Bang Bang Brussels Sprouts

Name: Bang Bang Brussels Sprouts
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 2 lbs brussels sprouts (trimmed and halved); 1 tbsp cooking oil (I use avocado oil); ½ tsp garlic powder; ½ tsp salt; ¼ tsp pepper; ⅓ cup mayonnaise; ¼ cup Thai sweet chili sauce; 2 tsp Sriracha; 1 tsp lemon zest; ½ tbsp lemon juice; 1 tsp honey; ¼ tsp salt; ⅛ tsp pepper

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Homemade Bang Bang Brussels Sprouts are going to be the star of the show at your next dinner! Crispy, oven roasted brussels sprouts are glazed in a creamy, sweet, and spicy bang bang sauce that's a match made in heaven. This delicious combo is guaranteed to get even your pickiest eaters to love vegetables!

A platter of roasted brussels sprouts with a bowl of bang bang sauce.

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🌶 What Is Bang Bang Sauce?
🧂 Ingredients
👩🏻‍🍳 How To Make Bang Bang Brussels Sprouts
💭 Top Tips
🥡 Storing & Freezing
📖 Recipe FAQs
🍽 Looking For More Side Dishes?
📋 Recipe

🌶 What Is Bang Bang Sauce?

Asian-style bang bang sauce became popular after the restaurant Bonefish Grill debuted Bang Bang Shrimp on their menu. This ultra creamy, sweet, and savory mayonnaise-based sauce is an explosion of flavor thanks to a good dose of Thai sweet chili sauce. It provides the perfect amount of sweetness, vinegar, and heat. But a few star ingredients is what truly makes bang bang sauce stand out from your typical spicy mayo (hint: fresh lemon).

And bang bang sauce's versatility is a big reason why it's so well-loved! It pairs great with all kinds of seafood, meat, and vegetables. But I bet you've never tried it with brussels sprouts - in which case you're missing out!

Bangin' Brussels Sprouts

Brussels sprouts sometimes get a bad reputation, but they're in my top 3 favorite vegetables of all time. And the best way to cook them? By far, roasted in the oven.

Baked sprouts get deeply golden brown and caramelized on the outside while the inside gets perfectly soft and chewy. And my family always fights over the loose outer leaves that get charred and super crispy *drool*. There's so much flavor and texture in roasted brussels sprouts that you don't need to do much with them.

But if you've got picky eaters (like my meat loving husband), a drizzle of bang bang sauce is the way to go. The rich and flavorful sauce is the perfect counter-balance to the hearty, lightly bitter brussels sprouts. Easy, Asian-inspired Bang Bang Brussels Sprouts are addictive enough to be enjoyed everyday!

Why You'll Love It

Quick and easy: Bang Bang Brussels Sprouts takes very little effort. 7 main ingredients (mostly pantry staples), 2 steps, and 30 minutes is all you need.
Healthier: Brussels sprouts are a great source of fiber, omega 3 fatty acids, and vitamin C. Plus this recipe is low carb, vegetarian, dairy free, and gluten free.
Versatile: This staple recipe is great all year round, but especially during the holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas. You can also serve these as a side dish, bite-sized appetizer, or snack.

🧂 Ingredients

Brussels sprouts: I highly recommend using fresh brussels sprouts for the best texture. Look for bright green sprouts that are tight and firm when squeezed. They're available year-round but during the fall, you can find stalks of them.
Garlic powder: Adds extra flavor to the sprouts, but feel free to skip it.
Oil: Avocado oil is my favorite oil to cook, fry, and sauté with because of its high smoke point (500°F) and neutral flavor.

For The Bang Bang Sauce

Mayonnaise: The base of our bang bang dip.
Thai sweet chili sauce: A sweet and sour condiment made from dried chili flakes, sugar, vinegar, and garlic. It's said that Bonefish Grill used Mae Ploy chili sauce, but any brand will work here. They all have slightly varying taste so adjust the sauce to your liking. Got extra? Use it as a dipping sauce for Air Fryer Frozen Potstickers or Crab Rangoons.
Sriracha: Made from red jalapeno peppers and moderately spicy. Adds a different layer of heat and sweetness without making the sauce too spicy. Feel free to make it without Sriracha if you prefer a milder flavor.
Lemon: Most recipes for bang bang sauce use rice wine vinegar, but I found lemon to be the secret ingredient to making an exceptional homemade sauce. It adds freshness and tang that is just amazing with the brussels sprouts.
Honey: A dash to round out the flavors.

