Roasted beets in foil is the easiest way to cook nourishing anti-inflammatory beets! Don’t miss the trick for removing the skin with less mess. 🙂
![Roasted beets diced in a dish](https://mallorythedietitian.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Roasted-Beets-in-Foil.jpg)
Cooking beets is way more simple than you might think. And all you really need is 2 ingredients, some foil, and a baking sheet or baking dish. They only take 5 minutes of prep and then they’ll spend an hour in the oven getting nice and tender in their foil packet. Roasting them in foil packets is a great way to bring out the natural sweetness of beets.
This recipe is naturally gluten free and dairy free with no added sugars.
I realize that the earthy notes of beets are controversial. You pretty much either love them or you hate them. But even if you aren’t a beet lover, I’d encourage you to give roasted beets in foil a try!
My favorite way to use cooked beets is in a Beet and Arugula Salad with Goat Cheese with a balsamic vinaigrette. Or you could make a beet hummus with lemon juice, snack on them with a bit of goat cheese on top or dipped in tzatziki. Or add them to smoothies or as a hearty addition to a grain bowl.
Jump to:
![roasted beets in foil on a baking sheet with a hand holding one foil packet opened](https://mallorythedietitian.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/roasted-beets-in-foil-on-a-baking-sheet-with-a-hand-holding-one-foil-packet-opened.jpg)
What You'll Love About Roasted Beets in Foil
- EASY - seriously, this recipe couldn't be more simple. Beets seem intimidating, but they are easy to roast in the oven with the right technique. They do take about an hour to cook so plan accordingly. But the prep is so simple it only takes about 5 minutes of active time in the kitchen!
- JUST 2 INGREDIENTS - raw beets and olive oil. That's honestly all you really need for roasted beets in foil.
- NUTRITION: - as a dietitian, one of the things I personally love about beets is that they are a delicious way to get some really important nutrients that aren’t found in many other foods. Beets are a root vegetable and are a good source of fiber and nutrients including Vitamin C and a nutrient called betalains, a plant pigment with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Plus, beets support detoxification of your liver!
- FUNCTIONAL FOOD - If you’ve followed my page for any length of time, you know I love great tasting food that is also nourishing! Functional foods are something I think about a lot because eating more of them helps me feel my best and keeps my body healthy. My energy, mental clarity, and sleep is better when I am filling my plate with nourishing foods vs. when I’m not. I want that for you too! And beets are a great addition to a healthy diet.
![Recipe ingredients on a table including 3 large beets and a small bowl of olive oil](https://mallorythedietitian.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Roasted-beet-in-foil-ingredients-on-a-table-including-3-large-beets-and-a-small-bowl-of-olive-oil.jpg)
Ingredients for Roasted Beets in Foil
Beets: use any beets you like- red beets, golden beets, or the beautiful Chioggia beets with a red and white striped center. You can buy whole beets in the produce section at the grocery store either with or without beet greens attached. Or find them at your local farmers market! Roasted beets are great year-round, but they are in season in the winter.
Extra Virgin Olive Oil: you can use avocado oil if you prefer, but I like the robust flavor that olive oil adds to earthy beets. Extra Virgin Olive Oil is also good for brain health, balancing hormones, and heart health.
*Be sure to check the recipe card at the bottom for exact ingredient measurements and full recipe.
Instructions for Roasted Beets in Foil
![Raw beets washed and with the ends cut off. A hand is holding one and they are on a marble table](https://mallorythedietitian.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Raw-beets-washed-and-with-the-ends-cut-off.-A-hand-is-holding-one-and-they-are-on-a-marble-tabke.jpg)
Step 1: Preheat oven to 400℉. Wash beets well. On a cutting board, cut off the leaves if still attached. Then cut off the ends of the beets with a sharp knife. If using large beets, cut them in half to help them cook a bit faster. If using smaller beets, no need to cut them before cooking.
![Raw beets coated in olive oil and being put in a foil packet to be roasted. A hand is holding one of them up](https://mallorythedietitian.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Raw-beets-coated-in-olive-oil-and-being-put-in-a-foil-packet-to-be-roasted.-A-hand-is-holding-one-of-them-up.jpg)
Step 2: Coat the beets with skin still on in extra virgin olive oil and wrap each beet in a large piece of tin foil. Each beet will have its own piece of aluminum foil.
![Roasted beets in foil packets on a baking sheet ready to be put in the oven.](https://mallorythedietitian.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Roasted-beets-in-foil-packets-on-a-baking-sheet-ready-to-be-put-in-the-oven.jpg)
Step 3: Place each foil packet with a wrapped beet inside on a baking sheet or baking dish in a single layer and roast in the oven for 45-60 minutes. Cook time will depend on the size of the beets. Small beets will take about 45 minutes, medium beets about 50 minutes, and large beets will take around an hour.
