Garlic Butter Roasted Parsnips Recipe - Easy Thanksgiving Side Dish! (2024)

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Katerina

4.72 from 14 votes

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My Garlic Butter Roasted Parsnips are sweet, savory, delicious and complemented perfectly with a real buttery garlic topping. They are perfect for the holidays, and so easy that you’ll want to serve them every week!

Garlic Butter Roasted Parsnips Recipe - Easy Thanksgiving Side Dish! (2)

Roasted veggies are all the rage, and it’s easy to see why. Roasting is super simple to do and brings out all the deeper flavors of the veggies. These fantastic garlic butter Roasted Parsnips are a surefire way to make you like them, and they simplify your meal preparation. With less than ten minutes required to prep and pop them into the oven, they’re as hassle-free as they are tasty.

    What Are Parsnips?

    Parsnips are very similar to carrots. They grow in the ground with a long cone-shaped edible root; hence, they’re called root vegetables, like carrots, potatoes, and turnips. As for flavor, these cream-colored beauties taste similar to carrots but with a more pronounced sweetness.

    Ingredients For Roasted Parsnips

    • Parsnips: You’ll need about 2 ½ pounds of fresh, small parsnips, peeled and cut into batons.
    • Butter: This recipe uses 5 tablespoons of butter. You can use salted or unsalted, but be sure to adjust the amount of regular salt used in the recipe.
    • Fresh Garlic: Put the garlic through a garlic press, or mince it finely.
    • Herbs: I use half a tablespoon of minced fresh rosemary, but you can use any fresh herbs that you like.
    • Salt and Pepper: To taste.
    • Chopped Fresh Parsley: For garnish.
    Garlic Butter Roasted Parsnips Recipe - Easy Thanksgiving Side Dish! (3)
    Garlic Butter Roasted Parsnips Recipe - Easy Thanksgiving Side Dish! (4)

    How To Make Garlic Butter Roasted Parsnips

    1. Spread on a Baking Sheet. Preheat oven to 450˚F. Spread out the parsnips on a rimmed baking sheet. Set aside. Melt the butter in a skillet set over medium heat. Stir in the garlic and cook for 20 seconds or until fragrant. Remove from the heat and stir in the rosemary.
    2. Coat with the Garlic Butter. Pour the garlic butter over the parsnips. Season with salt and pepper. Toss to coat. Spread parsnips out in a single layer.
    3. Roast. Roast the parsnips in the preheated oven for 10 minutes. Then, give the parsnips a stir, and continue to roast for 8 to 10 more minutes, or until tender. Remove from the oven. Taste for salt and pepper, and adjust accordingly.
    Garlic Butter Roasted Parsnips Recipe - Easy Thanksgiving Side Dish! (5)

    Tips For Preparing Parsnips

    • Smaller Is Better: While large parsnips can be fine, they are more likely to have tough, woody cores which have to be cut away and discarded. Smaller parsnips are more likely to have tender, edible cores. Less prep!
    • Peeling is Optional: Most people peel their parsnips, but if you have found good small parsnips (preferably organic), you can simply scrub them as you would carrots or new potatoes, and leave the peel intact. It’s up to you! I like to leave the peel on.
    • How to Cut: You can cut the parsnips however you like of course, but the following method is very simple: Once you’ve cleaned the parsnips, cut them down the center, longwise. Then cut each half into 3 to 4 batons. From there, cut away any tough, woody core. If you like, halve the remaining pieces crosswise, leaving you with parsnip “fries” that are about 3 inches long.

    Serving Suggestions

    I serve parsnips with something sweet and sticky, like my Glazed Broiled Chicken Thighs. You can also enjoy parsnips with your Thanksgiving Roast Turkey or a holiday Roasted Beef Tenderloin. They are also lovely on a weeknight with a simple Instant Pot Meatloaf.

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    Storage

    • To refrigerate: place leftovers in food storage bags or airtight containers and keep them in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. You can also freeze them for up to 3 months.
    • To reheat: place the parsnips on a baking sheet and bake at 450˚F for about 5 minutes or until heated through.

