23 Beet Recipes That Celebrate This Earthy, Vibrant Vegetable

By Kelly Vaughan
Updated September 23, 2019
Justin Walker
Beets are capable of so much more than being diced and tossed in a salad. Embrace their colorful spirit in these new, delicious recipes.
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Justin Walker

Are you a fan of beets? We think these colorful bundles are a real package deal. Whether you go for gold or red, the roots pack nearly four grams of fiber per cup, and the leaves contain potassium, calcium, and iron. Our recipes bring out the natural flavor of beets and add vibrancy to every dish.

If you're not a fan of beets' famously bright hues, cover your work surfaces. Then start peeling, slicing, and grating. The key to peeling beets is rubbing a towel against their skin soon after they've cooked but are still warm. The skin should come off easily without breaking the beet.

Fresh, flavorful beets are easy to find, especially from late spring through fall. Look for beets that are firm and not too big, with taut, smooth skins and greens that look fresh enough to eat (in fact, beet greens are edible, too). If you can, snap up tender baby beets—they cook faster and taste sweeter. To store, cut the greens from the roots, leaving an inch of stem attached, and place the parts in separate plastic bags and refrigerate. Beet roots will last at least a month, but you should use the greens within three or four days. Once the greens start to wilt, it's a sign you should toss them out (or compost!).

Now get to work! Beets are most popular in savory recipes, but don't underestimate their power to add moistness and a fudgy texture to desserts, too (like this Fudgy Chocolate Beet Cake).

While we usually steer clear of getting too comfortable with beet dye, sometimes it's worth embracing. It can transform the color of ingredients to match its deep purple hue. For example, top wild salmon with shredded red beets, which turn the peach flesh into a deep burgundy hue. It's an absolute show stopper made for a crowd.

Of course, the best and most common ways to use beets are to steam or roast the beets, then slice or dice them for toast, salads, or whirred into a creamy soup. Here are more than 20 spectacular beet recipes.

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Raw-Beet and Celery-Root Salad

Justin Walker
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This colorful salad looks like a sunset with its thin slices of red onion, matchstick beets, fresh parsley leaves, and giant shavings of Parmesan cheese. Beets are a top source of plant-based iron; pairing them with citrus helps your body absorb the nutrient.

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Caramelized Beet-Lentil Pilaf

Justin Walker
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Grated beets simmer with rice and lentils for this bowl. Together, they provide 10 grams of fiber per serving. When you're craving a healthy lunch or dinner on the weekends, this is it.

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Sautéed Beet Greens

Linda Pugliese
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Beet greens contain two kinds of carotenoids that support eye and brain health, says certified nutritionist Aimee Gallo. This clean-eating salad makes good use of nearly four cups of torn beat leaves finished with the lightest-ever vinaigrette.

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Beet Muhammara

The Ingalls
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Looking for a departure from creamy, mayonnaise-based dips? This vegan dip is made from a flavorful combination of walnuts, red beets, garlic, olive oil, and spices for good measure. Serve with crudité or pita.

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Beet-and-Carrot Juice Salad

Kate Mathis
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There are even more nutrients in this crunchy salad than in a daily juice. Beets, carrots, and Granny Smith apples are peeled and julienned, then tossed with fresh mint leaves and a ginger-lemon dressing.

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Escarole, Beet, and Cherry-Tomato Salad

Lennart Weibull
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This salad has it all: color, crunch, and flavor, thanks to beets, escarole, funky slices of blue cheese, and a light lemony vinaigrette.

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Beet-and-Dill Roasted Wild Salmon

Anson Smart
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Here's one impressive main. Layer a mixture of grated beets, dill, horseradish, and lemon zest on top of an entire side of wild salmon for 30 minutes. The resting time infuses the fish with tons of flavor and a rich pinkish-purple hue that is guaranteed to wow guests.

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Gingery Beet Soup

Johnny Fogg
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Just right for a cold winter day, this vegetarian soup is creamy and comforting thanks to a combination of cooked red beets and Yukon Gold potatoes.

