25+ Recipes with Root Vegetables

Make use of nutritious root vegetables like beets, carrots, and sweet potatoes with these delicious and simple recipes. You’ll find lots of inspiration for root vegetable appetizers, side dishes, mains, breakfasts, and even desserts!

As a Registered Dietitian, I try to incorporate fruits and vegetables from all categories regularly in my diet, which includes root vegetables! This produce family includes so many delicious and versatile vegetables. There are tons of ways to cook and enjoy root vegetables, even in ways you don’t expect!

Jump to the recipes

• Appetizers with Root Vegetables
• Salads with Root Vegetables
• Side Dishes with Root Vegetables
• Mains with Root Vegetables
• Breakfasts and Desserts with Root Vegetables

What are root vegetables?

Root vegetables are plant parts that grow underground and that we consume as food. These vegetables act as energy storage for the plant when it grows, and they store energy in the form of carbohydrates. Each type of root vegetable will have a unique blend of sugars, starches, and fiber.

Root vegetables are considered a dietary staple in different parts of the world. Certain West African, South African, tropical, and Oceanian cultures rely on root vegetables for carbohydrates over cereal grains (like rice).

Types of root vegetables

There are many different types of root vegetables throughout the world. Here are some common ones you’d likely be able to find in grocery stores near you.

• Beets
• Parsnips
• Carrots
• Rutabaga
• Celery Root
• Turnips
• Sweet Potatoes
• Yams
• Potatoes
• Jicama
• Radishes
• Kohlrabi
• Yucca
• Cassava
• Jerusalem Artichokes

How to store root vegetables

Some root vegetables are best stored under refrigeration. Keep carrots, parsnips, celery root, radishes, jicama, turnips, rutabaga, and beets in the crisper drawer. You can wrap these in a damp towel to keep them even fresher.

Store potatoes, sweet potatoes, and yams in a cool, dry place, like a pantry, in a bowl or basket. Store potatoes separately from onions, as onions can cause them to go bad more quickly.

Root vegetable nutrition benefits

Each type of root vegetable will have different nutrition profiles, but overall they are an incredibly nutrient dense food group to include regularly in your diet. In general, root vegetables provide dietary fiber, micronutrients, and antioxidants.

A high fiber diet helps with weight management, digestive health, gut health, heart health, and more. Here are some select root vegetables and their dietary fiber content per one cup:

• Sweet potatoes or carrots: 4 grams (16 percent of your daily needs)
• Parsnips: 7 grams (28 percent of your daily needs)
• Beets: 3.4 grams (15 percent of your daily needs)
• Yams: 6 grams (24 percent of your daily needs)
• Turnips: 2.3 grams (9 percent of your daily needs)

Many root vegetables are a good or excellent source of Vitamin A, B Vitamins, potassium, magnesium, and folate. I encourage you to eat a wide variety of different types of root vegetables to get a variety of nutrients in your diet!

Below, find over 25 delicious and nutritious root vegetable recipes!

Appetizers with Root Vegetables

Homemade Beet Tzatziki Dip

This homemade tzatziki recipe uses creamy Greek yogurt, grated beets, fresh herbs, and lemon to create a dip that takes just 10 minutes to prepare! Since it’s a Greek yogurt sauce, it’s quite nutritious and packed with protein.

Dreamy Pink Beet and White Bean Dip

This pretty pink dip is similar to hummus, but you’ll use white beans instead of chickpeas. Of course the pink coloring comes from beets. They’re one of the most nutritionally dense root vegetables, and are high in nitrates, which, when converted into nitric acid in the body, can lower blood pressure.

Sweet Potato Toasts with Mediterranean Salsa

This delicious appetizer recipe uses sweet potato toasts in place of bread! They’re topped with rosemary white bean dip and Mediterranean salsa – think cucumber, olives, sun dried tomatoes, and olive oil packed tuna.

