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You are here: Home / Recipes / Side Dishes / Vegetable Sides / How to Roast Beets

How to Roast Beets

5 stars (from 8 ratings)
By Traci York — Updated September 12, 2022 — 20 Comments / Jump to Recipe
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my affiliate policy.

A favorite root vegetable for salads, pickling, smoothies, dips or snacking, I’m sharing my best tips for Roasting Beets using a simple, no foil method for perfect roasted beets every time! This recipe is vegetarian, vegan and gluten free.

Overhead shot of fresh beets and beet greens.

Table of Contents

  • Vibrant Beets and Their Greens
  • How to Choose Fresh Beets
  • How to Roast Beets in the Oven
  • How to Prepare Fresh Beets for Roasting/Cooking 
  • How to Roast Beets
  • A Few Recipe Notes on This Roasted Beets Method
  • Recipes to Use Roasted Beets In
  • How to Roast Beets Recipe

Vibrant Beets and Their Greens

Vibrant, sweet, juicy and just gorgeous, beets come in many varieties from red, magenta to golden and even the fun candy-stripped Chioggia. Raw beets have a long storage life without their greens. Oven roasted beets are a delicious and nourishing accompaniment to salads, for a snack, included in hummus or smoothie or simply as a side to be enjoyed. 

But it’s not just the root that should get all the attention. Beet greens are a powerhouse of nutrition and can be deliciously included in smoothies, or salads and also included in stews, soups, lasagna or in pasta recipes. I’ve been to farmer’s markets before where the farmers were giving away beet greens because people don’t want them. Save those greens and use them in recipes just like you would swiss chard or kale! 

How to Choose Fresh Beets

  • For beets with the greens attached, look for vibrant color with fresh crisp leaves, a sign of freshness, and medium-ish beet root. 
  • For loose beets without their leaves, look for firm roots with no soft spots or cracking. 
  • When roasting multiple beets, look for beets of the same size. This way they will all be done at about the same time. 
  • There are many varieties of beets at farmer’s markets. Try different varieties and find the one(s) you prefer. A few I love include Detroit Red, Early Wonder and Red Ace. 

Preparing beets using a knife to trim beet greens from the base    Placing the beets into a Dutch oven and getting ready for cooking

Once I learned how to cook beets, I realized how simple it really is to enjoy these ruby-red roots with little fuss. After years of trying different cooking methods in the oven, I’ve landed on this preferred roasted beet method. 

How to Roast Beets in the Oven

Roasting by definition, means to roast with direct dry heat. For this method, I’d first peel the beets, cut them into quarters, drizzle with olive oil then roast in a 400F oven on a parchment lined sheet pan for about 35-40 minutes. This method works but it leaves the beets dryer and not as tender as I want. Plus peeling pre-cooked beets is a pain (although the skins may be left on if desired).

Then, I started wrapping beets in aluminum foil to roast. The skins slip off still warm beets with ease this way. But in my efforts to reduce kitchen waste by roasting beets without foil, I started using a Dutch oven.

Additionally, I found over time, oil wasn’t necessary but I opted instead for a bit of water which also protects the vessel from a coating of cooked, stuck on beet juice; a pain to clean. Roasting beets in the oven in a covered Dutch oven or oven proof lidded baking vessel with a bit of water yields a steaming affect, gently cooking the beets while keeping them juicy and tender. 

How to Prepare Fresh Beets for Roasting/Cooking 

  • Trim the beet root from their greens leaving about 1″ (2.5cm) of stems in place. Trim off the tail.
  • Store the beet greens in the refrigerator crisper wrapped snugly in a refrigerator bag. They’ll last, if fresh, for just a few days. 
  • Scrub the beets under running water with a vegetable brush to loosen any stones or dirt. 
  • The beets are now ready for roasting! You do not have to peel the beets. 

How to Roast Beets

Using my easy roasting method makes enjoying beets in salads, smoothies and sandwiches a snap! Here’s how to do it: 

  • First, preheat the oven to 400F (204F).
  • Second, place the beets, skin on, into a large Dutch or other oven proof vessel with a tight-fitting lid in a single layer – no crowding the beets. Add about an inch of water. Place the lid on the vessel. 
  • Next, roast the beets in the oven for about 35-40 minutes. This can vary depending on the size of beets. Larger beets take longer to roast, smaller, less time. They’re ready when a fork yields to gentle pressure. 
  • Last, slip the skins off using gentle pressure. The warmer the beet, the easier to peel.

The beets can now be sliced into any size and used in salads, dips, pickling, sandwiches etc. They’re delicious simply as a snack too!

