With this helpful how-to guide, you’ll learn how to make perfectly Roasted Beets using only 4 ingredients. These beets are a nutritious and delicious side dish, but they’re also great added to salads, grain bowls, pizza, and more!
If you’re new to beets or aren’t known as their biggest fan, you’re in the right place. Frankly, it doesn’t get any better than Roasted Beets! Simply seasoned with salt and pepper, the pleasantly sweet, earthy, and juicy root vegetable shines through with each bite.
These oven-roasted beets are so much more than a simple side dish. Their sweet earthiness makes them an excellent addition to just about any meal, from salads (like this Winter Kale Salad) to grain bowls (like this Autumn Harvest Bowl). You can even use roasted beets as a veggie pizza topping!
Not to mention, beets also come with an impressive list of health benefits. They’re an excellent source of vitamins, minerals, and key nutrients, including folate, manganese, and copper.
The best part? These basic roasted beets are the perfect canvas for creativity. You can play around with the flavor by changing the spices and herbs, or adding tasty toppings like cheese, nuts, and so on.
Recipe features
- You’ll learn how to perfectly roast beets without foil. They’re perfect for sides, salads, grain bowls, and more.
- Roasting them in the oven enhances their naturally sweet, succulent flavor and removes practically all of the “dirt taste” that tends to give this root veggie a bad reputation.
- Roasting beets is quick and easy, and there’s no peeling required!
Ingredients
Beets – They come in a bunch of different colors. I used red/purple beets, but feel free to follow this recipe using golden beets or any other varieties you’d like to try. Look for smaller, smooth bulbs with crisp, fresh greens, which are typically sweeter and more tender.
Olive oil – This is my go-to oil for roasting vegetables. You can also use avocado oil here.
Salt and black pepper – Enhances the natural flavor of the beetroot without overpowering it.
Fresh parsley – Or other fresh herbs like cilantro or dill for garnish.
Step-by-step instructions
Step 1: Prepare for roasting. Preheat the oven and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Scrub the beets well and chop them into cubes. Scroll down to the FAQs for more tips on preparing beetroot for roasting.
Step 2: Season the beets. Place the beets in a large mixing bowl with olive oil, salt, and black pepper, and mix well to combine.
Step 3: Roast the beets. Place the beets in an even layer on the prepared baking sheet and bake until very tender, flipping halfway through.
Step 4: Garnish and serve. Sprinkle freshly chopped parsley over top before serving, then enjoy!
Tips and FAQs
- Remember to protect your hands and clothing when preparing beetroot, especially red and purple beets. The juice is very pigmented and will stain anything it comes in contact with. If it happens to stain, use this guide, How to Get Beet Stains Out of Clothes, Skin and Cutting Boards by EatingWell, to remove them.
- Keep an eye on the oven and start checking for doneness after 35 minutes. The beets are done when a toothpick effortlessly slides through one of the pieces without resistance.
How do you clean beets for roasting?
Beetroot is a root vegetable, meaning we consume the bulb portion that grows beneath the dirt. That said, cleaning the beets properly to remove the dirt is important! Follow these steps:
- Scrub and wash the beets really well using a vegetable brush (or a clean sponge with rough edges).
- Remove the top greens, but don’t throw them away. Beet greens are excellent and can be enjoyed like any other leafy green.
- The thin skins are perfectly fine to eat, so there’s no need to peel them before dicing (unless you want to).
- With gloved hands and a well-sharpened chef’s knife, carefully dice the beets into equal-sized 1-inch cubes to help the pieces roast evenly.
At what temperature do you roast beets?
I find roasting beets at 400°F for 35 to 40 minutes is the sweet spot for diced beets. The outsides stay firm and develop a lightly caramelized subtle crisp while the insides become extra sweet, soft, and juicy.
Is it better to roast beets whole or cut them?
It depends on the texture you’re trying to achieve. Raw beets are firm and dense all the way through, so while cutting them before roasting isn’t necessary, it’s the only way to achieve lightly crisp surfaces with soft centers. If you’d rather your beets be super soft and juicy, go with whole roasted beets.
How do you roast whole beets?
Wrap washed whole beets loosely in foil (make sure the steam can escape) and roast in a 400°F oven for 50 to 60 minutes or until a knife can glide through the center like butter. Let them cool, then rub the skins off and cut them into 1-inch pieces.
What pairs well with roasted beets?
You can serve these beets as an elegant side garnished with parsley, cilantro, crumbled feta, Greek yogurt, or sour cream. They taste great topped with chopped chili roasted pistachios or toasted pine nuts.
Roasted beets also pair well with simple protein entrees like roasted pork tenderloin, seared steaks, and grilled fish and seafood. They’re great when added to practically any salad, grain bowl, or pizza. Try adding beets to these recipes:
- Spinach Tomato Bulgur Salad
- Fattoush Salad
- Kale, Apple, and Brussels Sprouts Salad
- Mediterranean Lamb Bowl
- Mediterranean Quinoa Bowl
- Brussels Sprouts Pizza
- Burrata Pistachio White Pizza
Storage
Refrigerator: Leftover cooked beets store well in the fridge, so they’re great for meal prep. Let the roasted pieces cool to room temperature, then transfer them to a paper towel-lined airtight container and store them in the refrigerator for 5 to 6 days. Enjoy chilled, reheated, or at room temperature.
Freezer: After cooling, you can freeze the roasted beets in a freezer-safe resealable bag for 5 to 6 months.
More roasted vegetable recipes
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Roasted Beets
Ingredients
- 5 medium beets scrubbed and diced into bite-size pieces
- 1 ½ tablespoon olive oil
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- fresh parsley for garnish chopped
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400° and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Scrub the beets really well to remove any excess dirt, then cut the beets so they're similar in size (this is important so they cook evenly), about 1 inch cubes. Place the beets in a large mixing bowl, then drizzle them with olive oil, salt and pepper and stir to combine.
- Pour the beets out onto the prepared baking sheet, then roast them for 35-40 minutes, flipping halfway through.
- Sprinkle the beets with fresh parsley before serving (optional) and enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
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