This is the simplest method to cook beets - Roasted Beets in Foil! If you enjoy the inherently sweet and slightly earthy taste of beets, but can never quite get them right at home, you have to try this recipe! All that stands between you and this nutrient powerhouse is a few basic ingredients, tin foil, a baking sheet, and 5 minutes of prep! They’ll spend an hour in the oven getting nice and tender in their little foil packets. Don’t miss the trick for removing the skin with less mess. 🙂
As a dietitian, I appreciate beets because are a delicious way to get important nutrients that aren’t found in many other foods. 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 are better when I am filling my plate with nutrient-rich foods vs. when I’m not. I want that for you too! 😊
Even if you aren't a beet lover, I suggest giving these a try. Cooking beets in the oven in foil packets is a great way to bring out the natural sweetness of beets, and you might just find that you enjoy them! Make this recipe when beets are in season late summer and early fall.
Once you have a batch, use these cooked beets in a Beet and Arugula Salad with Goat Cheese with a Maple Balsamic. Or add the beets to Homemade Hummus with lemon juice!
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Video of How to Make Roasted Beets in Foil
Here's a video of how to make this recipe that I hope is helpful! Don't forget to check out the recipe card below for the full recipe.
Key Ingredients and Substitutions
This Easy Roasted Beets Recipe is made with simple ingredients. Below are some ingredient notes. Be sure to check the printable recipe card at the bottom for exact ingredient measurements and full recipe.
- Beets - you can buy whole beets in the produce section at the grocery store or at your local Farmer's Market either with or without beet greens attached. Look for red beets, golden beets, or the beautiful Chioggia beets with a red and white striped center.
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil - olive oil adds a robust flavor that pairs nicely with earthly beets. It is also high in heart-healthy fatty acids that support brain health and hormone health. If you prefer a more mild flavor, you can use avocado oil.
- Salt & Pepper - just a little salt and pepper is all you need for seasoning.
How to Make Roasted Beets in Foil
Below are the instructions for how to make Roasted Beets in Foil with some visuals that I hope are helpful! Don't forget to check out the recipe card at the bottom for the full recipe.
Step 1 - Preheat oven to high heat of 400℉ (200°C). 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.
Step 2 - Coat the beets in extra virgin olive oil, salt, and pepper. Wrap the beets in foil. Each beet will have its own piece of aluminum foil.
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. Cooking 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.
Step 4 - When the beets are easily pierced with a fork, remove them from the hot oven and let the wrapped beets cool to room temperature. Then, with a paper towel or under cold running water, gently remove the beet skins. Once you have removed the skin, slice or dice the beets to your preferred size.
Hint: remove the beet skins after the beets have cooked and cooled for at least 10 minutes. The skin should peel off easily!
Dietitian Tip
Beets contain nutrients called betalains which are plant pigments that have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. And recent research study presented in the Journal of Human Hypertension showed that both beetroot juice and cooked beets were effective at improving blood pressure and reducing inflammation in the body. The best way to ensure you'll eat nutrient-rich foods like beets is by making them easy to prepare and delicious with recipes like this one!
How to Serve Roasted Beets in Foil
These best part about these roasted beets is that they are so versatile and there are many ways to serve them! Here are some ideas, but the best way to serve them is the way that you enjoy the most!
- Roasted Beet Salad with Arugula - My favorite way to enjoy these is in a Beet and Arugula Salad with creamy goat cheese, crisp apples, and walnuts. The combination of spicy arugula with sweet beets is so good!
- Hummus - make beet hummus by simply adding some of the roasted beets to Mediterranean Hummus or this High Protein Hummus that is made extra creamy with the addition of cottage cheese.
- As a Snack - these beets are so tender and sweet, you can snack on them similar to how you would raw carrots. Choose your favorite dip and dig in. They pair well with a tzatziki dip or a yogurt tahini dip!
- In a Grain Bowl - dice them up and add them to your favorite grain bowl! They make a great addition to my Nourish Bowl recipe.
- Beet Pasta - add them to your favorite pasta and top it with some Homemade Green Pasta sauce made with spinach, peas, and fresh herbs for a simple quick dinner that is super rich in nutrition!
- As a Delicious Side Dish - serve them with your favorite proteins and a slice of crusty bread and you have yourself a meal.
Storage for Roasted Beets
- Refrigerator - store leftover beets in an airtight container for 3-4 days.
- Freezer - 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.
Expert Advice
- Be careful when handling beets because their juice will stain. The easiest way to remove the skin from the roasted beets in foil is to gently do so with a paper towel or under cool water once the cooked beets have cooled. The beet skins will come off easily at this point. To avoid mess, you can wear gloves to remove the beet skin.
- Make sure that the beets are around the same size so that they will cook evenly.
FAQs
While healthy means something different to everyone, roasted beets in foil are a nutrient-rich option. Beets contain several important nutrients including dietary fiber for gut health, plant protein, and several vitamins and minerals -copper, manganese, folate, and vitamin C to name a few. Beets also contain antioxidants and are a low-calorie food.
Beets are often described as having earthy notes. But they also have a slight sweetness from the natural sugars they contain. 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 so they would be a great substitution!
When your beets are done cooking, they will pierce easily with a fork and be tender to cut.
According to the Foundation for Fresh Produce, choose beets with firm, smooth skins. If the leaves are still attached to the top of the beet, choose beets with non wilted leaves. Smaller beets are more tender than larger beets that have spent more time in the ground.
Related
Looking for other dietitian recipes like this? Try these:
Perfect for Pairing
These are my favorite dishes to serve with Roasted Beets in Foil:
Want to Learn About Nutrition?
Here are some nutrition education articles from a dietitian:
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
Easy Roasted Beets in Foil, Step-By-Step Recipe
Equipment
- 1 Baking Sheet or baking dish
- 4 sheets of aluminum foil
Ingredients
- 6 beets, small to medium sized or 4 large
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- ¼ teaspoon salt more to taste
- dash black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat oven to high heat of 400 ℉ (200°C). 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 in extra virgin olive oil, salt, and pepper. Wrap each beet in a large piece of 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. Cooking 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 them from the hot oven and let the wrapped beets cool to room temperature. Then, with a paper towel or under cold running water, gently remove the beet skins. Once you have removed the skin, slice or dice the beets to your preferred size.
- Hint: remove the beet skins after the beets have cooked and cooled for at least 10 minutes. The skin should peel off easily!
Video
Notes
- Be careful when handling beets because their juice will stain. The easiest way to remove the skin from the roasted beets in foil is to gently do so with a paper towel or under cool water once the cooked beets have cooled.
- Make sure that the beets are around the same size so that they will cook evenly.
- Refrigerator - store leftover beets in an airtight container for 3-4 days.
- Freezer - 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.
Sources: Journal of Human Hypertension, Foundation for Fresh Produce
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!