![A hand holding a paper towel to take the skin off of roasted beets in foil](https://mallorythedietitian.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/A-hand-holding-a-paper-towel-to-take-the-skin-off-of-roasted-beets-in-foil.jpg)
Step 4: When the beets are easily pierced with a fork, remove from the oven and let the wrapped beets cool to room temperature. Then, with a paper towel or under running cold water, gently remove the beet skins. This is the best way to remove the beet skin without a mess. Once you have removed the skin, slice or dice the beets to your preferred size.
Hint: the key to removing the beet skins without making a mess is to remove it AFTER the beets have cooked and cooled for at least 10 minutes. Then use a paper towel to remove the skins or remove them under cool running water.
Substitutions
Instead of extra virgin olive oil, you could also use avocado oil or another oil you prefer to cook with.
![Roasted beets in foil with the foil packets open](https://mallorythedietitian.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Roasted-beets-in-foil-with-the-foil-packets-open.jpg)
Expert Tips for Roasted Beets in Foil
- Make sure that the beets are around the same size so that they will cook evenly. If one beet is larger than the others, cut it in half.
- Wrapping the beets in foil helps to lock in the heat and make sure they cook evenly. It also helps make for easy cleanup!
- Just a reminder (it's worth repeating!) to be careful when handling beets because their juice will stain. I recommend to remove the skin AFTER roasting the beets and letting them cool. Use a paper towel or remove under running water. You can wear gloves to remove the skin if you prefer!
Storage
Refrigerator: store in an airtight container for 3-4 days.
Fridge: you can store cooked beets in an airtight, freezer-friendly container for up to 6 months. To thaw the beets, put them in the refrigerator overnight.
![Roasted beets in foil diced with some parsley on top and a hand holding a fork that is piercing a beet with a gray dish cloth and green plant in the background](https://mallorythedietitian.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Roasted-beets-in-foil-diced-with-some-parsley-on-top-and-a-hand-holding-a-fork-that-is-piercing-a-beet-with-a-gray-dish-cloth-and-green-plant-in-the-background-scaled.jpg)
FAQs
Absolutely! From a nutritional perspective, beets contain important antioxidants, are relatively low calorie, and contain fiber which is important for both gut health and blood sugar control.
Beets are often described as having earthy notes. But they also have a slight sweetness from the natural sugars they contain. In fact, their natural sweetness is what makes them one of my favorite vegetables. If you don’t like the common red beets, yellow or golden beets have a more mild and sweet flavor and would be a great option!
When your beets are done cooking, they will pierce easily with a fork and be tender to cut.
![Beet and arugula goat cheese ingredients in a white bowl on a marble table](https://mallorythedietitian.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Beet-and-arugula-goat-cheese-ingredients-in-a-white-bowl-on-a-marble-table.jpg)
How to Serve Roasted Beets in Foil
The sky is really the limit when it comes to how to serve beets. Add them to salads, mix them with quinoa and your favorite tangy dressing, snack on them by themselves, throw them in smoothies, or blend them up to make a beet hummus.
Related
Looking for other nourishing recipes? Try these:
Pairing
These are my favorite dishes to serve with Roasted Beets in Foil
LOOKING FOR NUTRITION EDUCATION?
Here are some of my educational posts you may enjoy:
I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as I do! I would love to hear from you! If you made this recipe, please leave me a review below or tag me in a photo or story on Instagram....I LOVE knowing there’s people out there trying out my recipes! 🙂 IG: @mallorythedietitian
📖 Recipe
![Roasted beets in foil featured image](https://mallorythedietitian.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Roasted-beets-in-foil-featured-image-300x300.jpg)
Roasted Beets in Foil, Easy Step-by-Step Recipe
Equipment
- 1 Baking Sheet or baking dish
- 4 sheets of aluminum foil
Ingredients
- 3 large beets or 4 small
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400℉. Wash beets well. On a cutting board, cut off the leaves if still attached. Then cut off the ends of the beets with a sharp knife. If using large beets, cut them in half to help them cook a bit faster. If using smaller beets, no need to cut them before cooking.
- Coat the beets with the skin still on in extra virgin olive oil and wrap each beet in a large piece of tin foil. Each beet will have its own piece of aluminum foil.
- Place each foil packet with a wrapped beet inside on a baking sheet or baking dish in a single layer and roast in the oven for 45-60 minutes. Cook time will depend on the size of the beets. Small beets will take about 45 minutes, medium beets about 50 minutes, and large beets will take around an hour.
- When the beets are easily pierced with a fork, remove from the oven and let the wrapped beets cool to room temperature. Then, with a paper towel or under running cold water, gently remove the beet skins.
Sharon
I love this way of cooking beets. So much easier than peeling before cooking and the beets are so yummy. Thank you for the info.
Mallory
Thank you so much for taking time to leave a review! I'm so happy to hear that you loved cooking beets this way! Anything that makes cleaning up the mess easier is a win in my book. 🙂
Ashley
I have always been intimidated by beets. NOT ANYMORE. These turned out delish and were way easier than I thought! Thanks Mal. 🙂
Mallory
Thank you so much for taking time to leave a review!! It means so much to me friend. I am so happy to hear that you tried the beets and love them! I make them regularly in the fall. 🙂 Let me know if there are other recipes you want me to post!