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Firecracker Beef & Brussels
4.8 from 355 votes

Firecracker Beef & Brussels

Firecracker Beef & Brussels combines lean ground beef with air-fried Brussels sprouts, poblano peppers, onions, and a spicy-sweet hot sauce-based glaze. The dish features bold flavors balanced by the caramelized Brussels and a tangy honey-and-vinegar sauce thickened with cornstarch. It pairs with cooked rice to round out the meal, making a hearty, textured dish with a spicy kick.

Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
25 mins
Total Time
40 mins
Servings: 5 servings
Calories: 620 kcal
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American

Ingredients

For the Rice
  • 3¾ cups rice cooked
For the Beef and Brussels
  • 2 lbs ground beef 90/10 lean to fat ratio
  • 1 lb Brussels sprouts
  • ½ medium onion
  • 2 medium poblano pepper
  • 1 tbsp garlic minced
  • 1 tbsp red pepper flakes
  • 4 talks green onions optional for garnish
  • 1 lime optional for garnish
  • 1 tbsp neutral cooking oil generic cooking oil
For the Sauce
  • ¼ cup hot sauce I use Frank's Red Hot
  • 1⅓ tbsp apple cider vinegar
  • 5 tbsp honey
  • 1½ tbsp cornstarch
  • water if necessary, to thin

Instructions

For the Rice
    Cup of Yum
  1. Make enough rice to yield 3¾ cups of cooked rice. 1 cup of dry rice will make between 2-3 cups of cooked rice depending on what type of rice you use.
For the Beef & Brussels
  1. Wash and cut all of your vegetables first.
  2. Cut the stems off of your Brussels sprouts and remove any of the damaged outer layers. Cut them in half.
  3. Cut the onion, green onions, and peppers into a small dice. Mince your garlic if you're using fresh.
  4. Place the Brussels sprout halves into a large bowl and drizzle over ½ tbsp of oil. Season with salt and pepper to your liking.
  5. Preheat your air fryer to 400°F.
  6. Place the Brussels sprouts into the air fryer basket and air fry for 5-8 minutes or until they have browned and softened. Watch them closely so they don't burn. If you don't have an air fryer you could cook them in the oven.
  7. In a large skillet over medium high heat, add ½ tbsp of oil and add the onions, peppers, and 1 of red pepper flakes. Cook for 3-5 minutes to brown and soften. Add in the garlic.
  8. Move the onions and peppers to the perimeter of the skillet and add in your beef. Season with salt and pepper. Allow the beef to brown.
  9. When the beef is cooking, prepare your sauce. Mix the honey, hot sauce, vinegar, and cornstarch together. Stir well to incorporate the cornstarch so it doesn't clump up.
  10. When the beef is about 90% of the way cooked, add in the Brussels sprouts, pour in the sauce and mix into the beef allowing it to thicken. Stir to combine. If you feel that your sauce is too thick, you can drizzle in some water to thin it out.
Plating
  1. This recipe makes 5 servings. Divide your ingredients evenly into your 5 containers. Each dish gets ¾ (112g) cup of cooked rice.
  2. Top each dish with green onions and a lime wedge if you wish. I like to squeeze lime juice over the dish after reheating.

Nutrition Information

Calories 620kcal (31%) Carbohydrates 63g (21%) Protein 44g (88%) Fat 21g (32%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 5 servings

Amount Per Serving

Calories 620

% Daily Value*

Calories 620kcal 31%
Carbohydrates 63g 21%
Protein 44g 88%
Fat 21g 32%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.