Slipping the skin off using gentle pressure and after making sure the veggies are not too hot    Beets after the skin is removed. Roasted beets sliced into small cubes ready for sharing.    The beets sliced into thin discs ready for sharing.

Do I Have to Peel Beets Before Roasting Them?

Roasting beets using the method in this recipe, there’s no need to peel the beets before roasting them. After cooking and depending on how the beets will be used is when the skin can be removed. Peeling is optional however.

I like to peel the skin off when using beets for pickling, in salads, on sandwiches and pureed in dip. If I have a batch of baby beets and I’m simply enjoying them as a side or in a salad, I leave the skin on because it tends to be sweeter and more tender than larger beets. 

Beets roasted in the oven, then diced and served on a plate.

A Few Recipe Notes on This Roasted Beets Method

  • If buying beets is new territory, try a few different varieties to see which variety you prefer. A combination of golden and red beets make a beautiful salad. TIP: Roast them in separate vessels however as the red will taint the beautiful color of golden beets. 
  • Peeling beets, shortly after roasting is optional as the skin slips right off. For small (baby) beets, I leave the skin on. For larger beet root, I peel right after roasting. I find the peel on larger beets to be a little bitter. 
  • The larger the beet, the longer the roast. Keep an eye on the time and check a few times while roasting. The beets are done when a fork or knife inserted meets little resistance. 

Recipes to Use Roasted Beets In

  • The Vegetarian Reuben
  • Beet and Apple Salad with Apple Cider Vinaigrette
  • Roasted Beet and Sauerkraut Sandwich
  • Wheat Berry Salad with Winter Citrus and Roasted Beets
  • Winter Jeweled Salad
Overhead shot of fresh beets and beet greens.
Print Recipe

How to Roast Beets Recipe

Prep Time:10 minutes minutes
Cook Time:40 minutes minutes
10 minutes minutes
Total Time:1 hour hour
Servings:3
Calories:130kcal
Author:Traci York
A favorite root vegetable for salads, pickling, smoothies, dips or snacking, I'm sharing  my best tips for How to Roast Beets using a simple, no waste method. | vegan + gluten free

Ingredients

  • 2 lb (900g) Beet Root About 5-6 medium beets
  • Water

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 400F (204C). Trim the greens to about an inch (2.5cm) above the base of the beets and save for another recipe (I love them in green smoothies!). Store the greens in the refrigerator for up to three days.  Trim the tail and discard. Scrub the beets to loosen any dirt and wash throughly.
    Place beets in an oven proof baker or Dutch oven with a tight fitting lid and fill with 1/2" - 1" water, cover and roast for 35-50 minutes or until fork- tender (the larger the beets, the longer the roast). Check the beets about mid way through to make sure there's still water in the vessel. Add a bit more water (hot) if needed. 
    Once the beets are out of the oven, allow to cool just slightly or until they can be handled. The warmer the beet the easier it is to slip the skin off.  Use gentle pressure and slip the skin right off. Or, if desired, a vegetable peeler may be used to gently remove the skin.
    Once the skins are removed, slice the beets into thin (about 1/4") discs, quarters or small cubes. Use as a side, on salads, for pickling, on sandwiches, in smoothies or beet hummus! Refrigerate for up to three days. 
Nutrition is provided as a courtesy and is an estimate. If this information is important to you, please have it verified independently.
Calories: 130kcal | Carbohydrates: 29g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 236mg | Potassium: 983mg | Fiber: 8g | Sugar: 20g | Vitamin A: 100IU | Vitamin C: 15mg | Calcium: 48mg | Iron: 2mg
Made It? Leave a comment below! The most helpful comment may include recipe rating, feedback, any modifications and/or helping other commenters. On Instagram? Take a snap of your make and share, tagging @VanillaAndBean #VanillaAndBean!
Pinterest pin for how to roast beets.

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  1. Avatar for Suzanne HSuzanne H

    March 19, 2023 at 1:25 pm

    5 stars
    I am forever making my beets this way. I, too, was just roasting them in foil in the oven dry. With the water they turn out really nicely and are perfect in a beet salad. Today I roasted three of them with your method. Two are going to a beet salad and the third is going to be for a beet ruben, which I have yet to try, but I’m determined to make. Thanks for this recipe technique!

