These delicious beet recipes are simple to make and will help you fall in love with this beautiful veggie. Bonus: tips and tricks for cooking with beets for best results!
I am not a beet lover. Or, at least I didn’t used to be. Beets are these red root vegetables that are full of nutrients and vitamins, but also a serious earth flavor that one either loves or dislikes.
For most of my life, I have been in the dislike camp when it came to beets. But since becoming a veggie-loading queen, I have learned that beets can be delicious when added to the right recipe! And they add a serious pop of natural color to your food that is all natural and all kinds of dazzling!
Veggie-loading is a trend that a lot of people are hoping on board with in an effort of eating more vegetables in a way that they love! And beets are 100% part of that movement.
Health benefits of beets
So why bother adding beets to your recipes? Are they really that great?
Yes, friends. Yes they are. Beets are plant powerhouses that add a stunning color to your food but also some serious nutrients!
By adding beetroot to a recipe you also add: (source)
- protein
- fiber
- Folate (vitamin B9) (this is helpful for cell and tissue growth)
- Manganese. (an essential trace element)
- Potassium. (good for heart health)
- Iron. (an essential mineral that is necessary for the transport of oxygen in red blood cells)
- Vitamin C. (something all us can use more of in our lives)
How do I cook a beet for these recipes?
All of the above recipes call for cooked beets. Why? Beets have an earthy flavor that some people don’t love. Cooking beets helps to cut that flavor and enhance their natural sweetness….giving them a magical flavor.
There are lots of different ways to cook a beet. Some methods I have used are…
- Roast (suggested as I find it holds onto the color the best)
- Boiling
- Instant Pot
- Steaming
Time Saving Hack
Lots of grocery stores carry cooked beets in the refrigeration or freezer section! Unseasoned canned beets will also work too as long as you drain off their extra liquid. That way, you can make these beet recipes without having to do extra prep work.
Tips for cooking with beets
The color power of beets will vary from beet to beet AND depend a lot on how they are prepared. Some cooking methods (like roasting) help beets hold onto their natural colors while others draw the colorful juices out (like boiling). I find that the packed cooked beets tend to not hold as much red beet juice and don’t always create for a vibrant color.
If you want that powerful pink color, I highly suggest using roasted beets.
Best beet recipes
Have I sold you on veggie-loading with beets? Yay! I thought so!
Not sure where to start? Here are 10+ delicious beet recipes that won me over and they are sure to make a beet lover out of you too!
10+ Delicious Beet Recipes
These fudgy gluten free brownies and not only chocolatey, easy, and delicious, but are loaded with a secret healthy ingredient: beets! Healthy, simple to make, and perfect healthy treat to feed your sweet tooth. And they are vegan too boot
This is truly the BEST beet hummus under the sun and is so easy to make. Beautiful to look at, an amazing balance of flavors and a smooth, creamy texture to boot!
This Red Velvet Smoothie is a fun and delicious way to get veggies in at breakfast! It comes together in minutes, easily vegan and Paleo, and super kid-approved!
These Vegan Waffles are made beautiful and extra good for you with addition of a special healthy ingredient: beet! They are fluffy, simple to make, and are as easy on the eyes as they are on the taste buds!
This easy Strawberry Beet Instant Pot Applesauce is delicious, has no added sugar and gets its amazing color from beets! Kid-friendly and the perfect way to get veggies in at breakfast, lunch, snack or whenever
Homemade Strawberry Beet Fruit Leather is perfect for a healthy snack. Easy to make in the oven and with no added sugar, this healthy recipes is the perfect snack or lunch idea for kids!
Anything pink dazzles the socks off my little one and this kid-friendly Pink Beet Smoothie is no different! Made that stunning shade of pink by antioxidant rich red fruits and veggies, it’s easy on the eyes and super nourishing for the body.
These all natural red velvet pancakes taste like brownies for breakfast! Light, delicious & they get their color from cooked beets!
This chocolate beetroot cake recipe is going to dazzle all you chocolate lovers! Full of good-for-you beets, this delicious cake is so moist and rich. And the optional raspberry whipped cream topping is so good!
Pretty pink cupcakes filled with wholesome ingredients and even some veggies! Banana Beet Cupcakes are naturally colored with beets and the frosting is made perfectly pink from the juice left behind from defrosted frozen raspberries
Heart Beet Smoothie Bowls are a gorgeous color pink thanks to lots of red fruit, vibrant beets, and some creamy yogurt. We love to enjoy this healthy snack “ice cream style” and eat it with a spoon, but you can just as easily add a little bit more liquid and drink it through a straw.
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