Easy Vegan Queso with Oven Roasted Potato Wedges

You’re going to want to dip everything in this vegan queso! It is made with simple, nutritious ingredients, including cashews, spices, and nutritional yeast. Plus, it’s super easy to prepare. It’s downright addicting paired with chili spiced, oven roasted potato wedges.

Salads with Root Vegetables

Citrus, Beet, and Burrata Salad

This citrus, beet, and burrata salad is the perfect easy salad recipe to showcase winter produce this season. It’s packed with nutrients like antioxidants, vitamin C, and folate. Serve this as a tasty side dish with your holiday meal, or with any weeknight dinner.

Beet Quinoa Salad with Butternut Squash

This beet quinoa salad is the perfect healthy lunch recipe to make ahead for the week. It’s loaded with nutrients, flavor, and texture – everyone will love it! The main ingredients include beets, butternut squash, kale, pecans, and quinoa. This recipe is vegan and gluten free.

Roasted Beet and Goat Cheese Salad with Wild Rice and Chickpeas

This beet and goat cheese salad is a delicious side dish any beet lover will enjoy! The beets are tossed with goat cheese, chewy wild rice, chickpeas, and a zippy lemon vinaigrette. I love using both golden beets and red beets in this dish because they look so beautiful together.

Quinoa, Avocado, and Roasted Root Vegetable Salad

When you’re craving all the veggies, this quinoa, avocado, and roasted root vegetable salad hits the spot! This salad is simple but satisfying, as it has plenty of plant-based protein from the edamame and quinoa. Toss it in a homemade apple cider vinaigrette for a light and healthy meal.

Side Dishes with Root Vegetables

Roasted Beets and Parsnips

Roast up these two root vegetables, beets and parsnips, for an easy and nutritious side dish to serve with a holiday meal or weeknight dinner. This recipe calls for simple ingredients, and is ready to eat in under an hour.

Air Fryer Carrot Fries

If you have an air fryer, add this air fryer carrot fries recipe to your list! They’re so easy to make in under 20 minutes, and you need just five simple ingredients. Carrot fries are a healthier alternative to French fries, especially when made in an air fryer instead of deep fried. Serve them as a nutritious side dish with your favorite burger!

Honey Roasted Carrots with Pomegranate and Feta

Roasting carrots completely transforms their flavor. The dry heat brings out the natural sweetness as the sugars caramelize from the heat. They become tender, sweet, and pretty addictive. I could easily eat a whole pan of roasted carrots fresh from the oven, especially when topped with pomegranate seeds and feta cheese!

Maple Roasted Carrots with Ginger Beet Tahini Sauce

If you prefer maple to honey, try these maple roasted carrots! After they have been roasted, drizzle them with a delicious homemade beet, tahini, and ginger sauce.

Romesco Potato Salad

If you’re not a fan of traditional, mayo-heavy potato salad, this romesco potato salad is for you! Soft potatoes are tossed in an addicting homemade romesco sauce for an flavorful summer side dish. Romesco sauce originates from Catalonia, an autonomous region in northeastern Spain. Fishermen traditionally prepare the sauce to serve with fish. Romesco sauce is full of nutritious ingredients. It’s typically made with roasted tomatoes, olive or sunflower oil, garlic, peppers, and almonds, pine nuts, or hazelnuts. Some recipes include vinegars, onion, and fresh herbs.

Maple Cinnamon Sweet Potato Wedges with Pecan Crumble

These caramelized, cinnamon-y, maple-y sweet potato wedges are so delicious, especially with the addition of a pecan crumble topping. Think of the crumble topping almost like granola. It adds even more sweet cinnamon flavor, plus the element of crunch. The contrasting textures in this dish is amazing!

Sweet and Smoky Baked Sweet Potato Fries

These baked sweet potato fries accompany tons of meals as a perfect side dish. Serve them with baked salmon and vegetables, or with a hearty veggie burger! You need just 6 ingredients to make this vegan and gluten free size dish: sweet potatoes, olive oil or avocado oil, cinnamon, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper.