    Reply
    • Avatar for TraciTraci

      March 22, 2023 at 12:40 pm

      Hi Suzanne! Thank you for your note and giving this method a try. I hope you enjoyed the beet rueben… we just had em’ last night :D

      Reply
  2. Avatar for LindaLinda

    February 11, 2023 at 1:51 pm

    5 stars
    Have used this recipe again and again… I keep coming back to it because the beets always turn out perfect ! Not a lover of roasting beets in oil as many recipes I found seem to call for, so this recipe with a little water does the trick. I use parchment paper —> super easy clean up! May seem wasteful, but I need to make cooking and clean up as easy as poss these days. Beets in the oven now… with a few friends this time — sun chokes and turnips — since I had a little extra room in my Dutch oven 😬 Not concerned about having beet-red sun chokes😂 I remove beet skins with a paper towel to try to keep my fingers and cuticles from staining.

    Reply
    • Avatar for TraciTraci

      February 21, 2023 at 11:30 am

      Super pleased to hear, Linda! In the pot with sun chokes and turnips sounds lovely!

      Reply
  3. Avatar for Victoria L PeckVictoria L Peck

    January 25, 2020 at 5:35 am

    I love roasted beets but didn’t like either peeling or wrapping in tinfoil. I tried your method today for a beet/goat cheese salad I was making. Turned out perfect beets for the salad. This will now be my go-to method. Thanks.

    Reply
    • Avatar for TraciTraci

      March 8, 2020 at 8:52 pm

      SO happy to hear Victoria! Thank you for giving the recipe a go and for coming back and leaving a note!

      Reply
  4. Avatar for HeideHeide

    November 10, 2018 at 7:04 am

    5 stars
    I grow beets and love this new to me way of roasting them. I will be pulling some up soon to try. Thank you!

    4waystoyummy

    Reply
    • Avatar for TraciTraci

      November 10, 2018 at 2:23 pm

      So happy to hear Heide!

      Reply
  5. Avatar for Geraldine | Green Valley KitchenGeraldine | Green Valley Kitchen

    November 3, 2018 at 2:23 pm

    5 stars
    I love roasted beets, Traci – so healthy and earthy. Love all your tips here on how to make them – pre-peeling is a daunting task – so sliding the skins off after roasting sounds like a much easier way to tackle it.

    Reply
    • Avatar for TraciTraci

      November 3, 2018 at 5:41 pm

      Agreed, Geraldine. Pre-peeling is a pain. Using this method, the skins slip right off! A kitchen time saver for sure!

      Reply
  6. Avatar for Robin BearRobin Bear

    November 3, 2018 at 7:36 am

    5 stars
    This is super helpful! I’ve been steaming or boiling beets for years but I love the subtle difference when roasted. Thank-you!
    PS The black forbidden rice au gratin recipe you posted long ago has become a cherished family favorite! Thank-you so very much!!

    Reply
    • Avatar for TraciTraci

      November 3, 2018 at 10:16 am

      So happy to hear Robin. I love that recipe too! Thank you for your note!

      Reply
  7. Avatar for Sarah @ Making Thyme for HealthSarah @ Making Thyme for Health

    November 2, 2018 at 12:06 pm

    Wow, I didn’t even think to roast them in a dutch oven! Such a brilliant idea. I can’t wait to give it a try! Thanks for sharing, Traci!

    Reply
    • Avatar for TraciTraci

      November 2, 2018 at 12:22 pm

      Right? That tight fitting lid locks in all that steamy goodness and they emerge so juicy and tender! Hooray! I hope you enjoy those scrumptious beets, Sarah!

      Reply
  8. Avatar for annie@ciaochowbambinaannie@ciaochowbambina

    November 2, 2018 at 8:36 am

    5 stars
    Even as a young child, I loved beets! Thank you for this post! I always learn so much when I stop by! xo

    Reply
    • Avatar for TraciTraci

      November 2, 2018 at 12:38 pm

      Applause to the person who first introduced them to you Annie! :D

      Reply
  9. Avatar for Kelly MahanKelly Mahan

    November 1, 2018 at 1:02 pm

    5 stars
    Beets are so healthy! I’ve been looking for an excuse to add more into my diet.

    Reply
    • Avatar for TraciTraci

      November 1, 2018 at 2:39 pm

      It’s a win-win! Delicious and healthy!

      Reply
  10. Avatar for Mary Ann | The Beach House KitchenMary Ann | The Beach House Kitchen

    November 1, 2018 at 6:10 am

    5 stars
    Thank you for sharing all this great information Traci! I have to admit, I gave beets no attention growing up, but I’m making up for it now. Your photos are gorgeous!

    Reply
    • Avatar for TraciTraci

      November 1, 2018 at 12:19 pm

      You bet, Mary Ann! I didn’t even know they existed growing up :/ ! I discovered how amazing they are later in life… I think I’m making up for it now! :D

      Reply

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