February 5, 2021
updated
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In this post, you’ll learn how to roast beets in the oven and the tips to keep your kitchen and hands stain-free.
Easy Roasted Beets
If you like fork-tender veggies with rich, savory flavor, roasted beets are the way to go! I typically like to use them for a few meals, dinner one night, and leftovers for meal prep salads like this one.
Aside from their beautiful purple color and hearty texture, beets are an excellent source of vitamins and minerals such as potassium, iron, and vitamin C.
Roasting veggies also means less hands-on work, which makes this a great recipe for meal prepping or simply a healthy side dish. Just peel and chop the beets, toss them onto the sheet pan, drizzle with olive oil, season, and let the oven do the rest.
What Do Roasted Beets Taste Like?
Roasted beets taste nothing like the ones from the can, and if that’s the only way you’ve ever had them, my friends, you are in for a treat. Roasting extracts and caramelizes the natural sugars in beets, giving every bite a rich, savory flavor.
Make Next: Balsamic Roasted Beets
How to Prep Beets for Roasting
Before roasting, it’s best to peel and cube the beets which can be the messier part of this recipe.
If you want to avoid bright purple hands, it’s a good idea to use kitchen gloves while handling the beets, and avoid using a wooden cutting board which can soak up the vivid color.
Want to skip peeling raw beets? Try my recipe for whole roasted beets, which are first roasted and then peeled. This method takes longer to cook, but it’s easier to prep and prepare.
How to Make Crispy Roasted Beets
As promised, I’m showing you how to bake cubed beets in the oven with step-by-step instructions. Grab your sharpest knife and sturdy sheet pan, and let’s get to work!
Here’s what you’ll need to do:
- Wash and Prep
Preheat the oven to 400F and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. - Prep
Rinse the beets with water, and pat them dry with a kitchen towel. Use a sharp knife to remove the stems from the beets. Use a vegetable peeler to remove and discard the skins. - Chop
Cube the beets into even-sized 1-inch cubes. Uniform sizes will ensure they all cook at the same time. - Roast
Place the beets on the lined baking sheet, drizzle with olive oil, and season with salt and black pepper. Toss to coat and roast for 30 to 35 minutes or until tender. - Remove and enjoy
Give the beets 5 minutes to cool, then serve them alongside your favorite main course or over a salad.
Roast beets right along with me in this quick recipe video.
What Temperature Do You Roast Beets
I find that an oven temperature of 400F gives roasted beets the best flavor and texture in the least amount of time.
Plus, you can add ingredients like chicken thighs to the sheet pan and create a full coarse meal with one cooking session.
What Temperature to Roast Cubed Beets
The size of your beet cubes makes all the difference in their roasting time. Larger cubes take longer to cook and vice versa.
Knowing how long it will take for beets to roast according to their size is incredibly helpful if you want to make a sheet pan meal; this way, you can add ingredients, like chicken and other veggies, that will cook at the same temperature and rate.
| Cube size | Temp. | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1 inch | 400F | 30 min |
| 1 inch | 425F | 25 min |
| 1 ½ inch | 400F | 40 min |
| 1 ½ inch | 425F | 30 min |
Can You Roast Beets without Foil?
The foil is used to line the pan and make cleanup a lot easier since roasting beets releases their natural sugars and they tend to leave a sticky mess. You can also line the pan with parchment paper for roasting your beets in the oven.
What Can You Roast With Beets?
It’s important to select protein and veggie options that can cook at the same temperature as beets without over-cooking.
Bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs are a great protein option since they hold up well to high heat and cooking time.
Regarding veggies, roasted Brussels sprouts and butternut squash flavors pair nicely with beets like this Roasted Fall Vegetable recipe and have similar cook times.
How to Store Roasted Beets
Store the roasted beets in an airtight container for up to 5 days. To serve, you can reheat them in the microwave or enjoy them at room temperature; there’s no wrong way.
Making a batch of roasted beets and vegetables at the beginning of the week is a smart way to ensure you have healthy options for dinner and meal prep lunches.
Can you Freeze Roasted Beets?
If you want to make your roasted beets last longer, freezing is always an option. Place a portion into a freezer-safe container or zip bag. Label it with the date and stow them away for up to 2 months.
You can reheat them in the oven at 375F for 10-15 minutes or pop them in the microwave for a minute or 2. The texture will be slightly softer but all the original flavors will be intact.
What to Serve with Roasted Beets
Now that you have a yummy side dish, let’s make this a meal. Select any of the recipes below for a satiating balanced meal with your new favorite veggie:
- Melt in Your Mouth Chicken
- Juicy Pan Seared Chicken
- Winter Salad
- Cilantro Lime Chicken with Avocado Salsa
- Roasted Radishes & Carrots
- Savory Oats with Roasted Vegetables- add the beets and carry on
Oven Roasted Cubed Beets
Ingredients
- 4 to 6 beets
- 1 to 2 tablespoons olive oil
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400F and line a sheet pan with parchment paper.
- Wash beets under cold water and pat dry with a kitchen towel. Using a sharp knife, cut off the top and bottom stems. Using a vegetable peeler, peel the beets.
- Cut the beets into 1-inch cubes and transfer them to the baking sheet.
- Drizzle the beets with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Toss to combine and bake for 35 minutes, until fork-tender. Remove from oven and serve.
Liz
Excellent Taste and easy to prep!
Laura Fuentes
Thank you for sharing how much you enjoyed these roasted beets in the oven, Liz!