Discover this tasty and low-calorie recipe for steamed Brussels sprouts. In this quick guide, learn how to perfectly steam Brussels sprouts for a nutritious addition to any meal. All you need is a pound of sprouts and water!
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Break out your steamer!
Steaming Brussels sprouts is my favorite way to prepare them when I need a quick and easy side dish. Once tender, you can finish them with butter, lemon, Parmesan, fresh herbs, or your favorite seasonings.
We also love to roast our vegetables, and these Roasted Brussels Sprouts are delicious. But on busy nights, steaming them in a pot is faster and easier.
Brussels sprouts are available year-round. Choose firm, bright-green sprouts with tightly packed leaves. Avoid any with brown spots or signs of drying out.
What You Need
- Brussels Sprouts
- Water
How Long To Steam Brussels Sprouts
Brussels sprouts cook rather quickly.
In a pot with a steamer basket, steam the sprouts for about 8-10 minutes over boiling water. If you have extra-large sprouts, add an extra 2 minutes to the cooking time.
If you are cooking whole Brussels sprouts, add another 3 minutes.
Either way, check after 5 minutes of cooking and estimate the remaining time.
How To Steam Brussels Sprouts
- Trim the ends of the Brussels sprouts and pull off any damaged outer leaves. Rinse the Brussels sprouts under cold water.
- Fill a pot with about an inch of water and place a steamer basket inside. Bring the water to a boil over medium-high heat.
- Once the water is boiling, add the Brussels sprouts to the steamer basket.
- Cover the pot with a lid and steam the Brussels sprouts for about 10 minutes, or until they are tender when pierced with a fork.
- Once cooked, remove the Brussels sprouts from the steamer basket and transfer them to a serving dish.
- Serve the hot steamed Brussels sprouts. Drizzle them with melted butter, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, lemon juice, or any seasonings you like.
How To Flavor Steamed Brussels Sprouts
You can season all of your steamed vegetables with your favorite seasonings. Butter, cream, lemon, and red pepper flakes are all simple seasonings.
My husband loves Brussels Sprouts with Parmesan Cheese, flaky sea salt, and freshly ground black pepper.
- Breakfast: Roughly chop the steamed sprouts and cook in a little skillet with olive oil or butter over medium heat. Pour two beaten eggs over the sprouts, let set, and fold over into an omelet.
- Fish Dinner: You can serve any of our fish dinner recipes with steamed Brussels sprouts. Drizzle the sprouts with olive oil and season with flaky sea salt and a little Old Bay seasoning.
- Asian flavor: Season with tamari soy sauce, a little sesame oil, and sesame seeds.
- Steak Dinner: Season the sprouts with extra-virgin olive oil, roasted garlic, and red pepper flakes. Serve alongside a grilled ribeye, tenderloin, or stovetop chuck steak.
- Garlicky Steamed Brussels Sprouts: Sauté a few cloves of garlic with a little oil in a small pan. When the garlic starts to brown, stir in the steamed sprouts, or any steamed vegetable.
- You can also add additional ingredients such as chopped garlic, Bermuda onions, bacon, or balsamic vinegar for flavor.
You can also add additional ingredients such as chopped garlic, onions, bacon, or balsamic vinegar for extra flavor.
Sauté the garlic in a small pan with a little oil. Stir the steamed sprouts, or any steamed vegetable, into the garlic. Season with salt, pepper, and a little red pepper flakes.
Storage
Raw: Refrigerate unwashed Brussels sprouts in a plastic bag for up to 3 days.
Cooked: Store cooked Brussels sprouts in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
Serving Suggestions
Steamed Brussels Sprouts is a versatile dish that pairs well with any of the following:
Takeaway
Here are easy-to-follow steps for storing, cleaning, and steaming Brussels sprouts: Store them in the refrigerator's crisper to maintain freshness.
When ready to prepare, rinse the Brussels sprouts under cold water and trim the stem ends.
Then steam them over simmering water until tender yet vibrant green.
This method preserves their crisp texture and enhances their flavor. The sprouts make a delicious, nutritious side dish, free of excess calories or heavy sauces.
If you like Steamed Brussels Sprouts, try our steamed broccoli and carrots recipe.
This dish is gluten-free, dairy-free, and soy-free.
Steamed Brussels Sprouts FAQ
Fill up a pot with about an inch of water and place a steamer basket inside. Bring the water to a boil over medium-high heat. Add the sprouts and cover. Steam for 7 to 10 minutes, depending on the size of the sprouts.
Bring ½ inch of water to a boil in a sauté pan or 5-6 quart saucepan.
Add the Brussels sprouts, cover, and reduce the heat to medium-low. Cook for about 10 minutes, or until the sprouts are fork-tender.
Brussels sprouts take about 8-10 minutes to steam until tender when pierced with a fork.
Trim the stems and remove any loose or discolored outer leaves before steaming. The stem is tough and not something you want to eat.
Plan for about a quarter pound per person if you've prepared a large meal. For a meal of steamed Brussels sprouts, figure half a pound per person.
Yes, follow the same instructions. The cooking time might be a little less than 10 minutes.
How to Steam Brussels Sprouts
Ingredients
- 1 pound Brussels sprouts
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Trim the ends of the Brussels sprouts and pull off any damaged outer leaves. Rinse the Brussels sprouts under cold water.
- Fill a pot with about an inch of water and place a steamer basket inside. Bring the water to a boil over medium-high heat. Once the water is boiling, add the Brussels sprouts to the steamer basket.
- Cover the pot with a lid and steam the Brussels sprouts for about 10 minutes, or until they are tender when pierced with a fork.
- Once cooked, remove the Brussels sprouts from the steamer basket and transfer them to a serving dish.
- Serve hot.
Notes
- Breakfast: Roughly chop the steamed sprouts and cook in a little skillet with olive oil or butter over medium heat. Pour two beaten eggs over the sprouts, let them set, then fold into an omelet.
- Fish Dinner: You can serve any of our fish dinner recipes with steamed Brussels sprouts. Drizzle the sprouts with olive oil and season with flaky sea salt and a little Old Bay seasoning.
- Asian flavor: Season with tamari, a little sesame oil, and sesame seeds.
- Steak Dinner: Season the sprouts with extra-virgin olive oil, roasted garlic, and red pepper flakes. Serve alongside a grilled ribeye, tenderloin, or seared chuck steak.
- Garlicky Steamed Brussels Sprouts: Sauté a few cloves of garlic with a little oil in a small pan. When the garlic starts to brown, stir in the steamed sprouts, or any steamed vegetable. Season with salt and black pepper.
- You can also add additional ingredients such as chopped garlic, Bermuda onions, bacon, or balsamic vinegar for extra flavor.
Tami says
Thank you for sharing!