vegan butter)
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 tablespoon fresh chives (optional)
- Freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Slice off any hard ends of the Brussels sprouts, as needed. Slice them in half lengthwise.
- Place about 1 inch of water in a pot or saucepan. If using a steamer basket without a handle, add it to the pot now: the water surface should be right under the basket. Bring the water to a boil.
- Once boiling, add the Brussels sprouts (in the steamer basket, if it has a handle). Steam with the lid on until just tender when pierced with a fork, about 6 to 7 minutes. The timing is important: you’ll want it just tender all the way through: not too crisp, but before it starts to loose its bright green color.
- Carefully remove the Brussels sprouts to a bowl. Toss with the butter, kosher salt, chives and fresh ground black pepper. Mix until the butter melts. Serve immediately. Store leftovers refrigerated for up to 2 days.
- Category: Side dish
- Method: Steamed
- Cuisine: Vegetables
- Diet: Vegetarian
Keywords: Steamed brussel sprouts, steamed brussels sprouts, how long to steam brussel sprouts, how to make steamed brussel sprouts taste good, how to steam brussels sprouts
Let us know if you have any questions!
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