16 of the Best-Ever Beet Recipes (2024)

There are many delicious methods for preparing beets, from roasting to pickling to eating them raw, steamed, or sautéed. And thanks to its sweet-but-earthy flavor, this root veggie pairs well with plenty of foods and seasons. They taste (and look) just as perfect sliced and served on top of a spring salad as they do slow-roasted next to a pork tenderloin with potatoes.

We've rounded up some of our favorite easy-to-make beet recipes that you can serve at breakfast, lunch, dinner, and even dessert. FYI: Beets are delicious baked into muffins with tahini. If you didn't know, now you know.

This Clever Cooking Trick Will Seriously Upgrade Your Roasted Vegetables

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German Beet-and-Potato Salad

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To make the base dressing for this take on German potato salad, mix apple cider vinegar with whole grain mustard, and then add beets for a hit of color (and something fresh). Don't skip the bacon: it adds rich, salty flavor that perfectly balances out the acidic dressing. You can make this one ahead—it's even better the next day.

Get the recipe: German Beet-and-Potato Salad

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Smørrebrød With Yogurt, Beets, and Eggs

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Smørrebrød is an open-faced sandwich from Denmark, where densely seeded bread is slathered with butter and piled with artfully arranged toppings like pickled herring, cheese, eggs, and herbs. In this lighter version, yogurt swaps in for the butter, and a fresh marinated beet salad adds a deliciously refreshing twist. You'll finish the dish with jammy soft-cooked eggs and capers.

Get the recipe: Smørrebrød With Yogurt, Beets, and Eggs

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Cauliflower Rice "Risotto" With Beets

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This creamy, delicious risotto recipe does double duty as a healthy weeknight staple. The best part? It comes together in just 15 minutes.

Get the recipe: Cauliflower Rice "Risotto" With Beets

Beet Tahini Muffins

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Here, nutty tahini pairs with pure maple syrup for a delicious, delightful muffin recipe that no one will know is hiding a secret (healthy) ingredient: beets.

Get the Recipe: Beet Tahini Muffins

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Marinated Beet Toasts With Yogurt

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This recipe for marinated beet and yogurt toasts is super easy to prepare. Simply combine Greek yogurt with horseradish, olive oil, salt, and pepper; and then divide it among toasted whole-grain bread slices. Top with each with marinated beets, radishes, and chives. It tastes as pretty as it looks.

Get the Recipe: Marinated Beet Toasts With Yogurt

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Beet-Pickled Eggs

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These beet-pickled eggs pair perfectly with traditional ingredients you'd serve on a charcuterie board—like salty cheeses, sausages, fresh-cut stone fruits, and any snappy summer crudité you like.

Get the recipe: Beet-Pickled Eggs

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Beets, Spinach, and Goat Cheese Sandwich

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If your beets come with beet greens, use them instead of the spinach in the recipe.

Get the recipe.

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Beet Pasta With Hazelnuts and Beet Greens

The base for this colorful sauce comes from fresh beets that get cooked until tender. The hazelnuts and greens add depth and complexity to this naturally vegan recipe.

Get the recipe: Beet Pasta With Hazelnuts and Beet Greens

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Chilled Beets With Sour Cream

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For the prettiest dish, look for beets in an array of colors at your local farmers' market.

Get the recipe.

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Roasted Chicken and Beets With Couscous and Yogurt Sauce

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Roast the beets and chicken in the oven at the same time for a low-effort meal.

Get the recipe.

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Watercress, Beet, and Fennel Salad

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The tender roasted beets contrast nicely with the peppery watercress and crisp fennel.

Get the recipe.

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Watercress Salad With Beets and Feta

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Salty feta complements the sweet, earthy beets.

Get the recipe.

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Pork Chops With Roasted Beets and Oranges

16 of the Best-Ever Beet Recipes (13)

To minimize stains on your hands, use a paper towel to hold the beets as you peel them.

Get the recipe.

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Quinoa and Vegetable Salad With Tahini Dressing

16 of the Best-Ever Beet Recipes (14)

Yes, you can eat raw beets—just peel and coarsely grate them, then toss into a salad.

Get the recipe.

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Garden Dog

16 of the Best-Ever Beet Recipes (15)

Beets and hot dogs may seem like an odd combination, but the pickled vegetables add a lively zing.

Get the recipe.

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Poached Salmon Salad With Beets

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Make sure to slice the raw beets very thinly so they'll be tender enough to eat.

Get the recipe.

