If you eat with your eyes first, you are about to have a feast.
There is no vegetable in the world that brings the drama quite like the beet. Whether it’s the shocking magenta of a beet hummus, the glowing ruby red of a roasted wedge, or the sunset-gold of the yellow variety, beets turn every single meal into a masterpiece.
I love cooking with them because they make me look like a professional chef with zero effort.
You can make a simple carpaccio in five minutes that looks like it belongs in a Michelin-star restaurant.
From savory galettes to secret-ingredient cakes, these 30 recipes are almost too pretty to eat… almost. Grab your apron (seriously, wear an apron, they stain!) and let’s get cooking.
Salads & Starters
1. Roasted Beet and Goat Cheese Salad
Goat cheese and beets are the power couple of the culinary world, and this salad proves why they never break up. The tangy, creamy cheese cuts right through the sweet earthiness of the roasted roots.
Roasting the beets in foil packets makes the skins slide right off without a fight. Toss them with toasted walnuts and a balsamic vinaigrette that ties the whole thing together.
I brought this to a potluck once and people scraped the bowl clean. It looks fancy enough for a holiday table but takes zero effort to throw together on a Tuesday.
2. Citrus and Avocado Beet Salad
Winter produce can be boring, but this salad is a bright ray of sunshine on a gray day. The combination of blood oranges, grapefruits, and beets creates a jewel-toned masterpiece.
Segmenting the citrus takes a minute, but removing that bitter pith is crucial for the flavor balance. Creamy avocado slices add a necessary richness that makes this feel substantial.
Serve this alongside a heavy roast chicken to lighten up the meal. The acidity cleanses your palate and leaves you feeling energized instead of weighed down.
3. Elegant Beet Carpaccio
If you want to impress a date without actually cooking anything, this raw preparation is your secret weapon. Thinly sliced raw beets have a delightful crunch that is totally different from the cooked version.
You absolutely need a mandoline slicer to get those paper-thin, translucent rounds. Drizzle them with high-quality olive oil, lemon juice, and shaved parmesan cheese.
My husband thought I ordered takeout from a fancy bistro when I plated this. It takes five minutes to make but looks like a work of art.
4. Spiralized Beet Salad with Feta
Make eating vegetables fun again by turning them into vibrant pink noodles. This raw salad keeps the nutrients high and the texture crunchy.
Toss the noodles immediately with dressing to soften them slightly before serving. The salty feta cheese and mint leaves wake up the deep, earthy flavor of the raw beet.
Watch out for your shirt while spiralizing! I learned the hard way that beet juice sprays everywhere, so maybe wear an apron or a dark top for this one.
Savory Mains & Sides
5. Crispy Baked Beet Chips
Craving a crunch that won’t ruin your healthy eating streak? These chips are salty, sweet, and addictively crispy without the deep fryer grease.
Slice the beets uniformly thin so they bake evenly without burning. Sprinkling them with rosemary and sea salt elevates them from a snack to a gourmet treat.
Keep a close eye on the oven during the last few minutes. They go from perfectly crisp to burnt charcoal in the blink of an eye (“trust me”).
6. Perfectly Roasted Beets with Balsamic
Sometimes the simplest preparation is the best, and roasting concentrates the natural sugars like magic. These become tender little candy bites that you can eat straight off the pan.
Toss cubes of beets with olive oil and roast until a fork slides in easily. A splash of balsamic vinegar added right when they come out of the oven creates a sticky glaze.
I meal prep a huge batch of these on Sunday. They are perfect for throwing into salads, grain bowls, or just snacking on cold from the fridge.
7. Pink Beet Risotto
This dish is so bright pink it looks like it belongs in the Barbie movie. It is creamy, comforting, and a total visual stunner for Valentine’s Day.
Puree roasted beets and stir them into the risotto halfway through cooking to infuse that shocking color. Using Arborio rice ensures you get that signature starchiness that makes risotto luscious.
Top this with a dollop of mascarpone cheese for extra luxury. It tastes rich and savory, which is a fun surprise given the candy-colored appearance.
8. Vibrant Beet Pesto Pasta
Move over, basil, because pink pesto is taking over the pasta game. This sauce is nutty, garlicky, and coats the noodles in a neon magenta hue.
Blend roasted beets with walnuts, garlic, and parmesan to create a thick sauce. It clings to textured pasta shapes like fusilli or rigatoni beautifully.
Fair warning, your kids will either love the “crazy pink pasta” or be terrified of it. Mine are OBSESSED and call it “princess pasta.”
9. Smoky Beet and Black Bean Burgers
Vegetarian burgers often taste like cardboard, but the beets add moisture and a “meaty” look to these patties. They are hearty, savory, and hold together on a bun.
Combine grated raw beets with black beans, oats, and smoked paprika for a flavor bomb. Chilling the patties before cooking helps them keep their shape in the pan.
