How to Roast Turnips
If you are looking for the easiest, most delicious way to use turnips in your family menu, this Roasted Turnips recipe is for you! With a few simple pantry staples, and 10 minutes of prep and you’ll be on the way to a stellar veggie side dish. With thousands of shares and dozens of reviews you can be sure this recipe is tried and tested!
I originally shared this recipe on 2/15/19. I have updated the post to share it with you again today.
Table of contents
You’ll love these perfectly Roasted Turnips
Since 2003 I have focused on easy and delicious ways to make veggies part of the family plate and this basic cooked turnip recipe is the perfect example of how we do that. I will be the first to admit that the humble turnip is not the most illustrious veg, but we are equal opportunity veggie lovers around here! So if you have turnips on hand and are wondering what to do with them, you’re in the right place. Read on for my top tips for how to make turnips taste great, and cook them with ease.
Try These Other Simple Veggie Recipes Too
Turnips Recipe Ingredients
- Turnips – When buying turnips, it’s important to know that size affects taste. Smaller turnips, white turnips and baby turnips tend to be sweeter, more like a carrot while larger turnips are more peppery in flavor, similar to a radish. Also, larger mature purple top turnips and red turnips tend to be older and can have a woody and fibrous layer, even when peeled, so smaller ones are preferred for this recipe. Also, look for turnips that are smooth and not wrinkled. Wrinkled turnips have lost some of their moisture and will not have as pleasant of a texture when consumed.
- Cut off the turnip greens, you will only need the turnip bottoms or roots for this recipe.
Do you peel turnips before roasting?
Peel turnips before roasting or bing cooked. Just like when you make roasted beets, peel the turnips with a sharp vegetable peeler and cut off the top and tip. Cut the turnips into large bite sized pieces.
- Avocado Oil – Avocado oil is our preferred neutral cooking oil for cooking turnips; however organic canola oil or olive oil will work just as well when coating the chunks of turnips. You could also use clarified melted butter or ghee which can withstand the high heat of roasting.
- Salt & Pepper – Of course, you’ll also need salt and pepper. Note that we recommend table salt (or iodized salt) for this recipe. You may use kosher salt instead, but you will want to double the measurement.
Seasonings For Turnips
- Dried oregano
- Dried thyme
- Garlic powder
See more ideas for how to season turnips below in our FAQ section.
How to Cook Turnips
Step 1: Prepare Turnips
Preheat oven to 425°F. Cut turnips into 1.5-inch chunks. In a large bowl, toss to coat turnips, oil and salt and ground black pepper to taste.
Step 2: Roast Turnips
Transfer the turnips to a baking sheet and place them in the oven. Roast for 30 minutes, stirring once or twice.
Step 3: Make Herbed Mixture
In a small dish combine oregano, thyme, and garlic powder.
Step 4: Season and Serve
Remove the turnips from the oven. Sprinkle with the herb mixture and with a spatula, toss to coat. Return to the oven and continue to roast. Remove when turnips are fork-tender and browned in spots, about 5 minutes. Serve warm.
What to serve with Roasted Turnips
- Beef: The peppery radish-like flavor of turnips is excellent with beef. Pair these easy roasted turnips with Beef Tenderloin Steaks with Tarragon Mushrooms. Try them on the side of our Slow Cooker Braised Beef Chuck with Porcini Mushrooms and Penne Pasta. It would be a great alternative to potatoes for Pot Roast made in an Instant Pot.
- Chicken: They are also great with roasted chicken. Our Crispy Baked Chicken Thighs are a staple in my household. For a Sunday supper try our Spatchcocked Chicken with Tarragon Sauce. This Balsamic Chicken would be delicious alongside the turnips.
- Salad: If you’re looking for a lighter meal while incorporating some leafy greens into the mix, serve alongside this chopped winter salad or this overnight kale caesar.
Storing leftover Roast Turnips
Like other roasted vegetables, roasted turnips are great for meal-prep and can be made ahead. Prep ahead or store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
FAQs
Yes, turnips need to be peeled before roasting. The skin on a turnip generally is tough, bitter, and often times coated in wax to protect it during shipping. However, turnips can be very difficult to peel, and some people find it easier to simply slice off the skin using a sharp paring knife versus using a vegetable peeler.
To mix up the seasonings for turnips, you can use a purchased spice blend instead of the blend I used here. Some to try are curry powder, Mexican seasonings or Italian Herb Blend. You can also make turnips taste good by drizzling on balsamic vinegar or lemon juice after they are finished roasting. Instead of dried herbs you can add on fresh herbs at the end like I did in these Spring Roasted Root Veggies with Herbs.
Yes, they are a great low-carb alternative to starchy potatoes. These have 9 grams net carbs per one-cup serving. Red more about turnip nutrition here.
