Lightly sweetened with honey, seasoned with garlic powder and salt, tossed with olive oil and then roasted to perfection in about 20 minutes, these Honey Roasted Parsnips are an amazing veggie side to any dinner.

Honey roasted parsnips in a serving bowl with gold serving utensils. There is chopped parsley on top and a bowl of honey with dipper next to the serving bowl.

I love roasted vegetables. Truly, it is my veggie move when I don’t know what to do with a vegetable and also a sure-fire way to make a new veggie taste its absolute best. And roasted veggies make for the best veggie side dishes.

Why? Because roasting brings out and enhances the natural sugars in a veg and cuts any bitterness it might have. And the roasty toasty taste is just magical. Yep, I love roasted veggies. And I think I am on my way perfecting how to roast every veggie under the sun.

And now I conquer the parsnip. Truthfully a veggie I have been standoffish with my whole life. But, roasted….with honey. Oh my! Yes, yes this is the way to love on a parsnip.

This Honey Roasted Parsnips recipe is truly the way to fall in love with parsnips. The combination of sweet honey, salt, garlic powder, olive oil, and pepper compliments the earthy flavor of the parsnips and the roasting process just makes this veggie side dish sing. Prep is as easy as peeling and cutting your parsnip, tossing them with the honey and seasoning and throwing them into the oven. The parsnip fries are done roasting to tender perfection in just 20 minutes, making this flavorful side perfect for adding to even a busy weeknight dinner. Vegetarian, gluten free, dairy-free, nut-free and easily vegan when you use maple syrup instead of honey…this side dish is perfect for so many eating styles and needs!

Ingredients for honey roasted parsnips.
Ingredients: fresh parsnips, oil, salt, pepper, garlic powder, honey and parsley for garnish.

How to prep your parsnips for this recipe

Simply wash your parsnips to remove any dirt (they are a root veggie, after all). Peel them (many people find the skin a bit bitter, though it is edible). Trim the tops and bottoms off with a sharp knife. Cut into long 3-inch by ½-inch thick fry-shapes.

Do I need to peel parsnips for this recipe?

If you give the parsnips a good scrubbing, peeling is optional.

But here is why you might want to peel them. The peels of root veggies like carrots, sweet potatoes, and parsnips are totally edible. However, some people find the tender skin bitter. So, if you are trying to love parsnips, taking the extra step to peel them before cooking might help you enjoy them more!

A hand peeling a parsnip over a cutting board.
Peel your parsnips.
A hand trimming the top off of a peeled parsnip on a cutting board.
Trim the tops and bottoms off with a sharp knife.
A person cutting a peeled parsnip into a fry shape on a cutting board.
Cut into long 3-inch by ½-inch thick fry-shapes.

Suggested Adaptations

  • Have carrots? You can make this dish using parsnips and carrots. Just be sure to cut them the same size so they cook evenly.
  • Want to add a little extra flavor? Try adding the zest of ½ an orange to the parsnips before baking then squeezing the juice over top after roasting.
  • Use maple syrup instead of honey if you prefer or if you want to make these roasted parsnips vegan.
Peels and cut parsnips piled on a lined baking sheet.
Place all the cut parsnips onto the center of the baking sheet.
Peeled and cut parsnips spread out in a baking sheet.
Season and drizzle with honey. Toss everything together and then spread the parsnips into an even layer.
Roasted parsnip fries on a lined baking sheet.
Roast the parsnips until nicely caramelized and fork tender.

Tips for the best roasted parsnips

  • Cut the parsnips close to the same size. You don’t need to be perfect, but chopping your veggies close to the same size and length will ensure that they roast evenly.
  • Don’t crowd the parsnips on the baking sheet. Crowded veggies steam instead of roast, so give those parsnips some space…even if that means using 2 baking sheets instead of one. This is important in achieving the roasted, caramelized flavor that makes these honey parsnips extra magical.

Other veggie side dishes you will love

Did you try these parsnip fries and now you’re hungry for more? 

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Honey roasted parsnips in a green bowl with gold serving utensils on a table. Two hands are holding the bowl. There is a bowl of honey with a dipper, a bowl of chopped parsley, and a bowl of salt on the table next tot he bowl of parsnips.
20-Minute Honey Roasted Parsnips
5 from 4 votes

20-Minute Honey Roasted Parsnips

Yield: 4 servings
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Cuisine: American
Course: Side Dish
Author: Taesha Butler
Lightly sweetened with honey, seasoned with garlic powder and salt, tossed with olive oil and then roasted to perfection in about 20 minutes, these Honey Roasted Parsnips are an amazing veggie side to any dinner.
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Ingredients
 

  • 2 pounds parsnips
  • 2 Tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 Tablespoons honey, divided
  • ¾ teaspoon kosher salt
  • Freshly ground black pepper
  • ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
  • 2 Tablespoons minced fresh parsley or chives

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the oven to 400℉. Line a large sheet pan with parchment paper or grease lightly with oil.
  • Peel the parsnips then cut off both ends. Cut the parsnips into 3-inch by ½-inch thick fry-shapes.
    If you are using larger parsnips, you might notice a woody core. I suggest cutting that out and discarding before continuing with this recipe. Smaller parsnips do not tend to have this tough core, and thus do not need to have it removed.
    A person cutting a peeled parsnip into a fry shape on a cutting board.
  • Place all the cut parsnips onto the center of the baking sheet. Drizzle with 2 tablespoons of olive oil and 1 ½ tablespoons of honey then sprinkle with the salt, a few grinds of fresh pepper, and the garlic powder. Toss everything together with your hands or tongs then spread the parsnips into a single layer on the baking sheet, being sure not to crowd.
    This is important in achieving the roasted, caramelized flavor. Crowded + layered parsnips will steam from the moisture released from one another vs. roast.
    Cut and seasoned parsnips on a lined baking sheet.
  • Roast the parsnips until nicely caramelized and fork tender, about 20-25 minutes.
    Roasted parsnips on a lined baking sheet.
  • Pile the parsnips onto a serving platter then drizzle with the remaining olive oil and honey. Sprinkle with an additional big pinch of coarse salt and then the minced fresh herbs.

Notes

Have carrots? You can make this dish using parsnips and carrots. Just be sure to cut them the same size so they cook evenly.
 
Want to add a little extra flavor? Try adding the zest of ½ an orange to the parsnips before baking, then squeezing the juice over top after roasting.
Calories: 265kcal, Carbohydrates: 50g, Protein: 3g, Fat: 8g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 5g, Sodium: 461mg, Potassium: 869mg, Fiber: 11g, Sugar: 20g, Vitamin A: 168IU, Vitamin C: 41mg, Calcium: 86mg, Iron: 2mg