Recipe: Slow Cooker Cheesy Garlic Brussels Sprouts

Patty Catalano
Patty CatalanoFood Editor at The Kitchn
The only subject that has ever held my attention has been food, because there’s no end to what you can taste, smell, learn, and cook. I patchworked my way to recipe development and food writing by earning degrees in Family & Consumer Sciences (you may have known it as Home Ec) and Food, Nutrition, and Culinary Science, and working anywhere that would take me: university food services, local bakeries, and the set of Good Eats on Food Network. Early on, I asked my mom how she knew what a cookbook recipe (with no pictures) would look and taste like. While my mom was there to teach me, I realized that not everyone has someone to turn to for trusted cooking guidance. I try every day to be that person for The Kitchn’s readers by sharing smart recipes they can feel proud to serve. Recipe development is the most fun job I can imagine, but it also comes with a lot of dirty dishes and hours spent in the grocery store. I’ve found that I actually really love grocery shopping — especially at Costco and Aldi — and it brings me such joy to share my finds with The Kitchn readers.
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updated Jun 4, 2019
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Tender sprouts in a cheesy garlic sauce with no hands-on cooking required.

Serves6 to 8

Makes6 cups

Prep15 minutes

Cook2 hours to 3 hours

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(Image credit: Joe Lingeman)

Welcoming Brussels sprouts back to the dinner table is one of autumn’s greatest pleasures. But once you’ve served them shredded into slaw or crisped on a baking sheet, it’s time for something new. Tonight, serve tender slow-cooked Brussels sprouts dressed in a creamy garlic Parmesan sauce, all without lifting a finger.

(Image credit: Yossy Arefi)

The Slow Cooker Steams the Sprouts

Most Brussels sprout recipes tout crispy leaves and deeply charred bottoms, but slow cooker-softened sprouts take a different approach. If you’re still reeling from the drab, tasteless spouts you had as a kid (sorry, Mom!), find comfort in knowing that these Brussels cook gently in the steam from the slow cooker, not a bath of boiling water. In two to three hours, the low and steady heat of the slow cooker softens the sprouts until tender.

Cream Cheese Is Key to a Velvety Sauce

These slow-cooked Brussels sprouts are deliciously tender and coated in a velvety garlic and Parmesan cream sauce. You’ll cut half a block of cream cheese into cubes and toss with the halved sprouts and sliced garlic in a buttered slow cooker. The cream cheese acts as the base of the sauce, gradually melting as the sprouts cook. When they’re tender, you’ll shower the Brussels sprouts with Parmesan, a drizzle of heavy cream, and freshly grated nutmeg (the secret to all great white sauces).

So, when the oven is full and the stovetop is overloaded, the slow cooker is the answer to serving Brussels sprouts to a crowd (and keeping them warm until you come back for seconds!).

More Slow Cooker Sides

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Slow Cooker Cheesy Garlic Brussels Sprouts

Tender sprouts in a cheesy garlic sauce with no hands-on cooking required.

Prep time 15 minutes

Cook time 2 hours to 3 hours

Makes 6 cups

Serves 6 to 8

Nutritional Info

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon

    unsalted butter

  • 2 1/2 pounds

    Brussels sprouts, trimmed and halved

  • 4 cloves

    garlic, thinly sliced

  • 4 ounces

    cream cheese, cubed

  • 1/2 teaspoon

    kosher salt

  • 1/4 teaspoon

    freshly ground black pepper, plus more for serving

  • 3/4 cup

    grated Parmesan cheese (1 1/2 ounces)

  • 2 tablespoons

    heavy cream

  • 1/8 teaspoon

    freshly grated nutmeg

Instructions

  1. Coat the insert of a 3- to 5-quart slow cooker with the butter. Add the Brussels sprouts, garlic, cream cheese, salt, and pepper and toss to combine.

  2. Cover and cook on the LOW setting until the Brussels sprouts are tender, 2 to 3 hours.

  3. Turn the slow cooker off or to the keep warm setting. Stir in the Parmesan, cream, and nutmeg until the cheeses melt and the Brussels sprouts are coated in a creamy sauce. Taste and season with more pepper as needed.

Recipe Notes

Storage: Leftovers can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

Filed in:
autumn
Cheese
Cooking Methods
dinner
easy
Gluten-Free