16 of the Best-Ever Beet Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What flavors pair well with beets? ›

Some foods that mix well with beets include goat cheese, arugula, walnuts, lemon juice, and balsamic vinegar. Other complementary ingredients include orange, dill, horseradish, and sour cream. Beets also pair well with meats such as chicken, fish, and pork.

Is it better to boil or roast beets? ›

My favorite way to cook beets is to roast them, which gives a sweeter, richer, and deeper flavor than boiling does. Another advantage is that they don't bleed as much, especially if they're roasted whole. Incidentally, to get beet stains off your hands, wet them, rub them with coarse salt, then wash with soap.

What is the healthiest way to eat beets? ›

Eating beets raw or juicing and roasting them may be more beneficial than boiling them. Beetroots, commonly known as beets, are a vibrant and versatile type of vegetable. They're known for their earthy flavor and aroma. Many people call them a superfood because of their rich nutritional profile.

What can you put on beets to make them taste better? ›

The roasted beets are wonderful on their own, seasoned simply with salt and pepper, or dressed up more with citrus juice, herbs, or balsamic vinegar. Serve them with any weeknight dinner, or add them to a holiday meal. These oven roasted beets keep well for days in the fridge, so they're great for making ahead.

What are the benefits of eating beets? ›

It increases oxygen uptake, lengthening the time it takes to become fatigued, which allows people to stay active longer. Beets also contain antioxidants, compounds in foods that help repair DNA and maintain good cell health, and they have anti-inflammatory properties, reducing the risk for numerous chronic diseases.

Can dogs eat beets? ›

Yes! Beets are safe for your dog to eat in moderation and are a healthy source of vitamin C, fiber, folate, manganese, and potassium. These vitamins and minerals are good for your dog's digestion and immune system as well as a healthy skin and coat. While it's rare, some dogs can be allergic.

Why do you put vinegar on beets when boiling them? ›

Place the beets in a large saucepan and add water to cover and the lemon juice or vinegar. This will help to keep the beets from bleeding. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer until tender, about 45 minutes to 1 hour. Place pot under running cold water and let rinse until beets can be handled.

Are you supposed to peel beets before cooking? ›

Forget what you thought you knew about food prep: You don't HAVE to peel your vegetables (well, most of them, anyway).

Should I peel beets before boiling? ›

First, wash and scrub the beets thoroughly to remove any dirt. Cut off the greens if attached. Make sure to leave about one inch of the stem to prevent them from releasing too much red color into the water. Do not peel the beets before boiling, unless you want to boil them cubed.

How many times a week is it safe to eat beets? ›

Moreover, beets are low in calories with zero cholesterol and a small amount of fat. However, the root is high in sugar and carbohydrates, so while you can consume the greens on top of the root in unlimited quantities, you should only have the root a few times a week. Beets are best from early spring to late fall.

Do beets clean your liver? ›

Beetroot juice: Beetroot juice is a great way to detox your liver and improve its function. They are high in antioxidants and help to cleanse the blood. They also promote healthy liver function by helping to break down toxins. Try adding some beet juice to your diet for better liver health.

Do beets clean the gut? ›

How Beets Cleanse Your Colon. Beets are rich in antioxidants and high in fiber that can help pull toxins into the colon where they can be evacuated. Because fiber isn't digested by your body like other food components, such as fats, proteins or carbohydrates, it feeds friendly gut bacteria.

Why do I feel better after eating beets? ›

Did you know that there's a scientific reason that these little earth gems make you feel good? Now you do! Beets are a fantastic source of the chemical betaine anhydrous and the amino acid tryptophan, both of which are shown to improve your mood.

Should you peel beets? ›

Sometimes beets are peeled before cooking. They may also be scrubbed and cooked until tender with their skins on; the skins slip off fairly easily after cooling. (Some people are happy to leave the skins on; they are fine to eat.)

Should you drink the water after boiling beets? ›

Yes, you can. It's completely safe to drink water that has been used to boil beetroots.

What is the flavor profile of a beet? ›

Beet lovers will say that beets have a sweet flavor with a hint of floral. If you are a beet hater, you'll probably say it has a dirt-like taste. The taste of beets can change depending on how you prepare and cook them. Beets also come in several varieties, each having a unique taste.

What do beets taste like in juice? ›

Beetroot, and especially its juice, tastes a little earthy and is very intense when undiluted. Some people get a bit of a metallic taste from it, which is probably due to the iron. Whilst some love beetroot juice, for others it's something to avoid.

What wine is best with beets? ›

On the other hand, sweet, earthy veggies like sweet potatoes, beets and mushrooms come to life with a richer white wine or a light to medium-bodied red, like a Pinot Noir or Merlot.

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