Tahini Citrus Cauliflower Sweet Potato Salad

This nutritious side dish features roasted cauliflower and sweet potatoes, and a creamy tahini citrus dressing. It’s a unique take on traditional potato salad, so it is perfect for a cookout or BBQ. This recipe is vegan and gluten free.

Ginger Roasted Beets, Sweet Potatoes, and Pears

This simple side dish features roasted pears mixed in with sweet potatoes and beets. Roasting the pears, just like roasting vegetables, enhances the sweet flavors. Fresh ginger adds zingy and fresh flavor to the mix. This recipe is vegan and gluten free.

Mains with Root Vegetables

Healing Carrot Ginger Soup

This carrot ginger soup is full of anti-inflammatory ingredients including ginger and garlic. It’s creamy (yet dairy free), spicy, and comforting for a cold winter day, especially if you’re feeling a little under the weather. This recipe is vegan and gluten free.

Mexican Stuffed Sweet Potatoes

These Mexican stuffed sweet potatoes are a vegetarian dream meal. The sweet potatoes get super creamy and caramelized when roasted, and their flavor pairs beautifully with Mexican spices like cumin and chili powder. Even better topped with homemade guacamole!

Chickpea and Avocado Stuffed Sweet Potatoes

Another stuffed sweet potato, this version is filled with a chickpea and avocado mash. This recipe is packed with plant-based protein, healthy fats, and dietary fiber! You can also use the chickpea and avocado mash on sandwiches or bagels, like a vegan tuna salad. This recipe is vegan and gluten free.

Baked Zucchini, Beet, and Sweet Potato Fritters

Add these root vegetable fritters to salads or serve them with a delicious dip. These fritters are baked instead of deep fried, making them a healthier option. They still get nice and crispy in the oven. This recipe is vegetarian and dairy free.

Breakfasts and Desserts with Root Vegetables

Carrot Cake Baked Oatmeal

This heavenly carrot cake baked oatmeal is such a treat for a crisp fall or winter morning! It’s full of warming spices like cinnamon and ginger, crunchy walnuts, and golden raisins. If you love carrot cake, you definitely need to try this recipe! It’s vegan and gluten free.

Red Velvet Smoothie

I love the chocolatey richness of a slice of red velvet cake. It’s so much more fun to eat than regular chocolate cake, because of the pretty color, right? This smoothie recipe features several nutritious ingredients strawberries, beets, dates, cacao powder, and chia seeds. It is nut free and gluten free!

Vegetable Frittata with Sweet Potato Crust

This frittata is loaded with different vegetables including bell pepper, spinach, and cherry tomatoes. To make a delicious crust, you’ll line the pan with roasted sweet potato rounds before adding the egg mixture and baking. This recipe is vegetarian and gluten free.

Whole Wheat Morning Glory Muffins

Have you ever had a morning glory muffin? They’re not as common to find in bakeries, but if you see one, grab it! Or, you can make a batch of these healthy muffins. Morning glory muffins are packed to the brim with yummy ingredients, including shredded carrots, apples, nuts, and dried fruit. They’re just sweet enough, and spiced with cinnamon and cardamom. This recipe is vegetarian and dairy free.

Almond Butter Sweet Potato Muffins with Chocolate Chips

These muffins are packed with nutritious ingredients, including almond butter, sweet potato, and spelt flour! They’re made without oil or butter, but are still incredibly moist. They’ve got fiber and healthy fats to keep you full and power you through a busy day. They’re just sweet enough – naturally sweetened with roasted sweet potato and maple syrup! This recipe is dairy free and vegetarian.

Five Ingredient Sweet Potato Brownies

These healthier brownies are super moist, thanks to smooth and creamy sweet potato. They are super easy to make – just blend everything together in a food processor and bake! This recipe is vegan and gluten free, and uses nutritious ingredients like tahini and oat flour.

Let me know if you love this recipe by leaving a comment or star rating below, and check out Instagram and Pinterest for more healthy lifestyle inspiration. Thanks for stopping by!

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