    Easy Roasted Vegetables Recipes

    • Garlic Parmesan Roasted Vegetables
    • Maple Mustard Roasted Potatoes
    • Garlic Butter Roasted Carrots
    • Roasted Sweet Potatoes, Parsnips, and Carrots
    • Roasted Turnips

    Garlic Butter Roasted Parsnips Recipe - Easy Thanksgiving Side Dish! (7)

    Garlic Butter Roasted Parsnips

    Katerina | Diethood

    Sweet and tender parsnips are coated in an easy, homemade garlic-butter sauce and roasted to perfection.

    4.72 from 14 votes

    Rate this Recipe!

    Servings : 6

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    Prep Time 10 minutes mins

    Cook Time 25 minutes mins

    Total Time 35 minutes mins

    Ingredients

    • 2 to 2½ pounds parsnips
    • 5 tablespoons butter
    • 4 cloves garlic, pressed
    • ½ tablespoon minced fresh rosemary, or any other fresh herbs that you prefer/have on hand
    • ¼ teaspoon salt, or to taste
    • ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, or to taste
    • chopped fresh parsley, for garnish
    • crushed red pepper flakes, for garnish, optional

    Instructions

    • Preheat oven to 450˚F.

    • Prepare the Parsnips: Wash and optionally peel the parsnips. Cut parsnips down the center, longwise. Then cut each half into 3 to 4 batons. From there, cut away any tough, woody core.

    • Spread out the parsnips on a large rimmed baking sheet. Set aside.

    • Melt butter in a skillet set over medium heat. Stir in the garlic and cook for 20 seconds or until fragrant. DO NOT burn the garlic. Remove from heat and stir in the rosemary.

    • Pour the garlic butter over the parsnips. Season with salt and pepper, and toss to coat.

    • Spread parsnips out in a single layer and roast for 10 minutes.

    • Stir the parsnips and continue to roast for 8 to 10 more minutes, or until tender.

    • Remove from oven. Taste the parsnips for salt and pepper, and adjust accordingly.

    • Garnish with parsley and pepper flakes. Serve.

    Notes

    • Choose Smaller Parsnips: Large parsnips can have tough cores. Smaller parsnips are more likely to be tender and require less prep.
    • To Peel or Not to Peel: While many peel their parsnips, if you have small, preferably organic ones, a good scrub is enough. I prefer leaving the peel.
    • Cutting: Clean and halve the parsnips lengthwise. Cut each half into 3-4 batons, and remove any tough core. Optionally, cut the pieces crosswise to get 3-inch long parsnip ‘fries’. Cut the parsnips in uniform thickness so they cook evenly.
    • Arrange them in a single layer on the baking sheet, ensuring there’s a bit of room between each for even heat distribution.
    • Don’t forget to flip them midway during roasting so you get a nice, golden-brown finish on both sides.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 229 kcal | Carbohydrates: 35 g | Protein: 2 g | Fat: 10 g | Saturated Fat: 6 g | Cholesterol: 25 mg | Sodium: 199 mg | Potassium: 717 mg | Fiber: 9 g | Sugar: 9 g | Vitamin A: 292 IU | Vitamin C: 33 mg | Calcium: 74 mg | Iron: 1 mg

    Nutritional info is an estimate and provided as courtesy. Values may vary according to the ingredients and tools used. Please use your preferred nutritional calculator for more detailed info.

    Course: Side Dish

    Cuisine: American

    Keyword: easy side dish, healthy side dish, roasted root vegetables, roasted vegetables, thanksgiving sides

    Did you make this recipe?Leave a Rating!

    Categories:

    • Christmas
    • Holidays
    • Recipes
    • Side Dishes
    • Thanksgiving
    • Vegetarian
    Garlic Butter Roasted Parsnips Recipe - Easy Thanksgiving Side Dish! (2024)

    FAQs

    What do parsnips pair well with? ›

    Roasted parsnips pair well with just about anything. Try serving them up as the perfect side dish alongside hearty mains such as Creamy Coconut & Red Lentil Curry, Roasted Cherry Tomato Pasta, or Lemon Chickpea Orzo Soup. Golden parsnips are also a popular side to serve with Christmas dinner.

