Caramelized, crisp at the edges roasted parsnips: olive oil, salt, pepper, high heat, lowest oven rack. Cook them like carrots and serve them like potatoes.
Yes, rack placement really matters. And don't crowd the pan.
To Peel or Not to Peel Parsnips
The older and larger the parsnip, the tougher the skin. Peel the larger ones; the skin on smaller ones is at your discretion, and they can be roasted skin on.
How to Make Roasted Parsnips
Peel, slice, toss with olive oil, salt, pepper and roast, turning once. No par-boiling necessary.
Slice them lengthwise to maximize surface area for caramelization. That means buying smaller parsnips and saving the big fatties for puree.
Full disclosure: skinnier parsnips mean more peeling for the same weight, and peeling is the most time-consuming part. Worth it.
My Roasted Parsnip Wisdom
Don't crowd your roasting pan, single layer only and on lowest oven rack. Crowded parsnips steam instead of caramelizing.
Serve parsnips with anything you'd serve a potato with. Serve them next to a roast chicken, serve them at Thanksgiving, chop and crisp leftovers in a skillet, and add a fried egg if ya want. Enjoy all the ways.
Root veggies taste increasingly similar as you roast them.
Easy Roasted Parsnips
Ingredients
- 2 pounds parsnips 6 to 8 medium
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425°F with the rack on the lowest position.
- Peel the parsnips if needed, then slice them in half lengthwise.
- Toss the parsnips with olive oil, salt, and pepper until well coated.
- Arrange them flat side down on a baking sheet in a single layer, not touching, and roast for 20 minutes. Flip the parsnips and roast another 10 minutes, until fork tender, golden, and crisp.
Notes
- Don't crowd your roasting pan, single layer only and on lowest oven rack.
- Serve parsnips with anything you'd serve a potato with, from roast chicken to Thanksgiving & Holiday sides, then chop and crisp leftovers in a skillet, can add a fried egg too.
More Roasted Veggie Recipes
Enjoy these utterly simple and better than they should be recipes:
Roasted carrots, roasted radishes, roasted cabbage, roasted beets, roasted artichokes, roasted potatoes (smashed), cheesy smashed broccoli, roasted sweet potato fries and balsamic roasted cabbage wedges.
If ya try this recipe, I'd love to hear about it – leave a comment below and tag me on IG, @danielagerson, so I can see too.
Let's make waves in the kitchen.
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