Laura Fuentes

menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • Eat Healthy
  • Quick Meals
  • Pancakes
  • About
  • Pasta Night
  • Best Chicken Recipes
  • Meal Plans
  • Cookbooks
  • Contact
search icon
Homepage link
  • Recipes
  • Eat Healthy
  • Quick Meals
  • Pancakes
  • About
  • Pasta Night
  • Best Chicken Recipes
  • Meal Plans
  • Cookbooks
  • Contact
×
Home » Recipes » Side Dishes

Roasted Whole Beets

By Laura Fuentes Updated Jun 16, 2025

4.98 from 37 votes

Recipe

This post may contain affiliate links. Read our disclosure policy here.

A simple method to roast beets in the oven that yields perfectly cooked beets every time.

Roasting beets whole is one of the easiest ways to peel them after and wrapping them in foil makes cleanup a breeze!

three whole roasted beets wrapped in foil

Can You Roast Beets Whole?

Roasting beets whole is one of the best ways to cook this root vegetable to achieve the wonderful caramelized flavors only the oven can give. And, by roasting them whole, you eliminate the hassle of peeling them beforehand.

Beets also make a terrific veggie side dish that pairs great with your favorite protein, grain bowl, or enjoyed cold and turned into a roasted beet salad. 

This recipe does not require cubing or staining your kitchen or hands purple; instead, you’ll wrap these purple gems in foil and let the oven do the rest!

What You Need

Whole roasted beets require the simplest ingredients and kitchen utensils, the mark of a truly delicious recipe. You’ll find a printable recipe with measurements and directions below but first, check out what you’ll need: 

  • Beets: select smaller ones; they’re sweeter and more tender. 
  • Olive oil: prevents the beets from sticking to the foil as they roast. 
  • Seasoning: a little sprinkle of salt and black pepper. 
  • Tin foil: traps all the juices and helps the beets cook faster. 
beets with stems attached fresh from the store before roasting

How to Select Beets

When selecting beets, opt for ones that are medium-sized since they tend to be naturally sweeter than larger beets. If the stems are attached, those greens should be bright and look fresh. If sold without the greens, try to select beets that are similar in size for even cooking in the oven.

While available year-round, beets are in season late fall and winter making them most tasty and delicious at this time and you don’t want to miss out!

Do You Peel Them First?

You can peel them before roasting but beets are much easier to peel once cooked. The skin will separate from the beet and practically glide off with very little resistance. If you’re roasting cubed beets, you’ll want to peel them before cooking. 

How to Peel Whole Beets After Roasting

Once cooled down enough to handle, wrap the beet inside two paper towels or use kitchen gloves. The skin should easily separate from the roasted beet with a little assistance from your fingers.

I want you to enjoy delicious caramelized beets that are super easy to bake, so I made this quick video showing my two favorite methods for roasting beets:

How to Roast Whole Beets in Foil

Wrapping them in foil will make the cleanup easier and retain the heat inside during cooking. Here is what you’ll be doing: 

  1. Prep
    Preheat the oven to 400F. Rinse the beets with water, pat dry with a kitchen towel, and use a sharp knife to remove the stems. 
  2. Wrap it 
    Place each beet in a tin foil square. Drizzle the top with olive oil and season with salt. Wrap the foil tightly around the beet and place it on the baking sheet. *If the beets are extra large, cut them in half. 
  3. Roast
    Let the beets roast for 50 minutes or until they’re fork-tender. Remove from the oven and allow them to cool for 10 minutes before unwrapping. 
  4. Peel
    Use a paper towel to grab a beet, then use your hands to remove the skins. 
  5. Time to serve
    Now you can dice, slice, or serve them any way you prefer with a roasted chicken recipe or on top of a hearty salad. 

How Long to Roast Beets

Depending on the size of the beet, it could take 45 minutes to well over an hour for it to cook through the middle. The chart below has estimated baking times for medium-sized beets, between 2 and 3 inches in diameter.

TemperatureApprox Time
375F1 hour & 15 min
400F50 min – 1 hour
425F45 min
Oven roasting time for medium-sized beets at various temperatures.
side by side images of beets on the stem and a beet on foil prior to roasting

How to Know When Beets are Done Cooking

Beets roasted to the point of perfection can be pierced through with a fork or sharp knife without meeting resistance. Similar to baked potatoes. Since these are wrapped in foil, you’ll have to carefully unwrap the foil, ignore the skin, and gently push through the beet as far down as you can. 