Substitutions & Variations

If using frozen brussels sprouts, let it thaw and dry completely. Wet vegetables will not develop char or crispiness when roasted. Skip the oil and roast at 425-450ºF until browned, but they won't be as yummy as fresh brussels sprouts.
Feel free to substitute mayonnaise with Greek yogurt. The sauce will be tangier so adjust with more honey as needed.
Roast any vegetables alongside the sprouts. Potatoes and carrots are classic. Just make sure to cut them to approximately the same size as the sprouts.
Brussels sprouts also pair well with bacon, pancetta, or tofu. Feel free to dice or crumble it and roast alongside them.
To air fry the brussels sprouts, preheat your air fryer to 400ºF. Mix the sprouts with the seasonings and oil, then air fry for 8-10 minutes or until crispy. Keep an eye on them as all air fryers are differently.

👩🏻‍🍳 How To Make Bang Bang Brussels Sprouts

⬇️ Please scroll down to the recipe card to see full ingredient amounts and instructions.

Brussels sprouts on a baking sheet, before and after being roasted.

STEP ONE: First, preheat the oven to 400ºF. Option to line a baking sheet with foil, parchment paper, or a silicone mat for easy clean-up. Trim the brussels sprouts by slicing off the tough stem, then cut the edible part in half lengthwise.

Then combine the halved brussels sprouts, oil, salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Mix until the sprouts are evenly coated, then spread out onto a baking sheet. Make sure to not overcrowd the pan.

Bake for 20-25 minutes or until leaves are charred and sprouts are tender.

A bowl of mayo, Thai sweet chili sauce, Sriracha, lemon zest and juice, honey, salt, and pepper and the whisked result.

STEP TWO: Meanwhile, whisk together mayonnaise, Thai sweet chili sauce, Sriracha, lemon zest and juice, honey, salt, and pepper. Season to taste.

Let the roasted brussels sprouts cool before drizzling them lightly with the bang bang sauce. Serve the rest on the side.

A close up of a spoon going into a platter of brussels sprouts drizzled with bang bang sauce.

💭 Top Tips

Don't over-crowd the pan. Spread the sprouts out in a single layer and leave space between each one. Otherwise, the sprouts will steam instead of roast and they won't be able to caramelize. If needed, roast in batches or use multiple baking sheets.
Cook time will depend on the size and density of your brussels sprouts. Roast until individual leaves are charred and crispy, and there is little resistance when pierced with a fork.
Let the roasted brussels sprouts cool before drizzling them with bang bang sauce. If the vegetables are too hot, it can cause the mayonnaise in the sauce to break (the oil will separate).
Don't over-sauce the brussels sprouts. Bang bang sauce is very rich, creamy, and flavorful so a little goes a long way. Do a light drizzle and serve the rest on the side so each person can dip as much as they'd like.

What To Serve With Bang Bang Brussels Sprouts

These are a great side dish to serve alongside Gochujang Salmon, Vietnamese Fish Sauce Chicken Wings, Instant Pot Pork Adobo, or Hawaiian Garlic Butter Shrimp Kabobs.
Stuff them inside Cheese Quesadillas, sandwiches, or wraps.
Top them in salads like Fall Harvest Salad or pastas like Sausage and Kale Pasta or French Onion Chicken Pasta Bake.
Make a simple nourish bowl with grains (quinoa, rice, or farro are my favorites), roasted vegetables, and a protein of your choice.

A close up of charred brussels sprouts with a bowl of bang bang sauce to the side.

🥡 Storing & Freezing

Storing: Store the brussels sprouts and bang bang sauce separately. Let the sprouts cool completely, then store in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. The sauce should be stored in a jar in the refrigerator for up to 7 days.

If you have leftover bang bang sauce, use it as a dip or sauce for any meat, vegetables, or seafood. I particularly love it with Parmesan Potato Wedges, Air Fryer Chicken Meatballs, or Honey Chipotle Shrimp Tacos.

Freezing: I do not recommend freezing either the sprouts or the sauce. They'll become soggy once thawed and the mayonnaise in the sauce will not freeze well.

Reheating: Reheat the brussels sprouts in the oven, toaster oven, or air fryer at 350ºF for about 5 minutes. You can also microwave them in 1 minute intervals but they won't be crispy.
The sauce can be enjoyed straight from the fridge.

Make Ahead: The sauce can be made up to 3 days in advance. I would recommend roasting the sprouts day-of, but you can trim and prepare them 4 days in advance.

📖 Recipe FAQs

What's the difference between bang bang sauce and boom boom sauce?

They're both mayonnaise-based with Thai sweet chili sauce and sriracha. But boom boom sauce has ketchup added for more color and sweetness. The tomato also adds a different layer of flavor.

Why do they call it bang bang sauce?

It's usually served as a coating on meats like chicken or shrimp. "Bang bang" refers to the sound of the cleaver as it cuts through the meats.

Is it better to roast or steam brussels sprouts?

Steaming uses less fat but cooking the sprouts via a moist method (like steaming or boiling) will just make them water-logged, bland, and mushy. Instead, roast them for maximum flavor and texture.