Pear Bacon and Brussels Sprout Salad

Published October 19, 2017. Updated October 25, 2018

This post may contain affiliate links. Read our disclosure policy.

Pear Bacon and Brussels Sprout Salad is a perfectly delicious Autumn salad that will leave everyone asking for more! It’s the perfect combination of flavors and textures and it’s a great way to use up seasonal produce.

Pear Bacon and Brussels Sprout Salad

Brussels Sprout Salad with Pears and Bacon

With this delicious salad you get those thinly shredded Brussels sprouts that have just the perfect crunch, along with soft sweet pears, salty crispy bacon, a slight bite from the shallots, nutty crunchy pecans, creamy tangy gorgonzola cheese, plus just a hint of herby freshness from the parsley.

And it’s all finished off with a bright lemon bacon maple dressing. Talk about one delicious salad! And something new for a change.

It’s a salad that will give you one more reason to look forward to fall every year and all those delicious pears this time of year.

This salad is the perfect reminder that everything is better with bacon. But really, I do love the way the pears and bacon compliment each other here.

It’s a match meant to be and a flavor combination I should be using more often.

Pear Bacon and Brussels Sprout Salad

Ingredients Needed for the Salad

  • Bacon
  • Fresh Brussels sprouts
  • Fresh parsley
  • Pecans
  • Pears
  • Gorgonzola cheese
  • Shallot

Ingredients Needed for the Dressing

  • Olive oil
  • Bacon drippings
  • Lemon
  • Dijon mustard
  • Maple syrup
  • Salt and pepper

Pear Bacon and Brussels Sprout Salad

How to Make Brussels Sprout Salad

  • Cook bacon in a skillet. Transfer bacon to lined plate and reserve rendered bacon drippings for dressing.

  • In a large bowl toss together Brussels sprouts, cooked bacon, parsley, pecans, pears, gorgonzola and shallots. Toss with dressing and serve.

How to Make the Dressing

  • Whisk together all dressing ingredients in a mixing bowl or shake together well in a jar. Stir or shake again just before pouring onto salad.
  • Note if it’s chilled it will need to be warmed just slightly as the bacon drippings solidify once chilled.

Pear Bacon and Brussels Sprout Salad

Can I Make This Salad in Advance?

Once you add the dressing the salad will hold up well for about an hour – but keep in mind the pears edges can brown so if you want to add dressing to soften up the Brussels sprouts a little first just wait to add those pears until later.

You can definitely shred the Brussels sprouts one day in advance though and make the dressing a day in advance (then gently rewarm as the bacon grease will solidify.

Can I Use a Different Kind of Cheese?

Goat cheese would work well hear or feta would be another good option.

Pear Bacon and Brussels Sprout Salad

What Should I Serve with This Salad?

Pear Bacon and Brussels Sprout Salad

The Perfect Thanksgiving Salad

This would be a perfect salad to serve at a party or at Thanksgiving but it’s also so delicious that you should be waiting for a celebration to roll around.

You should be making it today. And enjoying every delicious bite!

Pear Bacon and Brussels Sprout Salad

16 Quick & Easy 30 Minute Recipes! (plus weekly recipe updates)

Pear Bacon and Brussels Sprout Salad
5 from 6 votes

Pear Bacon and Brussels Sprout Salad

A delicious autumn pear salad that's brimming with bacon, nutty toasted pecans, tangy gorgonzola cheese, all with a base of finely shredded raw brussels sprouts. So delicious! 
Servings: 7
Prep25 minutes
Cook8 minutes
Ready in: 33 minutes

Ingredients

  • 6 slices (6 oz.) bacon, chopped
  • 14 oz. brussels sprouts, bottoms trimmed, shredded*
  • 1/2 cup sliced fresh parsley
  • 1 cup pecans, toasted and roughly chopped
  • 2 bartlett pears, cored and diced small
  • 1/2 cup gorgonzola cheese**
  • 2 Tbsp minced shallot

Dressing

Instructions

  • Cook bacon in a non-stick skillet over medium-high heat until browned and just crisp, about 6 - 8 minutes. Transfer bacon to plate lined with paper towels to drain (it helps to use a spatula and press bacon against side of pan to drain excess bacon drippings back into the pan) and reserve rendered bacon drippings for dressing.
  • In a large bowl toss together brussels sprouts, cooked bacon, parsley, pecans, pears, gorgonzola and shallots. Toss with dressing and serve. 

For the dressing:

  • Whisk together all dressing ingredients in a mixing bowl or shake together well in a jar. Stir or shake again just before pouring onto salad. Note if it's chilled it will need to be warmed just slightly as the bacon drippings solidify once chilled.
  • *First half the brussels sprouts then thinly slice through the width so pieces will separate. 
    **If you prefer a more mild less pungent cheese goat cheese may be substituted.
  • Recipe source: Cooking Classy
Nutrition Facts
Pear Bacon and Brussels Sprout Salad
Amount Per Serving
Calories 354 Calories from Fat 270
% Daily Value*
Fat 30g46%
Saturated Fat 7g44%
Cholesterol 22mg7%
Sodium 269mg12%
Potassium 428mg12%
Carbohydrates 16g5%
Fiber 5g21%
Sugar 7g8%
Protein 7g14%
Vitamin A 870IU17%
Vitamin C 58.1mg70%
Calcium 89mg9%
Iron 1.6mg9%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Nutrition values are estimates only. See full disclaimer here.