    Should I parboil parsnips before roasting? ›

    Parboil if you prefer a soft texture.

    You can skip straight to roasting, but parboiling the parsnips first will help prevent dry or chewy parsnips. To parboil, put whole or halved parsnips in salted, boiling water and cook for 8 minutes or until slightly tender.

    Can you roast parsnips the day before and reheat? ›

    To reheat, first thaw in the fridge overnight. Can you roast parsnips in advance? Yes, these re-heat well. Toss in another tablespoon of olive oil or butter, then heat in a dish in a 300F oven for about 10 minutes, or until warmed through.

    Is it best to blanch parsnips before roasting? ›

    I've made another big claim here. But anyone that knows me that I don't call recipes “perfect” or “the best” if I don't believe it. These roasted parsnips are simple, easy and perfect every time. Just like with Roast Potatoes, part boiling them before roasting is the trick.

    Are parsnips healthier than potatoes? ›

    Popular around the world, parsnips are undeservedly overlooked in the mainstream American diet. That's simply not fair, because parsnips are loaded with vitamins, packed with subtle flavors, and are a healthy alternative to potatoes for those limiting their carbohydrate macros.

    Why do parsnips upset my stomach? ›

    Parsnips contain toxins called furocoumarins. They are concentrated in the peel and outermost surface layer, along with any damaged areas. Toxin levels drop when parsnips are cooked. These toxins can cause stomach ache and skin reactions.

    Why are my roast parsnips soggy? ›

    Turning your parsnips halfway through cooking will ensure an even golden colour all over. Make sure that your parsnips don't overlap each other during the cooking process, as this will steam them, rather than roast them, resulting in a soggy parsnip! Parsnips make a versatile side dish in so many forms.

    Why are my roasted parsnips bitter? ›

    However, if parsnips have been allowed to grow too big or remain too long in storage, they tend to get woodier and bitter. Thus, it is recommended that larger parsnips be peeled and that the “woody” core in the middle be cut out before preparing.

    Why are my roast parsnips chewy? ›

    You may wish to parboil your parsnips in a pot of salted water for 10 minutes before roasting. This will soften the parsnips making them less chewy, if that's the style you prefer.

    How do you prep parsnips the night before? ›

    Having people around for dinner? You can get your parsnips ready in advance by parboiling them or half-roasting them for 15-20 minutes. You can then store them in the fridge overnight before roasting them for the same amount of time again the following day.

    Can you eat raw parsnips? ›

    Parsnips are usually cooked but can also be eaten raw. They have a lot going on nutritionally: They are filled with vitamins, high in the minerals potassium and manganese, and a good source of fiber.

    Can I freeze fresh parsnips? ›

    Parsnips can be frozen in a sealed bag or container for up to 3 months.

    Are parsnips good for you? ›

    Parsnips contain many positive health benefits. The high fiber content of parsnips may help maintain regularity and reduce blood cholesterol levels. Parsnips also provide potassium and vitamin C and B6/Folate. They also boast anti-inflammatory properties and anti-fungal properties as well.

    How long will roasted parsnips keep? ›

    Store the roasted veggies in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in the microwave or a 350°F oven. Store fresh parsnips in the fridge for up to 3 weeks. They keep best wrapped in a towel or a plastic bag.

    What flavor does parsnip add? ›

    Parsnips have a sweeter, licorice-like taste with a hint of spice to them, as opposed to the carrot's sweetness that is more reminiscent of other types of winter squash. Turnips are another root vegetable that is often compared to parsnips, but the two are from completely different families.

    Should parsnips be peeled before cooking? ›

    Young, small parsnips don't really need peeling – just scrub clean and serve whole. Older parsnips should be peeled very thinly with a peeler or sharp knife, then chopped into evenly sized chunks. If the central core is very fibrous, this should be cut away.

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