18 Parsnip Recipes That Will Make You Fall for This Underappreciated Root Vegetable

It's delicious roasted, mashed, braised, in soups, and as part of vegetarian entrées.

Roasted Parsnips and Creamy Parsnips

The pale parsnip is so much more than a carrot without the color. Parsnips are delicious and interesting, and they absolutely deserve our attention. Despite the fact that they're infrequently eaten or lost in a cornucopia of side dishes at the Thanksgiving table, these hearty root vegetables have serious culinary backbone. That's why we firmly believe that parsnips should feature on our tables far more often than they do.

Parsnips turn mellow and soft after boiling—and are easy to mash and purée—while roasting emphasizes their sweetness. They're versatile enough to carry a vegetarian entrée, diversify a salad, or create a creamily comforting soup. Uncooked, parsnips are refreshingly crisp and great in salads. Ahead, explore the delicious world of the root vegetable with our best parsnip recipes.

How to Prepare Parsnips

Parsnips can be peeled before use, but their skins are an additional source of flavor, so scrubbing up a batch is a cinch.

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Caramelized Roasted Parsnips

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Roasting caramelizes the natural sugars in parsnips, resulting in a sweet and succulent flavor. This recipe takes it up a notch by adding white and brown sugars, plus garlic powder to boot. Serve atop mashed potatoes or as a tasty side dish.

02 of 18

Roasted Squash and Parsnip Soup

Squash soup

Mikkel Vang

Your new favorite soup recipe features winter squash, parsnips, apples, and nutty brown butter. It's spiked with aromatic fresh thyme and musky sage for even more flavor.

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Carrot and Parsnip Puree

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Take a break from the usual mashed potatoes with carrot and parsnip puree. The bright orange hue and sweet flavor will instantly brighten up your menu.

04 of 18

Light and Bright Beef Stew

Light and Bright Beef Stew
Con Poulos

Fresh dill and white wine balance the sweetness of parsnips and leeks in this slow-cooked and brothy beef stew. It's just the thing to make when the weather turns cold.

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Maple-Glazed Parsnips and Carrots

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Sweet, salty, and savory flavors come together in this fall-friendly side dish.

06 of 18

Smashed Root Vegetables and Caramelized Leeks

smashed root vegetables leeks
Anna Williams

Potatoes, turnips, and parsnips come together in a filling root vegetable mash. Enjoy with an extra pat of butter or crumbled bacon.

07 of 18

Vegetarian Matzo Ball Soup

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Rob Tannenbaum

Parsnips, carrots, onion, and ginger pave the way for a flavorful homemade broth. Fluffy matzo balls complete the dish, resulting in a family-friendly lunch or dinner.

08 of 18

Roasted Carrots and Parsnips with Minty Yogurt Sauce

roasted parsnips carrots
Louise Hagger

Roasting emphasizes the sweetness of both root vegetables, but their textures are delightfully different: silky (carrots) and chewy (parsnips). Their combined caramels are balanced by refreshing minty yogurt and fresh thyme leaves.

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Braised Brisket

brisket with carrots

With this braised brisket recipe in your repertoire, feeding a crowd will be a cinch. Parsnips, carrots, and pearl are onions are also cooked with the brisket, making cleanup easy.

10 of 18

Customizable Vegetable Soup

homemade vegetable soup with toasted bread on cutting board
Marcus Nilsson

For warming many hungry tummies, our customizable vegetable soup allows you to put whatever is in your pantry and refrigerator to good use, ensuring you make the most of what is on hand. Be sure to choose parsnips!

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Turkey With Stuffing

Roast Turkey

Whole turkey is roasted on top of parsnips, celeriac, and other vegetables, then filled with stuffing.

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Honey-Roasted Vegetables

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Root vegetables like parsnips play well with honey glaze, as demonstrated in this simple recipe. All you need is 10 minutes of prep time; the oven will do the rest of the work.

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Chicken Soup with Dill Spaetzle

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Sharon Radisch

Abundant fresh dill brightens the dumplings in this soothing chicken and parsnip soup.

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Chorizo Parsnip and Olive Bites

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Bryan Gardner

For individualized cocktail snacks, pair spicy chorizo with warm, roasted parsnips, and salty olives.

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Quick-Brined Corned Beef and Vegetables

quick brined corned beef and vegetables served on green plate
Thomas Loof

Your next St. Patrick's Day soiree is sorted thanks to this quick-brined corned beef recipe. The brisket is paired with cabbage, parsnips, potatoes, and carrots for a flavor-packed meal.

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Winter-Vegetable Red Curry

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Bryan Gardner

The heat of chile is always a fine foil for the sweetness of parsnips. Spicy red curry paste and rich coconut milk pull together this mouthwatering vegetable curry.

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Ground Turkey Shepherd's Pie

Ground turkey shepard's pie

Jason Donnelly

As far as comfort food goes, you can't go wrong with a shepherd's pie. This version uses lean ground turkey for a slightly version.

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Simple Chicken Noodle Soup

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Five ingredients is all it takes to make this chicken noodle soup. The recipe also yields eight servings, making it a great weeknight meal.

Updated by
Victoria Spencer
Victoria Spencer, senior food editor, MarthaStewart.com
Victoria Spencer is an experienced food editor, writer, and recipe developer. She manages the Martha Stewart recipe archive and is always curious about new ingredients and the best techniques. She has been working in food media for over 20 years.
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