Grill these up for your next meatless Monday. Even the carnivores at the table will ask for the recipe once they take a bite.
Dips, Sips & Soups
10. Roasted Beet Hummus
Store-bought hummus is fine, but this homemade version is the star of any charcuterie board. It is fluffy, lemony, and shockingly pink.
Roast the beet until tender before blending it with chickpeas, tahini, and lemon. The beet adds a subtle sweetness that balances the bitterness of the tahini perfectly.
Dip cucumbers or pita chips into this for a healthy snack. It is so pretty that you almost don’t want to eat it (“almost”).
11. Classic Borscht
This soup is a hug in a bowl, packed with cabbage, potatoes, and plenty of beets. It is sweet, sour, and traditionally served with a dollop of sour cream.
Sautéing the veggies before simmering develops a depth of flavor that boiling alone can’t achieve. Fresh dill is the non-negotiable garnish that brings the whole soup to life.
My grandmother used to make this, and the smell instantly takes me back to her kitchen. It tastes even better the next day after the flavors have melded.
12. Berry Beet Smoothie
If you struggle to eat your veggies, drink them instead! This smoothie hides the earthy taste of raw beets under layers of sweet berries and banana.
Use frozen berries to make the drink frosty and thick without watering it down with ice. A knob of fresh ginger adds a spicy kick that aids digestion.
Start your morning with this for a natural energy boost. The color alone is enough to wake you up before your coffee kicks in.
13. Old Fashioned Pickled Beets
Pickling transforms earthy beets into tangy, crunchy bites that last for weeks in the fridge. They are the ultimate salad topper or sandwich crunch.
Boil the beets first, then peel and slice them into a jar with vinegar, sugar, and cloves. Let them sit for a few days to fully absorb that briney goodness.
I keep a jar of these in the back of the fridge at all times. They are the perfect solution when a dish needs a hit of acid and texture.
Sweet Surprises
14. Fudgy Beet Brownies
If you are skeptical about putting root vegetables in dessert, prepare to be humbled. The beet puree replaces some of the fat and keeps these brownies incredibly moist and fudgy.
You won’t taste the beets at all; they just enhance the chocolate flavor and add a dense texture. Puree the beets until completely smooth so you don’t end up with chunks in your batter.
Sneak these into your kids’ lunchboxes. They will think they are getting a treat, and you will know they are getting a serving of vitamins.
15. Dark Chocolate Beet Cake
Before red food dye existed, bakers used beets to make red velvet cake. This cake is rich, dense, and has a beautiful reddish tint naturally.
Grate the beets finely or puree them so they melt into the crumb during baking. Pair this with a cream cheese frosting for the ultimate decadent dessert.
Bake this for a birthday and wait for the guests to guess the secret ingredient. Nobody ever gets it right!
16. Pink Power Pancakes
Breakfast just got a makeover with these naturally colored pancakes. They are fluffy, sweet, and strictly for people who like to have fun with their food.
Blend roasted beets into your wet ingredients before mixing with the flour. Cook them on medium-low heat so the beautiful pink color doesn’t brown too much.
Serve these for Valentine’s Day or a special brunch. The color is so vibrant (“and natural”) that it makes regular pancakes look sad.
Global Flavors & Spices
17. Vibrant Beet Tzatziki
Take your Greek night to the next level with this neon pink dip. It swaps the traditional cucumber for roasted beets, creating a sweet and tangy sauce that pops on the plate.
Grate roasted beets into thick Greek yogurt and mix with plenty of garlic, lemon, and fresh dill. The yogurt turns a shocking shade of magenta that looks incredible next to grilled meats.
Bring this to a summer BBQ instead of standard ranch dip. Watching people’s faces light up when they dip a pita chip is pure entertainment.
18. Beet Cured Salmon (Gravlax)
This is the ultimate “I am a fancy chef” flex that is actually ridiculously easy to do. Curing salmon with raw beets gives the outer layer of the fish a stunning purple rim.
Cover a fresh salmon fillet with a mixture of grated raw beets, coarse salt, sugar, and dill, then let it sit in the fridge for two days. Rinse it off and slice it paper-thin for the most beautiful bagels of your life.
Serve this at brunch for an absolute showstopper. Your guests will think you spent hundreds at a gourmet deli.
19. Spiced Beetroot Tikki (Cutlets)
These Indian-inspired patties are crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. They are packed with warm spices like garam masala and ginger.
Mix boiled, mashed beets with potatoes and breadcrumbs to form small discs before shallow frying. The potato binds everything together while the beet provides a sweet, earthy base for the spices.
Pair these with a spicy green chutney for dipping. It is a vegetarian appetizer that even the die-hard meat eaters will devour.
20. Crunchy Raw Beet & Carrot Slaw
If you love texture, this raw salad is going to be your jam. It is crisp, refreshing, and cleanses the palate with a zesty vinaigrette.