How to Roast Beets Without Foil

Don’t want to wrap your beets in foil? No problem. Use parchment paper instead. Cut a square piece of parchment, place the beet in the middle, and wrap it by twisting both ends like a wrapped piece of candy. When done cooking, you simply unwrap it.

three beets wrapped in foil after roasting

How to Serve Whole-Roasted Beets

Roasted beets are good for so many things! When it comes to being a stand-out side dish or epic salad topping, you can’t go wrong with any of these ideas: 

  • Winter Salad: add crumbled goat cheese for a delicious contrast to the sweet beets and tangy vinaigrette. 
  • Sandwich Filling: roasted beets layered with arugula, hummus, and avocado.
  • Pesto Chicken Thighs: bake for the same amount of time and at the same temperature.  
  • Melt in Your Mouth Chicken: adjust the oven temperature to 375F so the chicken stays juicy. The beets may need to stay in longer, but that’s okay! 

Whole Roasted Beets {Easy Peel}

three beets wrapped in foil after roasting
Servings: 4
Prep Time: 10 minutes mins
Cook Time: 1 hour hr
A simple method to roast beets in the oven that yields perfectly cooked beets every time.
4.98 from 37 votes
Print Pin

Watch how it’s made:

Ingredients

  • 4 medium beets
  • 1-2 tablespoons olive oil
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 400F. Create tin-foil squares large enough to encase each beet.
  • Rinse the beets with water, removing any sand and debris. Pat them dry with a clean kitchen towel, and use a large knife to remove the green stems. If the beets are extra large, cut them in half but keep the skin on.
  • Place each beet in a tin foil square, drizzle with olive oil, and season with salt and black pepper. Wrap the foil tightly around the beet and place them onto a large baking sheet.
  • Roast the beets for 45 minutes to an hour until they’re fork tender.
  • Allow the beets to cool for 10 minutes before unwrapping.
  • Use a paper towel to grab one beet, then use your free hand to remove the skins; they should easily come off.
  • Slice or dice the beets and serve with your choice of entree or dish.

Nutrition

Serving: 1 beet | Calories: 67kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Sodium: 355mg | Potassium: 270mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 28IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 14mg | Iron: 1mg

More Side Dishes

  • top view of a roasted cabbage steaks in a white dish
    Roasted Cabbage Steaks
  • top view of three roasted cabbage quarters in a baking sheet and a little bowl with dressing
    Roasted Cabbage Quarters
  • one small bowl of seasoned baby carrots after they've been air fried
    Air Fryer Baby Carrots
  • round loaf of homemade bread on parchment paper
    No Knead Dutch Oven Bread

Comments

    4.98 from 37 votes (11 ratings without comment)

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




  1. Rachel says

    March 09, 2025 at 11:23 am

    5 stars
    This as super easy!

    Reply
  2. Lucy says

    March 06, 2025 at 4:07 pm

    5 stars
    These were delicious!

    Reply
  3. Jackie says

    February 25, 2025 at 3:06 pm

    5 stars
    Even my kids loved these roasted beets!

    Reply
  4. Pam says

    February 24, 2025 at 7:07 am

    5 stars
    These are incredible!

    Reply
  5. Carla says

    February 21, 2025 at 5:40 am

    5 stars
    The roasted beets were great!

    Reply
  6. Sol says

    February 19, 2025 at 11:13 pm

    5 stars
    Your method for roasting Whole beats was perfect. They were delicious cooked through and they peeled super easy.

    Reply
  7. Anna says

    February 19, 2025 at 4:42 pm

    4 stars
    These whole roasted beets tasted amazing. I got a little messy, but that was probably my mistake. I will follow your tips to keep from getting my hands dyed with beets next time.

    Reply
  8. Rachel says

    February 16, 2025 at 5:09 pm

    5 stars
    Loved these!!!

    Reply
  9. Taylor says

    February 06, 2025 at 7:12 am

    5 stars
    These roasted beets were so easy to peel and tasted great!

    Reply
  10. Lana says

    November 17, 2024 at 10:39 am

    5 stars
    Best beets ever!!!

    Reply
  11. Vivian says

    September 12, 2024 at 10:25 am

    5 stars
    This recipe made a pretty sweet side dish for our chicken dinner! Thanks for the idea Laura

    Reply
  12. Sarah says

    September 11, 2024 at 5:22 pm

    5 stars
    First time roasting beets whole. Wow. They were delicious and this was easy to follow. the video was helpful.

