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 and a beet pancake recipe that will win you over!

Red and golden beets on a table. Some a cut in half.

Veggie-loading has changed how I feel about beet recipes.

I used not not be a beet lover. Like, at all. “Used to” being the key.

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.

Golden and red beets with their greens on a table in a bunch.

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?

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…

Time Saving Hack

Lots of grocery stores carry cooked beets in the refrigeration or freezer section! Unseasoned canned beets will also work to 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.

What is the best way to eat beets?

Cooked beets can be enjoyed in so many ways! Diced up and add to a salad with some goat cheese, finely mashed and added to soups, blended into hummus, added to a smoothie, or even pureed into some pancake or waffle batter.

When cooked, a beet’s natural sugars are brought out and they can be added to so many things. Not only do beets add wonderful vitamins and minerals to a dish, but a bold bright color that makes food extra fun to eat.

What can I do with lots of beets?

Beets are a root vegetable and have a nice long shelf life when stored in a cold dark place. So you can let them chill (pun intended) in your fridge for a good long time.

You can also cook beets (see above for suggested methods) in batches and freeze them. That way, you always have a prepped beet ready to add to one of these delicious beet recipes or however else you dream up to beet-load your life.

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!

Moist Beetroot Chocolate Muffins

These Beetroot Chocolate Muffins are perfectly sweet, easy to make and full of good-for-you ingredients. Made from pureed beets, Greek yogurt, white whole wheat flour, cocoa powder and naturally sweetened with maple syrup. These nutrient-dense muffins are kid-friendly and are perfect for breakfast, snack, or as a healthier dessert.
View Recipe

Chocolate Beetroot Cake (with raspberry whipped cream)

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!
View Recipe

Beet Vegan Waffles

These Vegan Waffles are made beautiful and extra good for you with addition of a special healthy ingredient: beet! They are super fluffy, simple to make, and are as easy on the eyes as they are on the taste buds!
View Recipe

Strawberry Beet Instant Pot Applesauce

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!
View Recipe
5-Minute Beet & Red Fruit Smoothie served in two jars

5-Minute Beet & Red Fruit Smoothie

Made a stunning shade of pink by antioxidant-rich red fruits, like raspberries and strawberries, plus peeled and cooked beets, this beet smoothie recipe is quick to make, bright and refreshing! It’s an easy morning smoothie, and a terrific way to get veggies in before you start your day.
View Recipe

Creamy 10-Minute Beetroot Hummus

This is truly the BEST Beetroot Hummus under the sun and so easy to make in just 10 minutes. Beautiful to look at, an amazing balance of flavors and a smooth, creamy texture to boot!
View Recipe

Fudgy Beet Gluten Free Brownies

These Fudgy Gluten Free Brownies are not only chocolatey, easy, and delicious, but are loaded with a secret healthy ingredient: beets! Simple to make and a perfect healthy treat to feed your sweet tooth. And they are vegan to boot!
View Recipe
Roasted beets in a white bowl

How To Perfectly Roast Beets

Oven-roasting whole beets helps bring out their natural sweetness and earthy flavor, all while locking in moisture and color. Learning how to roast a whole beet in the oven is super easy to do and requires very little work. In this guide,I'll show you how to roast beets so that they’re fork tender, and perfect for enjoying as a veggie side dish or tossed in a salad.
View Recipe

Red Velvet Smoothie

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!
View Recipe
A stack of the Pink Beet Pancakes

Pink Beet Pancakes

An easy and delicious recipe for healthy Pink Beet Pancakes. These fun pink pancakes are quickly mixed in your blender, are super kid-friendly, full of healthy beets, naturally sweetened and can easily be made gluten free.
View Recipe
Homemade strawberry beet fruit leather served in a big glass tray with plenty of strawberries around it on a marble table

Strawberry Beet Fruit Leather

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!
View Recipe

All Natural Red Velvet Pancakes (gf + vegan)

These all natural red velvet pancakes taste like brownies for breakfast! Light, delicious & they get their color from cooked beets!
View Recipe

Creamy Beet Pasta

Made with just 8 ingredients, this Creamy Beet Pasta is a delicious and out-of-the-box way to add veggies to the table. The stunning and delicious pink sauce is made with blended cooked beets, cottage cheese, parmesan cheese, and garlic. Toss it with your favorite pasta, as this veggie-loaded recipe is done as soon as your noodles are cooked and is perfect for those busy weeknight dinners.
View Recipe
A stack of the Pink Beet Pancakes
5 from 1 vote

Delicious Beet Recipes: Beet Pancakes

Yield: 20 small pancakes
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Cuisine: American
Course: Breakfast
An easy and delicious recipe for healthy pink beet pancakes. These fun pink pancakes are quickly mixed in your blender, are super kid-friendly, full of healthy beets, naturally sweetened and can easily be made gluten free.

Ingredients
 

  • 2 cups rolled oats, uncooked. If gluten free is important, make sure the oats are certified gluten free
  • 1 1/2 tsp baking powder, aluminum free suggested
  • 1/4 tsp fine salt
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1/2 cup plain yogurt
  • 2 tsp pure vanilla extract
  • 4 ounce beets , cooked and peeled. I find that roasted beets offer up a stronger color
  • 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce, or mashed ripe banana
  • 3 tbsp maple syrup
  • 2 tbsp flavorless oil , plus more for cooking

Equipment

Instructions
 

  • Combine oats, baking powder, and salt to a high-speed blender. Blend until oats become a fine powder.
  • Pour the oat flour mixture into a bowl and set aside.
  • In the now empty blender, combine remaining ingredients ( beets, egg, oil, yogurt, vanilla, syrup, applesauce). Blend until smooth and well combined. Add the oat flour mixture into the blender and blend again. Stop a few times to scrape the sides of the blender to ensure everything is well mixed.
  • Heat a pan or other skillet over medium-low heat. Add a little cooking oil to the pan. When the oil is hot, portion out the batter into small pancakes.
  • Cook until you see small bubbled forming on the top of the pancake and the edges seem dry, about 2-3 minutes. Flip and cook the other side for another 2-3 minutes. Place cooked pancakes onto a plate and continue with the remaining batter.
  • Enjoy warm with topping of choice. Let cook completely before storing leftovers in an air-tight container in fridge for 4-5 days or in freezer
Serving: 1pancake, Calories: 69kcal, Carbohydrates: 9g, Protein: 2g, Fat: 3g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 22mg, Sodium: 46mg, Potassium: 107mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 3g, Vitamin A: 37IU, Vitamin C: 1mg, Calcium: 32mg, Iron: 1mg