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Beet Latkes

Julia Gartland
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Latkes are a classic appetizer or side dish for the Jewish holidays. Here, traditional russet potatoes share the spotlight with peeled red beets, which make the flavor of the latkes a little sweeter and earthier, and, of course, turn them to a stunning shade of purple.

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Beet-and-Tahini Dip

Julia Gartland
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Classics never go out of style but it's always fun to give them an update. In this take on hummus, swap in red or golden beets for chickpeas, which add an earthy flavor.

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Beet Noodles with Parsley Pesto and Parmesan

Armando Rafael
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Rather than pasta noodles, this recipe uses healthy spiralized beet noodles. They add an earthy flavor and dramatic hue to your dinner bowl. Finish the dish off with more traditional pasta toppings such as pesto and Parmesan cheese.

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Potato-and-Pickled-Beet Salad

Ryan Liebe
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Skip the mayo and add a bit of tang with this take on the ever-popular potato salad that's vegan to boot. If you're planning to bring this to a party, make it up to two days in advance so all you have to do on the day is transport it and serve.

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Beet Farinata

Dana Gallagher
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Farinata is an unleavened pancake made from chickpea flour (so it's gluten-free!). Bake it in a cast-iron skillet, then top with a fresh mixture of thinly sliced beets, chopped anchovy, and fresh basil leaves.

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Fudgy Chocolate Beet Cake

Jonathan Lovekin
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Steamed beets add moisture to this rich chocolate cake, but their earthy flavor certainly won't take away from the decadence of this sweet treat. Thanks to spelt flour, this cake is perked up a bonus dose of fiber, protein, and vitamins.

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Roasted-Carrot-and-Beet Tart

Bryan Gardner
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Consider serving this tart for a holiday feast like Thanksgiving, or any special dinner party. The gorgeous hues of roasted carrots and purple beets pop against a nutty cilantro-based sauce known as chermoula.

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Grapefruit and Vinegar-Roasted Beets with Salsa Verde

Armando Rafael
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Talk about a beauty! The contrast of juicy tart grapefruits and sweet baby beets is absolutely delectable.

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Beets with Greens and Ricotta on Toast

GENTL & HYERS
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Beets enliven this snack-slash-appetizer-slash-lunch. No matter when or where you eat it, this simple and flavorful bite is sure to please healthy eaters.

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Roasted Beets with Dill-and-Chive Yogurt Dressing

Christopher Testani
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When you want color and crunch in the middle of winter, this stunning salad should do the trick. Sliced roasted beets are topped with mini cucumbers, green apple slices, and jalapeño peppers. Garnish with a fragrant creamy dill dressing.

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Roasted Beet and Dandelion Greens Salad

Christina Holmes
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Goodbye arugula, hello dandelion greens! They star alongside red, golden, and Chioggia beets in this roasted-meets-raw salad. Toasted cumin seeds add a flavorful finishing touch.

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Tomato-Beet Salad

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Pretty as a picture, this colorful, refreshing salad is delicious alongside poached chicken, grilled steak, or burgers. It's particularly succulent in summer when you can get your hands on juicy heirloom tomatoes.

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Beet, Cheddar, and Apple Tarts

Bryan Gardner
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Thinly sliced beets add beautiful color to these small tarts, which are just the right size for appetizers. Use store-bought puff pastry for the easiest, fastest shells ever.

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Beet and Yogurt with Pickled Rose Petals

Richard Banks
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Serve this Middle Eastern-inspired salad with homemade Poppy-Seed Lavash or a store-bought lavash lightly brushed with extra-virgin olive oil, sprinkled with poppy seeds, and warmed in the oven.

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Roasted Golden-Beet, Avocado, and Watercress Salad

Raymond Hom
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A crumbled, soft-ripened goat cheese, such as Humboldt Fog, provides a hit of tang and freshness in this delicate summer salad. And while avocado adds richness, radishes and watercress impart crunch and a peppery punch. It's the perfect balance.

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By Kelly Vaughan