    Reply
  13. Julia says

    September 11, 2024 at 9:16 am

    5 stars
    I have always had a hard time finding a way to cook beets I actually enjoy, these roasted beets were easy and delicious! Thanks Laura!

    Reply
  14. Jan says

    September 01, 2024 at 8:04 am

    5 stars
    These whole roasted beets were SO GOOD! Even the kids like them!!

    Reply
  15. Edith says

    August 25, 2024 at 8:46 am

    5 stars
    These beets were so tasty!

    Reply
  16. kushi says

    July 27, 2024 at 2:58 am

    5 stars
    One of the best way to cook beets. So delicious.

    Reply
  17. Harriet Young says

    July 27, 2024 at 12:24 am

    5 stars
    They came out perfectly! Such an easy way to cook beets – will be using this method from now on.

    Reply
  18. veenaazmanov says

    July 26, 2024 at 9:29 pm

    5 stars
    Never planned Roasting Beets ever. Always boiled them for perfection. With all the detailing given by you will definitely try roasting them and enjoying Beets in the near future. Beets are healthy and nutritious too.

    Reply
  19. Lauren says

    July 26, 2024 at 8:33 pm

    5 stars
    My husband loves beets, but I’m not the best at cooking them. This was so simple for me and he loved them – thanks!

    Reply
  20. Chris says

    July 26, 2024 at 5:03 pm

    5 stars
    One of my favorite steakhouses in KC serves something similar to these. I am so happy to finally have a great recipe to make at home.

    Reply
  21. Elizabeth says

    July 17, 2024 at 9:09 am

    5 stars
    I made whole roasted beets for the first time following your recipe! This was so easy and they turned out perfectly!

    Reply
  22. Vicky says

    April 16, 2024 at 9:12 am

    5 stars
    I gave this beets recipe a go yesterday, and it was a total hit! The beets were perfectly tender with a sweet, caramelized edge that was just irresistible.

    Reply
  23. Kushi Mallya says

    April 16, 2024 at 9:11 am

    5 stars
    Thanks for the tips and tricks on roasting beets in the oven. Pinned this post.

    Reply
  24. Tara says

    April 16, 2024 at 9:09 am

    5 stars
    Oooh, such an great way to cook beets. I especially appreciate the easy clean up.

    Reply
  25. Ned says

    April 16, 2024 at 8:50 am

    5 stars
    My family loves beets! After roasting them, I sliced them and added them to salads. So yummy! Thank you!

    Reply
  26. Dina and Bruce says

    April 16, 2024 at 8:42 am

    5 stars
    Love beets! I roasted these up last night for a salad! So good!

    Reply

Hi! I'm Laura.
Certified Integrative Nutrition Health Coach, mom of three, and the woman behind the world’s best pancakes—here to help you ditch the mealtime drama with recipes your family will actually eat.

More about me →

Let's Be Social!

Facebook Pinterest Instagram YouTube
5 Secrets to Healthy(er) Family Meals

Fresh Favorites

  • large stack of fluffy pancakes with slice of butter on top
    Best Fluffy Pancakes Recipe
  • rotisserie chicken alfredo
    Rotisserie Chicken Alfredo
  • three hard shell tacos
    How to Make Taco Shells
  • 4 fillets of baked cajun salmon served with roasted potatoes and broccoli
    Baked Cajun Salmon

Trending Now

  • large stack of pancakes topped with a slice of butter. a small bottle of maple syrup behind the stack of pancakes.
    How to Make Pancakes Without Eggs
  • copycat canes nuggets and fries with texas toast and two sauces
    Copycat Cane’s Chicken Recipe with Homemade Cane’s Sauce
  • large plate of freshly baked mixed chicken pieces
    Juicy Baked Chicken Pieces
  • creamy garlic sauce in a large pot with pepper on top
    5 Ingredient Creamy Garlic Sauce

Footer

Browse

  • Start Here
  • Eat Healthy in 30 Days
  • Weekly Family Meal Plans
  • Recipe Index

Useful Links

  • Contact
  • Permissions
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policy

COPYRIGHT © 2025 LAURA FUENTES · DESIGN BY FUENTES MEDIA

Rate This Recipe

Your vote:




A rating is required
A name is required
An email is required

Recipe Ratings without Comment

Something went wrong. Please try again.