Shred raw beets and carrots using a food processor to save your knuckles from the grater. Toss them with lemon juice immediately to keep the colors bright and stop them from oxidizing.
Keep a bowl of this in the fridge for a quick side dish. It adds a necessary crunch to soft foods like tacos or pulled pork sandwiches.
Savory Baking & Breads
21. Rustic Beet Galette
Think of this as a savory, free-form pie that doesn’t require the stress of a perfect crust. The flaky pastry folds over tender beets and creamy cheese for a rustic look.
Layer sliced roasted beets over a base of herbed goat cheese or ricotta within a pie dough circle. Fold the edges up roughly and bake until the crust is golden and the filling is bubbly.
Imagine pulling this out of the oven for a light lunch with a glass of white wine. It feels like you are sitting in a French countryside kitchen.
22. Pink Pizza Crust
Pizza night just got a major glow-up. Adding beet puree to your dough makes it bright pink and adds a subtle sweetness that pairs perfectly with savory toppings.
Mix roasted beet puree into your standard yeast dough or a gluten-free almond flour base. Top with pesto, mozzarella, and arugula for a color contrast that is totally Instagram-worthy.
Make mini versions of these for a kids’ party. They will be so distracted by the fun color that they won’t even realize they are eating veggies.
23. Earthy Beet Sourdough
For the bread bakers out there, adding roasted beets to your loaf creates a stunning interior crumb. It creates a moist, dense loaf with a beautiful purple swirl.
Fold diced or pureed beets into your dough during the bulk fermentation stage. The natural sugars in the beet accelerate the yeast, so watch your rise times closely!
Toast a slice of this and slather it with salted butter. The combination of the sweet bread and salty fat is simply MAGICAL.
Healthy Sips & Sides
24. Traditional Beet Kvass
Get your gut health in check with this fermented tonic. It is salty, earthy, and packed with probiotics that act like a supercharge for your digestion.
Chop raw beets and submerge them in salted water, then let them ferment on the counter for a few days. The result is a deep red, fizzy drink that tastes like a savory soda.
Drink a shot of this every morning to wake up your system. It is an acquired taste, but once you get hooked, you will crave it constantly.
25. The ABC Juice (Apple, Beet, Carrot)
This is the classic detox drink for a reason. The sweetness of the apples and carrots perfectly masks the intense earthiness of the raw beet juice.
Run everything through a juicer with a knob of ginger and a squeeze of lemon. Drink it immediately over ice to get the maximum nutrient benefit.
Feeling sluggish in the afternoon? Skip the caffeine and down a glass of this instead for a clean energy buzz without the crash.
26. Crispy Beet Latkes
Hanukkah or not, these fritters are a delicious way to eat your roots. The beets add a sweetness that pairs beautifully with the traditional potato.
Shred beets and potatoes together, squeeze out all the liquid, and fry until golden brown. Wearing gloves is a must here unless you want pink hands for days.
Top these with a dollop of sour cream and some chives. The cool topping against the hot, crispy fritter is a texture match made in heaven.
27. Roasted Golden Beets
If you love the flavor of beets but hate the red stains, golden beets are your new best friend. They are milder, sweeter, and won’t dye your entire kitchen pink.
Roast them just like red beets with thyme and olive oil. They turn into glowing yellow jewels that look beautiful in a grain bowl.
Mix these with red beets for a multicolor salad. Just toss them with dressing separately first so the red doesn’t bleed all over the beautiful gold color.
Pasta & Condiments
28. Homemade Beet Gnocchi
These little pillows of pasta are stunningly vibrant and softer than clouds. The beet puree gives the dough a brilliant magenta hue.
Mix roasted beet puree into your potato and flour mixture gently. Be careful not to overwork the dough or the gnocchi will become tough and rubbery.
Toss these in a simple brown butter and sage sauce. A heavy tomato sauce would hide that gorgeous color, and we definitely want to show these off.
29. Tangy Beet Ketchup
Move over, Heinz. This homemade condiment is sweet, tangy, and free from high fructose corn syrup.
Cook down chopped beets with vinegar, brown sugar, and spices until soft, then blend until smooth. It has a depth of flavor that puts regular ketchup to shame.
Slather this on a burger or dip your fries in it. It adds a gourmet touch to a simple weeknight dinner.
30. Classic Pickled Beet Eggs
You have probably seen these in a jar at a dive bar, but the homemade version is stellar. Hard-boiled eggs soak in beet juice brine until they turn purple.
Peel hard-boiled eggs and submerge them in your pickled beet jar for at least 24 hours. The whites turn pink and firm up, picking up that vinegar tang.
Pack these for a picnic for a high-protein snack. They are beautiful when sliced open to reveal the yellow yolk against the pink white.