Learn the easiest way to cook beets with this simple recipe! All you need is one ingredient and about five minutes of prep time. These roasted beets are the perfect side that you can pair with just about any main dish.

I feel like people fall into one of two camps when it comes to beets: you’ve tried them and you love them or you haven’t tried them and think you hate them… do you fall into one of these camps?!

Beets can be a polarizing vegetable and I think that’s because there are so many different ways to prepare and eat them! You might not like steamed or pickled beets but have you tried roasted beets? It’s hands down the simplest way to cook beets and the end result is so delicious! Slightly sweet, slightly earthy – the perfect pairing for just about any entree.

Beet Nutrition

Beets are nutritious little vegetables! They’re a great source of fiber and packed with folate, potassium, iron and vitamin C. Consuming beets has been linked to reduced blood pressure and improved exercise performance… pretty cool! (Source)

Types of Beets

If you’re only familiar with pink/red beets, let me introduce you to different beet variations!

• Golden beets – I love golden beets! They are sweeter and less earthy than red beets.
• Chioggia beets – these beets are pink and white striped… so fun! Also sweeter and less earthy tasting.
• White beets – I haven’t tried these but they are also sweeter. Some claim that they lack some nutrients compared to the colorful variations but I can’t say for sure!
• Red beets – what most people think of when they hear “beets”. A delicious, slightly sweet vegetable!

When shopping for beets in the grocery store, look for smooth skin without cuts or bruises. The beets should be firm and fairly heavy for their size – avoid them if they’re soft or wrinkled!

How to Prepare Beets

Prepping beets is super simple. If your beets came with beet greens, cut them off about 1/2 inch above the beetroot. Use your beet greens in another recipe – I love my sautéed beet greens!

Use a vegetable scrubber to scrub the beets well, removing any dirt that you can from the root vegetable. Now, you’re ready for roasting!

How to Roast Beets

After you have cleaned your beets well, poke 2-3 times with a fork and wrap the full beet tightly in aluminum foil. Roast at 400ºF for 75-90 minutes – on the shorter end if your beets are smaller and on the longer end if your beets are larger!

Carefully unwrap the beets and run cool water over them. The skin should easily peel off while you do this.

What to Serve Beets With

Like I mentioned earlier, these beets are a great side dish for just about any meal. Pick a protein, roast your beets and serve over greens or with a grain and you’ve got a meal ready in no time!

Here are some pairing suggestions:

• Cauliflower rice or quinoa
• Crispy baked tofu or baked peanut tofu
• Shredded chicken or apple cider vinegar chicken
• Turkey burgers

How to Store and Reheat Leftovers

Store any leftover beets in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-5 days. I like to reheat the beets in a toaster oven or regular oven to help them crisp up a little bit before enjoying. You can also freeze roasted beets to use at a later date. Just dice up your roasted beets and store them in an airtight freezer-safe bag or container for up to 3 months.

More Beet Recipes to Try

• Sautéed Beet Greens with Roasted Beets
• Beet Salad with Arugula and Balsamic Dressing
• Beet Hummus
• Pear and Beet Salad with Ginger Hemp Dressing
• Beet Power Salad
• Simple Beet Greens
• Instant Pot Beets

More Roasted Veggies to Try

• Roasted Broccoli
• Roasted Carrots
• Roasted Cabbage
• Cinnamon Maple Roasted Kabocha Squash
• Roasted Butternut Squash
• Roasted Root Vegetables
• Oven Roasted Okra
• Roasted Asparagus

Be sure to check out all of my side recipes here on EBF!