Yes, turnips are considered low FODMAP, meaning they’re low in certain fermentable carbohydrates that may contribute to digestive distress. Even though turnips contain raffinose and may produce gas, they don’t contain high levels of fermentable carbohydrates typically known to worsen symptoms of certain conditions. {Information provided by Danielle Omar, RDN.}
Turnips are mild and slightly spicy, similar to a radish in flavor. They have a slight sulfurous note as they are part of the brassica family.
More like this Turnip Recipe
- This Curry Roasted Cabbage and our Curry Roasted Cauliflower are two for curry lovers.
- Roasted Broccoli is an easy and healthy side dish that is perfect any night of the week. Sweet and toasty broccoli is paired with sliced garlic, Asiago cheese, and crunchy almonds and finished with a burst of bright lemon juice for one addicting fresh dish.
- These Balsamic Roasted Brussels Sprouts are a perfect vegetarian side dish. They require only a few simple ingredients and are ready in just 45 minutes, with the result being utterly delicious.
- Classic Roasted Green Beans with Almonds is a simple yet perfect side dish to serve at a casual weeknight dinner and fancy enough for a holiday celebration.
Thanks so much for reading. If you are new here, you may want to sign up for my free weekly email newsletter for healthy recipes delivered right to your inbox. Or follow me on Instagram. If you make these recipes, please come back and leave a star rating and review! It is very appreciated. Happy Cooking! ~Katie
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Simple Roasted Turnips Recipe
- Total Time: 45 Minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
Description
Simple Roasted Turnips! A lower starch vegetable side dish, only 9 g net carbs! A great alternative to roasted potatoes, and Whole30 and paleo approved. For just 83 calories per cup they’re quite filling and nutritious.
Ingredients
- 7 cups turnips peeled and cut into 1 1/2 -inch chunks (about 6 medium)
- 1 tablespoon avocado oil
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon dry thyme
- Generous pinch garlic powder
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.
- Toss turnips, oil, salt and pepper in a large bowl. Spread out on a large, rimmed baking sheet. Transfer to the oven. Roast, stirring once or twice, for 30 minutes.
- Mix oregano, thyme and garlic in a small dish. Remove the turnips from the oven. Sprinkle the turnips with the herb mixture and toss them with a spatula to coat
- Return to the oven and roast, until the turnips are tender when pierced with a fork, and browned in spots, about 5 minutes longer. Serve warm.
Notes
- Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge up to 5 days.
- Add the seasonings only for the last five minutes so they will not burn and become bitter.
- Feel free to use other spice mixes!
- Turnips are cooked when a fork or paring knife slips easily into the flesh without resistance and then out again.
- Prep Time: 10 Minutes
- Cook Time: 35 Minutes
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Oven
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 83
- Sugar: 8 g
- Fat: 4 g
- Saturated Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 12 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 2 g
Super simple! Made it on the bbq and tossed in a few little beets with the turnips. So yummy! Thanks!
That is a great idea. I have to try that! Thanks for coming back by Heather.
Love this recipe! Side note, under the roast section of the typed instructions there is a “T” missing at the start of the word “Then”. Thank you for you for your hard work cultivating these ideas. God Bless!
Thank you! Fixed!
Excellent roasted vege.
Thank you Rhonda!
Went looking for a recipe online because, despite really disliking turnip, I bought some to try again since it’s one of the less expensive root vegetables here.
Wow! This was so good! The only thing I did differently was mince some garlic and toss it with the turnip chunks in oil and salt before putting in the oven for 20 minutes – then I added the thyme and oregano and put back in for another 6 or so minutes. Thank you!
I’m glad to hear it Tempo. Glad to hear the garlic worked. Thank you!
I never knew it would be so easy to make these up! Loved them!
Hi Suzy. I am so glad these inspired you!
I loved it!! Such an easy and delicious side dish!
Roasted turnips seasoned with bacon or herbs and oil… boiled turnips with potatoes and carrots, and seasoned with butter or cheese… the food of my youth. I have enjoyed turnips all of my life. You can even make a nice slaw with them as a side for the main course. Pity that they lost their popularity as canned and frozen foods came into the “easy life”.
We are currently on the whole30 and always look for more recipes! Love this for a side or even a snack!
We love roasted turnips. I always make them for my mother in law when she visits. Thanks for a delicious recipe!
Thank you Katie! I will try them.
Chuck
Thank you!
I used to only eat turnips on Thanksgiving until I discovered how good they are raw or roasted. These look great, I love simple side dishes!
I am a turnip fan, and roasting them does bring out something special in them, doesn’t it?
these look great, thanks for sharing — I def need to try turnips again
These look incredible, my husbands’ family got me hooked on mashed turnips, so it’s definitely time to branch out and try them roasted!